Page 11 of Wolves' Midlife Reunion
“Yes, you would,” Debbie insisted, “and don’t bother taking it as an insult. It’s not that you’re afraid to go, really, it’s that you’re afraid of what might happen if you don’t stay.”
That caught him off guard. “What do you mean?”
“I mean that ever since Marie’s been gone, you’ve hardly even given yourself an hour to figure out who you are on your own. You don’t go out to bars. You don’t go out with your friends. You just work and take care of Sage.”
“That’s what a dad is supposed to do,” he growled, turning to look out the window.
“He also deserves a night to put his feet up or have a little fun. Look, I’ll argue with you about your personal life another time. Right now, let’s concentrate on Chris.” Debbie zipped through traffic. “Even if he bothers showing up, even if he tries something, he’s still a loser.”
“How do you know that?”
“Some of us still keep in touch with the old crew,” she told him pointedly, risking a glance at him before she turned back to traffic. “Apparently, Chris has been divorced a few times and in and out of jail. The only reason he keeps his job in construction is that he works for his uncle, who’s a contractor. Anyone else would’ve tossed him to the curb.”
“Loser or not, I’m still not sure how all of this is going to go down.” Finding out about Chris’s terrible life didn’t exactly help, either. It made him just as unpredictable as ever.
“It’ll be all right. You and I will be there together, right? We’ll be fine.” Debbie flicked on her blinker.
They were getting closer to the Academy now, and a knot formed in Dex’s stomach. “What about you? Is there anyone you’re worried about seeing?”
“Mm, nah. If people think I’ve gotten too fat or have too many wrinkles, they can kiss my ass. Here we are!” Debbie pulled into the parking lot.
Fern Hollow Academy was just as he remembered it. Some of the trees and bushes in the landscaping had gotten bigger over the years, and the old painted sign out front had been replaced by an electronic one, but it still had the same feeling to it. The big brick building, already old even when they’d attended school there, towered upward. The elaborate cornice under the long roofline and the numerous long, arched windows made it feel imposing and important. They stepped up to the arched entryway.
“I feel like Mrs. Sharp is going to come out and reprimand me for being late,” Dex joked.
“Just a few years too late,” Debbie replied. “That old bat retired ages ago, though.”
The foyer was a throng of people, all rushing to get to the table that’d been set up in the main hallway where they could check in.
“Well, Dex and Debbie!” Serena Wilcox grinned at them as she checked them off her list and handed them name tags. She’d been their class treasurer, voted in for her bright and bubbly attitude that apparently hadn’t changed much over the years. “It’s so good to see you two! Go on in and have fun, and don’t forget to check the silent auction in the cafeteria. This party has taken the last of our funds, so we’ll need to raise some more in order to have the next reunion.”
“Thanks.” Dex took his name tag. He was tempted to put it on his jeans instead of his shirt, which was the kind of thing he would’ve done back in high school just to be an ass, but hestuck it just above his breast pocket instead. “Well, Serena hasn’t changed at all.”
“Except that her blonde isn’t natural anymore,” Debbie told him. “Not that I’m judging. My color isn’t exactly what it used to be.”
They stepped into the gym, and it was like stepping into a time machine. The large school logo, depicting the mascot of the Fern Hollow Dragons, was still on the wall above the bleachers. Even the old scoreboard was still there. Serena had gone all out with the decorations, decking every square inch of the gym in the school colors of green and black. Top one hundred hits from back in their time were pumping out of huge speakers set up on either side of a DJ booth.
“Well, this is it!” Debbie said, taking a deep breath and smiling. “Isn’t it exciting?”
He wished he could feel the same way. Something was making his wolf uneasy. Dex glanced around. There were plenty of people in their early forties, mingling in groups and sipping punch. It was all about as normal as it could be.
“Debbie!” a high-pitched voice cried out.
They turned as three girls swarmed them. Dex recognized Vanessa and the two Jennifers, the trio that Debbie always used to hang out with.
“I’m so glad you made it!” Vanessa said. “Hi, Dex. It’s good to see you, too.”
Jennifer H. pulled Debbie into a big hug. “Just look at you! You look amazing!”
“Don’t hog her!” Jennifer B. said, taking her own turn. “Oh, my gosh. I have so much I have to tell you. I got here early, and let’s just say there’s already some old drama getting dragged back out. You shouldseewhat Heidi Watson is wearing!”
Debbie had been squealing and laughing right along with them, and she hurried off with her friends. She paused and looked back. “You should come with us!”
Though he wasn’t keen on navigating this event alone, he didn’t want to spend it listening to Debbie and her friends screaming and cackling. He’d done enough of that when Debbie used to bring them over for slumber parties. “No, that’s okay. You go on.”
He moved through the party, pausing to say hello to a few faces he recognized. Clark, who’d had a locker next to Dex, was now working in IT. Jason was married with three kids and another one on the way, and he’d brought his very pregnant wife along with him. Then there was Brad, who’d been the waterboy for the football team but was now a weightlifter and personal trainer. It was strange to see all these familiar faces and how much they’d changed over the years. Dex realized that in his mind, no one had changed at all.
Despite finding a few hands to shake, Dex still felt uneasy. His wolf writhed uncomfortably inside him, and he knew he should’ve stayed home. He could’ve been enjoying a nice, quiet evening with Sage, perhaps having a tea party or watching old episodes ofSesame Street.He had nothing to be ashamed of as he caught up with his past acquaintances on his life, but he found it tedious after a while.
