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"Sit down," Tully said. "Ill go get a waitress. " She was on her feet and gone before Kate could stop her.
Kate looked at Chad; he eyed her back, smiling as if at some secret. "This is an interesting place," she said to make conversation.
"Its 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 its forced upon you. "
His words caused something to darken his eyes, an emotion of some kind. She was reminded of his backstory suddenly, the bright career hed lost. "Theyd fire you—the university—if they found out about you and Tully, wouldnt they?"
He drew his leg back, sat up straighter. "So thats how you want to play it. Good. I like direct. Yes. Id 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, who was at the crowded coffee bar, trying to order. "You, of all people, shouldnt have to ask that. Why is she your best friend?"
"Shes special. "
"Indeed. "
"But what about her career? Shed be ruined if word got out that she was with you. Theyd say she slept her way to a degree. "
"Good for you, Katie. You should be looking out for her. She needs that. Shes . . . fragile, our Tully. "
Kate didnt know which upset her more—his description of Tully as fragile or the way he said our Tully. "Shes a steamroller. I dont call her Tropical Storm Tully for nothing. "
"Thats on the outside. For show. "
Kate sat back, surprised. "You actually care about her. "
"Mores the pity, I imagine. 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 Im too old. Or the prof angle is always a winner. Just so you know, I drink too much, too. "
"You want me to tell her those things?"
He looked at her. "No. I dont want you to tell her those things. "
Behind them, a young man with wild hair and ratty-looking pants stepped up to the microphone. He introduced himself as Kenny Gore-lick, then began playing a saxophone. His music was wildly romantic and jazzy; for a few moments the talk in the place died down. Kate felt swept up in the music, transported by it. Gradually, though, it became background music and she looked at Chad. He was studying her intently. She knew how 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 was worried 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. "Now who wants apple pie?"
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.
