Out of everyone I miss, I miss my dad the most. Crazy I know, but we were always close. There was one time when Jax told me I was a 'daddy's girl', he couldn't have been more right. Especially after the night in the woods, everything we had experienced, I needed my dad. So when I moved away I found myself calling him every single night. It was the only way I could sleep.

My family came to visit multiple times a year, but it was always my dad that I wanted to stick around. We decided that once a year we would have a Gabby/Dad/Zo weekend where we would go see a Vikings home game. This quickly became my absolute favorite day of the year. Zo loves this just as much as me; grandpa is her favorite.

Today is that day. SKOL Vikings.

My favorite Kirk Cousins jersey is on with some white leggings and my yellow chucks, hair is up in a high ponytail and there is an adorable four year old dressed the exact same waiting to be picked up by her favorite person, who isn't me. I don't blame her, grandpa is awesome.

I practically skip out of work to my car. I'm planning on meeting my dad at my place and the we can go pick up Zo from preschool together. I fish through my purse to find my keys and when I look up that's when I see someone leaning against my car. Not just anyone, I see Kane. My stomach twists with nerves as I attempt to ignore him, not making any type of eye contact.

"What are you doing here?" I ask as I unlock my car. I haven't spoken to him in five years. I'm not sure how he even knows where I am. That's the big secret, right? Where in the world is Gabby Brooks? The girl who disappeared from Luxberg after crying rape, her best friend's murder, and her boyfriend's suicide.

"Your dad thought you wouldn't go today if he told you."

My heart sinks. "Tell me what?"

"He couldn't come today. He was summoned yesterday and couldn't get out of it. How long have you been living here?"

"He's not coming?" I look to Kane with a frown. My heart is broken, this is our day. Why the hell did he send Kane?

"He handed me the tickets and told me to take you to the game. Told me to wait right here at three o'clock. Here I am. He gave me three tickets though, who else was going?"

I roll my eyes. "You shouldn't be here."

"Well I'm here. Ready to take you to an NFL game. You look good Gabby. It's been a long time." He places his hands into his pockets as if he's uncomfortable being here. He looks good too. Dark tight jeans, a black v-neck T-shirt. His hair is messy and spiked in a good way. He's all muscle, he always was but he's been working out. I force myself not to look.

"Thanks" I mutter.

"Come on Gabs, let's go see a game. I know you were looking forward to seeing your dad today. I wasn't expecting this either. Shit, I thought I'd never see you again..."

My eyes glare at him. "Is that what you wanted?"

"What? No! That's not how I meant it. I've missed seeing you around town. I still have your order memorized and I guess I'm always hoping you'll walk back into my bar."

"I assure you that won't be happening. I'm not going back to Luxberg."

His head drops with a nod. "I get that."

No he doesn't. Asshole. He called me a liar.

Tears begin falling down my face as I get into my car. "Go home Kane. Don't tell anyone where I am."

He rushes around the other side of the car and opens the door, placing his ass in my passenger seat.

"Give me a day, Gabby. I'm here. Your dad says this is a big day for you every year. We will have fun. We used to have so much fun together. Your senior year sucked but before that Gabby, you were one one my best friends. I miss you. I missed you then and I miss you now. Let's have fun."

I lean back in my seat and look back at the man beside me. Do I want to do this? Let Kane into my life? It's been five years. Have I missed him too? Yes. I miss that friendship I had before senior year. That absolutely does not change the fact that senior year happened. I can't forget it. It's the reason why I am here. I started a whole new life because of people like him.

"One game. When you go home you don't mention anything about where I am or what we did other than meet up for a Vikings game."

I large grin covers his face, one I've missed. "Deal."

I toss my purse into the backseat and start the car as he puts on his seatbelt. That's when I see his eyes light up as he sees what else is behind us.

"Gabby... um, why do you have a booster seat in the backseat?"

