I think “I love you” and “I’m in love with you” are completely different things. “I love you” is a thing people use to sell greeting cards, or cliché movies, it propels you into this world of relationships.
but “I’m in love with you” is sitting on the couch with my legs in your lap, my cold fingers intertwined with your warm ones. you and I watching my favorite tv show even though you loath it. “I’m in love with you” is staying up until 4am talking about nothing special, its waking up in the afternoon and making breakfast together, sitting on our balcony and drinking coffee, and rereading our favorite books. “I’m in love with you” is me rubbing your shoulders when you come home because you had a ******* day. you wiping my tears and whispering encouraging words in my ear after we fight. “I’m in love with you” is you going along with my stupid Christmas traditions even when you think they are silly. me laughing at your stupid corny jokes, because you know how much I love them. “I’m in love with you” is us attending your families weekly dinners, even though you loath to go because you think your family is weird but you love them anyway. its you thinking its cute when I blush, even though I loath that you have that affect on me. “I’m in love with you.”