Thanks to everyone who replied with their stories, advice, etc.
I guess I should update to let y'all know that it's been about 2 months now and we're still dating (which is somewhat of a record for me
).
He actually lives in the city but had come back to our hometown to visit his parents, and then ended up staying for me. As far as I can tell, he's meant what he said (the L word), but I just doubted at first because I look back at past relationships and see a definite pattern of guys saying "i love u" waaaaayyyy before i was ready or felt the same. We can call my current guy K...he told me i don't have to say it back, but that he just wanted me to know how he felt, and then more recently he said it to me when we weren't intimate, so that helps me to trust that he means it.
thank you all again for your advice, and for those of you who have been with your guys for 10 and 15 years, WOW and congrats! i hope someday i can dedicate myself that fully to someone.
~aRiE