Page 57 of A Farmer’s Guide To Gamers

I blindly followed my omega with my hand in hers, letting the warmth of it wake me up more than a cup of coffee ever could. I’d never felt anyone stir my emotions quite like she did. I orbited around her like she was the sun and I wanted to revel in her warmth.

Dew clung to the grass and coated our shoes. The fresh morning breeze blew past us, a bit of a chill causing her to shift closer. I didn’t overthink as I moved on instinct, my arm wrapping over her shoulders to offer warmth.

She sent a secret smile my way again, and I found my fingers itching to draw her. A new character concept was forming in my head and I made a mental note to bring it up to Kai later. He was the one I liked to bounce ideas off of when they hit.

Thinking about Kai, I wondered where the others were. Glancing over my shoulder, I saw that no one else was stirring, or at least outside yet, so that meant it was just us.

Tillie told me to walk carefully and slipped out of my hold to go and open a gate. Inside the gate was a beautiful pond that I had only seen small peeks of from the porch. Up close I realized just how much I had missed.

Ducks were stirring for the day, quacks and wings flapping filling the air. Tillie snagged my hand again, tugging me gently towards some trees and I saw that a small porch swing had been tucked away in there.

A small, hidden oasis.

She sat down and I settled next to her with my fingers already itching to start sketching again.

My artist mind was already whirling with the pond, watching how the ducks moved. Everything about the scene was drawing me in.

Not to mention the omega beside me that I barely knew. Yeah, we’d been around each other some, but conversations weren’t exactly my best skill.

My lips parted as I tried to thank her, the words sticking in my throat.

Tillie’s honey brown eyes glowed as they studied me, her soft curves leaning into me as she settled against me.

“Mind if I lay on you as you sketch? Would I be in the way?”

“As long as you don’t mind me jostling you as I work,” I told her honestly. “I get a bit…”

“In the zone?” she replied, laughing softly then I joined in.

“Maybe a bit,” I conceded.

“He’s one of my favorites.” Tillie pointed over at a duck swimming in the pond. “He’s a white crested duck.”

It looked like a regular white duck at first then he turned a bit and I saw something that made me start to laugh. This duck had a pouf of white feathers on his head like he was wearing some kind of old-fashioned wig.

“Don’t laugh at him, Aiden! He’s distinguished."

“Truly a gentleman,” I agreed with a chuckle.

We watched quietly as he moved around the pond and I knew I had to include him. I waited for Tillie to get comfortable before I started to draw again.

I took my time and focused on the ducks, drawing each feature that made them unique. The crested duck wasn’t the only one with flair. One had a white ring on his beak. He looked different from the other farm ducks and I couldn’t help but ask about him.

“That little guy joined us one year during migration. I guess he decided that life wasn’t for him and sort of fell into the fold and never left,” she admitted. “He’s wild, so I don’t put him up with the others but he sure eats like they do.”

I’d just finished perfecting that duck when she stirred again. Her sigh was almost reluctant.

“Sorry, I have to go start farm chores,” she admitted.

“That means we do, too,” I said as I tucked away the stylus and closed my tablet case.

“I’m not used to help,” she said as we made our way out of the little oasis and back to the farmhouse. It was still quiet inside.

“I’m not sure what kind of help we’ll actually be,” I admitted with a grimace. “Outside of Dean, most of us haven’t had to do this kind of work. Or anything farm related to be honest.”

“You’ll adjust.” She was so confident that I didn’t bother to disagree. I’d likely never adjust to taking care of a farm. Even one as gorgeous and serene as Tillie’s.

Farming outside of a video game was just too daunting. Not to mention my lack of sleep most days.