Page 38 of Tributary

“Look,” she says. “I didn’t want to do this in front of your family.”

“Do what?” I can feel my heart in my throat, like she’s about to crush me, and I’m powerless to stop it.

“This wasn’t just a funny prank tonight, Asa. You deceived me, and you deceived your family. And I’m just never going to be ok with deception.”

She moves to get out of the car. “Wait,” I can’t let her go like this, after a zinger like that. “Can we talk about this?”

“With the meter running, Asa? No. Thank you for the lovely hotel. Thank you for the opportunity to be at this conference. I’ll see you when you’re back in Oak Creek.”

She walks away from the cab. I shove a handful of bills in the driver’s hand and leap out. “Diana!” She starts rushing into the hotel lobby, but I follow. “Wait, please.”

Her heels echo across the marble floor in the lobby. The staff looks up and stares at us, her walking swiftly and punching the elevator buttons, me hustling behind. “Please let me come up and just talk with you.” She sighs deeply and doesn’t look up. “Just…I’m sorry. God, I don’t know what I was thinking, taking you to my parents’ house. For a holiday. Please, Diana, let me come up and talk with you and then I’ll leave.”

The elevator door slides open and she holds up a hand. “Five minutes. In the sitting room. Not the part with the bed.”

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