The reaction he expects is pure humor. Alex, however, offers affection, and it throws Neil off-balance, an aspect he already needs at the moment.

Thus, instead of hitting the other man, Neil flushes to a beet red, eyes flickering to their surroundings for evidence of witnesses. Aside from Dogmeat and ED-E, of course, there are none others. Still--

"No, really," he stammers. "This is too much. It's almost--" Romantic, is what he doesn't say. "You should really let me walk to the damn pool."