Page 69 of A Farmer’s Guide To Gamers

“This is amazing,” I said as I stuffed the rest in my mouth.

“Thanks,” she said, but it was distracted. Her eyes were flipping between the back door and the guys. “Actually, come here.”

Then she was off, heading for the door and pushing it open. We hadn’t used this door much and I realized why as I stepped onto a screened-in porch. It was cozy out here with an old couch covered in a patterned quilt.

The breeze coming through was already nice but when she kicked on a fan it brought in the fresh autumn air with it.

“What if we put a table out here. I have an old one in storage that I pull out for big meals. If the chairs don’t work I know a used furniture store in town that sells an insane amount in every style. But then you could sit at a table while you work. At least until it gets cold out,” she explained.

This sweet omega. Always thinking about everyone else. But I couldn’t deny the idea had merit. We wouldn’t last long working on the floor like our college days.

“What should we do with the old stuff here?”

She eyed the space for a second before answering. As if she was mentally rearranging the room. I had a feeling she did this often.

“I think we can put it against the wall so I can sit out here and read while you work,” she said before the oven timer went off. Then she was off again.

Standing there I looked over the space and then out at the view. We’d be overlooking part of the farm and the surrounding land as we worked and I couldn’t argue the inspiration it would bring us. Plus, I know Dean always liked fresh air since being inside too much made him stir crazy.

“Needed a break?”

I jumped out of my skin as I looked over at Kai who was grinning wickedly at having snuck up on me.

“You’re a jerk,” I complained half-heartedly. Kai just laughed and slapped my shoulder good-naturedly, so I continued, “Tillie was saying she had a table for in here that we could get out for us to work at instead of the floor.”

“That would be great,” Kai agreed, looking around the room. “And bonus, we could have some fun with Tillie on that couch during breaks.”

“Kai!” Tillie yelled, a breathless laugh in her voice and we both turned to find her mock-glaring at the beta with her hands on her hips.

A half smile still curled her lips even as she tried to suppress it. Kai was trying to sweet talk her as I saw the others looking up to watch the exchange with amusement.

Kai wrapped an arm around Tillie’s waist to pull her in for kisses along her neck to make her laugh. I liked my packmates but these betas were definitely claiming a lot of time with our omega and given Dean’s expression, he felt the same way.

As if the other alpha sensed my attention he met my gaze and we both shared an understanding. Even if we were sharing attention with Tillie together, we were going to claim time with Tillie, without betas, soon.

There was plenty of pack time to be had but we needed to remind not just Tillie, but Kai and Aiden, we were the alphas here.

We needed our omega.

Tillie

Ilet out a sigh as the sound of my animals surrounded me. Out here, it was just me and nature. A place I was comfortable in.

Having my pack here was incredible, but I was thankful we all had our own things going on so I could still keep moments like this.

I found I liked waking up in their arms. Loved the banter and the silly moments this pack shared. They were family before they met me and now I was part of that dynamic.

It was easy to overthink and worry I wasn’t giving someone as much attention as the others but they all demanded their fair share often enough that those fears were slowly slipping away.

Once I finished my round of feeding, I pulled on my gardening gloves and headed for my vegetable beds. The weeds loved to creep in between and it was a constant battle. At least it was one I found a bit cathartic.

I put in my earbuds and started my favorite gardening playlist before tugging at them one by one and tossing them in the bucket. It was meticulous but mindless work. The kind that worked my body and quieted my mind.

Laughter filtered past the music as I stood and stretched. I pulled off my gloves and tucked my earbuds into my overall pocket before looking around.

Jack was sitting in the middle of the mini cow pen with his tablet in his lap and attempting to hide his tablet pen with everything he had. My three little sweet cows were loving the attention and actively demanding more. Clover and Mocha were both nibbling at his hands like he was hiding treats, but Marshmallow was living up to his nickname and headbutting him.

Not so gently if the way Jack jolted was telling.