Well, I can relate to your scenario to some degree. My best friend for many years would sometimes do things that made me feel like I was a low priority in his life.

Here are a couple of examples.

Once, when I was became extremely ill, he calls to check up on me. But, where does he call from? He calls me from his car while he, the kids, and his wife are headed to another state. To me, it was telling me that he was essentially too busy in normal life to take time for me. He only called me when he had nothing better to do.

Another time, this same friend, sent me a birthday present (a book). But, he had his secretary mail it to me. Really? Are you too busy to do this yourself?

Some people might think that I'm being picky. But, I know my best friend. I know his life. I know his schedule. If he does something which makes me feel like I'm not worth much of his time.... then it can hurt a little.

You might want to read material on "love languages". For me, TIME is a language that means a lot to me. If someone is willing to spend TIME on me, they're speaking my language. Other people need to receive VERBAL affirmation. Others need physical AFFECTION. There are 7 or 8 languages of love I think. Check it out. Your friend's love language is probably time. In other words, you could give him $1,000 cash and it wouldn't mean as much to him as if he received priority TIME and attention. I should add.... we each naturally SHOW love in certain languages. So, it is good to know what we automatically / naturally do to SHOW love to others... and yet it may not be the language that truly speaks to them. This is especially important to understand when you're in a relationship. Someone thinks that they are showing lots of love... and yet their partner has other needs in order to feel loved.

Anyway. Just food for thought.