Born at Midnight (21 page)

For Kylie, it was just more proof that she wasn’t one of them. Not that she really needed more proof, but still …

The only thing that left the slightest bit of a question in her mind was that Soldier Dude wouldn’t quit showing up. Kylie told Holiday to send him a message to quit wasting her time. Holiday gave Kylie the pat answer of, “It doesn’t work like that.”

Kylie had learned to hate that saying.

Almost as much as she hated the daily visits with the ghost.

Thankfully, he hadn’t gone spastic on her with the blood games again, but just seeing him was starting to give her the heebie jeebies. The way he looked at her, the way he stood, it was eerily familiar. Kylie convinced herself that Holiday had been right. Her night terrors had probably been filled with images of him, hence the reason seeing him gave her an odd sense of déjà vu.

Holiday had even suggested Kylie try talking to him, but that idea totally creeped Kylie out. She got this mental image of him opening his mouth only to have worms or blood ooze out. Nope, she’d keep her mouth closed and pray he did the same.

Thankfully, the last few days she’d pretty much managed to stay out of Lucas’s and Fredericka’s way. But every morning when she waited to see who drew her name in the Meet Your Campmates Hour, Kylie would hyperventilate, worrying one of them would get it.

And today was no different. If they did draw her name, Kylie had already decided to fake a bad headache and beg off. Sure, Fredericka would probably accuse Kylie of being afraid of her. But best to have her accuse Kylie of it than to have her know it for certain. And if Kylie had to spend an hour alone with the she-wolf, Fredericka would for sure smell Kylie’s fear.

Kylie stood between Miranda and Della watching as the campers drew names and announced their companions.

Kylie knew Miranda was praying that Chris, a really cute vampire, would draw her name. Della never seemed to care who got her name, but yesterday Kylie had seen the way the sneaky vampire kept eyeing Steve, one of the shape-shifters.

When Kylie asked Della about it, she denied it, but Kylie noticed Della’s cheeks had actually gotten a little color in them. Who knew a vampire could blush?

Derek walked up beside Kylie. “Hey.” She smiled. And yeah, maybe her smile was a little wider than normal.

“Hi,” he said rather matter-of-factly, and then focused on the campers drawing names. With his attention not on her, Kylie let her gaze move over him. He wore a light green T-shirt that fit tight across his chest. Kylie remembered resting her head against him. She recalled with clarity how good it had felt, and how when she looked up, his lips had been so close to hers.

Blinking, trying not to let her mind go there, she shifted her gaze away from his chest. He wore khaki shorts that hit almost to the knee. His legs were a bit hairy but not at all skinny. She was moving her gaze up when she noticed the Band-Aid on the middle of his elbow joint.

She reached over and pulled his arm closer. “Is this … is that … You gave the blood?”

“Yeah.” His eyes met hers and for the first time in days he didn’t instantly look away. They were having one of those moments that she’d missed.

She gently ran her finger over the Band-Aid. “I’m sorry.”

“For what? You didn’t do anything.”

“Did it hurt?” she asked.

“No.” He continued to gaze down at her and it felt like there was no one else in the world but them. She saw the gold flecks sparkle and darn if she didn’t want to lean even closer.

“Derek!” a very hyper voice called out. “I got your name!”

Suddenly, Derek was yanked away. Kylie looked up and focused on the yanker—Mandy, a cute brunette fairy.

Kylie watched the girl wrap her arms around Derek’s neck and pull him down for a fast kiss. At first, Kylie waited for Derek to look shocked at the girl’s show of affection. Instead, he glanced at Kylie for a mere second and then refocused on Mandy, who then stepped up on her tiptoes and kissed the boy again.

And Derek didn’t look surprised at all. He looked … he looked happy. Then he smiled at Mandy—the same “special” smile he shared with Kylie.

“Great. Are you ready?” Derek asked the too perky brunette.

“Tell me again where this spot is?” Mandy asked.

“How about I just show you instead,” Derek answered.

Was he taking her to the creek? Kylie’s chest grew heavy. At first, she didn’t recognize the emotion and then she remembered feeling it when she saw Trey with his girlfriend at the party. Thankfully, she managed to stomp it down before Derek turned back around.

