What does " I care a lot about you" mean?

Anonymous
I have been dating my boyfriend for two years, and whenever I open up emotionally or tell him how I feel about him, he replies with " I care a lot about you" or sometimes with " I am crazy about you". We have not said " I love you" to each other yet. we both took this relationship slow ( because we wanted/needed to), however now after two years my feelings have really developed for him, but I am scared of even telling him or mentioning the way I feel because I feel he does not feel that way. His actions do make me think that he loves me, especially lately. however even if I joke about " love" he replies with " I am crazy about you". On the anniversary card he gave me, it said " I want you to know how much I care about you". I feel confused although I feel it is quite clear that it is what he says, he cares a lot about me. But what does this mean? does it mean his feelings aren't as developed or perhaps that he doesn't want anything long term?
Updates
+1 y
A year ago he said he was " falling for me" but then every since he kept saying that he care a lot about me.
What does " I care a lot about you" mean?
3 Opinion