The L word

I told the man I been dealing with for a year, I think I love him & his reaction was " are you serious? Sorry it came out like that I wasn't expecting that " we had agreed we was just going be friend with benefits but idk it's been more than that too me. Anyways, I'm like after all this time you don't feel anything? He's like he don't know how to feel, he's been going through so much in the last year. Which is true he lost a lot. He lost his battle to get his daughter full custody now she's going be adopted in a few weeks and he just lost his apartment. He's been fighting this custody battle for a year and it didn't end the way we liked. He said he doesn't want us to end but he also didn't say I love you back. He wants to talk in person our schedule just don't add up the same anymore, but we have been texting a lot more and we also lost a baby..... I feel some type of way he didn't say I love you too or he don't love me is that bad? I know before me he was in a 2 year relationship with another girl and she just fucked him over, he have trust issues and etc. I'm glad he doesn't wanna end this because of me saying I think I love you. Y'all think he love me too? Or feel strong about me? He says he fucks with me. That's good I guess.