Page 16 of A Farmer’s Guide To Gamers

“I’m sorry, Jack. I stand corrected,” Kai said as he shook his head at us both.

“There she is,” Sabrina and Dean’s dad said as he walked outside, a wide grin making his mustache twitch. He walked over like I was his own daughter and pulled me into a hug. “Glad to see you both welcoming Dean’s pack in well.”

“She sure is,” Sabrina said, barely hiding her amusement. I shot my best friend a glare that promised an earful later. “Some personal Magnolia Ridge hospitality.”

“You know Tillie’s always been sweet on Dean,” Jett tacked on. Even though he’d been dragged away he was hellbent on tormenting me. I flipped him my middle finger behind their dad’s back, making him cackle. I swear he was just as bad as my own brothers.

Dad gave her a look before heading for the grill to check on the burgers. Just like always the moment Pop had his back turned, Dad was sprinkling on extra seasoning. Pop eyed the burgers then his packmate, eyes narrowing.

“You need to mind your own tasks,” Pop started.

“Just trying to make sure the food is edible,” Dad said with a cheeky grin before kissing Pop to distract him as he seasoned things a bit more.

I tried to stifle my laughter but it was no use when Dean rolled his eyes at his dads. Laughter bubbled out of me and I swore I saw Dean grinning in my direction as Jack squeezed me a bit closer.

Right as everyone started talking, Aiden, the shy one, started making his way over to me. Before he could say a word, my cell phone rang.

Confusion filled my face as I reached into the pocket of my skirt and pulled out my cell phone only to see an all too familiar number on the screen.

“Did you just—?” Kai started.

“One second, I need to take this,” I said apologetically and moved away from everyone to go into the house.

“Hello?” I answered as I accepted the call.

“You’re getting a call from Marigold Ashford, from Sweetwater County Jail. Will you accept this call?”

“Yes,” I replied with a huff of laughter as I sat down in an armchair.

The line clicked and then I heard my mom laughing over the line.

“Dawn, no I’ll join you guys for the game later. First I need to talk to my daughter. Oh, hi, honey! Just thought I’d call.”

“Mom.” I rubbed my face, trying and failing epically to keep my smile toned down. “What happened now?”

“The city council was looking at putting in a whole block of data centers, Tillie! Can you believe that shit?! No way were we going to just sit around and not do something.”

“I can come get you,” I started to offer but she shut me down.

“Your dads are coming to get me tomorrow,” she told me. “Figured they could use some alone time, plus I told Sherry and Dawn that I could help them out with their poker game issues tonight. They want to win some cigarettes and snack privileges back.”

“So, some real community service before you get out?”

“Exactly right, babe. Family dinner in a few weeks?” she asked before a bunch of talking on the other line got loud. “Sorry, hun, I gotta go. I’ll talk to you later. Love you!”

Click.

Oh my goodness. My mom really was one of a kind and all I could do was love her.

Everyone was still where I left them when I walked outside. Jack eyed me curiously, likely because he saw the caller ID.

“Everything alright?”

“Yes,” I promised, casting Sabrina an exasperated look. “Mom got arrested again.”

“The data centers?” she asked knowingly, eyes gleaming with amusement. We all knew how my mom was and adored her for it.

“Yup,” I said.