Page 92 of A Farmer’s Guide To Gamers

Dean

“Hey, asshole, you plan to actually talk to me today,” Jett asked as he walked into the garage. I had Tillie’s farm truck in here today, checking a few things over. “Wow, this is a beauty.”

“Isn’t it? Tillie loves this old thing but hasn’t really maintenanced it except when necessary or an oil change. My alpha keeps stressing out over it.”

“Being packed up looks good on you,” he said as he sat down heavily.

“You could try it,” I said, shooting him a look as I wiped my greasy hands on a shop towel. From the way he curled his lip, he disagreed. “For someone who comes from the most loving parents, you’d think you would be less of a playboy.”

“I’m not a fuck boy or a playboy,” he defended. “I’m just not interested in anything long-term right now.”

“And if you ran into someone who had an irresistible scent?” I challenged.

He shrugged. “Scent isn’t everything.”

This wasn’t the first time we’ve had a conversation like this. Jett was a great guy. The kind of alpha that was there for his family, a good friend, but a terrible boyfriend. He always seemed to find something wrong or some insignificant flaw that sent him running.

“Speaking of my family, Mom called for a cookout tonight. Tillie and Sabrina already confirmed, so you’re coming, too. And the pack.”

“What time?” I asked. I’d definitely not accounted for a change of plans tonight.

“Don’t look so disappointed," he joked as he checked his watch. “You have a good two hours.”

“I’m not. Things have just been wild,” I said before explaining who Jonathan was and how things had escalated. Just getting it out there had some of the tension draining. I hadn’t realized how much I missed talking to my best friend.

“Send me his picture,” Jett said, serious now. “That way I can share it around to the family, too. You know they don’t play about Tillie.”

“Good. It couldn’t hurt to have extra eyes. This guy is wild… I still can’t get over him just sitting down and joining a pack conversation like that,” I said, disgusted all over again.

“Well, if the police won’t put a stop to it, you and I can,” Jett said with a smirk. “A little alpha-to-alpha persuasion.”

“Last thing we need is another cop run-in,” I told him, recalling the issues Jett started having near the end of high school. Nothing too crazy, but I’d never seen someone as restless as my best friend.

I wonder if he would ever admit to it?

Jett smirked, but just shrugged nonchalantly as if it wasn’t a big deal.

“Think you can help me with the truck before we go?” I asked, holding out a wrench for him. He took it and we settled into our usual rhythm. Focused work, lots of shit talking, and random real talk in-between of that.

The two hours before dinner flew and before I knew it I heard Kai calling out saying we needed to leave soon.

Glancing down at my clothes and then at Jett who was across the truck from me, I said, “I need to shower before I show up for dinner.”

“I’ll shower at home and then be there,” he told me, coming over to give me a guy hug with a slap on the back. “Glad we got to hang out in the midst of the crazy. I’ll spread word about that asshole any chance I get.”

“Thanks. See you at the cookout.”

Knowing I would be cutting it close I hurried inside and cleaned up, putting on clean clothes that didn’t have grease on them.

I came out, shaking out my wet hair as Aiden, Kai, and Jack were all talking about the game.

“You all ready?”

“We were waiting for you,” Kai retorted with an arched eyebrow. “Mr. Fix it.”

“Better than paying a ton of money for things I can do for a lot cheaper,” I shot back with no real heat. “You guys come up with any new ideas for the game?”

“Just working on the backend stuff, mainly,” Jack said as we all started for the SUV.