Page 9 of Wolves' Midlife Reunion
“Thanks, Amanda.” Her cousin had a way of always being there for the rest of them. She was a calming and comforting presence even when the world was pure chaos. “I really appreciate it.”
“No problem. Now, I’m going to head back into the other room and make sure Chelsea doesn’t start writing out place cards for the dinner table. Her planning skills are great, but we don’t have to control every last second of this.”
“Have fun with that!” Tina said, lifting her glass.
When Amanda had gone back into the living room, Tina stepped out onto the porch. She didn’t bother turning on a light, nor did she need one. She settled into a comfortable wicker chair and looked out into the night.
Amanda had some very good points. She and Dex had just been kids when they’d decided there could be nothing between them. There was attraction, sure, but a true relationship needed more than that.
And now? Well, she couldn’t be sure. She didn’t know Dex anymore. The one thing she knew for certain was that she couldn’t let herself get caught up in him. She’d spent enough time and had cried enough tears in the past. They were now two mature adults who could nod and smile politely and move on with their evenings.
Or, at least, she hoped so.
4
“Why can’tI go with you?” Sage protested.
“Honey, we talked about this.” Dex sat down on one of the chairs in the entryway of the Heywood packhouse so he could get on his daughter’s level. “The reunion is just for the people who went to school there.”
“But I want to see them,” Sage insisted. “My friend Ella said she got to go to her mom’s reunion.”
“Yes,” he said patiently, “and we talked about that. Ella’s mom’s reunion was a picnic at the park, and everyone was allowed to bring their families. This one isn’t like that.”
“But why?” she whined.
His heart ached. Dex knew Sage’s stubbornness on this matter was at least in part due to feeling needy. She missed her mother, and no matter how much Dex was there for her, he could never fully compensate for that loss.
“It’s kind of like school,” he reasoned. “When you go to class, you can’t bring anyone with you.”
“Oh.” She fiddled with the pink moonstone pendant he’d given her. “Okay. But I’ll miss you.”
“I’ll miss you, too, baby.” He gave her a hug.
“And in the meantime, you get to play with Grandma!” a friendly voice said off to the left.
He looked up to see his mother walking into the entryway with her arms out.
Sage instantly ran into them. “Grandma! Grandma! Did you see what Daddy got me?” All her sadness forgotten, Sage held out the pendant.
“My goodness,” Joyce said, looking closely so that Sage would know she was truly paying attention. “That is gorgeous. Your daddy has good taste.”
Sage made a face. “He’s not gonna eat it, Grandma.”
Dex’s mother laughed. “Oh, darling, it’s just a phrase. I’ll explain it to you over dinner. I just saw Aunt Debbie pull up, so your cousins will be joining us soon. Go on in the kitchen and wash your hands.”
“Okay. Bye, Daddy!”
“Bye, honey.” When she’d gone through the swinging door to the kitchen, Dex turned to his mom. “Thanks for keeping an eye on her tonight.”
Joyce made a dismissive sound. “As if I could say no to that sweet little face! These grandkids keep me young. Before you go, though, your father wants to talk to you. He’s in the den.”
“Thanks.” Dex heard car doors slamming outside as he made his way down the hall. He turned to the left and into the room that had been his father’s den for as long as he could remember. It was a masculine space, with wood-paneled walls and leather upholstered furniture, but Dex knew his mother had some say in the final touches. As their pack Luna, she had her finger in almost everything within the packhouse. The curtains, the soft rug, and the art collection on one wall were probably all thanks to her.
His father was sitting at his desk, frowning at his computer. His skin was tanned and leathery after so many years workingon fishing boats. Even as the Alpha of the pack, he’d always maintained a job outside the packhouse to help ensure there was plenty of money coming in to take care of everyone. Dex tended to think of his father as having dark hair, but he realized now that it was almost entirely gray.
“Mom said you wanted to talk to me.” Dex plopped down in the comfy chair across from his father.
“They need to stop updating things all the time,” David grumbled. “As soon as I figure out where everything is, they change it.”
