L _ _ E
Saying 'I l_ _e you' just to keep someone around when you don’t actually care. It’s like a lie with extra drama.
He said 'I l_ _e you' just to keep me from leaving him.
She told me 'I l_ _e you' to keep me from breaking up with her.
They said 'I l_ _e you' to avoid the awkwardness of being single.