self-interest reflecting off me

11:11 Apr 20, 2021 

Your explanation is helpful for my work. Thank you!

11:09 Apr 20, 2021 

I think the general idea is right. Thank you!

12:08 Apr 19, 2021 

I think the idea here is that the speaker felt flattered because someone was showing an interest in them, although afterwards they realized that perhaps she wasn't actually "showing an interest in them", but rather taking advantage of their presence for her own purposes (i.e. the 'self-interest' bit) — like, for example, they might share the driving, etc. So perhaps she wasn't actually at all interested in their company (which they found flattering), but rather want them to meet some need for herself.
I don't actually think it's poorly-expressed, I think it's really quite a nice image.

11:58 Apr 19, 2021 

It's not clearly expressed, but the general idea is that they're both self interested.

11:55 Apr 19, 2021 

You are right. The expression is confusing. I think the writer means that what appear to be his/her possibly selfish reasons were no more than a reflection of an underlying dynamic in which she was the real user.

11:51 Apr 19, 2021 

Thank you! I'm confused about the usage of "reflecting off" here. Does it mean her self-interest "satisfied by me" or "just like mine"?

11:25 Apr 19, 2021 

The writer's first take on his reasons for going with her are 1. she paid for the gas, 2. the writer's desire to travel, and 3. the pleasure of her company. However, on reflection, the writer reconsiders and thinks that she may have been using him/her all along.