Three Powerful Little Words

I have always imagined what hearing the words, "I love you" would sound like. Last night, for the first time, I got to experience that feeling first hand.
The last couple of days have been an emotional roller coaster of sorts. Rich and I have clicked so incredibly well - and the feelings he evokes in me are so strong - I wasn't sure what I was facing or how I would deal with those feelings. Meeting his kids and ex really showed me that if we are going to be together we're going to have to be a team.
I had messaged him telling him how he had sent me in a tailspin. I told him how I have all these emotions I just want to blurt out, but am afraid to because I don't think I could handle the rejection if he didn't feel the same.
I went to his place after work last night. The night started as it normally does - talking about our day, exchanging kisses and hugs, making plans for the evening. The only difference was he kept looking at me really weird and he made no mention of the message I'd sent. We went to dinner and had a nice time talking about what our dream house would be like and debating on whether our waitress was high or just a freak. After that we went back to watch a movie. The movie played but we didn't watch it. We started talking about this that and nothing at all then all of a sudden he says, "I hear there's something you want to blurt out."
I was speechless. Did he want me to confess my feelings? Did he want me to be the first to say it? If I said it would he say it back?
We talked some more always coming back to the topic of the "blurt." Then he takes my face in his hands and looks into my eyes. I knew what was on his mind so I told him to say it. He just smiled. Again I told him to say it. He kissed me. AGAIN I told him to say it. And then he whispered, "I love you." I closed my eyes and I swear my heart was going to explode in my chest. I wrapped my arms around him and told him I loved him and for the first time I fully realized my future with him.
My mom and boss and some of my friends keep telling me we're getting close too fast. Mom said that when I pass the six month mark then she'll know it's for real. But they don't know how he makes me feel. They don't know how we just click. Nothing has to be said - we just understand each other. Yeah, we've only been together a month - but that's almost every day for month. That's a lot of time talking and getting to know each other. And we're both at a point in our lives where we aren't going to play games. We aren't in it just hoping that we make it. We're in it knowing that we'll make it. And that makes all the difference.