Dear Whys Guy: "Does He Really Love Me or Is He Moving Too Fast?"

Redbook

By Aaron Traister, REDBOOK

DEAR WHYS GUY:

I have been seeing this guy for a month. We were on the phone recently, casually talking, when all of the sudden he says to me, "I gotta go. I love you." He hung up the phone, and I was in shock. Had he really just said that to me? I asked him later if he meant what he said, and he told me he didn't recall telling me that. He also said he'd spoken to his mother right before me. Should I believe him? Or is he moving too fast?

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DEAR REDBOOK READER:

I've told customer service reps from Sears that I love them while hanging up the phone... several times. I don't really love any of the good people at Sears, but, you see, I have a tremendous fear of death and I have few friends.

Just bear with me for a second; I'll make everything clear and answer your question.

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I make sure that I tell the people in my life I love them as often as I can, because I never know when that great garbage truck in the sky might make a stop in front of me to haul me off to my final dumping place, and I want the people I care about to know how I feel about them before I'm compacted or recycled. Every time I say goodbye in real life or on the phone with my mom, dad, sister, wife, and kids, I say, "Bye, I love you."

Now, because I'm a crazy old hermit, those family members pretty much cover everyone who I normally talk with on the phone. So you see how it might sort of become a habit to end phone conversations with "I love you." And you might also understand that on the rare occasions when I do contact other earth humans via telephone (for instance; the fine folks at Sears customer service who were just trying to follow up with me on their washer/dryer installation-very professional, btw) I find myself in awkward situations where I have to explain to a complete strangers (usually in Calcutta) why I've professed my love to them.

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I also call my son by the dog's name.

My point: Mistakes happen in this crazy new age of electronic communication (and in the old age of just regular communication). Cut the guy some slack: Unless he starts "casually" asking you about how you feel about eloping versus a big wedding, it was probably just a slip of the tongue.

<< Read more from Aaron Traister's Whys Guy Q&A Blog >>

Need help decoding odd male behavior? Redbook columnist Aaron Traister, who lives in Philadelphia with his wife and two kids, is our resident male who is happy to answer any questions you might have about the mind of a man. Either leave your questions in the comments or email him at redbook@hearst.comwith Whys Guy in the subject. Letters, emails, and comments may be edited for clarity and length.

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