Page 32 of A Farmer’s Guide To Gamers

At all.

I grimaced as I forced myself to save my progress so far and then make a copy. Better to do that to make any changes to the concept art than try to go backwards if this seventh take didn’t go well either.

Ding.

I almost ignored it but then another ding drew my attention and I knew I couldn’t put it off.

Reaching over I snagged my phone to see that we had gotten a message from Tillie. Just the thought of her had me perking up. It had only been a day and I missed her presence already.

Tillie

Hey! To try and smooth over the awkwardness of the flowers the other day I made you all some sourdough bread loaves. But then I realized I have no idea where you live.

Jack immediately responded with our address and Kai popped in saying thank goodness because his brain needed a break from work.

I didn’t really have anything to add so I was about to just put my cell down to continue working until she got here when another text came in.

But this time it wasn’t from Tillie, it was from my sister.

Addison

Hey bro! What’s going on?

Aiden

You never message me. What’s wrong?

Addison

If something was wrong I’d be calling you.

Aiden

… If you need to call me, I’m not doing anything.

Immediately my phone started to ring and I answered with a sigh. Addison’s face filled my screen, her smile bright enough to reassure me this wasn’t anything bad.

She had her platinum blonde hair twisted into a messy bun but tendrils hung around, sticking to her face. Her makeup was done perfectly as it usually was. She was meticulous about everything, including her looks.

“Like I said before, what’s wrong, sis?”

She let out a huff. “Why does something have to be wrong to talk to my twin brother?”

“Because we don’t text at random unless something’s going on.” It was blunt, but true. My twin and I had always been close but we were the kind that could call and pick up where we left off.

“Okay, fair. I have news,” she admitted as she propped the phone up next to her stove. The sound of sizzling in the pan echoed through as she spoke. Talking to her was like being in the house with her. Addison would do chores, clean, or cook while chatting.

Usually her best friends were at the brunt of this, but she was one of the few outgoing people that I enjoyed hanging out with, even if it was mostly like this.

Virtual hangouts, as she called it.

“Addison,” I grumbled, “out with it.”

She smirked, knowing how impatient I was as she threw something in the pan and ignored me for a solid minute. All I could do was wait it out.

“You’re a brat,” I accused as I pushed away from my computer. I needed a break anyway.

“I found a pack.”