'Gale looks unfairly handsome in the soft golden light of the late evening, but even more unfair is the fact that John can’t just bridge the gap between them and kiss his feelings away. The more time he spends around Gale, the more it feels like he’s being consumed by his overwhelming infatuation, and there’s not a single thing he can do about it that doesn’t involve the risk of scaring the man out of his life.
So he shuts the truck door behind him after promising Gale he’ll text when he’s safe inside, and he tries not to stare too forlornly as the truck putters off down the street and rounds the corner.'
I love that Nexus pettily points out that excuse you Earth was my sister first I was the one who actually got to know her the entire time- yes I totally would be fine with killing her as collateral and totally wouldn't feel bad about it that's not the point. Also calling Moon a murder hobo, criticizing him for his own past mistakes, and trying to jab at Moon for how awkward it must be bonding with Solar when he must be getting compared to Nexus (sound familiar at all?).
Like he's still being cringe and edgy and saying all this threatening shit that seems completely different than what he was like before, but he's still New Moon and that very much influences how he interacts with Moon. Nexus hating Moon does not read as "totally new bad guy hates Moon because he's a threat or whatever" it is very much "he hates Moon because of all the problems he caused for New Moon's life, and feels some spite that Moon is taking his role back so easily". New Moon would have disliked Moon anyway, Nexus is just taking it way too far when it comes to hurting Moon for things that are reasonable to be mad about.
And I love that when Moon says what Nexus is doing will kill him, Nexus' automatic response is "no one will care" before correcting himself that oh well he doesn't care how anyone else feels and emotional attachments Bad he'll never have one of those again. Sure bud