Page 113 of Secret Shifters Next Door

Aiden hugged me, then ran off to his team to tell them he was coming. Steff walked slowly backward, his eyes fused onto me. “See you guys at the restaurant.”

He held my gaze for several more steps before turning to head to his car. I watched him walk away, chewing at my lip, trying to figure out what his game was.

Kris leaned toward me. “What the hell’s going on there?”

Flinching away, I frowned up at him. “What? What are you talking about?”

He pursed his lips and nodded toward Steff. “He’s looking at you like he did back in high school. Did something go down between you two?”

I shook my head and winced. “God, no. That’s crazy.”

It wasn’t the same look. It couldn’t be. How could he look at me the same way? Things were so much different. He didn’t want me anymore. I wouldn’t let myself even consider it.

In the parking lot, Steff opened his truck door and stood on the running board. Before he ducked into the truck, he glanced back across the gravel parking lot to me. Our eyes met, anddespite my wishes, my body reacted. A shiver ran up my spine and butterflies swirled in my stomach. Even as he drove away, I had a hard time settling my racing heart. That look? Was Chelsea right?

TWELVE

STEFF

Once my team and their families got to the pizza place, the restaurant morphed into a cacophonous echo chamber. The boys, excited from their win, were wound up like crazy. The proud parents were equally hyped. I was thankful no one else had been in the pizza shop before we got there. I’d have felt bad for any casual diners who had to deal with us. Since it was only us? I kind of enjoyed it.

I went to the counter to order. The little Italian man who owned the place came out of the kitchen and clapped his hands, then waved them across the room. “So many? A wonderful day. Mr. James, it looks like your boys won today. Am I correct?”

I laughed. “Yes, sir. It was a good day.”

“Very good. What can I get for you?”

I turned and counted, as best I could, the number of kids and parents. “Umm, let’s do five pepperoni and five cheese pizzas to start? And maybe six pitchers of soda?”

The owner raised a finger in the air. “Done. And since it’s a celebration, I’ll send out a tray of cannoli for dessert. On the house.”

I really didn’t know how the guy made a living. I think he’d given me somethingon the houseevery time one of the guys orI came in. I smiled and found a table in the center of the dining room. My bear was rumbling happily, excited that April would be here soon. When my phone buzzed, I glanced at the screen to see Miles calling me.

I stepped outside, away from the noise, to take the call. “Miles? What’s up?”

“Hey, bro. How’d the game go?”

“We won. Though, I doubt that’s the only reason you’re calling.”

“Yeah. I got a call this morning from April’s manager. The Larry guy, the one who had us set up her home security system?”

“I remember.” The way-over-the-top guy. I was glad Miles did most of the communication with him. I didn’t know how he didn’t drive April crazy.

“Well, he wanted me to know that April’s phone has been blowing up. The same unlisted number over and over again. He’s a little freaked out, since she got a brand-new number before moving back home. He doesn’t know how it could have gotten out. He thinks it might be one of those stalkers.”

My bear grumbled at the thought, but the odds of it being someone dangerous were low. “Could have hacked the phone records. Most cell companies have shit security. There are a lot of thirteen-year-old hackers who could get that information in an hour. It’s like a rite of passage or something for those types.”

“That’s what I thought, but Larry wants us to be on high alert. I’m going to try to trace the calls that come in and see if I can find out who the douchebag is. In the meantime, you could use this as a chance to show April your protective side.”

I rolled my eyes and shook my head. “Miles, I know how to pick up a woman. I don’t need dad hints.”

“Hey, this isn’t any woman. This is the love of your life, and your mate. Every little bit helps, right?”

I pursed my lips. He was right about that. “Okay, I’ll see how things go. Let me know what you find out about that number.”

Back inside, most of the kids had huddled around the two video-game cabinets at the back of the restaurant.Donkey KongandStreet Fighter. I was a little surprised they were interested in something so old school, but they looked like they were having the time of their lives.

“Hey, Coach.”

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