Some days are better than others

[EDF]

Super awkward moment this morning. How do I respond when WW says 'I love you'?

I've been doing great at not saying 'I love you' for months, for all the normal DB reasons, but this morning WW caught me off guard. She was friendly and talkative this morning while we were getting ready for work. Told me to have a great day, then as I'm in my car ready to leave she pokes her head into the garage to get my attention. I get out of the car so I can hear her, and WW says 'I love you'. (First time she's said that since before BD/ILYBINILWY)

I stood there like a deer in headlights, unsure how to respond. Torn between not wanting to do something that might be seen as pursuing, but also not wanting to come across as frigid or angry. After a few seconds of this, WW goes back into house.

I ended up going into house too. In a nutshell, told her "Every day you keep him in your life, is a day you're pushing me further away. <shrug> But yea, I love you too." My "I love you" didn't really have any emotion to it, kinda perfunctory.

Not sure how I should have handled that. I think if WW was being super mean or vindictive, or coming home at all hours of the night it would have been easier for me to not respond, or respond with an incredulous "Really?"; but she has seemed to be putting more effort into many things which made me conflicted. Any thoughts?