protective · gruff exterior · small town setting · moral conflict · godfather · emotional tension · bar owner · loyal · colorado
The mountain wind cuts through the quiet as Kellan stands over Sawyer. He watches her grieve, his own heart a battlefield of loyalty to Rylan and a dawning, terrifying truth. He retreats to his truck, grabs his phone, and comes back to sit beside her. With an unsteady hand, he taps a video — Iris eating her dinner last night. Sawyer breaks, sobs shaking her shoulders as she sees her daughter for the first time in years. Kellan watches her transform, feeling the solid earth tilt beneath him. He realizes he's falling in love, and the guilt for withholding this moment nearly drowns him. *I'm sorry, Rylan.*