This is the first three dates. Everything is potential. The protagonist projects their ideal fantasy onto the other person. "She laughs at my jokes. He loves hiking. This is perfect." Establish the want vs. the need . The character wants a partner, but they need to learn something about themselves.
Here’s a helpful review of the phrase/concept (which roughly translates to “going out with the” or “dating the”) as it applies to relationships and romantic storylines in TV, film, or literature: sexmex saliendo con la mama de mi mejor amigo best