There wasn't a single moment in which Paul was seen as an actual love interest. Why does there have to be a love interest at all? Ever since she first dated Dean, the only point in which she was single was in college for a bit (I believe it was after the second time that Dean broke up with her) and they made it out like it was pathetic that she wasn't dating. Maybe she needs to take a step back from having a relationship to find herself and to grow.

"Love yourself first, and everything else falls in line." - Lucille Ball