Relationship advice

Last January I met this incredible man. Over the course of a month, we began to get closer and I finally decided to caved in and decided to go out for drinks with him. We went back to his place, slept together, and he spent all night holding me close and telling me how he wants to spend more time with me. Over the course of the last year, I've tried not to push for a relationship. He told me he wants to focus on his career, get in a more stable position, which I understand. But I've been seeing him for the last year, and sometimes I'm just really unsure he means it when he says he loves me. But sometimes I feel like he's just using me. I've loaned him money, paid for all of his vet bills for the puppy he bought shortly after we met, I buy his groceries, I used to pick up the tab at the bar when we used to go out... I thought maybe he'd get me something for Christmas, just something small, but I didn't even get to see him that day. I helped pay for his cruise in Feburary and bought him a guy bag filled with new workout clothes and some things he likes. I feel like I might be worried over nothing but some of my girlfriends suggested to pull away, become unavailable, and let him chase me. If he doesn't, it means he's not interested. What's y'alls opinion?