Despondent, I sigh, then, as I’m carting a heaping helping of mashed potatoes to my mouth, I remember that egging Austin in the face is not at all what I wanted to bring up tonight. “You distracted me,” I murmur.
Sarcasmdrippingfrom his voice, Samson says, “I would never.”
If living with my all-time biggest crush has taught me anything, it is that he issomuch more vibrant in person than he was in the game. Seeing a cast of expressions that weren’t ever drawn will never grow old. Hearing the low hum of various emotions saturating his deep voice will always enamor.
Smitten.
I am still, and forever will be, smitten.
And I’m not saying it gets worse every day, but he also keeps feeding me, so, yeah.
Fresh milk, cream, butter, bread, andeverymasterful, homemade delicacy is detrimental to my heart’s health, clogging my arteries with unavoidable adoration.
Containing myself, I cross my ankles. “I was just wondering if you have ever considered getting a pet.”
He stares at me. Chewing. Gentle as possible after he swallows, he says, “Lemonade, we live on an animal farm.”
We. I’m never getting over that.Welive together. On an animal farm.
“So you’re pro pet, I take it?”
The skepticism in his expression delves into me. “What pet are we missing?”
“Oh, loads. Sheep and horses for two.”
“Goats, cows, and chickens are plenty of work on their own.”
I lift my finger into the air. “You know, in the game you stock more animals as the player levels up. Including sheep, horses,andducks, for three.” I’m so great at counting.
“I would consider ducks.”
“Duck eggs are more nutritious than chicken eggs, higher in protein, antioxidants, and omega-3.”
Samson lifts a brow. “Why do you know so many random facts about random things?”
It’s my turn to stare at him. “Slate’s game dialogue.”
“Ah.” He shakes his head and stuffs his mouth with more meat. “Makes sense.”
“Also, a fun thing calledGoogle, which is a database for all the knowledge that exists in my old world. My obsession with this game bordered on clinically diagnosable. I’d spend hours learning about rocks, agriculture…husbandry…a-and all sorts of other things.”
While I’m once again thinking about how cruel it is that the dev made Samson ahusbandmanthat you couldnot husband, he murmurs “Slate would kill for a Google.”
Let’s be real.
Slate would kill for a Dorito.
Anything new makes that man’s eyes light with crazy sparks.
“Slate must never know I’m from a different world.”
Samson nods. “Agreed.”
“And, also, you’ve distracted me again.”
He hums, amused. “No, I’m certain you distract yourself all on your own.”
I sigh. “Samson, I want to take down a queen slime lair, free the Mystic Forest, get abosssword, then unlock the Sky Dungeon,whichhas two puppies inside it.”
