Even when we were madly in love and engaged he rarely said ILY first and it used to really bother me but now I look at the root that he never learned how to express his feelings and it does not come naturally to him at all. So when we were happy and living together maybe he would say it first once for every five times I said it first. Does that make sense?
I do know that I will not say it very often even though I want to all the time. Hehe. I can show some self control!
I'm just going to keep on being here for him and show him that I can be independent and strong and work on my own life while he is away and yet still leave enough room for him when he comes back, if he chooses to move in with me.