I sigh and look him in the eye. "We have to make a stop before we go to the stadium."

He swallows hard, glances back at the seat again and then looks out his window. Yeah, not so interested now, are you? This is such a mistake, I can't believe my dad sent him up here. Why couldn't Syd come? I could have handled a sister day.

Our drive is silent. I pull up to my daughter's school, cut the engine and wait.

"How old?" He breaks his silence. I keep my eyes focused on the school doors and not on him.

"Four."

"Jax's?"

"Yep."

More silence fills the car for a few minutes, he shifts uncomfortably in his seat before clearing his throat. "Is this why you left?"

I turn to him and shake my head no. "I had a lot of reasons for leaving. So many I can't count. You were one."

"Yeah, that doesn't surprise me." I watch his eyes leave mine and peer out the window behind me. "Holy shit Gabby, she looks just like you." He smiles big as he watches a little blonde girl with a bouncing ponytail and a purple Vikings Jersey leave the school. I didn't even have to tell him I had a daughter. "She's your mini!"

I smile big at her. "Wait until you hear her. She's definitely mine."

Zo runs to the car as fast as she can, excited for her big night. "SKOL Vikings!" she yells as she crawls into her booster seat. Kane laughs and shakes his head, understanding that this is totally the granddaughter of Dan Brooks.

"Zo this is my friend Kane. Grandpa couldn't come so he sent Kane to hang out with us."

She nods while staring at him intensely. "Why is she looking at me like that?" Kane whispers.

I look back at Zo and back to Kane and laugh. "He's not a Packer fan."

"Oh good!" She smiles happily.

"Wow. What as grandpa been teaching you?" Kane peers back to her.

"That Packer fans can't be trusted because their heads are full of cheese instead of brains."

I cover my mouth with my hand to shield my smile. God I love my daughter and the shit that comes out of her mouth.

<><><>

Kane and Zo talk the entire way to the stadium. She tells him all about our life. She loves to talk, so I let her. Even as I carry her into US Bank Stadium her mouth never stops. He takes every word of it in, making her feel that this is a very important conversation. She tells him all about her school day, about our apartment, about how I work in a library. She is absolutely amazed when she finds out they have mutual friends, such as uncle Felix.

"I need to sit by Kane!" Zo yells as soon as we take walk to our seats. My daughter is not shy, but in a way it baffles me how quickly she takes to him. He's just as excited about their conversation as she is. She sits between us and I suddenly feel jealous of my four year old. Stupid, right? I've cried over this guy. He made me feel like complete shit. I guess part of me misses home, Kane being part of that. I push the thought to the back of my mind. I know this is for the best. She can talk his ear off so that I don't have to. I can avoid the talk of why I would never go back home. My focus changes to the game in front of me. Packers vs Vikings games are always the most fun. It's a Midwest rival thing. It's nice that the teams are so close together so lots of fans from both sides are present. It helps that it's nice out today. They keep the massive doors open so a nice breeze fills the indoor stadium.

"You live by grandpa?"

"I do. I see grandpa and grandma almost every single day. Luxberg is tiny compared to here."

"Mom doesn't like Luxberg, she's afraid of it."

"Zo!" My eyes get big and I shake my head no. Kane frowns at me. Now the conversation needs to stop.

"You are!" she replies innocently. "You're afraid of the lake and the woods!"

I offer her my phone with the children's YouTube app pulled up, something she always begs for and never gets. This shuts her up as I look back to the field and ignore the look I'm getting from Kane right now.

By the end of the fourth quarter the game is crazy, tied at fourteen with numerous injuries to both side's offensive lines. Everyone is on their feet cheering. The man in front of Zo is wearing the most ridiculous hat shaped like a chunk of cheese, preventing her from seeing the field. Her little eyes dart from left to right around the guy as he moves. Kane shakes his head at him and then picks up Zo from her seat, placing her on his shoulders so she can see the game.

"Mommy look at me!" she yells excitedly.

