Alex suspected he always would love Sean but to hear someone else say it to him, made it real. They never really told anyone, not outside at least. Hank knew because he'd lived in the same house and it was hard to keep secrets from Charles so Alex just assumed he knew and neither of them ever objected to it.
She was right with what she said though and it made him worried that she might think he was just trying to use her as some sort of replacement. He wasn't. She was her own person that he'd been drawn to. It was just a strange situation. One that he would never have even begin to imagine he'd find himself in. Yet at the same time it seemed to be very much something that would happen to him. He just had a thing about a strong competent woman and she was very much that.
"You are?" He set his own beer bottle down and leaned forwards closer to her. A little surprised but thankful. "You don't think I'm an idiot? You're gorgeous. If we'd have met in a club I might not be so subtle." Not that he suspected he was exactly subtle then.
"I don't think I want whatever this could be to be a one time thing but you say no, I'll respect that. But that's why I wanted to be honest with you." He'd back off and say nothing more about it. It was her choice. He also suspected Jean was going to be unhappy with him.