The Farmhand's Crush

Chapter: 19

The morning light streamed through my bedroom window, warming my face as I stretched and blinked awake. I smiled at the memories of the previous day.

Nic had truly been my rock, taking care of me when I needed it most. I felt so grateful to have him in my life.

After a quick shower and breakfast, I decided today was the perfect day to work on my garden. The sun was shining, and the air was fresh, and ideal conditions for some creative fun. I set out to gather the supplies we'd need: paint, brushes, and a collection of smooth rocks I had saved for decorating.

As I stepped outside, I could see Nic already in the yard, examining the garden beds. He turned to me, a wide grin spreading across his face. "Ready for our little art project?"

"I can't wait to get started," I said, my heart fluttering at his enthusiasm.

We laid out our materials on the patio table, surrounded by the vibrant blooms and budding plants. I had a vision of painting rocks to mark each of my flowers and herbs, along with some whimsical signs to add character to the garden.

"Okay, so what should we paint first?" Nic asked, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Let's start with the rocks! I think it'll be fun to write the names of the plants on them," I suggested, grabbing a few smooth stones and placing them in front of us.

Nic picked up a rock and turned it over in his hands. "I think we should make it colorful, too. How about we paint a little design around the names?"

"Great idea" I replied, already envisioning a rainbow of colors brightening my garden.

As we painted, we chatted and laughed, enjoying the easy rhythm of our conversation. I started with a simple rock for my lavender, painting delicate purple flowers along the edges. Nic, on the other hand, decided to create a cheerful sun on his rock for the marigolds.

"Look at this!" he said proudly, holding up his rock for inspection. "Isn't it perfect for the marigolds?"

I leaned in to admire his work, grinning at the bright yellow sun he had painted with a smiling face. "It's adorable and I love it. You've got some serious artistic skills."

"Just trying to keep up with you," he teased, rolling his eyes playfully.

After finishing a few more rocks, we shifted our focus to the signs. I had brought along some wooden stakes, ready for painting. We decided to make each sign uniquely colorful, using different patterns and designs.

"I think the sign for the rosemary should have a rustic look," I said, sketching out a design with my paintbrush.

"That sounds really good, I'll paint some swirls around it to match the style," Nic replied, diving into his own creation.

As we painted, I couldn't help but notice the way his brow furrowed in concentration, the way his tongue poked out slightly when he was focusing. I felt warmth bloom in my chest, loving how he immersed himself in every little task.

"Do you remember the first time we went hiking?" I asked, trying to spark a memory as we painted.

"Of course! And when we went riding for the first time, you were so nervous about riding the horse," he laughed, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "And then you ended up loving it!"

"I did! Thanks to you, of course," I replied, a light blush creeping into my cheeks. "I was so worried I'd fall off, but you were there to catch me."

"Always," he said, his tone sincere. "And I'll always be here for you, whether it's riding horses or painting rocks."

The air felt charged with unspoken feelings, but I didn't want to break the moment. Instead, I focused on the colors we were creating together, feeling the warmth of his presence beside me.

As the afternoon wore on, the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting a golden hue over everything. We admired our handiwork—a vibrant collection of painted rocks and cheerful signs, ready to bring life to my garden.

"Let's place them in the garden!" Nic suggested, his excitement palpable.

"I can't wait to see how it all looks together," I replied, grabbing the rocks and signs as we headed toward the garden.

We carefully placed each rock by its corresponding plant, and with each placement, my heart swelled. The garden was transforming into a whimsical, colorful space that felt uniquely ours.

"Look at how great they all look!" I exclaimed, stepping back to admire our work. The bright colors of the rocks and signs contrasted beautifully with the greens and blossoms of the plants.

"It's perfect," Nic said, standing beside me. "Just like you."

My breath caught at his words, the sincerity in his tone sending butterflies fluttering in my stomach. "Thank you. I couldn't have done this without you."

As we stood together, surrounded by our artistic creations, I felt a surge of gratitude for the way he brought joy and warmth into my life. I leaned against him, resting my head on his shoulder, savoring the peaceful moment.

"Let's take a picture," he said suddenly, pulling out his phone. "I want to remember this."

"Great idea that way we can capture our masterpiece," I replied, straightening up and posing beside him in front of the garden.

As he snapped the photo, I couldn't help but smile at the way he always made everything feel special. We took several more shots, laughing and posing with silly faces, enjoying the carefree moments that made up our days.

I ended dup smeering some paint on his cheek, he gasped then smooshed my face together and smeering some back on me.

Afterward, we sat on the patio steps, admiring the garden as the sun began to set, painting the sky in hues of pink and orange. The warmth of the day lingered, and I felt utterly content.

"I'm really glad we did this," I said, glancing over at Nic.

"Me too. It's nice to slow down and create something together," he replied, his eyes reflecting the colors of the sunset.

In that moment, I realized how much these little moments mattered, the laughter, the creativity, and the connection we were building. I felt a sense of happiness wash over me, knowing that I wanted more days like this.

"Thank you for being so wonderful," I said softly, looking into his eyes.

"Thank you for letting me be a part of your world," he replied, his expression earnest.

As the sky darkened and the stars began to twinkle above us, I couldn't help but feel excited for all the moments still to come, together.