Kane's knuckles whitened as he gripped the steering wheel. He watched Kay from his truck, which was parked a good distance away from the cemetery covered in light snow. It took all of his inner strength to stay put as she wept at her mother's grave. He swallowed, knowing he hurt her deep. All he wanted to do was tuck her in his arms and absorb her pain.

He hadn't expected to meet Tanya or Tammy—whatever her name was—as he trudged through the nearest bar, consuming several Vermouths, shots of bourbon, and a beer. All he remembered was that she bore a resemblance to Kay and seemed eager enough to strike up a conversation. Sure, she had a stunning body and green eyes that rivaled most, but her aura didn't churn his inner beast like Kay's had when she was near him. With the image of her pouty lips, pear-shaped breasts and a cute little tattoo seared in his mind, he needed to know if she had more. The thought of exploring her skin made him squirm in his seat.

When he ran into her at the bookstore, he almost forgot about agreeing to the date with the other woman the night before. Kay's presence caught him off-guard when she approached him and he almost had half the mind to yank her into a deep kiss and saying to hell with the date altogether. It was merely a coincidence when Tina or whatever broke him out of his hungering stupor. As difficult as it was, he knew what had to be done. Guilt pierced his cursed soul. The last thing Kay needed was him putting her through hell.

"Fuck it," he reached for the door handle when Rain's words intervened.

Cut her loose.

He released the handle, stewing with reluctance.

This is necessary, he told himself. Kay didn't deserve an asshole like him—she deserved better. Much better. Someone who would die of old age, who didn't have to go into hiding every few decades. Who wouldn't burst into a raging lunatic each time his emotions were triggered the wrong way.

Someone normal.

Cut her loose.

Placing the truck in park, he let his foot off the gas as his ears perked up at the sound of some strange ringtone.

***

Kay wiped her tears with the back of her gloved hand, wishing her mother was with her in this very moment. She'd pull Kay into her embrace, allowing her to cry on her lap while she scratched her back for as long as needed. She'd bake her lemon cupcakes and watch movies with her. They were each other's everything. Two peas in a pod. No matter what life threw at them. Death couldn't separate their everlasting love for one another.

Curling up against her mother's epitaph, she traced the blue jay etched on the grey marbled slab. Along with the words, Her absence is like the sky, spread over everything. Her favorite quote from C.S Lewis.

Meg Myers' rendition of Running up that hill bellowed from Kay's pocket.

Someone was calling.

She didn't have the energy to speak to a single soul, the words pouring over how she felt in that moment. She only wanted to make a deal with God to swap places with her mother. On hands and knees, she'd beg God if she could to get her mother back, if only for a day.

"It was supposed to be us—just us. Why didn't you come to my graduation? I looked for you in that crowd," fresh tears washed over her cheeks. "Did I do something wrong? God, mom, I'm so lonely. I have no friends, no boyfriend, or family. It's like I don't matter here. I'm not worth anything to anyone. Mom- why did you leave me?" She sobbed, hugging her knees tightly to her chest, her breaths misting in narrow, white puffs.

Her phone rang again. She sniffled, digging it out of her coat and answered.

"Kayla, thank God. It's me- Chrissy." Kay's breath caught, her mind unable to formulate a thought as her words lodged in her throat. It had been nine years since she last spoke to her estranged sister.

Both had been close at one point with a two year age gap between them, but their parents had a major blowout, forcing a wedge against them. "I know it's been a while, and maybe it isn't appropriate for me to reach out, but I thought it was important for you to know. Dad- he. . .he isn't doing well, Kayla. He had a stroke yesterday," Chrissy paused, collecting herself. "I know it's a lot to ask, but- you have to come. Please."

***

Kay zipped her up her toiletries, shoving them into her purple Nike bag. She blew out a nervous sigh as she gathered everything she needed for the drive to Montana. Nine years was a long time. What did one say to a parent they barely knew? A parent who abandoned her and her mother as if they ceased to exist?

