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“Too bad.” A flash of irritation flared. “You don’t do what you two did this month and not at least have a conversation about it.”

“It’s over.” To my great alarm, tears flooded his eyes. “She’s made sure of that. I can’t forgive her for this.”

“If she did hear you and didn’t let you in, then yeah. But we know Madeleine. She’s good people, even though she comes off as driven and cold. But we’ve all seen another side of her here. We all think it’s because of you. You’ve brought out her playful, fun side.”

“I do wonder what happened between now and yesterday,” Knox said. “Can’t help but want to know what I did.”

“You didn’t do anything wrong. This is all her. She’s one of the bravest people I know but also the most cowardly. When it comes to her personal life, she always chooses to walk away. That’s just who she is.”

“I was thinking out there about you and the other boys—how you’re my family.” He was openly crying now and didn’t seem to care. In all the years I’d known him, I’d never seen him like this.

“You’ve all brought out the best in me. Given me a place to belong. Made it the time of my life. I thought I was going to die, you know, and it was all so clear.” He tapped his forehead with his long, talented fingers. “This life—this beautiful life we built—it’s because of all of you. My brothers.”

Apparently it was my turn to tear up. “Now stop that. You didn’t die. You’re right here, drinking whiskey with your brother.”

“I’m glad I have the chance to tell you I love you,” he said, tears still coming. “I didn’t think I would. Not to mention I’d ruin Ivy’s wedding if I was dead three days before the ceremony.” He laughed, still crying at the same time. “She would have killed me all over again.”

“It would have ruined the wedding, that’s for certain.” I poured myself another drink. “I don’t know about Montana. This place does a thing to a man.”

“Tell me about it,” Knox said. “It’s turned me into an idiot.”

“To be fair, you’ve always been an idiot most of the time.”

He sighed and wiped his eyes. “Thank God I have another chance to make better choices. Thanks to you.”

“Ivy would’ve been really mad if we were both dead,” I said. “I didn’t think about that part. Saw you out there—and I didn’t think twice. Like you said, I guess my dad did something good.”

“You’re my family,” Knox said. “You know that, right?”

“You’re my family too. I would never want anything to pull us apart.”

He peered at me. “You got something on your mind?”

“I can’t talk about it.”

“Is it Luci?” Knox asked.

I froze for a second before looking at him. “Luci?”

“I can see how you feel about her. I’ve suspected it for years.”

“Oh. Yeah.” Suspected it for years? Fantastic.

“I may be a jackass at times, but I see things, especially when it involves one of you.”

I shook my head. “I can’t do it, Knox. I can’t hurt Jack that way.”

“You think he’d be opposed?”

“Wouldn’t you be if you were him?” I asked.

“Um, actually, no. I’d be real happy if my sister was in love with a man who would risk his own life in a snowstorm to save his idiot friend. Dude, you’re one of the good ones. Jack knows that.”

“Yeah, but what if I messed it up and hurt Luci? He’d never forgive me. I’d wreck the band.”

“Do you know how Luci feels?” Knox asked.

It took me a second to answer. “Yeah, I do.”