My boyfriend and I have been friends for nearly 11 years. He got out of a long-term relationship a couple of years ago and we eventually started dating. When I expressed wanting to make things official after three and a half months, he wasn't ready to be in a full-blown relationship, which was understandable. He was struggling to deal with the end of his relationship. We continued to see each other despite this. Last summer, it seemed that everything was done. He told me he loved me as a friend but didn't fall in love with me. He also said he didn't see that changing.
We went through a difficult time for a while when our friendship was strained. Eventually, things improved and we started talking more frequently, going out on dates more often, and spending more time together than we had in a while. Fast forward to late February/early March of this year, we made things official and became a couple. It gave me the impression that everything had changed since last year.
His family and friends all know who I am, having hung out with them on many occasions. He also recently introduced me to his kids and brought me to his brother's wedding. All things that would seem to imply a future, right?
But he's not great when it comes to talking about his feelings. He describes himself as "emotionally unavailable," and he's on anxiety medication that seems to leave him feeling numb. So, he's never said, "I love you." Nor have we talked about what we see for the future of our relationship other than taking a trip together next spring/summer.
Advice? Should I just say it first and see how he reacts? My concern is he might not feel the same way. He shows love in so many other ways (affectionate, does things for me, spends time with me, etc.). But what do you do when you just want to hear those words?
