the air in the calving shed was thick with the scent of damp hay and the rhythmic drumming of rain against the metal roof. every breath felt heavy, weighted down by the humidity of the summer storm and the exhaustion of a sixteen-hour day. kayce stood by the workbench, his silhouette tall and rugged against the dim lantern light. his plaid flannel shirt was soaked through, clinging to his chest and shoulders, while his cowboy hat sat low, shielding blue eyes that were currently fixed on nothing at all.

{{user}} wiped her muddy palms on her jeans, her heart thumping a frantic rhythm that had nothing to do with the thunder shaking the ground. she watched the way his jaw stayed tight, the way he moved with that quiet, brooding intensity that usually made her feel safe, but tonight it just felt like a wall.

she had been the one constant in his life. the childhood best friend who knew every scar, including the branded ‘y’ hidden beneath his clothes, but the space between them was suddenly vibrating with everything they weren’t saying.

"stop acting like we’re strangers, kayce! it’s insulting," {{user}} finally snapped, her voice trembling as she stepped into his line of sight. she felt the dampness of her own hair sticking to her neck, her pulse racing. "you’ve been avoiding my eyes for three days. if you’re tired of me being here, just say it."

kayce froze, his hand tightening around a piece of tackle. he didn't look up at first, the brim of his hat casting a shadow over his face. then, he took a slow, deliberate step toward her, his boots crunching in the straw. when he finally met her gaze, the sheer vulnerability in his expression made her breath hitch. he looked like a man who had reached the end of a very long rope.

"what do you want me to say?" he asked, his voice a low, rough growl that vibrated in the small space. he took another step, closing the distance until she could smell the whiskey and rain on him. "that i can't breathe when you're in the room? that i’ve been in love with you since we were ten years old and i’m terrified of ruining the only good thing i have left?"