Admitting feelings

I’ve been seeing someone for quite a few months, and he’s slowly helped me bring down my emotional walls I had so strongly put up since my ex. I can’t even verbalise the word “love” in a normal sentence because it feels so uncomfortable.

My ex (of 6 years) really honestly ruined me emotionally, I was cold as stone after the breakup, immediately friend zoned EVERYONE who spoke to me, so much so I can’t even tell when someone has different intentions or is hitting on me.

This guy I’ve been seeing has made it very clear that he has feelings for me, and I believe I’m starting to have feelings too, but I don’t know how to verbalise that. I want to tell him, but I’m so uncomfortable with emotional talk, I don’t know how to approach that conversation at all. I’m also extremely scared of rejection, which I know is an inevitable risk, but I just don’t know how to work around that barrier.