Page 29 of A Farmer’s Guide To Gamers

Dean looked at me like I was insane for a half a second before he lost it right along with me, both of us cracking up.

When we sobered and I focused on the grill, he spoke again, his voice not losing the deep edge.

“I don’t like the thought of you with anyone else,” he admitted. “My alpha is feeling pretty damn possessive now.”

I considered what he said, wondering if I would care if another omega got close. My omega surged forward, angry and against it before the thought could even fully form. Maybe it was because I was already attached to Jack, or that I knew Dean and had always had a crush on him and now he was finally on the same page, but I couldn’t help but think of them as mine.

“Don’t worry, alpha, I’m not looking at anyone else,” I promised. “Here, you can watch me message him now.”

I pulled out my phone and swiped down past the new group chat with the guys, my conversation with Sabrina, and the hot mess that was my family group chat. Finally, I found my thread with Jonathan and pulled it open.

Tillie

Hey, sorry for not responding but life has changed a bit for me. I found a scent-compatible pack that I am building something with. I enjoyed being friends but I can’t continue seeing you. Someday, I hope you can find a pack and omega that make you happy.

There wasn’t a way to say ‘have a good life’ without sounding like a dick, so I left that off of the end.

Dean read over my shoulder, a rumble of approval filling my ears. “I’m glad you didn’t offer to be friends. I’d hate to have to blind him for looking at you wrong.”

“Calm down, boy,” I said as I tucked my phone back in my cleavage where I was keeping it. His eyes tracked the movement and when his dark brown eyes flickered back up to meet mine they were anything but calm. He was hungry.

I turned quickly and cleared my throat. “Time to get this off the grill.”

We pulled everything off and got the food over to the table. Naturally everyone gathered, Earl refusing to give up his spot with Kai, so he cuddled up on his lap and settled down.

I shook my head at my cat’s antics as I sat down beside Kai with Aiden on the other side. Both Jack and Dean sat on the opposite side of the table, surprisingly no complaints that they weren’t beside me.

Conversation flowed naturally between the guys and myself. It was funny to see how Jack was exactly the same at the bar as he was with his pack. Adorably awkward as the others also guided him quietly at some points when he seemed confused.

They talked about their work and last project with a big company along with some kind of game they had helped create. I wasn’t really able to follow too much since the most ‘high tech’ thing I owned at the moment was my cell phone.

Loud purring reached my ears as I finished my plate and I looked towards Kai only to discover that Earl was fully asleep on his lap, Kai stroking him almost absentmindedly now.

“He really likes you,” I commented. “Earl doesn’t do that with anyone. Including me.”

He smirked. “I guess you have to keep me now.”

Tillie

“Honey, I’m home!” Mom’s voice echoed through my house before a loud gasp echoed out then her footsteps were hurried as she ran toward me.

The woman burst into the kitchen in a flurry of wild, gray hair, excited honey eyes that matched mine, and a flowing pair of high waisted, boho pants that were painted in bright colors and a matching pink crop top. It was something only she could pull off.

“Hey, Mom,” I greeted as I wiggled my dough-covered fingers in greeting. I was kneading a fresh batch of sourdough bread. I planned to make the guys a sweet and a savory one.

“Who are they? Where are they?” she demanded as she hopped up and sat on the non-floured part of the counter.

“Who?” I asked, blinking up at her innocently.

Without hesitation she reached into the pile of flour and grabbed a handful to flick at me. White powder rained down around me as I cackled, giving her a flour dusting right back.

“I birthed you, brat. Tell me why your house smells like men,” she demanded, taking another sniff of the air. “Multiple men to be exact.”

“I had some help on the farm,” I lied, giving her a grin.

“Don’t make me call your brother and tell him you’re in financial trouble,” she threatened. My brother was the only responsible one in our family. He had a fancy corporate job and a neat and tidy life. He’d escaped the chaos but still tried to rein us in from time to time.

A lecture on finance from him would be close to torture.