She should've said no. Had it been anyone else, and not Chrissy, the trip to see a man who solely carried her DNA would've been an easy pass. But she couldn't say no to Chrissy. She had a lot of respect for her big sister, despite how long it's been. It was the rest of the family she worried about.

Yanking the front door open, a large torso stood in the doorway causing Kay to scream at the top of her lungs and dropping her duffel bag as she jumped back. Hunched over, she took several breaths, hoping her heart would calm itself to a normal rhythm again.

"You've got to stop doing that!" She bit out as she glared at Kane, who was unaffected by her anger as he smirked at her.

"I think you scared off some squirrels," he scanned the length of her. "Going somewhere?"

"What's it to you?" She shoved past him, making her way to her car. Pausing in the middle of her driveway, she spotted his black, F-150 blocking her exit. She huffed, opening her passenger door and plopping her bag in the seat. She marched back into her house for her snack bag and two cases of bottled water before locking up.

"Need help with that?"

"Shouldn't you be on a date?"

Kay hobbled past him with the water bottles, and a bag full of snacks dangling from her shoulder. She was amazed at his audacity to even show up to her front door step after the shit he pulled at the bookstore. Her driveway was engineered with a slight slope. Though there was little snow on the concrete, Kay slipped on a thin layer of ice, losing her balance and landing on her butt. The top case of water bottles fell next to her, landing with a thud as a few bottles rolled all around her.

Kane stood over her, extending his hand out to help her up.

"Are you OK?" She smacked his hand away, setting the case she landed with aside to get up without his assistance.

"Never better," she muttered, heat flaming her body with embarrassment. She set the case into the backseat, then turned to grab the other one as Kane held it out for her. She hesitated for a moment before snatching the case out of his hands as a couple more bottles fell out of the plastic. He bent down to pick up each bottle. "I don't need your help."

He stood up, holding out three of the bottles to her in one hand.

"That's not what it looks like to me."

"I'm fine," she attempted to snatch the water from him, but he lifted them above her so she'd miss. Irritation swelled in her chest as she swiped at the bottles, only to miss again.

"You don't seem fine," he said, holding the bottles above her head so she'd have to hop to reach them.

"Wow, genius. Aren't you just special?" She mocked. He continued the game of monkey in the middle without the third person until she realized she could buy water in route if she needed to. She shoved her palms into his thick chest, meeting resistance. "Oh, keep them then, you attention-thirsty bastard, and move your damn truck!"

"Why? Where ya headed?"

"That's none of your damn business."

He stepped close to her, his face inches from hers, "What makes you say that?"

"Because I'm just passing through," she spat, her eyes reddening. His gaze faltered, becoming serious. She turned to get in her car, but he grabbed her wrist, spinning her around. She wrenched away from his grip as the bag slipped off her shoulder and all the snacks spilled to the ground. "To Montana- OK?" Frustration laced her tone as she shoved him again, beating her fists into his chest. She may as well been beating a large rock, the side of her palms aching from the impact.

Kay continued her assault to Kane's chest, pounding her fist against him over and over as he stood there, unmoving. Unfazed. His arms loosely by his side. She beat out the frustrations she felt for the past decade. All of it. Her mother's death, her father's absence, her family's alienation. Ryan's betrayal. Kane's elusiveness.

Meg Myers' lyrics sang out from her pocket again, no doubt, Chrissy calling and wondering if she'd taken off for the drive. Hot, angry tears streamed down Kay's face as she bawled. Fists of fury flying, her palms aching, muscles exhausted as she held her clenched fists against his chest. Her mind wiped from years of hurt. Years of being invisible to everyone. She wanted to drive to the cemetery and sink into the soil until she was laying next to her mother in her coffin. She wanted it all snuffed out until she was floating away into a peaceful abyss. It wasn't like she was needed anyway.

Her body shook as Kane's arms wrapped around her, drawing her close to him. Her wails grew louder, her body relenting against him until there was nothing left.

A cold silence draped over them as they stood there, clinging to one another. Kane's hand buried in her hair, the heat from his palm warming her neck. The knuckles from his other hand rubbing her back in a soothing motion.

"I'll drive."