Page 8 of Wolves’ Midlife Reunion (Shifter Nation: Enchanted Over Forty #3)

“Wow. That’s incredibly generous,” he added, his eyes burning into hers now. “It’s been so long since we’ve seen each other, but I can’t help but feel like we’ve picked up right where we left off.”

Her heart surged. Where they’d left off had been an awkward point, somewhere between knowing there was a connection between them and not understanding what to do about it.

They’d pushed and pulled apart numerous times, always orbiting around each other but never able to get close. “I know what you mean.”

Dex put his hand on hers. “It’s kind of funny, really. I wasn’t looking forward to coming tonight. Debbie convinced me that I had to, but I didn’t believe her. I just didn’t want to listen to her if I stayed home.”

His touch sent electricity shooting up her arm and through her shoulders. Her chest warmed, and her wolf rolled contentedly. “Sisters can be very…”

“Insistent?” he asked.

“Or demanding,” she added.

“And annoying.”

“Don’t forget stubborn.”

“But also right about some things,” Dex said. “Every now and then, I’ve thought about you, Tina.”

He looked like he was about to say more, but the gym doors flung open. They slammed back against the wall and shivered as a bulky man came striding through them. Two other guys were just behind him, one on each side. The music kept going, but everyone in the gym turned to see what was happening.

“The party can finally start now that Killer Kelly is here!” the newcomer roared, flexing his muscles in his old letterman’s jacket.

There were a few cheers, but for the most part, everyone went back to what they’d been doing before Chris Kelly had made his entrance.

“Fuck.” Dex slowly turned back around to face Tina. “I was hoping he wouldn’t come.”

“No way. Are those the same two goons that always used to lurk around him?” Tina asked. “That’s kind of sad. I would’ve hoped John and Jacob might’ve found something better to do with their lives.”

“Or that a grown man wouldn’t need a posse to back him up every step of the way,” Dex commented. “I guess some things don’t change.”

“No,” she said as she kept an eye on Chris, who surveyed the room and headed their way, his long strides pounding down hard on the gym floor. “They really don’t.”

“Dex Heywood,” Chris sneered.

“Don’t,” Tina said, turning her hand upward to take his fingers.

“It’s all right,” he said as he stood up, his hand slipping out of hers. Dex turned. He didn’t puff out his chest or strut around. He merely put his hands in his pockets and watched Chris calmly. “Nice to see you again, Chris.”

Tina felt her magic tickling the palm of her hand, building up before she even called for it. She clamped her fingers down tightly over it. This wasn’t her fight. She just wished it wasn’t Dex’s, either.

“Nice to see me?” Chris challenged, widening his bloodshot eyes and tipping his head. It was an old trick he used to use when they were kids, too, an attempt to intimidate. “Is that all you have to say to me?”

Dex nodded casually. “Yeah, pretty much.”

“I’m surprised you were willing to show your face here.” Chris stepped closer, stabbing his finger hard into Dex’s shoulder. “Did you think I’d just let you come back here without kicking your ass?”

“Yeah,” John echoed.

Jacob stood with his arms folded across his chest.

Tina barked out a laugh. This kind of bravado looked ridiculous even on teenage boys, much less grown men.

Chris was clearly trying a little too hard to put on a show for his former classmates.

His blonde hair was a bit too monochromatic, as though he’d dyed it back to its former shade, and the leather was flaking off the sleeves of his jacket.

“I’m just here to enjoy the reunion,” Dex said simply. “I think that’s what we should all be doing. See you around.” He turned back toward his chair.

Chris grabbed him by the shoulder and jerked him backward. “That’s not how this works, Dexter.” He spat out his name as though it put a bad taste in his mouth.

Dex swiped Chris’s hand away with one quick movement of his wrist. His chin was up, but he hadn’t balled his fists yet. “I’m not fighting you, Chris.”

“Why?” Chris snarled, grabbing fistfuls of Dex’s shirt and yanking him forward. “Are you scared?”

Dex shoved his hands into Chris’s chest, pushing him backward. “Don’t touch me.”

Tina’s stomach was in knots. Was this really going to happen?

“Gentlemen!” A slim man came rushing over with his finger in the air.

Tina recognized him as Mr. Bowman, who’d taken over as principal once Mrs. Sharp had finally retired.

“I won’t have any of this! We’ve got extra security tonight, and I’ll have the two of you tossed out immediately if I see so much as a single punch. ”

“Yeah, Heywood,” Chris growled, adjusting the collar of his jacket. “I told you to just let old times be.”

Dex kept his eyes on Chris. “You won’t have any problems from us, sir.”

Mr. Bowman didn’t look like he believed them, but he went scurrying off to admonish someone else, anyway.

As soon as he was gone, Chris was in Dex’s face again. “I’m not scared of him, and I’m sure as shit not scared of you.”

Jacob nudged Chris in the ribs. “Hey, man. Look. Heidi’s here, and she’s trying to get your attention.”

Chris looked, and so did Tina. She easily found Heidi Watson, standing a short distance away.

She was still fit and trim, with what appeared to be a few surgical enhancements.

There wasn’t much to her slinky, bright red dress, which must have been glued on to actually stay in place.

She tossed her hair and waggled her fingers at Chris.

Chris looked momentarily conflicted. “This isn’t the end of this, Dexter. I might not be able to do it here, but I will find you and we will have a rematch.” He took off, strutting like a rooster as he headed over to Heidi.

“Are you all right?” Tina asked as Dexter sat back down.

He ran a hand through his hair and let out a long breath. “Actually, yeah. I knew that was probably going to happen, and I’m glad it’s over with. Chris can say whatever he wants to, but I’m not fighting him. Still, I knew I shouldn’t have come.”

“We don’t have to stay,” Tina said, hardly believing that she was daring to make the suggestion. “We could go to the diner, just like old days.”

“Yeah.” He smiled and nodded, looking as though some of the tension from his encounter with Chris was slipping away. “Let’s get out of here.”