It's funny, but the first thing I do in the morning (or rather, it's already almost noon), I go to Aiden. He is trying to lean his canvas on the corner of an old box.

"Hi," I say. Aiden turns and looks at me. Today his eyes are bright like the clear blue sky above. "What are you doing?"

"I wanted to make a couple of sketches," he blushes slightly and turns away. "And watercolor maybe..."

"We can make you a stand, or what is it called?"

"An easel," Aiden corrects me.

"Yeah, this!"

We go to the workshop, where we hastily make an easel from what we have. But it's still better than the old box.

I don't think I will get answers without questions, but what should I ask? I didn't even ask myself anything.

I feel good when I'm with him. I am drawn to him.

But this is where my thought stops.

It's just here and now. So what to ask him about? Since he is friendly today, I dare to assume that he felt good yesterday too. So we are kind of on an equal footing, are we?

"Jack?" Laura walks into the workshop. "Dad's looking for you."

She quickly looks us over and waits for me to leave.

I turn to Aiden first, "Well, you can try it now."

"Thank you," he says, and I leave.

My sister-fox will definitely tell him something. When I lack the words, she'll find a couple of dozen.

My father asks me to check the car which I took yesterday. He doesn't like the way the right front wheel works. And without batting an eye, I say, "Okay."

I walk back to the shack and see Aiden sitting at the easel and talking to Brent, who stands behind him.

"Oh, you managed to wake up!" I say with a smile. Brent doesn't seem to be mad at me anymore. He waves at me as I walk over to look at Aiden's sketch. This is our house.

"Cool!" I say.

"I just started," Aiden chuckles and turns to me.

I see his eyes again and forget that I have to say something and that Brent is standing next to me.

"I'll look up another word in the dictionary when you're done," I utter.

Aiden smiles, and I smile back. I think some questions can be answered without being asked.


Aiden asked my father to give him a job, and he sent him to work at the stable. And it means that I need to show Aiden the ropes.

I leave Brent to work on his own. It warms my heart that I can spend the whole day with Aiden without a twinge of conscience and look at his face whenever I want.

I show Aiden a stall and a pen with a dozen horses. Four foals are running on the other side. Aiden seems to like horses.

"But I've never ridden one before," he says.

"Now you will," I declare confidently. And I'm bringing Toby - this is our calmest stallion. I show Aiden how to approach the horse, how to saddle, and how to climb on it. When Aiden walks up to Toby and grabs the saddle, I stand behind him. And I am immediately bathed in heat when I see Aiden's black hair down to the very neck. I put my hands on his sides and push him up until he is in the saddle.

"The main thing is, do not try to race with me. I'm very competitive and stubborn, you know," I say with a smile, and Aiden blushes. I wonder what he thought about it.

I saddle Weldy, a piebald horse, and we head out of the stables. We make a big circle around the field. I give Aiden the same tour I gave Brent on the first day. We return to the stable and dismount. I take off the saddles and bridles, give them to Aiden, and let the horses out into the paddock, where they are happily greeted by the others.

"Put it in the stable," I say. Aiden walks in front of me. I can see him sweating. It's hot outside. A strange feeling overwhelms me again. There is no one in the stables but us. As soon as Aiden puts the saddles on the table, I push him against the wall and kiss him. He doesn't mind when my hands are under his wet T-shirt. He smiles shyly when I bite his lips.

The question is not needed, and the answers are not needed. These feelings exist only here and now.

This time, I'm not letting my hands be too frisky. I confine myself to kisses only, although they are painfully insufficient. It's not enough for me. Aiden is gasping for breath. I can feel him running his hands uncertainly down my back.

"What if someone sees us?" he whispers nervously. I look into his eyes, can't look away, and he kisses me.

I stop only because I understand - just a little more, and we might go too far. I already want him so bad it almost hurts.

"We have to work," I say. Aiden nods. We both try to catch our breath and find it funny.

After working in the stable, Aiden and I go to our house for a snack.

There is always work on the farm, but I absolutely do not want to do anything. I have another idea. I'm collecting some food.

"Do you want to come with me?" I ask Aiden. He doesn't even questions where and immediately nods.

We head to their car. I spread the blanket on the grass nearby, and we sit down to have dinner. Aiden talks about the school and CalArts. I lie down on the blanket, and he lies next to me. The heat has already subsided, and the sky is full of fluffy clouds. Now and then, we poke our fingers at them and say what they look like. Silly? For Aiden, maybe not, but for me... Fucking romantic.

But again, I feel unbearably good.

"I wanted to see what happened to your car," I say and get up. I do not allow myself to drift away into this state of serenity. In addition, when Aiden is around for a long time, I can't help it. I start thinking about sex, and how much I want him.

So I need to distract myself somehow.

I open the hood of the car, take off my shirt, note with pleasure that Aiden is checking me out, and lean over to the engine.

For me, repairing cars is like drawing for Aiden. It helps me to focus and think about everything or not to think about anything.

Well, the ignition coil is done. The candles were changed relatively recently, but everything else... The gasoline pump, the distributor cover... In general, I'm more surprised that it lasted so long.

Aiden is still lying on the blanket and looking up at the sky. I want to tell him that it is better to take the car to the garage, but then he says something that makes me abandon this idea, even though it would be much more convenient.

"Next time, I'll take a sketchbook. While you're busy there, I'll draw. I have to catch up. I haven't practiced for a long time."

What does it mean for me? More alone time with Aiden, and this is exactly what I need.