Going Down In Flames: Bridges Burned Part 20

Zavien wouldn't do that. "You're wrong. He cared about me."

"Not enough, it seems. Come on. Let's go."

Smoke shot from her nostrils. She closed her eyes and thought of snow. The flames in her gut died down, but she still wanted to roast Jaxon.

If it weren't for Rhianna waiting for him, she'd drag out the argument to delay returning.

"Fine." She s.h.i.+fted and flew back toward school. Where should she go? Would Clint and Ivy still be in the dining hall? She definitely didn't want to go back there. Maybe she'd just go back to her room.

Jaxon veered off toward the Blue dorm. Bryn's stomach growled, reminding her she hadn't eaten. First she'd stop in her room, and then she'd order a pizza. Maybe two pizzas.

Landing on her terrace, she pitched forward and caught herself with her wings. After s.h.i.+fting, she pushed open the window and heard voices. Creeping into the room, she peeked around the doorframe. Clint and Ivy sat on the couch. The spicy aroma of pizza made her mouth water.

Stepping through the doorway, she gave a lame smile. "Hi, guys."

Ivy swooped over and pulled her into a hug. "I'm so sorry."

With those three words, the waterworks started again. Bryn squeezed Ivy and then stepped back. "Thanks for being here." She sniffled and wiped at her face with the back of her hand.

"Here." Clint handed her a box of tissues. "Now I'm going to escape while you and Ivy do the whole crying thing."

Bryn nodded. "Thanks for the Kleenex."

Clint made a hasty exit. Ivy pulled Bryn to the couch.

Bryn relayed the conversation with Zavien between bites of pizza. "I just feel so stupid for believing him in the first place." She groaned in frustration. "And I expected more from him. What's worse is Jaxon thinks all Zavien's talk about changing the law was a line."

A growl emerged from Ivy's throat. "If we ever find out that's true, I'll help you kill him and hide his body."

"Thank you."

"That's what best friends are for."

Bryn lay in bed that night contemplating her screwed-up situation. Clint and Ivy were wonderful, and they would continue to be there for her, but Zavien's bowing out left a huge hole in her life. What would she do with the time she used to spend with him?

She turned on her side and punched her pillow into shape and tried to focus on positive things. Maybe she could visit Valmont tomorrow, because he made her happy. And Christmas was coming up. That was good. She loved Christmas shopping. Maybe she'd focus on her relations.h.i.+p with her grandparents. She didn't need a guy in her life. She just needed to focus on her own life. There, she had a plan.

Dragon's Bluff bustled with activity. Shoppers carried bags decorated with Christmas trees. A mood of cheeriness permeated the air. Something she hadn't felt on campus since the first attack. On the walk to Fonzoli's, she people-watched.

A familiar blond woman stared into a boutique window that featured baby clothes. The high collar of the woman's coat obscured the lower portion of her face. And what would Jaxon's mother Lillith be doing looking at baby clothes anyway?

When she was within five feet of the woman, Lillith looked up and smiled. "Bryn, how are you?"

"I'm good. How are you?"

"I'm wonderful." Lillith pointed to the window. "Which pajamas do you like best?"

Snowflakes dotted one pair of blue footy pajamas, and frogs decorated a green pair.

"Since it's almost Christmas, I'd go with the snowflakes."

"My thoughts exactly." Lillith glowed with happiness.

Life with Ferrin couldn't be responsible. Maybe it was the holiday season or recreational pharmaceuticals.

"Then again, maybe I'll buy both and have Ws embroidered on the collar."

"W as in Westgate?" That was weird. "Aren't they a little small for Jaxon?"

Lillith laughed. "They're not for Jaxon. They're for his brother."

Jaxon had never mentioned a brother. Lillith grinned and placed a hand over her abdomen. The pieces fell into place.

"You're pregnant?" Bryn asked.

"Isn't it wonderful?"

Holy c.r.a.p! That meant she'd slept with Ferrin. Bryn swallowed her automatic response of Ewwww, gross and went with "Congratulations."

She didn't like to acknowledge her own parents'...interactions...much less someone else's.

"Thank you." Lillith glanced around. "It makes me feel guilty to be so happy, in light of the recent sad news about Rhianna."

Bryn's good mood burst like a balloon hit with a dart. "Can't you talk Ferrin into-"

Lillith shook her head. "There's not a person in the world who can talk Ferrin into anything. Jaxon told me of his plan to take care of Rhianna. Even though she won't have the life she wanted, her future isn't in question. Hopefully that will provide some consolation."

It wouldn't be enough consolation. About that, Bryn was sure. Time to change the subject before Lillith mentioned pairing her up with Jaxon. "I was headed to Fonzoli's for lunch if you'd like to-"

"Mother?" Jaxon approached with a wary look on his face.

Lillith smiled. "There you are. I was doing a little shopping before lunch."

"With Bryn?" Jaxon's eyes went to the display of baby clothes in the window. His brow furrowed and then his face colored. "Dear G.o.d, Bryn, how could you be so stupid?"

"What?"

He moved in close and spoke in a low voice. "Did you forget about a.n.a.lise? What do you think the Directorate will do when they learn about your condition?"

The moron thought she was pregnant? She couldn't wait to see his expression when he realized the truth. She put her hand on his chest and pushed him back a step. "While I appreciate your concern for my well-being, I'm not the one shopping for baby clothes." She bit her lip to keep from laughing as confusion wrinkled his brow. Then his gaze darted to his mother, and his face paled.

"Mother?"

