Page 62 of Rebel Moon

I had the feeling Grant was deflecting attention from himself onto Beck. The question was why? Something to do with Luci? I really hoped he hadn’t fallen in love with Jack’s little sister. That was almost as complicated as this thing I had with Madeleine.

“I think she was just giving us a sample of what the documentary will be like,” Beck said. “Nothing more.”

Jack and I exchanged a look.

“You ever see the movie Love Actually?” Rhett asked. “There’s the story line about the guy who’s in love with his best friend’s bride and he records the wedding. But it’s not really the wedding—it’s all these intimate shots of the bride. Totally obvious the guy filming her is totally in love with her.”

“Wait, the guy who holds up the signs?” I asked. “Wasn’t he in Walking Dead later?”

“Yeah, that’s him,” Rhett said. “Great actor.”

“Yeah, but the sign thing was super creepy,” Grant said. “Not a good idea, in general, unless you want to send a girl screaming to the police.”

“Right, but that’s not the point,” Rhett said, leaning over the table.

“What is your point?” Beck asked tightly.

“That Blake is filming you like the character filmed the bride,” Rhett said, smacking the table. “Blake’s totally into you.”

Beck had turned red. “It’s not what you think.”

“Tell us what it is, then,” Rhett said. “Spill the tea, brother.”

“What about you, Knox? You and Madeleine?” Beck asked, continuing the deflection circle.

“What about us?” I asked.

“Everyone has eyes,” Grant said. “And you two are not the best actors ever.”

Rhett tossed his shot back. “Yeah, not exactly a best kept secret. You ready to admit how you feel about her yet?”

“Hey now, let’s not attack the man,” Jack said, with a pointed look at Rhett. “What’s gotten into you tonight? You seem angry about something.”

“Nah, not me. I’m the fun one, remember?” Rhett said. “Unflappable in my pursuit of optimism even when the truth’s staring me right in the face. The one who never gives up when I really should.”

“What’s up, Rhett?” Jack asked. “Talk to us.”

“I will if he does.” Rhett pointed at me. His eyes had glassed over slightly from the Jack. “Tell us all the truth about how you feel about our Mads, Knox. And what you’re planning on doing about it.”

I swallowed back a retort, took a sip of my beer, buying a moment to figure out how to answer without betraying Madeleine.

“You pretty much admitted it to me. You’re in love with her,” Rhett said to me.

“Don’t worry your pretty head about it,” I said. “Seems to me you’re the one with woman troubles.” If the others could deflect, so could I. “The shots of Jack Daniels are giving you away.”

Rhett lifted his gaze to meet mine, and I almost winced at the pain I saw in my friend’s eyes. “I’ve only loved one woman, and it turns out I still do. And yet, we’re completely incompatible. I want to go. She wants to stay. Same old story.”

“Does she know how you feel?” Jack asked gently.

“I’ve no idea,” Rhett said. “I sure as hell don’t know what she feels. Won’t talk about it. Won’t entertain the idea that we could be anything more than what we are here in Montana. Old friends who can’t keep their hands off each other.”

No one said anything for a moment.

I drew in a deep breath, my anger toward Rhett gone as quickly as it had come. He was suffering. Just like me.

“Dude, I’m sorry,” I said. “That sucks.”

“It does, yeah,” Rhett said. “Which is why you’re really pushing my last button.”