"working so hard to better myself"
Admirable, but mistaken. Actually admirable, but the tunnel visioning turned out to be a huge problem.
I guess we won't be seeing him again for a while, unless...?
But in any case, even if he's not her childhood friend, there's nothing that says they can't eventually fall in love and date normally. She just got off on the wrong foot and spooked him badly, so it's going to be a crazy uphill climb from here if something is to happen between them from this.
So if Mr. "protagonist" is not her childhood friend, then what happened to the real one?
EDIT: I have been informed that the last statement is in fact, incorrect and I misremembered things.