Okay, I agree with above, if your young coffee shop friend has a boyfriend she is probably 'missing you' in the casual way of friends who haven't seen each other a while, no need to think otherwise from what you've written.

If you are making new contacts that sounds good to me, you can still be 'alone' in that you can have friends, meet with people, then go home to be alone again if you wish. It doesn't have to be 'all or nothing'.

You can take this as fast or as slow as you wish, you have choices.