"I see you!" I smile at Kane. He looks just as happy with this. Part of me loves this, seeing how she acts around a male role model. Part of me hates it, because I want nothing more than for Jax to be the one holding her. What would he think of his daughter on 'bar-boy's' shoulders? Would he be mad at me? Would he be okay with it knowing his daughter is happy? Part of me wonders the same thing about me. It's the reason why I haven't dated since Jax. I've tried. I always come back to wondering what he would think of me for liking someone else.

"RUN!!" Zo yells from his shoulders. I turn back to the field and see that Aaron Rogers ball had been intercepted and the Vikings defense is running for the winning touchdown. Kane bounces her up and down as they cheer for the win.

I'm not cheering, I'm just smiling at how happy these two goofs look.

<><><>

Kane carries my very sleepy daughter up three flights of stairs to my apartment and puts her into her bed.

"She's going to be very disappointed in the morning. She was really looking forward to giving you a tour of our two-bedroom apartment." I chuckle as Kane makes his way back to the door. He laughs, Zo talked about this the entire way home until she finally passed out.

"Thank you for going with me today Gabby. It was really good seeing you." His eyes catch mine and I nod, then look away quickly.

"Good to see you too, Kane. Tell your dad hello for me."

"Will do, goodnight" he nods and walks out, shutting the door behind him.

I lean against the door after it clicks shut. Today was fun. It's been so long since I've had fun. I mean obviously, college with Cole and Morgan was a good time, until their fallout. But this was different. This was the type of fun I had before senior year. Back when I thought I would marry Kane and have a family in Luxberg with him. That would never be possible. His life is there, mine is here, he was a jerk. A big jerk. A big jerkish asshole. So why do I not want him to go?

The knock on the door I'm leaning against causes me to jump and I quickly open it to find Kane in the hallway.

"I didn't apologize."

I swallow hard and watch him frown and look at the floor.

"I fucked up, Gabby." His head shakes with his own resentment. "I should have believed you. He was my brother but it was you and I should have stuck up for you. I was so fucking torn because I was already losing a member of my family and it was Tyler vs the girl I loved from the day she tripped in the backyard."

I blink back tears, not knowing what to say to him. Do I blame him for wanting to stick up for his brother? No. We all want to think the best of the people we love. He stood up for his brother, Felix didn't do that for me. Felix also never apologized for it. It was the fact that he called me a liar in front of everyone by saying I was drunk that night that pissed me off, and he's apologizing for it. He's apologizing to the point where he is standing before me in tears. I have never seen Kane cry, not once.

"So I'm sorry. I'm sorry for being one of the reasons that made you afraid of home. But I need you to know that I never stopped loving you. Not the day I found out about you and Tyler, not the day you came forward about being raped, not when you left my sorry ass at prom, not when you chose Jax over me and I definitely didn't stop when you disappeared."

My breathing intensifies as I watch him. His dark eyes leave the floor and find mine again. He walks forward, wraps his arms around my waist and places his forehead against mine. "I'm so fucking sorry" he whispers. "For all of it."

I find myself staring at his lips. I want to kiss him. I want to forgive him. This can't amount to anything though, he's a Luxberg-lifer. I refuse to drag my heart through something that isn't worth it.

"We can't do this" I whisper back. "I can't go back. I can't do it. A trip? Maybe someday. But I'm not ready and you'll never-"

His soft lips press to mine. Passion warms every part of my body as I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him back. "I'd go anywhere for you and that spunky little blonde. Because shit, after one afternoon with her, how could I want to leave? I haven't had this much fun in years and it was with a four year old who reminds me of everything I loved about an old friend. Name the place Gabby, I'll meet you there. I'd drop everything for two of you. The bar, the town, my brother, you name it. I won't give up on you this time. Today was the first of many dates I'm taking you on. I love you. Always have, always will."

