“Given I have flown over three thousand miles for a visit,” Alex muttered, setting her bags down and folding her arms across her chest, “I was expecting a better line than that. Surprise. Did you miss me?”

He wants to give her a hug, but he’s never been accustomed to the slight drawls of affection, nor has he ever understood it so he sits there, laughing. “I missed ya, yeah. Life is boring without you.”