Page 44 of Pack End Game

"I see Freddie has decided Simon doesn't need as much conditioning as a professional football player, after all," he jokes, shaking his head to himself. As much as Freddie grates his nerves sometimes, Coach has been a good sport about our refusal to sign with the team without a mascot clause for Freddie included in our contracts.

We've always looked out for our beta since claiming him, and it's not like he doesn't take his role as Simon seriously. I actually can't remember the last time Freddie missed joining us for a practice before now. Funny how easily all of our priorities can suddenly realign.

Chapter Nineteen

Mia

Life moves fast.

Our realtor, Rufus, moves faster.

Only a couple of days after he signed on to be our realtor, he manages to line up a promising showing for us. The house is further out of town than the house the guys already own, but the perks are obvious. The neighborhood seems quiet, lined with older trees, with front yards occasionally dotted with swings.

From the road, the house looks perfect.

"Wow," I breathe a sigh.

The house is painted a soft off-white with dark brown wood shutters. The wide front porch spans the whole width of the front of the house. The two-story structure looks to have enough square footage for as many kids as we could ever realistically want.

Which is at least a dozen. With Zak around, I have zero doubts about our ability to raise an indefinite number of children together. He's primed to be a doting father figure, and Spencer is bound to pass on all kinds of great qualities to our children: patience, organization, commitment, goal-setting, and hard work.

And then there's Freddie, who will help ensure they're constantly entertained and grow up with a great sense of humor.

Rufus is all smiles as we walk up to the house. We met yesterday to sign a contract for Rufus to be our realtor, so introductions have already been done. I meet Rufus on the front walkway and clutch his arm immediately. "This looks like a home," I tell him joyously, already feeling the early signs of falling in complete love with the place.

He preens like I pinned a gold star to his chest.

"I knew you'd take one look at this place and feel right at home," Rufus nods. His 90s boy band hair flips everywhere when his head moves.

I grin and walk toward the porch, my excitement building with every step. Spencer puts his hand on the small of my back, walking on one side of me as Rufus walks on the other. Freddie and Zak bring up the rear, with Zak carrying a small backpack filled with water bottles and snacks. Apparently, he believes a house showing requires the same level of preparation as a weekend-long hiking trip.

I'm hopeful.

"This place seems to have good energy," I murmur as we walk up the stairs to the porch.

Rufus nods enthusiastically. Under his breath, he says, "Hopefully the house doesn't say anything weird to change your mind."

I laugh until I realize he isn't laughing with me.

We pause at the front door, and I eye him with newfound concern. "What does that mean?"

"Nothing," he says far too quickly, reaching out to open the front door and wave us in.

"Welcome home, prospective residents," we're greeted by a semi-robotic voice, the sound echoing throughout the house.

All four of us turn to stare at Rufus, who sheepishly gestures to a screen built into the wall next to the front door. The panel lights up with cheerful text:

NEW CLIENTS DETECTED.

WOULD YOU LIKE THE FULL INTERACTIVE TOUR EXPERIENCE?

"No," Spencer says immediately.

"Yes!" Freddie says at the exact same time, his excitement making his voice the louder one.

The panel makes a chirping sound.

"Interactive tour mode activated," the house says. Its robotic voice has a slightly monotone, feminine quality to it that I hate instantly.