Page 62 of Soaring on Love

India continued, “You can’t leave.”

Roth’s tone sounded exhausted when he said, “What do you want from me, India? What the hell do you want from me?”

“Everything. I love you. I never stopped loving you, Roth. After all these years. I want you to admit you still have feelings for me, too.”

Tressa’s stomach knotted as she waited for a response from Roth. Did his silence mean he still loved India or that he didn’t feel the question warranted a response?

When he finally spoke, his tone lacked sentiment. “I don’t love you and haven’t for a long time. We had our chance. It just wasn’t meant for us.”

When India spoke again, her tone was crammed full of emotion, and Tressa was almost certain she was crying.

“Then why in the hell did you invite me to spend the weekend with you at your cabin a few months ago? Was it just about sex?” she spat.

Tressa’s brows furrowed. Invited her to his cabin? India had been the woman… Her chest grew heavy and bile burned the back of her throat.

A beat or two of silence lingered before Roth said, “Yes, it was.”

“You liar. Do you think I don’t see how you look at me when I walk past? Do you think I don’t know what ran through your mind when I undressed in front of you earlier?” Her tone grew soft again. “You wanted me then, Roth, and I know you want me now.”

Instead of Roth refuting the claim, he said, “Goodbye, India. Have a great life.”

The door flung open with so much force, Tressa flinched. Her lips parted, but nothing would escape. She dragged a hand across her cheek.

“Tressa?” Roth’s hard expression melted to one of shock.

Sure of the questions racing through his mind, she said, “I heard everything. I—” The words snagged in her throat. “I have to go. I…”

She closed her eyes briefly to subdue the queasiness she was feeling. When Roth touched her, she shoved his hand away. Forcing her feet to move, she took several clumsy steps back until she bumped into the wall, then made haste down the corridor.

As she fled, Tressa felt like she was in one of those fun houses at a carnival. Everything ran together into a hazy blob of shapes and colors. Her head spun, forcing her to stop and rest her hand against the wall to regain her equilibrium.

“Baby—”

Standing behind her, Roth rested his hands on her waist, preventing her from getting away. She lacked the energy needed to push him away. “You lied to me, Roth. Everything was a lie,” she said more to herself than to him. “You told me there was nothing between the two of you, that I could trust you with my heart, that I would never regret falling in love with you.” Tears clouded her eyes. “You lied, because I regret it plenty.”

“Please don’t say that, Tressa. Please.” He kissed the back of her head several times. “I never lied to you. I swear, there’s nothing—”

Needing to look into his eyes, she turned toward him. “Did you invite her to your cabin for sex?”

“Just listen, baby, please. I—”

“Did you invite her to your cabin for sex, Roth?” Tressa spewed the words like venom.

Defeat danced in Roth’s eyes. “Yes.”

“Then there’s something.”

Tressa’s gaze slid past Roth and leveled on India propped against the door frame, watching them like her favorite sitcom. For a brief second Tressa considered barreling down the hall to knock that condescending smirk right off her face. But what would be the point?

“Can we talk?” Roth said.

Drawing her attention back to him, Tressa refocused on the visibly exhausted man in front of her, the man she loved, the man who’d changed, rocked and shattered her world. “No.”

CHAPTER 19

Instead of immediately leaving the community center where he taught saxophone lessons to disadvantaged kids, Roth stood with his arms folded across his chest, staring out the fogged-up window. The darkness outside mirrored his soul. A single ray of light hadn’t penetrated through him since… He refused to even give life to what had happened several days ago at The Underground.

By giving Tressa her space, he hoped she’d realize how ridiculous she was being. Yes, what she’d heard was bad, really bad; he’d be the first to admit that, but she’d refused to even give him the opportunity to explain. She’d simply jumped to conclusions.

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