I have been with my boyfriend for over a year and a half. We are both 26 and our leases are ending soon (his in August, mine in October). We have talked about marriage and he has said that by the end of summer he was going to propose to me.

We have had a rocky past and my trust in him recently has been less than wonderful. It seems as though he is not ready to let me into his life. Yesterday he gave me a birthday present he has been saving for me and it was thoughtful and sweet, it was a mural of us that he said we could hang in our future guest room. Then not five minutes later he said he had been thinking about things and he does not want to move in once his lease is up.

I was blindsided and heartbroken. He tried to explain it to me but I just don't understand his reasons. I am upset that he made me think for three months that we were moving in together and now he's changed his mind. He said that he didn't understand the big deal because we live close and we see each other all the time. He also said that it didn't change the 'big picture' we are still getting engaged by the end of summer and still getting married next year... but I don't believe him... I think he's just going to back out of that like he backed out of living together.

Should I just end things? I love him and I don't want to but I don't see how this can continue if I can't trust him and he can't respect me and be honest with me. Our communication is horrible and I would love to work on it and give the relationship another chance... but am I just wasting my time? Am I as big a fool as I feel I am right now? What should I do?

You don't trust him, you don't communicate with him yet you want to move in with him, marry him? That makes no sense.
He says he's going to propose the end of the summer but he doesn't want to move in with you. What is the point of telling someone when you're going to propose? That makes no sense either.
Stay in your own place. Work on the issues you have or break up with him.