"Are you going to call her stupid?" Bryn asked.

"Of course not," Jaxon snapped. He squared his shoulders. "Congratulations, Mother. I presume this is a happy occurrence?"

"Yes." Lillith reached for his hand. "How would you feel about a baby brother?"

He looked at his shoes while he spoke. "I suppose it's too late to suggest you adopt another kitten, instead?" His tone was dry, but there was truth in his words.

Lillith laughed. "Too late, but don't worry. You'll always be the firstborn male and your father's heir."

"Until the baby plots to overthrow you," Bryn muttered.

Jaxon shot her a look that could melt gla.s.s. "Shouldn't you be running along to meet your knight?"

"Bryn invited us to have lunch with her. Isn't that sweet?" Lillith reached for the door to the shop. "But first I want to order some clothes."

When she'd asked Lillith to join her for lunch, Jaxon hadn't been part of the plan. "Now that I know you won't be eating alone, I'll be on my way."

"I insist you have lunch with us." Lillith held the door wide. "In you go. Both of you. First we shop. Then we eat."

Jaxon reached for the door handle. "Ladies first, Mother. I suppose you should enter as well, Bryn."

"Just for that, I'm going to buy matching monogrammed sweaters for you and your baby brother." She wasn't sure this store made such things, but they had to exist online somewhere. "I'm sure you'd look great in a blue sweater with choo-choo trains or a Disney character."

Lillith winked at Bryn. "I know a store where they sell footy pajamas for grownups and babies. Wouldn't it be adorable if Jaxon and his brother wore matching pajamas for our family Christmas photo?"

The image of Jaxon in Elmo footy pajamas had Bryn snorting with laughter. Lillith's laughter tinkled like silver bells.

Jaxon pursed his lips. "I'll wait right here."

Bryn followed along behind Lillith, oohing and ahhing at the baby clothes. That part was easy. What she needed was an escape plan. While Lillith was wonderful, having lunch with Jaxon wasn't what she needed today. Or any day. G.o.d forbid it put ideas in Lillith's head about the future.

When it was time to pay for the clothes, Bryn made a show of checking her watch. "I'd no idea it was so late. Time for homework. I better go."

"What about lunch?" Lillith's eyes filled with tears. Real tears.

And now she'd made a pregnant woman cry. A new low. "Right. Lunch. I forgot. Lunch would be great."

"Good." Lillith retrieved a handkerchief from her handbag. "Sorry about this. I'm a bit emotional."

"Not a problem." c.r.a.p. How could she ditch Jaxon without abandoning Lillith? No ideas came to mind. And she still needed to see Valmont. "Want to eat at Fonzoli's?"

Jaxon muttered under his breath as they walked down the sidewalk toward their lunch destination.

"What was that, Jaxon?" his mother asked.

"I said, 'Do you think Father would approve of us being seen together, in public, with Bryn?'"

What was she, a social leper? If she didn't fear Lillith bursting into tears, she'd insult him right back.

"Your father isn't here." Lillith pulled out her cell phone. "Though three is an awkward number. I know who should join us."

Bryn tensed as Lillith dialed. Who was she calling?

"May I speak to Mrs. Sinclair?"

c.r.a.p. Not her grandmother.

Jaxon turned to her with terror in his eyes. "Stop this," he whispered.

"What do you want me to do?" she whispered back. "Tackle your pregnant mom and wrestle the phone away from her?"

Maybe her grandmother wouldn't be able to join them.

"Good afternoon, Marie. It's Lillith. Sorry for the late notice, but Jaxon and I ran into Bryn in Dragon's Bluff and we planned to lunch at Fonzoli's. Would you like to join us?"

Jaxon grabbed Bryn's arm, holding her in place while Lillith kept walking. "Leave. Now."

"I can't just run off." She jerked her arm from his grasp. "Pretend you're sick or something."

"Westgates never run from a conflict."

"But it's okay if I scurry off."

"You have no family reputation to uphold," Jaxon shot back.

"Now I'm staying, just to spite you." She moved faster and caught up with Lillith.

"That's wonderful, Marie. We'll see you soon." Lillith tucked her cell phone back into her pocket. "Your grandmother will meet us at the restaurant."

"That's great." She tried to sound happy. "This will give me a chance to finalize our plans for Christmas Eve."

When they reached the restaurant, Bryn scanned the room for Valmont. He appeared from the kitchen wiping his hands on a white-and-red checked towel. His eyes focused on her within seconds. He smiled like she was the best thing he'd seen all day.

Happy warmth filled her chest as he crossed the room to meet her. His gaze took in Jaxon and Lillith. When he reached her, he put his arm around her shoulders in a proprietary manner, which gave her a warm fuzzy feeling.

"I'm off work in an hour. Want to go Christmas shopping?" Valmont asked, like Jaxon and his mother weren't standing there.

"Sure. I'm having lunch with Jaxon, Lillith, and my grandmother. After that I don't have any plans."

Valmont squeezed her shoulders and then removed his arm. "You'll need a table for four. Would you like to sit by the windows up front or would you prefer a quiet table in the back?"

Jaxon said, "In the back," at the same time his mom said, "By the windows, please."

Valmont made a show of looking back and forth between Jaxon and his mother. "Sorry, I think she outranks you."

Lillith grinned like a Ches.h.i.+re cat as Valmont led them to a table by the front windows. "Is this to your liking?" he asked.

"This is perfect." Lillith sat when Valmont pulled out her chair. "How do you know Bryn?"