“Is that so, Tulya?” Donovan turned toward me, using my full name, differentiating himself.
“We haven’t seen one another in a long while,” I said, hoping to end Donovan’s visit.
“Yes, it’s been great, but we were just about to call Tulya’s brother to get us. Maybe you can drive her home?” Prim tossed the suggestion out there as if it was a normal one.
“Of course. Now?” Leave it to Donovan to pick up what she was putting down and take advantage of the opportunity.
Jerk.Not to mention, Prim would get alone time with Bruno now.
“I’ll settle up.” Prim shooed us off and Donovan didn’t waste any time.
“Let’s go, Tulya.” He tugged on my stool and waited for me to stand, his hand resting on my lower back as we made our way out.
Judging by how cold I was in the middle of late spring, I was in big, big trouble.
Donovan
“She’s my friend,” Tulya said without prompting as we got into my car.
“I know” was all I said.
“I’m allowed to talk with who I want.”
I didn’t reply, only started to pull my car away from the curb, the bar shrinking behind us.
“Were you meeting someone? You don’t have to leave.”
“It feels like you want to argue with me, Tulya. Do you?”
“No, I don’t want to argue with you or anyone.” Her voice was soft, as I knew the rest of her body to be. She yanked her hair out of her ponytail and allowed it to cascade in front of her face.
“I was going for a cocktail to clear my head. Something drew me to the Onion. Maybe it was you.”
“We are not connected like that.” She spoke firmly.
I drove toward her house, not under any impression she’d invite me in, so I took my time. “I’m beginning to think we are. My orbit is constantly circling yours.”
“Stop. Seriously. Why are you here?” She set her hands in her lap and kept her gaze out the front window.
I’d never seen this side of Tulya—argumentative, sullen, stubborn, and maybe a dash cynical. “I went to see Valerie.”
“Oh? Working on whose side? Your mother’s or Blake’s?”
I knew this would get a reaction out of her.
I turned into the main driveway of Tulya’s childhood estate. “My mother asked me to go, but I diverted from her perceived mission.”
This got me a side glance. “Blake wants to see her mom.”
“Is that what you were filling Prim in on?” I couldn’t help asking, even adding a wink.
“No. If you must know, I told her what happened between us. I don’t care if you’re mad.”
I came to a stop in front of her house and waited to see if she finished her thought.
“I am sorry if you are upset or hate me… Actually, you have every right to, but so do I. Your mom paraded Emelee through my place today, and you came in to rescue her.”
“I didn’t rescue her,” I tried to explain.
