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When it was finally time for dinner, Kate took her place at the head table, with Johnny on one side of her and the president of Syndiworld on the other Tully held court all through the meal There was no other way to describe it She was lively, animated, funny; every person seated around her—especially Marah—seemed awestruck

Kate tried not to let any of it get to her A few tihters attention, but it was impossible to compete with Tully

Finally, she couldnt stand it anymore She made an excuse to Johnny and headed for the bathroo about Tully, reeous she looked

"And did you see the girl shes with—"

"I think its her daughter "

"No wonder they look so close "

"I wish hter treated me like that "

"So do I," Kate murmured too quietly to be heard She stared at herself in thea woman whod done her best to look beautiful for her husband and daughter, only to fade into the wallpaper beside her best friend She kneas ridiculous to feel so hurt and excluded It wasnt her night, after all Stillshed had such high hopes

That was her mistake

Shed pinned her happiness to a teenage girls chest Idiot The realization made her al better, more in control of her silly emotions, she headed back to the party

CHAPTER THIRTY

Tully shouldnt have drunk soJohnnys hand to keep herself steady "Thank you all," she said, flashing her smile to the crowd "The Girlfriend Hour is so successful because of you " She lifted a glass to everyone, and they answered with applause It occurred to her in a burst that her sentence hadnt been quite right, had maybe made no sense, but since she couldnt remember what shed said, it was hard to tell

She turned to Johnny, put her arm around him "Its our turn to dance "

The band started up; they were playing a slow song Tully took his hand and led hi when she recognized the song: "Crazy for You "

Touch me once and youll know its true