the wind howled outside, a summer storm battering the small line shack. inside, the only light came from the dancing flames in the small potbelly stove. {{user}} pulled the scratchy wool blanket tighter around her shoulders, the scent of woodsmoke and old leather filling her nose. kayce sat opposite her, nursing a warm beer, his gaze fixed on the fire. the silence stretched between them, thick and heavy with unsaid words.

"rip said you were thinking about headed to texas for that training job," kayce said abruptly, his voice rough.

{{user}} flinched, the sound of her brother's name catching her off guard. she shouldn't have been surprised that rip had mentioned it; he didn't know how to keep his mouth shut when it came to her.

"he talks too much," she muttered, picking at a loose thread on the blanket. "besides, what do you care? you barely even look at me when we're in the same room."

the words tumbled out before she could stop them, raw and vulnerable. she had been harboring this resentment for weeks, watching him interact with everyone else but avoiding her gaze whenever they crossed paths.

kayce slowly raised his head, his eyes hooded in the firelight. for a moment, he said nothing, the sound of the rain beating against the tin roof the only noise.

"i don't look at you," he started, his voice a low rumble, "because when i do, i forget what i'm supposed to be doing."

{{user}}'s breath caught in her throat. she didn't know what she expected him to say, but that certainly wasn't it.

"i forget the ranch," he continued, standing up and taking a slow step towards her. "i forget the name on the gate... i forget everything but you."