His soft green eyes met hers. “See you later. Okay?”

“Yeah.” She forced a smile on her face that felt about as real as a smiley face. She and Derek were just friends; she had no right to be jealous. And yet … why did it hurt so much?

She bit down on her lip. See, this was why she didn’t want to start having those feelings for Derek. Because it hurt. Then as if she wanted to punish herself even more, she turned and saw the two of them holding hands and walking away.

“Oh, crappers,” Miranda snapped. Kylie turned to look at her, realizing she’d almost forgotten her roommates were even there. Well, Miranda was still there. Della had already left.

“What?” Kylie asked. “Who got your name?”

Miranda made a face. “Not me.
You.
” She gave Kylie an elbow in her ribs. “Or are you telling me you didn’t hear who just got your name?”

Chapter Twenty-nine

Kylie swung around and touched her temple, thinking she might as well start faking the headache right now. “Who?”

“Me,” came a familiar male voice beside her.

Kylie turned around and faced Perry and then removed her finger. Perry was
not
worth faking it.

“Promise you won’t touch my ears,” he said, but in his eyes she saw his apology.

“Fine, but don’t go turning yourself into anything. It freaks me out.”

“You’re no fun,” he answered, but Kylie noticed he stared mostly at Miranda.

“Yes,” muttered Miranda, glancing back at Kylie. “Chris got my name. Wish me luck,” she said, and then reached up and let her hair down.

“Good luck,” Kylie said, and noticed the frown on Perry’s face.

“So where do you want to go to talk?” Perry asked, his gaze latched on Miranda and Chris as they walked away. Kylie had never seen such a sad-eyed shape-shifter.

“I don’t care where we…” The idea hit with the subtleness of a dump truck. It was wrong. Oh, so wrong, but she couldn’t help herself. “I know just the place by a creek bed.”

*   *   *

The next day Kylie stood in the dining room at ten o’clock sharp, waiting on her dad. She had her spiel practiced, knew exactly how she was going to approach the subject of her moving in with him. And it was so much easier that she’d thought it would be.

Last night, her mom had announced that she’d been given a promotion, but it would require some travel. Hence, it simply made sense that Kylie would stay with her dad. Not that she’d told her mom. Nope, that could wait until later.

Derek walked through the dining hall doors. When he spotted her, he came over. Kylie felt her face flush remembering how she’d taken Perry to the rock expecting to find Derek and Mandy there, doing God only knew what. But nope, Derek hadn’t been there. So Kylie had simply walked past the big rock and taken Perry into the woods another half mile before they stopped to visit.

Plain and simple, she hadn’t wanted to taint the memories of where Derek and she had really gotten to know each other.

And while she’d felt loads better knowing he hadn’t taken Mandy to their special place, Kylie wasn’t stupid enough to think that it didn’t mean he’d taken Mandy somewhere else to do … God only knew what. Nor was she stupid enough to blame him for it. How could she when Kylie herself had been the one who’d asked to be just friends? And yet …

“You’re here early.” Derek offered her a friendly smile.

Kylie couldn’t help but wonder what kind of a smile he’d offered Mandy when they’d been alone. Had he kissed her? Had he ever taken her to the rock? “Dad said he’d be here ten o’clock sharp.”

“So is your mom going to come later?” he asked.

“No,” Kylie said. “Mom doesn’t want to chance running into him. The world would end if they had to see each other.”

“Sorry about that. That has to be tough.” He said it with such concern that her heart dipped a bit. All last night she’d watched him and Mandy laughing, sitting shoulder to shoulder. She ached to go back in time and stop herself from telling him she just wanted to be friends. Then again, considering she was probably going home soon, maybe it was best.

“Is your mom coming?” Kylie asked, liking that he’d trusted her enough to tell her his past.
Had he told Mandy anything?

“Afraid so,” he said. “She’s a tad overprotective. Has been since…”

“Your dad left?” Kylie asked, and lowered her voice.

He nodded and right then, the front doors opened and in came several sets of parents, along with some more campers.

“There she is,” Derek said. “I’d better go.”

