Page 56 of Gamers' Omega

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“Why do you smell so good, Pico?” I asked.

Beck laughed. “Welcome to the bird sniffers club.”

“Huh? That’s a thing?”

Tony laughed. “Not officially, but it seems to be common among bird owners. Plenty of people like their smell.”

“It is nice,” I said.

“I think so too,” Beck agreed.

“I always seem to end up with a fluff feather in my nose,” Tony laughed.

I smiled and watched as Pico flew to Beck’s shoulder.

“Pico, Pico, Pico,” Beck sing-songed. “Little birdie stink-o.”

I burst into laughter as Beck made a show of sniffing Pico’s back.

“Are we huffing the bird again?” Ian joked from the hall.

“Looks like it,” Freddie chimed in. “Come here, Pico!”

Pico flew over, and I couldn’t hold back giggles when Freddie sniffed him.

“Bunch of weirdos,” Ian laughed. “You’re normal, right Eric?”

“Sorry,” Tony replied before I could. “He’s fallen prey to the allure of bird smell.”

“Nooooo!” Ian mock-gasped, holding a hand to his chest and pretending to stagger back dramatically.

I burst into laughter.

“How was your appointment?” Freddie asked as he rounded the couch and took a seat.

I let out a long sigh. “We were just discussing that. It was hard, but good. I think we got the floor laid so that we can move forward.”

He leaned in and kissed my temple. “That’s good.”

I smiled, then remembered something else. “Oh, yeah. I have good news.”

“What’s what?” Ian asked.

“I talked to my landlord to ask if I could sublet. He said that if I can be out by the end of the month, he’ll release me from the lease without a fee. Apparently, he’s done that before because he can do short-term summer rentals.”

“Really?” Tony asked.

I nodded.

Ian reached over, picked me up, and spun me around. “I can’t wait until you’re here with us every day.”

I laughed as he set me down. “Me neither.”

“Just tell us what day you want us there to help you move,” Freddie said. “We’ll be there.”

∞∞∞

The bed was warm and comfortable.

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