Boyfriend doesn't love me back (EDIT)

We have been dating for about 7 months. Finally said the three big words and he said it back. After, something felt off. I told him that sometimes it feels like he doesn't love me back and his reply was that he likes me but isn't at that stage yet.

I asked him why he said it back if he didn't mean it and he told me that he was drunk and that "a part of him wanted to say it back". Now we act like everything is perfectly fine and pretend that the conversation didn't happen. We resumed our normal routine. I mean, I really respect his feelings but I am hurting. If I bring it up again, I know it will bother both of us.

Should I give him time? End it? I have NO idea what to do. Please give advice.

Sidenote- he has a lot of belongings at my place so I can't exactly end it easily. He also told me that he has no intention of breaking up with me any time soon.

*Edit*

I only added the whole "ending the relationship" part because that is what my friends told me to do and it scares me. I 100% respect his feelings and have told him multiple times that it is optional, we don't even have to say it. We both said it back to each other despite giving him the option not to. I understand that there is obviously a lot of pressure on this topic. I am just hurting a lot right now because he lied instead of being honest. This is my emotional dumbass venting because this is my first adult relationship.