“Good luck,” Kylie said, and unable to stop herself she reached over and gave his hand a squeeze. Touching him felt right and … wrong. The tingles traveling up her arm were not those that should come from a friend. He stopped moving away and stared at her.

His smile seemed extra warm. “You, too.”

Kylie watched him go and admitted that she was going to miss him. Heck, she was going to miss Miranda and Della, too. She wouldn’t miss their bickering, but she’d miss them.

Shaking herself out of the melancholy, she tried to find her dad in another group of parents as they flooded in.

Kylie didn’t see him, but she did see a set of parents that had to be Della’s. A Euro-American woman stood with an Asian American man, scanning the crowd. Knowing that Della hadn’t expected them for another hour and had stayed at the cabin, Kylie walked up to the couple.

“Hi, I’m Kylie. Are you Della’s mom and dad?”

“Yes, where is she?” the woman asked.

“She wasn’t expecting y’all so early. If you like, I can get someone to run to the cabin.”

“Is she still in bed?” the dad asked. “My God, I thought this camp was supposed to straighten her out.” He looked at his wife. “I’m going to ask for the results of the drug tests. If they don’t have them, I’m taking her out of here and placing her in a better facility.”

Kylie tried not to react to the harshness of the man’s tone. But on the inside, she gave thanks for her dad. So what if he hadn’t shown up at the police station, and maybe he should have come to see her before she was packed off to camp, but without a doubt, Kylie felt certain he was loads better than Della’s grumpy dad.

“Oh, she’s awake,” Kylie said, knowing it was probably a lie, but wanting to protect Della from his demeanor.

Giving the room another check for her dad, she said, “I’ll tell you what, I’ll run and get her.”

She walked slowly to the door and took off in a dead run to get Della up and dressed.

*   *   *

An hour later, Kylie sat at the back of the dining hall watching everyone else visit. She’d gotten Della up and to the dining hall in record time. And on the way Kylie had stopped in the office to see Holiday and warn her about Della’s father wanting to see drug tests.

Kylie gazed at Della now, sitting and chatting with her sister, while her parents sat stiffly listening in. From the distance, the visit didn’t appear to be going well. Della had been tied in knots about seeing them, and after hearing her father’s temper, Kylie couldn’t say she blamed her.

Miranda’s mom and dad showed up about twenty minutes after Della’s. Kylie had never seen Miranda appear so insecure as she did around her parents. She sat with her shoulders slumped over and not smiling. Miranda always smiled and her posture wasn’t that of the browbeaten child, but that’s how she appeared in their presence. Kylie wanted to march over and tell both Miranda’s and Della’s parents how happy she was to have them as roommates, but for some reason, it seemed hokey.

Derek and his mom had gotten up to go take a walk. He’d actually brought his mom over to meet her. Kylie had to bite back a laugh when his mom brushed a strand of his hair off his brow and Derek blushed. Guys never liked it when their moms made a fuss over them.

“Hey.” Holiday came over to where Kylie sat. “Your dad’s not here yet?”

“Not yet. He probably misjudged how long it takes to get here. Mom always was the one who figured out the maps and such. And you know men, they’ll drive for hours before they stop and ask for directions.”

Kylie knew she was close to babbling but she couldn’t help it. Babbling was better than thinking about the possibility her dad simply wasn’t going to come.

Holiday grinned. “Men. We can’t live with them. And it’s no fun living without them.”

“Do you have … someone?” Kylie asked, even though she didn’t know if it was too personal of a question to ask her camp leader. “I don’t see a ring or anything.”

Holiday shrugged. “Well, sometimes no fun is better than putting up with them.”

“So you’re divorced?” Kylie asked.

“No, we never made it to the altar. I had the ring, had the date, and even the wedding dress. An hour before the wedding, I realized I didn’t have my fiancé.”

“That must have sucked,” Kylie said.

“Yeah, it did.”

“Did he ever tell you why?” Kylie asked.

“He said he met someone more compatible. Another vampire.”

“Oh goodness, it’s not Burnett, is it?”

Holiday’s eyes widened. “No. Why would you think…”

“He likes you,” Kylie blurted out. “Everything time you aren’t looking, he’s looking at you.”

“Please, that man’s so arrogant, I’d never…”

“He’s good-looking,” Kylie said.