I clutch his black shirt in my fists and pull him towards me again, pressing his lips to mine in an urgent kiss. I kick the door shut with one foot.

"I'm so sorry" he says again.

"I forgive you" I nod and tug at the hem shirt. He pulls it off over his head and my eyes widen at the sight of his abs. Holy... wow, yes. Those need to be pressed against me, like now.

Kane tugs at my jersey and soon all of our clothes are thrown throughout my apartment, ending with my favorite blue lace underwear and his boxers somewhere in my room.

"You're sure you want to do this?" he whispers against my lips. "I can wait, Gabby. I don't want to but I would for you."

"I don't want to wait." I kiss him, opening my mouth and allowing him to taste.

We both fall back into the bed, kissing, tasting, hands exploring every inch of each other. His hands are rough in the best way. Our bodies sync with each other's, pressed together, not wanting to part. His hips fall between my legs with ease, his erection pressed against my thigh. His fingers intertwine with mine above my head as he kisses my jaw.

"Ready, Gabs?" he whispers and places a small kiss below my ear. The feel of his breath tingles all the way down, spiking my arousal.

"Yes" I whisper back.

His mouth finds mine again, our kisses are messy and hot. He slowly dips his pelvis into mine in one swift motion I feel his body connect to mine.

"Kane" the moan drips from my mouth as my back arches in pleasure. His eyes lock to mine as he begins thrusting in and out of me, taking his time, savoring something that both of us once hoped would happen but thought it lost.

"Never again Gabby" he whispers and continues his movements. "I will never let you go again. I won't mess up this time. I want this. Us. I want you."

"I want this too. Please don't leave..."

His eyes sigh at my plea. "Never. I'm not going anywhere, I promise."

I grip his hands tighter and close my eyes. I feel my orgasm building and I'm not ready to give in. I want this to last longer.

His warm lips press against the space between my breasts. "I know you're close, Gabby. Let it happen, I'll give you another..."

My legs wrap around him tighter, my grip on his hands becomes firmer and I let go, letting the orgasm take me in waves of heat that makes my cheeks turn bright red. "Shit Kane..."

He smiles and increases his thrusts, adding a bit more pressure and going faster. It's not going to take long for another one, I feel it already. He releases my hands and I place them on his abs, feeling the sweat roll down them.

"Gabby, I'm close..."

"Me too." My body aches with anticipation, I know what's coming.

"Fuck Gabs!" He gives me a rough kiss to muffle his moans. His cock twitches with his release. He doesn't stop until he feels mine, my sex clenching to him, not wanting to separate. My moans fill his mouth until both orgasms have dwindled down to nothing.

Kane drops beside me and pulls me close to him, bringing us so that our noses are barely touching. He smiles as his eyes wander through mine.

"Tell me what you're thinking..." I whisper.

"I'm thinking about lots of things..."

"Like?"

"How amazing that Vikings game was today...". I laugh and slap his chest playfully as he grips me tighter and looks to me with his big dark eyes. "I'm thinking that this whole day was amazing. Every single part of it. I'm thinking that I always knew I loved you, but making love to you is the greatest feeling in the world. Now I'm just wondering how I can top today."

"With pancakes" I give an assuring nod.

"Pancakes?"

"Yeah, Zo and I love pancakes. It's our thing. You could get in on it if ya want. You, me, Zo... a pancake date."

He chuckles and places a sweet kiss on my lips. "I love pancakes. Deal."

He closes his eyes and pulls me in closer. I watch him as he slowly begins to fall asleep with me in his strong arms.

"Kane?" I whisper.

"Mmm?" His eyes remain shut, I'm not even sure he's completely awake.

"I love you too."

His lips curve up to a smile and I nuzzle myself in closer. We fall asleep quickly, waking again in the middle of the night to make love.

He thought he could never top this day. But the next day he allowed Zo to give him an extensive tour of our little home, followed by the best pancake date ever. He nailed it.