“That’s not at all what I meant! I meant … only, you said I needed someone to dedicate themselves to me, and that — I didn’t know I was that selfish. I don’t mean to be. I’m trying to understand what you’re saying so I can be a better person in general; I’m not trying to change your mind.”
“You are not selfish, what I meant by that was that he wouldn’t put his work before you. I would. I love my work, it is my dedication. You need someone to love you before anything else, and I can’t. And that isn’t selfishness that is a relationship.” He sighed, rubbing his temples. “It also doesn’t help that I am more into the male gender than female, dear.”
“But … that’s not what I want. I don’t — I shouldn’t — ” She flailed a hand, frustrated at her inability to put words around her thoughts. “R—” She cleared her throat. “Robert said that he was a person who would pay attention to me. Is that what you mean?”