“I know, damn it.” Holiday sighed. “I hate him for it, too.”

They both laughed.

Holiday looked over at Della and her family. “Thanks for giving me the heads-up. Her father is a real handful.”

“I know,” Kylie said. “It made me realize how lucky I am. Wait till you meet my dad. He’s not like that.”

“I’m looking forward to it,” Holiday said.

Kylie knew Holiday was hoping she could take a look at her dad and pronounce him supernatural. Not that Kylie believed it. Her dad wasn’t gifted. Well, he was, but not that kind of gifted.

Kylie sighed and looked up at the door and wished he’d hurry up. She needed one of his hugs in the worst way.

Her gaze shifted back to Della and she wondered if her dad ever hugged her. “Do you think Della should go live with other vampires?” Kylie asked Holiday.

Holiday sighed. “It’s really hard for a new vampire to coexist with normals. Especially if they live with someone who is controlling. But Della really cares about her family, and leaving them is going to be tough, too. I’m afraid either path she chooses is going to be really hard.”

“I hate that,” Kylie said, her heart hurting for her friend.

Right then the doors opened. Kylie held her breath waiting to see if it was her dad. Instead, in came Lucas Parker with an older woman. Kylie watched how Lucas caringly held the woman’s arm. “Who is that?” Kylie asked.

Holiday looked up. “Lucas’s grandmother.”

Kylie hadn’t considered the probability of running into Lucas’s parents. The last thing she wanted was for them to recognize her—especially since it was obvious that Lucas didn’t. “His parents aren’t coming, then?”

“Afraid not. His parents were killed right after he was born. His grandmother raised him.”

“Not right after he was born,” Kylie said, not thinking before she spoke.

“Yeah, it’s terrible.” Holiday said, misunderstanding Kylie’s comment as heartfelt disbelief instead of an announcement of a fact. “I think the files state he was only a week or two old when it happened.”

“Oh.” Kylie looked away. Then she remembered what Miranda had said about kids born to rogues. Had Lucas lied about his parents because otherwise he’d have been judged? And was the saying true that if one was born rogue, they died rogue?

“Not again,” Holiday said.

Kylie looked up and saw Burnett James walking into the room. He wore a huge frown on his face and she didn’t have to be supernatural to know something was very wrong.

Holiday pulled out her phone and dialed a number. She frowned and then dropped it in her pocket. “Why is it half the time when he shows up, Sky manages to be unavailable and I have to deal with him by myself?”

Kylie didn’t think Holiday was expecting an answer so she just shrugged and didn’t say anything.

“Excuse me,” Holiday said. “Looks as if I have another battle to win.”

Seconds later, Kylie watched Holiday and Burnett walk out of the room together. Checking her watch, Kylie considered giving her dad a call and making sure he hadn’t had a flat tire or something. Of course, she knew her dad was completely capable of changing a tire, because he spent hours teaching Kylie how to do it.

My girl is never going to be stranded.
Kylie smiled, remembering how they’d held a timed tire-changing contest. As the good memories played in her head, she decided she had to forgive him for his recent indiscretions. He’d been too good of a dad to hold a few slip-ups against him. She smiled again, knowing her father would totally agree that she should stay with him if her mom was going to be traveling.

Nevertheless, Kylie wasn’t smiling an hour later when he still hadn’t showed. With crazy thoughts like car accidents running though her head, she pulled out her phone and dialed his number.

He answered on the third ring. “Hello, Pumpkin,” he said.

Her chest eased just hearing his voice. “Hi, Dad? How close are you?”

“How close am I to what?”

Kylie’s throat tightened. She recalled his words.
I’ll be there at ten o’clock sharp.
“Didn’t you remember?”

“Remember what?”

The knot in her throat started crowding her tonsils and her sinuses stung. “It’s parents day at the camp. You said…” She bit down on her lip and prayed he’d laugh and tell her he was right around the corner.

Only he didn’t.

“Damn.” She heard him inhale. “Honey, I can’t come up there today. I’m up to my eyebrows in paperwork from the office. It’s been a crazy week.”

“But you said…” Kylie jumped up and started walking through the dining room before she completely lost it and broke down in the middle of a room filled with parents.