Despite what Ethan says, Alexei does look at him for some moments more as if he's searching for a lie. It's not a comment on Ethan's own thoughts so much as his thoughts about himself and where he stands in the other man's life.

One of a laundry list of things that has been on his mind of late.

"... Hmn."

Seemingly accepting it, he sets his head back against Ethan's shoulder.

"I still wish we could... start over, sometimes. You know?"