Page 52 of A Farmer’s Guide To Gamers

“Just the guy that sent the flowers,” I admitted, fighting down the unease that was settling into my bones. “He wants to talk it out but I’m not interested. Which I’ve told him. More than once.”

He said nothing as he stared back. Those eyes continued to slice through my defenses before he shifted back in his seat, turning his attention to Kai.

“We might need to discuss this. I’d call that a bit concerning,” he said.

If only he knew that my brother had to get involved last time. I needed to catch them up, but I hated the idea of Jonathan tainting how my pack came together.

Kai nodded and they let it go for now. I unbuckled and leaned up, clicking on the radio and letting the music fill the silence.

Was I avoiding? Oh yeah. But in my defense, this wasn’t a conversation I intended to have with only half of my pack.

If Jonathan continued to be a problem I wouldn’t hesitate to loop them in.

“So, what’s in the car for me?” I asked as I glanced around, realizing it was just me in the back seat now. I’d rode in the front on the way there, but in my haste, I didn’t pay attention to where I sat.

“It’s in the trunk so you didn’t spoil it,” Kai shot back, his bright laughter filling the car and chasing away the funk that was trying to creep in.

“You already know me so well,” I said, a smile forming on my lips as I looked out the window, enjoying the quiet drive out to my farm.

We were almost at the house when my cell rang and I answered it with a smile as soon as I saw Dean’s name pop up.

“Jack and I just got to your house, but you’re not here,” Dean said after a quick hello. “Where you at, omega?”

“Is that Dean?” Kai asked, though he didn’t wait for an answer before telling me to put the call on speakerphone. Without hesitation I did and was rewarded with Kai teasing the alpha. “Not to worry, alpha. Aiden and I just took our omega out for an impromptu date. We will be back soon… Probably.”

I snickered, trying to hold back my laugher as Aiden glanced over at his packmate in confusion.

We were clearly on the way to the farm and only a few minutes away.

“You took her on a date?! We weren’t even doing anything important today, we could have joined you,” Dean complained, his deep voice raspy.

“We could have told you, yes… but then we wouldn’t have had a date with just us if we had,” Kai teased him. “Plus, you and Jack have had your time solo with her and we haven’t. You have to learn to share, alpha.”

“Does this mean we claim the bed with her tonight?” Aiden asked, his mind so literal as he looked between Kai and myself as we heard Dean sputtering over the phone.

“Are you asking me?”

Aiden twisted around to look at me while Kai glanced in the rearview mirror to meet my stare.

“I mean… I think that’s only fair since you’ve been with the other two. You could always just sleep with Kai and I could wait⁠—”

“Both of us would make it even, I think,” Kai interrupted him, not missing a beat. “Besides, that way we can fully say the alphas can’t fit in with us. Our luck they would try to sneak in another night.”

“We would not!” Dean protested, and I heard Jack asking what was going on in the background.

“We will see you soon,” I told Dean, not letting Kai tease him anymore. “I think we’re only five minutes away.”

I hung up the call and focused on the two betas up front.

“Mighty bold of you two to assume I’m sleeping with anyone tonight.”

“Who said anything about getting sleep?” Kai countered confidently with a lazy smile.

“I… I’m awful at this. But if I haven’t made it clear, I’m interested in doing that… with you,” Aiden said, looking back at me again. The words were so blunt and stunted that I knew exactly what it cost the beta.

Even Kai’s teasing fell away and he blinked over at his packmate, nearly missing the stoplight turning green.

I didn’t have it in me to drag this out when he was putting himself out there.