Page 77 of A Farmer’s Guide To Gamers

“I should go⁠—”

“Yeah, yeah. Otherwise, it seems like she’s going to drag us out the door,” Kai said, stumbling a bit over his words before he muttered something about needing air and walking outside.

“Is he okay?” I asked no one in particular but, apparently, I wasn’t alone.

“I’ll go check on him,” Dean said, slapping me on the shoulder. “I’m sure he’ll be good.”

“Okay,” I answered lamely, standing there watching as Dean strolled outside and over to Kai who was a bit away from the house staring out at the animals.

“You good, Aiden?” Jack asked and I looked over at him.

“A bit nervous,” I said honestly. “I think. My dads said I need to bring up the kids' things with you all and Tillie before things get further along. I just… I don’t know how it’s going to go.”

“We’re all here for you, beta,” Jack said, oddly reassuring as he gripped my shoulder. “Make sure you have everything you need and maybe chill until it’s time to go? Try not to worry too much. I think everything is going to work out just like how it’s supposed to.”

“Thanks,” I said, nodding a few times before I walked away towards a small space I had claimed for myself.

I texted Addison another quick apology for my reaction days before to her news, with a promise to call and catch up soon just the two of us.

Feeling a bit better that I had reached out to my sister, I sat down and tried to quiet my thoughts with breathing exercises I had learned in therapy.

Inhale for three, hold for four, and exhale for six.

I had this.

Nothing would go wrong tonight.

Time passed far too quickly and Tillie was calling out for us. I slid on my shoes, tucked my wallet and phone in my pockets, and followed everyone else out of the house.

The SUV Dean had fixed up was waiting, looking newer than it had the last time I’d seen it. He must have been working on fixing it up even more while we were busy with the game. We all had our ways to wind down and his was far more physical than the rest of us.

We piled into the black SUV, Dean driving and Tillie beside him, which left Kai and I in the middle and Jack in the final row.

Being this close, I could feel Kai looking at me but focused instead on the conversation coming up. I continued my mantras all the way into town, not stopping until Dean parked.

“No way,” Jack said, his voice rising from the back. Tillie let out a soft chuckle at his enthusiasm.

“I had a feeling we’d like this spot.”

The sign out front read Side Quest Cafe. There were advertisements in the windows for games, gifts, food, and fun.

“It’s a board game diner,” she explained. “I reserved us a table just in case. We’re hitting before the dinner rush so we better move quickly if we want first pick on games.”

Kai climbed out first, and I moved behind him, scooting out and nearly stumbling into him as my shoe caught. Tillie reached out to steady me, her smile even and bright. Between my best friend and my omega, I relaxed enough to blow out a breath and calm myself.

I didn’t like crowds, but I loved hanging out with my pack and Tillie. This was going to be a good night, even if the conversation had to turn into something heavier at some point.

Kai

Isnuck a glance in Aiden’s direction, my concern heightening as he breathed out in a steady way that told me he was trying to stay calm.

Was it the group date?

The diner with more people coming in now that it was getting later?

We’d been here for a good hour and a half playing board games and now Tillie had found the Stardew Valley board game, which became an immediate need to play.

He still played and interacted, but I could tell he was on edge.