Taken at Dusk (Shadow Falls #3)(91)

They hadn't gotten out of the dining hall before her mom leaned in. "Boyfriend? What have you not been telling me?"

Just great, Kylie thought. Now her mom would probably start mailing her the sex pamphlets.

Sara leaned in and whispered in her other ear, "He's hot."

"I know," Kylie whispered back.

"Not hot like good-looking. I mean hot like you were that day you touched me."

Kylie didn't know what to say to that. When they got to the door of the dining hall, Kylie reached for the knob, but the door swung open first and nearly knocked her down. She jumped back.

Derek and his mom came inside. Derek's gaze shot to Kylie and his eyes tightened as if her nearness hurt him. Then a look of concern filled his eyes when he noticed Sara.

"Look, Derek! It's Kylie!" Mrs. Lakes almost shouted, and again Kylie felt everyone in the room staring at her.

Without any advance warning, Kylie became locked in an embrace with Mrs. Lakes. Thankfully, she was a fast hugger.

Derek looked at Sara. "You must be Sara."

"That's me," Sara answered with her flirty smile. "Who are you?"

"This is Derek," Kylie said, and made quick introductions, which included her mom.

Mrs. Lakes waved her hand back and forth between Kylie and Derek. "I think they're sweet on each other. Isn't it cute?"

Several gasps came from the crowd behind them, probably the vampires listening in. Kylie felt her cheeks break out in embarrassment.

"Mom!" Derek rolled his eyes.

"I'm just saying the truth, honey. She's all you talk about."

Derek's face turned bright red.

Kylie's mom arched an eyebrow and eyed Kylie as if to say she would be certain to send those sex pamphlets now.

Sara chuckled.

And Kylie just wanted to die. Right there, right then. Especially when she looked back and saw Lucas taking it all in and frowning.

Chapter Thirty-one

"Why don't you girls walk ahead?" Kylie's mom said as soon as they got outside the dining hall. "I know Sara is dying to have some girl talk."

Kylie wasn't fooled. Her mom obviously was dying to discuss something privately with Holiday. Probably about Kylie having two boyfriends.

As Sara and Kylie started walking, Sara squeezed Kylie's arm. "Two guys? You've got two guys in love with you? Start talking, girl."

"Did Kylie's dad come this morning? I'm so worried about their relationship." Her mom's words seemed extra loud.

Kylie stopped and looked back. They were well over a hundred feet away and there was no way she should be hearing this. But she was. The sensitive hearing was back, and this time she was grateful.

"Yes," Holiday answered. "He did come. They seemed to have a good visit."

"Kylie?" Sara said. "Come on, tell me what's going on."

Kylie looked back at Sara and started walking again. "I ... it's hard to explain."

"Good," her mom said. "I'm a bit concerned about Kylie and, well, the boys. I've read when a girl has issues with her father, they find themselves having ... acting out with boys."

Well, at least Kylie now knew it wasn't just her. Her mom couldn't say the word sex to anyone.

"Do you supervise them and make sure there isn't anything happening that shouldn't be happening?"

"Well, try," Sara insisted. "Talk to me. I'm dying to know."

"Know what?" Kylie asked, failing miserably at keeping up with two conversations.

"Have you lost it yet?" Sara asked.

"Your daughter has a good head on her shoulders," Holiday answered. "I don't think you need to worry about Kylie."

"Lost what?" Kylie asked Sara, and then suddenly she knew what Sara was asking.

Apparently, the two conversations going on at once were about the same thing. Sex. "No. I haven't lost it." Annoyed at Sara's question, she remembered how close she and Sara had once been. They had told each other everything-no secrets. Sort of like she now did with Della and Miranda.

The awkwardness of having her old life cross paths with her new hit again. And in about fifteen minutes, Della and Miranda would meet them at the cabin. How awkward was that going to be?

Probably very.

"But they're so hot," Sara said.

"Yeah. They are."

"So which one do you really like?"

Both. The truth echoed in her head. Kylie inhaled. "Lucas," she said.

"Yum." Sara grinned, then shrugged. "Now, can you please tell me what you did to heal me?"

Kylie recalled the advice Holiday had given her. Just deny it. "I don't know what you're..." She started hearing the conversation between Holiday and her mom heat up again.

"Can I ask you a strange question?" Holiday asked her mom.

"I guess," her mom said.

"Do you have any American Indian blood in your family tree?"

"Why would Holiday ask that?" Kylie muttered.

"Why would who ask what?" Sara looked at her strangely.

Kylie shook her head. "Nothing."

"So start talking," Sara said. "And don't even try to deny it. I remember clearly how you rubbed my temples and how hot your hands got when you did it. And I felt it. I felt something happening inside me."