They’re just three little words, but saying “I love you” is one thing many guys are deathly afraid of. Whatever his reasons are for nixing this term from his vocabulary, he’ll most likely show his affection for you in other ways. If you’re confused about his feelings because he has been less than vocal about the way he feels, here are all the signs that he really loves you even though he’s too scared to say it.
- He Stares at You in Silence. If you catch him staring at you intently even when the two of you are just sitting there in silence, there’s a good chance he’s falling in love with you. You’ll never know what’s really going on inside of his head, but he’s probably just soaking up your presence and mentally and visually admiring all the things he loves about you. All you have to do is look into his eyes and give him a warm smile. Soon enough, his silence will turn into words, and he’ll be expressing himself more vocally about the way he feels.
- He Surprises You. It’s the little things that really count, and a guy who’s in love will go out of his way to surprise you here and there. It could be something as simple as brewing your coffee in the morning or filling up your car with gas when you’re running on empty.
- He Worries About You. He’s not obsessive about knowing your every move at any given moment, but he’ll want to stay in touch with you throughout the day. When he doesn’t hear from you, he’ll try to play it cool at first, but a guy who’s in love will definitely feel a little worried if you fall off the map for a few hours.
- His Friends Know All About You. He’s so proud of all of your accomplishments, no matter how big or small they may be. He can’t wait to tell everyone about your new promotion at work or how you crushed your competition at your weekly volleyball matchup. He beams with pride no matter what you do, and he’s so in love, he wants everyone around him to know how great you are, too.
- He’s In and Out. No, we’re not talking about the fast food burger chain. We’re talking about his emotional and physical presence. Sadly, not all the signs of a man in love will be positive and make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Sometimes, the emotions of falling in love are so strong, your boyfriend might actually create some distance between the two of you to regain his composure. If you just had a magical weekend together and he suddenly pulls away and goes cold on you, there’s a strong possibility that the love he has for you is growing faster than he’s prepared to deal with. By giving him space to process his thoughts when he gets a bit weirded out, he’ll be more likely to shake off the feeling of anxiety and return to you with even more love than he had before.
- He’s Protective. You won’t have to worry about anyone disrespecting you because your man will always have your back no matter what! You’re probably one of the most important people in his life, so he’ll go out of his way to protect you at all costs. Now that’s true love!
- He’s Fine With Just Cuddling. When love creeps into a guy’s heart, he’ll find pleasure in just hanging out with you. He won’t always have sex on his mind, and he’ll be okay cuddling, snuggling, and just enjoying your presence. Sometimes, it takes a guy a bit longer to really come to grips with how he feels. If he hasn’t quite worked up the courage to tell you how much he loves you, but he’s still very affectionate, there’s no reason for you to feel insecure in your relationship. He’s most likely in love with you, he just has a different way of showing it.
- He Clams Up. There will be times when his emotions will become too much, and he’ll completely freeze up on you like a statue. If the two of you seem to be having a good time together, and he suddenly looks like a deer in headlights, he could be dealing with a wave of loving emotions sweeping over his body. Try not to call him out on it and instead, hold his hand and offer him some support. He’s probably so freaked out about being in love. He just needs a little bit of reassurance at first before he’s finally able to muster up the courage to say those three words.
- Nothing Makes Him Uncomfortable. If you need a new box of tampons, he’s off to the store before you can even tell him which brand to pick up. When you’re sick and expelling who-knows-what from every orifice of your body, he’s right there to help you clean up the mess. He may not tell you he loves you, but being by your side and helping you through all the uncomfortable moments in your life is his way of showing his true feelings for you.
- He Does a 180. We’re not suggesting that he’ll go from being a sweetheart to an a-hole when he feels like he’s falling in love. However, his attitude may change a bit if he’s afraid of dealing with his emotions. He might get testy with you when you hang out. He’s not thinking about breaking up or having second thoughts, so there’s no need to worry. He’s probably just trying to work through his emotions, and it’s causing him to act wacky. If you’ve noticed your boyfriend is being a bit moody, give him some space to work things out on his own. In your absence, he’ll not only realize he was being an ass, but he’ll also come to terms with just how strongly he feels about you.