Chosen at Nightfall (Shadow Falls #5)(58)

"Just happens?" Burnett bellowed out. "Are you freaking kidding me! If you have sex, you use protection. It's that simple. This shit doesn't have to happen! This is nothing but carelessness. It's irresponsible. It's unforgivable."

"Burnett!" Holiday rolled her eyes at Kylie and frowned. The fae knew exactly what Kylie was up to now.

But Kylie wasn't finished yet. "Maybe we should put a rule in place. Any male who impregnates a girl should be neutered."

"Enough," Holiday snapped.

"Actually, that's not a bad plan!" he growled.

"Burnett!" Holiday said in a stern voice. "Shut up before you embarrass yourself more than you already have." When the vampire looked at Holiday, she continued, "Kylie didn't buy the pregnancy tests for Miranda. She bought them for me."

Kylie flopped back against the seat again, enjoying the look of disbelief on the vampire's face a little too much. "Would you like a name of a good doctor who will schedule your little snip-snip operation?"

she bit out.

Chapter Twenty-one

The thing about sweet revenge was it was never as sweet in hindsight. Burnett was ... stunned. He turned around and started the car. He drove back to Shadow Falls without saying one word. Holiday sat there hiccuping and looking as if she might cry. Obviously, Burnett's reaction wasn't exactly what Holiday had been hoping for.

Or maybe, Kylie realized, it was exactly what the fae had feared. She recalled Holiday telling her that Burnett wasn't sure he wanted to be a father. Kylie suddenly wanted to apologize for her part in announcing the fact so ... hurtfully, but the moment didn't feel right.

After parking the car, Burnett saw Perry as they walked through the gate, and called him over and asked him to see Kylie to her cabin.

"What up?" Perry asked, studying Kylie and then looking back at Burnett walking away. "I've never seen him looking so ... stunned. It's as if the lights are on but nobody's home."

"Nothing," Kylie said, and she wanted to cry, to smack herself for being so thoughtless.

As soon as Kylie got back to her cabin, she headed straight to her bedroom.

But Della shot across the room and blocked the door. "What's wrong?" Della asked. "First you come to class crying, then Holiday shows up acting all weird, and now you come in looking like a kicked puppy. And don't tell me it's none of my business, I'm your friend, that gives me all the rights in the world to butt into your personal life."

Kylie gave Della a hug. "I love you."

"Okay ... I ... I wasn't trying to get all mushy?" Della said, and pulled back.

"I know, but you were," Kylie said. "Unfortunately, I can't ... talk about any of this right now. I need to make a few phone calls." She motioned for Della to step away from the door. She did, but begrudgingly.

Kylie's first phone call was to warn Hayden that Burnett might possibly arrive and be on the warpath.

"Why? What the hell did I do this time?" Hayden asked.

"My grandfather showed up at the drugstore. I'm assuming you told him where I was."

"Oh, damn it! I did mention it, but ... I never thought he'd go there. I guess I'll start packing my bags,"

he muttered.

"No," Kylie said. "Please. Just explain that you didn't know he was coming. Just ... placate Burnett.

Say anything. But ... don't leave. I need you here. And ... don't be too hard on him. He ... he's having a hard day."

"What happened?" Hayden asked.

"He had to put up with me," Kylie said.

"Oh, that would be rough," Hayden said teasingly, but Kylie wasn't in a humorous mood.

Off the phone with him, Kylie called her stepdad. She talked to him a good five minutes, assuring him she was okay, and that she'd lost her phone, but now she found it and was sorry she missed his calls.She could tell from his voice that he was upset to learn that her mom was in London. Or maybe it wasn't just his voice telling her this, but his words. "God damn, she should have told me she was leaving the country!"

"I'm sure she just forgot," Kylie lied, unsure of anything else she could say.

Hanging up with him, Kylie suddenly felt her left pocket vibrate. Oh, crap. She'd completely forgotten she still had Holiday's phone.

Pulling her phone out, she saw Burnett had sent Holiday a text. Her gut said that Holiday needed to read it. She ran out of the room and hollered at Della. "Let's go."

Knowing Della would catch up, Kylie lit out the door. In a matter of seconds, Della was moving beside her.

"Where are we going?"

"To the office. I need to see Holiday."

"And you're still not going to tell me what's going on."

"Sorry." Kylie picked up her pace.

She asked Della to wait outside. The vamp rolled her eyes, but did it. When Kylie walked into the office, Holiday's door was shut. She knocked.

"Who is it?" Holiday asked, and Kylie sensed the fae was hoping it was Burnett.

"It's me." Kylie opened the door.

Holiday stood behind her desk. She sighed. Her eyes were a watery mess. The fae didn't cry much prettier than Kylie. "I'm so sorry." Guilt caused a knot in Kylie's throat.