C.C. Hunter [Shadow Falls 02] Awake at Dawn

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you know?
Dirtying up the sheets? Holiday said.
Yeah. Kylie mentally added that to Della s list of ways to say getting
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it on.
This afternoon he came into my office and made the announcement,
I know how things looked between Selynn and me. And it s not that
way.
Or at least not anymore.
So they were together and they broke up? Kylie asked.
He said they ended it two months ago. That they were never serious.
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Kylie raised her eyebrows. And how long ago was it that you met
him?
Two months, she said.
Hmm, Kylie said.
Hmm, what? Holiday asked.
Just a meaningless hmm, Kylie lied. So what did you tell him?
I told him that I didn t have a clue why he felt as if he needed to tell
me about Selynn.
Could he tell you were lying? Kylie asked.
Yup, Holiday chuckled. They just stood there for a minute looking
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out at the crowd. Any more info from the ghost lately?
Nothing, Kylie said. It scares me that & I ve messed up somehow.
I don t think that s it at all. She s probably trying to figure out how to
tell you what she needs you to know.
I hope so, Kylie said.
Angry sounds exploded from across the room. What did you call
me? a loud voice boomed. Kylie and Holiday looked up. Two
werewolves
stood nose-to-nose, about to go fist-to-fist.
My work is never done, Holiday said, and took off to break up the
fight.
Kylie watched her go watched her calm the tempers of two very
highspirited
boys. After a few minutes of feeling a bit like a lone ranger, she
spotted Miranda hanging with her witch sisters. She knew Miranda
wouldn t mind if she joined them, but Kylie decided against it. Helen
and
Jonathon sat at a table playing chess. She could go watch Helen
embarrass
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Jonathon again with her natural talent for chess, but for some the
reason, the two seemed to be enjoying being alone.
Another sweep of the room and Kylie found Derek. He leaned against
a wall, arms crossed, watching her. A slow smile widened his lips.
Something
in his smile told her he could really use some company.
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She gave the room a quick check to see how many individuals could
either smell her hormones or read her emotions. They were
everywhere.
What to do? What to do?
She glanced back at Derek, remembered how good it had felt when
he d held her those few minutes in the office, and she thought & what
the
hell. She started walking toward him.
* * *
Wanna go eat pizza in the moonlight? Derek whispered in her ear
when
she stopped in front of him.
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Standing this close, she could smell his freshly showered skin. A vision
of what he d looked like standing in the buff wearing only a few water
droplets filled her mind. She blinked the vision away.
Is that like dancing in the moonlight? It s supposed to be seductive.
She smiled and then bit her tongue. Why was it when she got within
three
feet of him, all she could think about was & him?
He grinned. It could be. With the right person. And the right pizza.
He laughed. Hey, I m hungry.
They got themselves two slices each of pizza and a couple of drinks
and walked out of the dining hall.
I know the perfect place, he said as they left the chatter of voices and
the air-conditioning behind in the dining hall. The night air was warm
and smooth. He pointed to the two large, white rocking chairs at the
front
of the office. She followed him. She was just about to sit down when
the
phone in her pocket chimed.
Sitting her drink down, she balanced her plate in one hand and pulled
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out her phone to check the number. She frowned when she saw her
dad s
number and she hit the off button.
Who was it? Derek moved the second rocker over so they faced each
other.
My dad & I mean, my stepdad, she corrected herself.
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You still aren t talking to him? Derek sat down and picked up a piece
of pepperoni pizza and took a big bite.
Nooooo. She stuffed her phone back in her pocket and dropped
down in her rocker. Their knees touched and it felt nice.
Why not? Derek asked between bites of pizza.
Kylie stared at him. Why would I want to talk to him? She positioned
the plate in her lap.
He finished chewing and swallowed. Because you care about him.
Because
up until the shit hit the fan with your parents marriage, he was a
pretty good dad. He held up his finger. You re the one that told me
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that.
Yeah, but I didn t tell you to use it against me. She picked up the
slice of pizza and stared down at the oozing cheese. Her mouth
watered
and her stomach grumbled. Thankfully, she was finally hungry. For a
while there, she thought the blood had ruined her for eating regular
food.
I m not using it against you. He took a sip of his drink. I m just &
trying to help. Because when you saw it was his number, your
emotions
went all lonely and sad. I felt them all the way to my gut. Maybe if you
talked to him, you wouldn t have to feel that anymore.
He cheated on my mom. She fought back the slight annoyance she
felt toward Derek and took a small bite of pizza. The spicy sauce along
with the gooey cheese made her taste buds jump up and down.
That s just it, Derek said, taking another bite of his slice. He
cheated on your mom. Not you.
Kylie swallowed the pizza and frowned. Why does everyone keep
saying
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that as if his infidelity didn t affect me? It broke their marriage up.
Nothing is the same for me anymore.
Derek studied her over the rim of his drink and started his rocker
moving. Maybe if you spoke with him, some of it would be the same.
The
relationship between you and him could be the same.
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She dropped her pizza back on her plate, frustration chasing away her
first sign of hunger in days. You know, for a guy who won t even think
about talking to his dad, you re a fine one to talk. I mean, you had a
detective
find your dad, and you still won t even contact him.
His jaw tightened. And your point?
She narrowed her own eyes and steadied her stare at him. My point
is, back off, okay?
Derek scraped his feet on the porch, brought his rocker to a fast halt,
and stared at her. How far back do you want me to go? I m already
scared to even talk to you in public. Isn t that far enough? Frustration
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filled his voice, but it was the hurt in his eyes that made her see
reason.
Why was she being such a B with an itch?
I m sorry. Kylie said. I shouldn t have snapped at you. And I don t
mean that you can t ever talk to me in public. I just & I m just & I m so
moody. Kylie remembered what Holiday had said about the mood
swings in werewolves before the full moon. Was that why she was
acting
this way? She looked up at the dark navy sky and focused on what
almost
appeared to be a full moon. Come Monday she d know, wouldn t she?
When she glanced back at Derek, he d continued eating. Not that he
looked all that happy. He wouldn t even look at her. Her thoughts
shifted
from what might happen on Monday to the anger that had just passed
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