We've been together for 4 months now (I'm 21, he's 24), and the other night he said he loves me. He's made it clear he really wants us to work, including after he graduates next semester. I enjoy being with him (in bed and out), and he's such a good and sweet person, but I worry that he wants this more than I do and I don't want to hurt him.

Not entirely sure what I hoped to get from posting this, but yeah. Advice, commiseration, anything would be appreciated; I don't know how I feel about all of this.

Hi it could be his signals are actually different than you are fear about.

If his poses are normal and not too sensual and he is just content to share hobby's and interest there is no reason for fear.

If his signals more sensual, like pose, how he clothes and the subjects he started. There is a change he wants indeed more.

Anyway you can observed him in silence. Try to be objective without assumes.

And the most important thing if you feel still safe by him, it could be fine weather it will continue on.

The only thing I can really say is communicate! Tell him what's up and your thoughts. Talk it out. Nothing will get resolved if you hold it all in and bottle it up. Even if feelings are hurt and tears come up - the thoughts and feelings need to addressed.

I've not had the best history with relationships, but I'm not sure that he's said those words too soon. It depends on the relationship. Have you guys been going steady for four months? Or did you meet four months ago? Was the relationship founded on mutual attraction?

One of my ex-boyfriends said "I love you" after about two months and over something really silly too. I offered to buy him some instant noodles. It wasn't too soon because we were both fairly passionate people when we were together and our relationship was founded on mutual crushes.

Another ex-boyfriend never said "I love you", but the feelings were there anyway, because we'd been best friend for two years prior. Our relationship only lasted for two months.

My most recent ex-boyfriend and I were saying "I love you" before we were dating, because the feelings were there and we are both passionate people. He was one of my close friends and, again, we had a mutual attraction. Neither of us felt like saying "I love you" was too over the top and were both comfortable with it.

TLDR I guess what I'm trying to say is that you need to evaluate your own relationship and your own attraction to your boyfriend. From what you've written, he wants a steady relationship, which is a completely healthy thing to want, and he's being honest with you. You need to be honest with him in return. Be gentle, but tell him that you're concerned.

How are you feeling? Do you like him? Can you see a future with him?

We knew each other (i.e. worked in the same place) for a year before dating, and we've been going steady for four months. It was founded on him being attracted to me, and me willing to give it a shot. Truth be told, my attraction to him has grown over time.

There are only good things to say about him as a person, but for me it's too early to be thinking of a future with him. I still have to finish university, he's graduating a semester before I do and is job hunting, and there's still the question of if I'm going to opt for graduate school or industry, where that will be, etc.

Ah, I understand. It would probably be best until you know what you're doing with school before you start planning ahead, but in saying that, make sure that you still value the time you're spending with him. That balance should still be there, even if your feelings towards him don't quite match his for you. You know what I mean? I just woke up.

Talk to him about this is the best advice.

If you really like him and might see you and him together in the future, but only after you finished school, maybe go to grad school and found a job? He obviously wants something serious with you, but you'll need to figure out if this will all work for you as well. Your time with each other might be very limited if he's working and you're still going to school but it's not an impossible relationship.

The most important thing here is that you tell him what your worries are (uni, grad school, finding a job), maybe he will suggest a few possible solutions himself? Remember that you're both in this relationship together and communicating with each other is very important!