I can't seem to name exactly what is wrong with what is going on, but I feel like I am definitely not getting what I could be getting elsewhere...😕

Heres the gist: I live in the East Coast, he lives in the Midwest. We started talking in the summer, we met at a birthday party in his town, but I left home shortly after. (He is 6 years older than me.) We maintained contact, texted for about 2 months. He asked me to come back to his city, but I couldn't (I wouldn't be able to stay with my friend at that time, plus I didn't feel like buying an expensive plane ticket as a broke grad student 😬😅) Anyway, at some point, I told him that I was tired and don't think I could do the long distance thing, at least for the time being. He understood, but was clearly upset.

He gave me space, but reached out to me several times just expressing that he really wants/hopes things to work out and wants us to be together. So I started talking to him again, and now we're talking now as if we never had that break :)

The problem is, I feel like (for now) I could be getting so much more. I want to be able to date someone, and physically be with someone who lives near me lol. I want to actually hang out. (long distance is totally not for me.)

He recently offered to fly me out there, but under certain circumstances. (Right now, he is taking care of his brother, who had a serious injury a few months ago and needs a lot of support) so i would only be able to come when his brother is at his mom's place, so he can properly accommodate me when I visit. oh thats another thing - idk how I feel about spending a few days at this guys house, if we've only met in person once before... 😬

I feel awful for saying this, but couldn't he be a little more thoughtful and... oh idk, maybe plan a trip so he can come to my city instead?? Or maybe send me a gift for the holidays? I know this sounds a little bit out there...but I feel like if we were in a LDR, and have great chemistry, great conversations, so many similarities, etc., shouldn't he me showing me that he really likes me?

We're waiting until I graduate grad school in June until making any serious plans, but I feel like right now...idk..I feel unhappy with not feeling like Im even dating someone. Like wouldn't you want to be making some gestures to keep someone interested?

One of my friends would probably have a guy sending her bouquets of flowers, showering her with gifts, flying her out, etc.

Please give me advice! He sounds like a HVM, but we barely spent time together, yet I feel like he could be doing so much more to show that he likes me/wants to be with me. Maybe he can fly out here instead? Or maybe fly me out but also get me a hotel? (or is that reaching a bit 😅??) Ugh FDS fam please help 😕

I am correct in my thinking right?

TLDR: Met a guy once, he is 6 years older than me, we met in June. Great chemistry, great conversations, etc,. but I feel like I deserve so much more. We're waiting until I graduate in June to make serious plans, but for the time being, don't I deserve something? I dont even know what.