Abruptly--surprisingly--Alex turns, holds his arm out to point a finger directly at Neil. "Hey. No."

Like scolding a dog.

"Don't you start apologizing to me. You had shit to deal with. You had just better tell me first next time before you run off and left us all hanging. You had a reason for doing it, fine, got it. You're back. You're here and it's fine." He speaks the words, and finds them effortlessly true. Seeing Neil, holding him while the girl did her shitty explanation, talking to him even now-- Alex's anger was gone, replaced by something else.

He gives a rueful expression. "But I'd really like to come watch your back next time you head somewhere new. Don't want a repeat of this."