his first love/lover

[angliholic]

Uncle Jay took this trip in expectation of seeing his first love again.



Hi,
Is it proper to reword the above as the following? Thanks.

Uncle Jay took this trip expecting to see his first lover again.

 

[Anglika]

You could, but his first love may not have been his first lover.

 

[angliholic]

You could, but his first love may not have been his first lover.

Thanks, Anglika.
So, what are the differences between them?

 

[Anglika]

His first love may have been the little girl next door when they were four years old.

His first lover will be the first person with whom he exchanged physical and verbal affection.

 

[angliholic]

Thanks, Anglika.
Got it.