How did he say "I love you" for the first time?

Hello, well the only guy who surprised me when he told me he loved me is a long time friend I met in jr high school.He told me just this year.He told me he felt that way for many years but never told me until this year.Talk about surprised, I wasn't quite sure what to say.He said he wasn't sure if he should have said anything but I said/asked would he feel any bettrer if he had not said anything at all!He told me he probably wouldnt have felt better keeping it to himself.Truthfully I am not sure if I actually believe him because I had a huge crush on him since we met only he didn't seem to have the same feelings for me.I always felt he was selfish growing up. When he told me about his fiancee and now ex-wife he kept calling me by her name. My own fiance was there when we met up and he noticed my friend was calling me by the wrong name pretty much every time he spoke to me.My ex-husband said he thought my friend had a secret crush on me and probably always did.But I don't know.Now on the first guy I fell in love with, He told me when He came up to visit during spring break.The bad thing was I was already in another relationship with my now ex-husband.I wished he would have told me before I started dating my then b/f who became my ex-husband.It's confusing I know. My current b/f told me maybe 6 months into our relationship. He knows I don't want to be engaged because of past relationships. If we get married it will be because I will be ready. I don't want a long engagement or short engagement.