Those three little words.

I'm a very closed off person and don't just let anyone get close to me for anything. My ex compared me to Fort Knox. It takes a lot for me to let someone in and I believe you don't say I love you to just anyone and that people use those three little words way to loosely. Ive now been with my boyfriend for almost a year and it's been great and I feel like I'm in an adult relationship finally and I love him, I've said it in a round about way, just as he has. But I want to tell him it just always seems awkward.  How did you say it the first time?