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She flinched at the unexpected use of her nickname It was a forcible reminder that Chad knew Tully, too
"Sit down," Tully said "I'll go get a waitress" She was on her feet and gone before Kate could stop her
Kate looked at Chad; he eyed her back, s place," she said to make conversation
"It's like a tavern without beer," he said "The kind of place where you can change who you are"
"I thought change started from within"
"Sometimes Sometimes it's forced upon you"
His words caused so to darken his eyes, an emotion of soht career he'd lost "They'd fire you--the university--if they found out about you and Tully, wouldn't they?"
He drew his leg back, sat up straighter "So that's how you want to play it Good I like direct Yes I'd lose this career, too"
"Are you some kind of risk junkie?"
"No"
"Have you slept with your students before?"
He laughed "Hardly"
"So, why?"
He glanced sideways, at Tully, as at the crowded coffee bar, trying to order "You, of all people, shouldn't have to ask that Why is she your best friend?"
"She's special"
"Indeed"
"But what about her career? She'd be ruined if word got out that she ith you They'd say she slept her way to a degree"
"Good for you, Katie You should be looking out for her She needs that She'sfragile, our Tully"
Kate didn't knohich upset her ile or the way he said our Tully "She's a stea"
"That's on the outside For show"
Kate sat back, surprised "You actually care about her"
"More's the pity, I iine What will you tell her?"
"About what?"
"You came here to find a way to convince her not to see me anymore, didn't you? You can certainly say I'le is always a winner Just so you know, I drink too s?"
He looked at her "No I don't want you to tell her those things"
Behind the pants stepped up to the an playing a saxophone His music ildly romantic and jazzy; for a few moments the talk in the place died down Kate felt swept up in the roundher intently She kne much it meant to him, this conversation, and how much Tully meant to him That turned the tables neatly; she was surprised by the suddenness of the switch Now, sitting here, she orried that Tully would ruin this man, who frankly looked as if he didn't have the stamina to take another hit like that Before she could answer the question he'd posed, Tully was back, dragging a purple-haired waitress with her
"So," she said, frowning and a little breathless, "are you friends yet?"
Chad was the first to look up "We're friends"
"Excellent," Tully said, sitting on his lap "Noants apple pie?"
Chad dropped them off two blocks fro boardinghouses that were filled with the kind of students who paid no attention to what sorority girls did
"It was nice to ot out of the car She stood on the sidewalk, waiting for Tully to quit ot out of the car and waved goodbye as Chad's black Ford Mustang drove away
"Well?" she de to Kate "He's handsome, isn't he?"
Kate nodded "He sure is"
"And cool, right?"
"Definitely cool" She started to walk away, but Tully grabbed her sleeve, stopped her, and spun her around
"Did you like hireat sense of humor"
"But?"
Kate bit her lip, stalling for ti or piss her off, but what kind of friend would she be if she lied? The truth was, she had liked Chad and she believed he truly cared about Tully; it was also true that she had a bad feeling about their relationship andhim had only, Tully, but since you're forcingout with hih the dam, she couldn't stop "I mean, he's thirty-one years old He has an ex-wife and a four-year-old daughter he never sees You can't be seen publicly with hiet fired What kind of relationship is that? You're e years"
Tully took a step back "Missingto dances in Tahitian costuuys like the nerds you seehtly sree to disagree"
"You think I'rades or a spot at the station?"
"Aren't you? Just a little bit?" Kate knew instantly she shouldn't have said it "I' for her friend "I didn't mean it"
Tully wrenched free "Of course you rades I don't even knohy you hang around with me: I'm such a slut career hound"
"Wait!" Kate called out, but Tully was already gone, running down the dark street
CHAPTER TEN