Chad dropped them off two blocks from the sorority house, on a dark street lined with aging boardinghouses that were filled with the kind of students who paid no attention to what sorority girls did.
"It was nice to meet you," Kate said as she got out of the car. She stood on the sidewalk, waiting for Tully to quit making out with him.
Finally, Tully got out of the car and waved goodbye as Chad's black Ford Mustang drove away.
"Well?" she demanded suddenly, turning 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 him?"
"Of course I liked him. He's got a great sense of humor."
"But?"
Kate bit her lip, stalling for time. She didn't want to hurt Tully's feeling or piss her off, but what kind of friend would she be if she lied? The truth was, shehadliked Chad and she believed he truly cared about Tully; it was also true that she had a bad feeling about their relationship and meeting him had only made it worse.
"Come on, Katie, you're scaring me."
"I wasn't going to say anything, Tully, but since you're forcing me . . . I don't think you should be going out with him." Once her opinion broke through 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 him or he'll get fired. What kind of relationship is that? You're missing your college years."
Tully took a step back. "Missing my college years? You mean going to dances in Tahitian costumes and shotgunning beer? Or dating guys like the nerds you seem to choose—most of them are only slightly smarter than a pet rock."
"Maybe we should just agree to disagree . . ."
"You think I'm with him for my career, don't you? To what—get better grades or a spot at the station?"
"Aren't you? Just a little bit?" Kate knew instantly she shouldn't have said it. "I'm sorry," she said, reaching for her friend. "I didn't mean it."
Tully wrenched free. "Of course you meant it. Miss Perfect with the best family and the flawless grades. I don't even know why 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
Tully ran all the way to the bus stop on Forty-fifth. "Bitch," she muttered, wiping her eyes.
When the bus came, she paid her fare and climbed aboard, muttering, "Bitch," twice more as she found a seat and sat down.
How could Kate have said those things to her?
"Bitch," she said again, but this time the word leaked out, sounding forlorn.
The bus stopped less than a block from Chad's house. She rushed up the sidewalk toward the small Craftsman-style home and knocked on the door.
He answered almost instantly, dressed in a pair of old gray sweats and a Rolling Stones T-shirt. She could tell by the way he smiled at her that he had expected her. "Hey, Tully."
"Take me to bed," she whispered throatily, pushing her hands up underneath his shirt.
They made their fumbling, kissing way through the house and to the small bedroom in the back. She stayed close to him, locked in his arms, kissing him deeply. She didn't look at him, couldn't, but it didn't matter. By the time they fell onto the bed, they were both naked and greedy.
Tully lost herself and her pain in the pleasure of his hands and mouth, and when it was over and they lay there, entwined, she tried not to think of anything except how good he made her feel.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
