As soon as it was over and the music started up again, she popped to her feet. “Come on, Katie. We need to talk.” She grabbed Kate’s hand and led her away from the publicness of the TV room, through the halls, and down a flight of stairs to the sorority’s dirty little secret: the smoking lounge. It was a tiny room, tucked behind the kitchen, with two love seats, a coffee table littered with full ashtrays, and air so thick and blue it hurt your eyes, even when no one was in the room. It was the place for after-party gossip and late-night laughter.

Kate hated it down here. The habit that had seemed so cool and defiant at thirteen was gross and stupid now. “So, tell me everything. You got the internship, right?”

Tully grinned. “I did. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Some weekends. We’re on our way, Katie. I’ll nail this job and by the time we graduate, I’ll talk them into hiring you. We’ll be a team, just like we always said.”

Kate took a deep breath. Do it. Tell her. “You shouldn’t be worrying about me, Tully. This is your day, your start.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. You still want to be a team, don’t you?” Tully paused, stared at Kate, who screwed up her courage and opened her mouth. Then Tully laughed. “Of course you do. I knew it. You were just messing with me. Very funny. I’ll talk to Mr. Ryan—he’s my new boss—just as soon as he can’t live without me. Now I gotta run. Chad will want to hear about the interview, but I had to tell you first.” Tully hugged her fiercely and left.

Kate stood there, in the small, ugly room that smelled of stale cigarettes, staring at the open door. “No,” she said softly. “I don’t want to do that.”

There was no one listening.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER
ELEVEN

Thanksgiving in the Mularkey household was always a spectacle. Aunt Georgia and Uncle Ralph drove over from eastern Washington, bringing enough food with them to feed an entire community. In years past, they’d had their four children with them, but now those kids were adults themselves and sometimes had other families to visit on the holiday. This year, Georgia and Ralph were alone, and looking a little dazed by their situation. Georgia had poured herself a drink before she even bothered saying hello to anyone in the house.

Kate sat on the threadbare arm of the cherry-red sofa that had been the centerpiece of this living room for as long as she could remember. Tully sat cross-legged on the floor at Mom’s feet. It was her usual spot on holidays. Tully rarely liked to be too far from the woman she considered the perfect mother. Mom, in Dad’s La-Z-Boy, was across from Georgia, who sat on the sofa.