13 Signs He’s About to Say ‘I Love You’
Three little words that mean so much
He loves you, he loves you not. One of the most common experiences in a new relationship is wondering when your guy is going to say “I love you” for the first time. Perhaps you’ve already dropped the L-bomb yourself, or you’ve been patiently waiting for him to tell you first. Whatever the case may be, there are ways to tell if he’s likely to tell you that he’s fallen head-over-heels in love.
It’s hard for anyone to say those three simple words. Most men start out by thinking that they might be in love, and then it grows to a certainty and then they start worrying about when to say it, and how. So while they’re figuring how when to tell you that they’re in love, it means that there are signs that they’re thinking about telling you those three little words and making sure that it’s not a case of premature enunciation. No one wants to say the L-word and be left hanging.
So here are 13 signs that he’s about to tell you he’s in love.
Sign #1: He’s asking to meet your close friends and family.
Your guy may be ready for the next step if he wants to get to know your inner circle. If your partner inquires about wanting to get to know your close friends and family, chances are he is in it for the long haul, said Rhonda Richards-Smith, a licensed social worker and relationship expert
Sign #2: Making future plans with you.
If he talks about the future and uses “we” instead of “I” when discussing his hopes and dreams, he believes your relationship is one that will last over time. So if he visualizes the two of you together years from now, it's likely that his declaration of love will occur sooner rather than later, Richards-Smith said.
Sign #3: He asks you for advice on serious matters.
Navigating life can be challenging and many of us are faced with psychological crossroads on a regular basis. If your partner trusts you to give reasonable, sound and supportive advice, this is an indicator that your relationship is healthy, positive and those three little words may not be far behind, Richards-Smith said.
Sign #4: He’s practicing saying it – almost.
He starts a lot of sentences with I but then fades off for a few seconds before finishing the statements. For example: “I l…left my keys in the other room.” This is the courage building stage. He is standing on the edge of the high dive and psyching himself up to jump, said OnMutualTerms.com relationship expert, Kim Howerton.
Sign #5: Any use of the L-word makes him act nervous.
He gets jumpy when he uses the word “love” in any context, as he is constantly thinking about it. You will notice he stops saying things like, “I love that movie!” It is too risky to let the word pass his lips for his comfort. He is avoiding mentioning the giant pink elephant in the room with you. In this case the elephant is covered in glitter and hearts, Howerton said.
Sign #6: Drawn out goodbyes.
He hesitates over your goodbyes for a long time, trying to feel out if this is the right time to say it. Or maybe he is hoping you might put him out of his misery and say it first, Howerton said.
Sign #7: Hesitation at random times in conversation.
Key signs a man is about to tell his woman “I love you” is when you notice him hesitating or staring at you as if he's trying to find the right words to express how he feels. If he randomly mentions to you that he doesn't want to get hurt, which puts him in a very vulnerable position, then it's something he wants to say but he just doesn't know how, said Daniel Amis, professional matchmaker.
Sign #8: He’s reliable.
He shows up when he says he will. If he blows you off, changes plans, doesn't call, he's not ready for a serious, grownup relationship. If he is dependable, he's showing that he values you, said Tina B. Tessina, Ph.D., psychotherapist and author of Money, Sex and Kids: Stop Fighting about the Three Things That Can Ruin Your Marriage.
Sign #9: He communicates.
He can and will communicate. He doesn't just grunt, clam up, blow up or hide out. Even if he does one of those things, he comes back and has the talk. Nonverbally, he's saying he wants to work things out and keep things going smoothly, Tessina said.
Sign #10: He does relationship-type activities.
He's contributing to your life together. Maybe he fixes your car, troubleshoots your computer, hangs out with your kids, or is nice to your mom. He's demonstrating that he sees you as family, and wants to participate in that family, Tessina said.
Sign #11: He refers to you as a duo.
He refers to “we”, “us” and “our.” “We had fun.” Or, “our friends are doing this,” or, “I think this would be good for us.” Using this language indicates that he's becoming bonded and views the two of you as a partnership, Tessina said.
Sign #12: Not everything leads to sex.
He wants to have sex, but he wants other things, too. He spends time with you that won't necessarily lead to sex. He makes plans in advance, and suggests the two of you do things and go places just for fun; or he asks you to accompany him on family outings, work-related social events, and for drinks with the guys after his basketball game. He probably doesn't realize it, but he's building a shared social life and leisure life together, Tessina said.
Sign #13: He compliments you even on bad hair days.
If he compliments your appearance on a day you think you look terrible, it's very possible that he has fallen in love with you so he no longer sees what others would deem to be flaws. Don't be surprised if an “I love you” is on the way, said Jason Nik, life coach and relationship expert and author of The Warrior’s Odyssey.
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