Page 34 of Five Alarm Love
Protect her from what?Lou was a grown woman who could take care of herself perfectly fine.Even if Tuli did want to participate in the protecting part.“Okay?”
“I want what’s best for her.”
He put the truck in park and whipped his head around.“You thought that public fallout with Ryan was what’s best?Your chitchatting with anyone about the breakup details?She basically went into hiding for several months.”
“What if he got the short end of the stick?”
Tuli gripped the wheel so hard his knuckles turned white.“How so?”
“Those two just had a misunderstanding.Things happen when people break up.”
“‘Things happen’?”What was Hunter’s angle?Tuli couldn’t figure the guy out.Talking with Hunter was like watching a movie but not following the plot.“So you believe that Ryan broadcasting the details of his and Lou’s relationship across town and back was in some way okay?Justified?”
Hunter paused for a few seconds too long.“That part was kind of cold.”
“Then what part in that situation did you agree with?”
“Look, Ryan was a good guy.”
Not from where Tuli sat.
Hunter continued, “He got run out of town.”
“Because of his terrible treatment of your cousin.”
“Two sides to every story, man.”
No way Tuli could accept a reality that Lou in any way deserved how that breakup had gone down.No way was she to blame for the drama.Lou avoided drama, even to her own detriment.
“Hmm.”He let out a long breath, trying to calm down.“What’s your point with all this?”
“My point…” Hunter leaned back in the seat, stretched out his legs, and crossed them.“Is that you think you know things, but you don’t.You need to stay away from my family.”He looked over and grinned.“And stay out of my way.Tonight is going to be a real good night for my future.”
*
Several hours later,Tuli was not having areal good night.
Darkness had fallen and the festival was in full swing.People, people everywhere, but no sight of Lou.
He stumbled on a clod of dirt and gritted his teeth when Calvin and Deirdre, who were walking nearby, asked if he was okay.
Deep down, Tuli wasn’t okay.Not by a long shot.
He eyed the smiling couple, gazes only on each other, standing arm in arm.Their excitement about the upcoming wedding was obvious.
No, Tuli wasn’t okay.
However… In addition to wanting to talk with Lou, he had bills to pay and an online reputation to maintain.
After checking for permission from the folks gathered around the bonfire, he held up his phone and went live.
“Dzaanh nezoonh!A warm welcome coming to you live from Yukon Valley’s Salmon Festival.It’s an evening full of bonfires, laughter, and wonder.This is the place to be!It’s a night of a thousand fish, prepared in every way you can imagine.The Koyukon village and our Yukon Valley neighbors share in the salmon run up the Yukon River and give thanks for the bounty brought to us every fall as coho salmon return to their spawning grounds.”He turned, getting the scene behind him in the frame.“Yet another reason to visit Yukon Valley and experience the local culture and good food!Don’t forget to like and share my video to let others know about yet another amazing festival here in Yukon Valley.”
The mayor stepped into the frame and Tuli asked her an easy question about the friendliness of folks in town.Then she waved along with Tuli.He turned off the camera and checked his account.Already engagement numbers were rising.The local festivals made for excellent posts on The Real Alaska handle.
“Did we go viral yet?”The mayor, Beverly Fowler, a local born and raised in Yukon Valley, pointed to the phone.She patted her short, gray hair self-consciously.“I’m working on my video presentation presence.”
Chuckling, he said, “If we go viral, it’s not generally in the first thirty seconds.Although, you never know.”He checked his phone one more time before stowing it in his back pocket.“You’re doing great.My audience loves you.”Didn’t pay to tell Mayor Fowler that she was stiff as wet laundry hung on the line in sub-freezing temperatures.Hey, at least she was sincere and genuine, which went a long way with followers.
