To just be close to them? Not necessarily even... with them?

[ That jumps out at him and then he blanches a little, realizing he is prying perhaps a little too closely. ]

Forgive me; I don't mean to bring up anything painful or to ask anything... overly personal.

[ It does strike a chord with him, though. Perhaps not quite in the romantic sense (or maybe it is), but it reminds him of a person he knew once. ]