Okay so my boyfriend and I have been together for a year and two months. We've talked a few times about our feelings toward each other and saying/exchanging those three words. He has been in multiple long term (1 1/2+ years) relationships and has told me that during the time he felt like he loved them and told them and I know from snooping that in was deeply in love with his last girlfriend and he still keeps in touch with her and they still exchange "I love you's". I, on the other hand, have anxiety when it comes to long-term relationships and have only been in three short (2 1/2 to 3 months) relationships except my last one which was a year but I always say it shouldn't have happened (I cheated the majority of the relationship as did he and he only made it official between us because I slept with my ex). Anywho, My recent boyfriend and I have said we wouldn't say it until we truly meant it and he told me that he only felt that he was in love with his ex's at that time but now realize it wasn't love (except for the one before me). It's been 6 months since we had our last talk and he has told me and I quote "I do love you"...

I didn't say anything back because I felt that he was just stating something and not truly telling me that he love's me..he didn't say "I love you" he said "I do love you" and this was right after he got into a ruffle with his brother after his brother called him out about not treating me right nor recognizing my true emotions (me saying that something is okay and I'm fine with it when I'm truly not.)....and since he hasn't said in form of those words.

How is it that he found it so easy to tell his past girlfriends those three words but has yet to say them to me?? It's been very little over a year so now I'm starting to worry if he will ever say those words and I told him that I refuse to say them first even if I do feel it (and I do, I always find the words on the tip of my tongue but catch myself and hold back). I also feel that he won't and will never be able to give his heart to me because it still belongs with his last girlfriend. He told me the story behind her and I could just tell that he deeply wishes it were different...that she didn't change, that she were more proud of being with him when they were together, and now that even though she changed he still loves her and hangs around her in hope and if he got back into shape I'm most certain he would try to go after her again....and a few months back I found a text from her saying that if she weren't so far away that she'd booty call him (my guy friends ask me why I'm still with him knowing what I know about him- but I will confess I did cheat with this one guy, twice though the second time I stopped before it got to far because I knew where my heart was) An old friend of mines use to tell me that I have an alter ego that causes these actions to no avail. I did this in the beginning of the relationship during a rough patch when I was founding out so many things that he lied to me about and hid that were hurting me...I don't ever connect the act I committed to a form of revenge to what I knew, but I know it probably was..why else would I?

I guess I'm just asking if I should move on or not? Should I confront him about if he truly wants to be with me and why I consider that he may not? Should I just give him time? Will he eventually be able to tell me?

Note: this is my longest relationship to-date and there are reasons why it has lasted so long-remember every relationship has it's ups and downs and some are never perfect but they work.