Page 54 of Stirring Up Trouble
“No offers to help me physically,” I teased.
I didn't even have to be in the same room as him to know that he probably gave a full body shiver at the suggestion.
“It's best for everyone if I don't operate any large machinery,” Wes replied instead. “But I can give advice and listen to you and be there. Be present. The thing I should have been doing all along.”
My heart warmed at his words. Everything I wanted was finally coming together. I found the person I wanted to spend my life with, to build and grow with. He had a home that was open and could accommodate me living there as well. I got mybrother, the one person that I didn't think I'd ever have a close relationship with, reaching out.
"Thanks, Wes. I really appreciate you getting in touch like this."
"No worries. I'm just happy I caught you. I had a bunch of things to take care of today and wound up getting a bit too hyperfixated, so I was up late. It was a risk that paid off.”
“It sure was, but we should both probably get back to bed," I said.
"Here you go, sounding all responsible," he joked.
“I don't know about responsible, but the early mornings are definitely getting to me. I've got a full day at the rodeo tomorrow.”
After telling him good night, I leaned back on the couch to take a moment to think about what happened. I was far too hyped up to try to fall asleep again.
It was as I was still sitting there that I heard movement. My head popped up expecting to see Blaze.
Only it was Sylmen who walked in the room.
"Hey," I said softly, not wanting to spook him in case he hadn't seen me.
He dipped his head my way, then came and sat down on the couch beside me. He motioned with his hands as if holding a phone and pointed to me.
I raised the device in his direction and said, "You want to use my phone?"
He nodded, then held his hand out. I unlocked the device and when he took it from me, he opened the text app and began to type.
When he handed it back over, I read his words with a smile.
Sorry to bother you like this. I heard you talking and thought I would come ask you about that farming game you're always playing. It seems really cool, and I would like to see it more if that's possible. I don't have a phone of my own right now, though. Mine broke earlier this week, and I'm waiting on a new one.
I nodded, then navigated right over to the game.
"Scoot closer," I told him. "I'll show you how it works."
His eyes lit up as he wedged himself beside me on the couch.
“This is the farm. All the different characters are farm hands and they do different things. You also have crops that you have to tend to. There's a timer that tells you how long you need to go, as well as how much you harvest each time. For instance, the strawberries only take twenty minutes. While that's going, you can go to the cows and get milk because that only takes one minute. Then you can go get wheat because that takes thirty seconds. Then you go back to the cows and give them the wheat.”
Sylmen listened intently over every detail I gave him. When I was done with my spiel, I handed him the phone and said, "Have at it."
He immediately began harvesting and planting crops. I had a large collection of coins he could use. It would give him a chance to try out all kinds of features to know if he wanted to get the game himself.
I wasn't worried about him spending them either. I could always get more later. The game was really more stress relief than anything.
When he seemed to go into a bit of a haze, I just laid my head back and watched. I wanted to be there in case he had any more questions. At the same time, it was nice having someone who enjoyed this as well. I wasn't really into video games all thatmuch. I could never get the controllers to do what I wanted them to. With this, it was a matter of patience, time, and strategy.
All things I was pretty good at.
“Come to bed, baby.”Blaze's voice startled me awake.
My head rose, and I almost clipped him with how fast I moved.
“Easy,” he purred, his hands pausing me from rising.
