impatient

I've been hooking up with this man for almost a year. I've fallen for him even though I know I shouldn't. Today when we were talking he just decided to say " I really like you ". I was waiting for the. But at the end of that sentence. I didn't know how to respond then he said it again. All I came out with was thank you. I was afraid to say it back. Then he had to go because of a meeting. Now it's all that is going through my head . I should have responded differently. What comes next? Do I say something the next time I see him? I have no idea how to play this game anymore.