Page 80 of A Farmer’s Guide To Gamers

Instead, I stood here staring back at my best friend I’d been in love with for years unable to form a single damn word, much less a sentence.

“Kai?”

“It’s… It’s complicated.”

What the fuck do I mean ‘it’s complicated?!’

He pulled me closer, his intense gaze searching my face. Flashes of this afternoon hit me — him in just a towel, the fabric barely hanging onto his hips. Drops of water lingering on his body.

Fuck. This isn’t helping me.

But, apparently, this is just what I needed to happen, because being this close was almost like I could see the lightbulb turn on in his head.

“You like me?”

“You’re an idiot,” I told him hoarsely, turning my hand to cling to his. “Truth?”

“Truth,” he replied, his tone hushed.

“I’ve been in love with you for years. And I’m such a fucking idiot because I didn’t say anything sooner. But you… gah, do you know how hard it is to go up to your best friend, your pack mate, and hope you don’t fuck it up? Fuck everything up?”

I rambled on and on as he just stood there studying me, as if trying to understand.

“Aiden. I really need you to say something. Fuck, hit me at this point. I just need a response and you not just staring at me.”

“Okay.”

“Okay?” I jerked back. “What the fuck do you mean?! Okay?!”

“I mean okay,” he replied, as unruffled as ever.

“What the fuck⁠—?”

My sentence was cut off as he slanted his lips over mine. My brain short-circuited and it took a minute for me to respond, but Aiden didn’t seem to mind.

Ignoring the tremble in my hands, I let go of his hand and slid them into his hair, and pulled him close. He groaned into the kiss and I opened my mouth, my tongue sliding along his as I savored finally getting a taste of him on my lips.

He tasted even better than I imagined.

“Fuck,” I rasped when we finally broke apart. “When the others find out, there’s no way I’m saying you initiated after all this time. It was totally me.”

“No, it wasn’t,” Aiden purred, fucking purred, in my ear as he tugged my hand. “But maybe you can convince me of that story later. Right now… I need sleep and we both know I can only sleep with you nearby.”

Nothing could have kept the delirious smile off my face as we both headed towards the extra room to sleep for the night.

We got comfortable, and I threw my arm around him. This time he put one around me too and we snuggled into each other.

Maybe today had rough bits, but I couldn’t imagine this date night ending up any better.

Tillie

“We have breakfast set up on the porch if you’re hungry,” Jack said as he peeked his head in. I’d just finished tying a bandana over my hair and put on my cute daisy overalls for today.

“I’m coming,” I grinned back as I pulled on my matching yellow socks, then hurried out to join them.

Dean and Jack had gone all out this morning while I was getting ready after doing early-morning farm chores.

“Wait, where are Kai and Aiden?”