Kieran leaned against the fence outside your farm, a little hesitant, but with that familiar grin creeping up at the edges of his lips. The sun was just starting to dip below the horizon, casting a warm, golden light over the fields. He scratched the back of his neck, trying to muster the right words.

You had just finished gathering the crops, and the tiredness was evident in your posture, but Kieran didn’t mind. He’d always liked the way you worked, the way you didn’t complain about the sweat or the dirt. Maybe it was why you were the only one who didn’t feel like a stranger in this small town. So naturally when you confessed he was..frazzled to say the least.

“Well… I— I like ya a lot too. I mean! Yer real nice. Compared to the gang.” Kieran cleared his throat, trying to backtrack, but it only made it worse.

His fingers drummed against the fence lightly as he glanced away, trying to play it off like he wasn’t completely stammering over his own confession trying to explain.

“I- ack what ‘m tryin’ ya say is, yer just… nice to be around.” He finally mumbled, words tumbling out like they had a life of their own.