Page 39 of Five Alarm Love
Basically, theright waywas the exact opposite of Tuli’s entire childhood and adulthood.
Tuli had been the local kid abandoned by his drug-using mom and then by his abusive dad, who died of an overdose.Great lineage.In the Athabascan groups, family of origin and personal character meant everything.Tuli could read between Mr.Wright’s spoken words.Hell, the Wrights were model parents, raising Lou and Gordy, involved in the Koyukon tribe and culture, and working to better their community.
The message from Mr.Wright reinforced what Tuli already knew—all of Tuli’s best efforts would never be enough.
Chapter Thirteen
Lou spotted Tuliseveral hours later, after she strolled past the craft vendors.He was shooting a clip on his phone with an outstretched arm, expression animated and friendly.But there was a tension in his face.His neck seemed stiff, the happiness forced.
She wasn’t in any position to judge someone else’s exterior appearance versus interior strife, though.
Tuli had work to do.
He wasn’t avoiding her.She had avoided him.
Why did the thought bother her?She had decided it was for the best.
Right?
Irritation popped like tiny bubbles over her chest, and she swatted at them, like she could swipe the frustration away.So many swirling thoughts filled her mind—the report from the genetic testing lab, starting paramedic school, Hunter’s pressure for her to provide him an in with her dad and the mining venture, her fears of another relationship’s public exposure.
Glancing at Tuli’s broad smile, she suppressed a sigh.He paused and ruffled the hair of one of the young kids in town and answered questions.Then he knelt down with a leg she knew still bothered him and demonstrated how the camera and posting worked.
Lou didn’t have much to offer a guy who had always wanted a family of his own.
Therefore, her childhood friend needed to remain only her friend.She needed to focus on that fact.
She didn’t need to ignore him.
He didn’t need to avoid her.
She sighed.Lou needed to figure herself out, stat.
Her mind continued to whirl.
By the time she strolled up to him, her stomach was churning.“Why do you keep doing that?”God, she hated confrontation of any kind, but she’d had enough of whatever weirdness was between them.
“And a good evening to you, Lou.”He grinned.Then his brows pulled down and his mouth twisted.“I have no idea how to answer your very vague, yet somehow terrifying, question.”
The words came out in a rush.“Sticking your nose in my personal life.”Waving at the phone, she added, “In everyone’s personal life.Not everyone likes it.”Oh gosh, where had that come from?
“Whoa.”He held up his hands and made an obvious show of turning off and stowing the phone in his back pocket.“It sounds like this might be more than just a Tuli issue.Can we talk about this?”He motioned for her to step behind the vendor tents so they had relative privacy.
Damn her, but she followed him, because this was Tuli.She always followed his lead.For some reason, that realization bugged the crap out of her tonight.Once they reached the unlit area behind the tents, she grabbed his wrist to turn him around, shocking herself with the action.With a gasp, she let go and popped her fist on her hip.
He stood in uncharacteristic silence, his dark gaze unreadable in the shadows.He absently rubbed a thumb over the wrist she had held.Then he stood there, waiting patiently.
Waiting for her.
Which also bothered her.
Why didn’t he say something?Do something?
Why didn’t she?Her thoughts had gone beyond a friendly discussion to encompass much more.No.For so many reasons, they were wrong to try to be anything greater than friends.
Lou tried to examine her own logic—or lack thereof—in this situation.Huffed.Tried again.Damn it.She blurted out, “You’re everywhere.”
He cocked his head, like she was a specimen in front of a scientist.“That’s a problem how?”
