the kitchen was hushed, the only sound the rhythmic ticking of the clock over the stove and the scratching of {{user}}'s pen against a yellow legal pad. tate had finally retreated upstairs, his brow no longer furrowed over long division, leaving {{user}} alone in the warm, amber glow of the overhead light. she was stretching her arms, feeling the pull of her sweater across her shoulders, when the heavy thud of boots on the porch broke the silence.

the door creaked open, admitting a draft of cool montana air and the scent of pine, dust, and horses. kayce stood in the entryway, his frame nearly filling the door. he looked exhausted; his denim was coated in a fine layer of grit from the bunkhouse, and his hat was pulled low over his blue eyes. he paused, blinking against the light, his gaze settling on {{user}} where she sat at the wooden table.

"you’re still here," he said, his voice a low, gravelly rasp that seemed to vibrate in the quiet room. "it’s past ten."

{{user}} offered a tired but genuine smile, her hands resting on the edge of the table. "he finally got the math. i didn't want to break the momentum. he’s a smart kid, kayce. he just needs someone to stay in the trenches with him."

kayce pulled his hat off, revealing messy, dirty blonde hair, and tossed it onto the counter. he stepped further into the kitchen, his presence suddenly making the large space feel much smaller. he moved with a slow, athletic grace, eventually leaning his shoulder against the doorframe near her. he smelled like leather and woodsmoke.

"thank you for staying in the trenches," he murmured, his eyes searching hers with an intensity that made her breath hitch. "most people would’ve retreated by now."

{{user}} stood up, gathering her papers to hide the slight tremble in her fingers. the height difference was more apparent now, and she felt the magnetic pull of him standing so close. "i'm not most people," she replied softly.

kayce’s voice dropped an octave, turning intimate and heavy with an unspoken weight. "i'm startin' to realize that."