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"But what about her career? Shed be ruined if word got out that she ith you Theyd say she slept her way to a degree "

"Good for you, Katie You should be looking out for her She needs that Shesfragile, our Tully "

Kate didnt knohich upset her ile or the way he said our Tully "Shes a stea "

"Thats on the outside For show "

Kate sat back, surprised "You actually care about her "

"Mores 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, didnt you? You can certainly say Ile is always a winner Just so you know, I drink too much, too "

"You want s?"

He looked at her "No I dont 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 didnt have the stamina to take another hit like that Before she could answer the question hed 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 "Were 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