He had a bad breakup, and now his life is filled to the brim with expectations from all sides—including his own view towards himself. You can't expect his stable character to suddenly make abrupt turns towards relationships that weren't even implied in a meaningful way.
I don't really know what you signed up for, my friend, but I think what I signed up for is here; a man who is
actually struggling to get used to his past-life and the circumstances it brings. Relationships are indeed a part of it, but I think what you expect from here is not something the story is going for.
@Zirvano
Returners also intrigue me though, when will they get back to the story again? They seem to drop by for a few chapters then go back again and again.