Page 78 (1/2)

Tressa had no right looking into his soul He’d taken all rights back froe

“You’re a damned loser, Jem You know it, and so do I She’s welcome to you”

She turned to leave and Jeh of relief Until she turned back “Don’t you think you’re going to get aith this, Jeh “I came over here to make love with you Because I know it’s been a while for you and I know you have your needs, and how do you repay one “This is how you repay et it, buddy You better hope you get so it from me This door is closed”

He’d heard that one so many times it didn’t even faze hiure out that he couldn’t get it up for her anymore? Not even if he’d wanted to

“I hate you,” she said “If Levi weren’t asleep, I’d take hiood for you, Jem I wish to God you weren’t his father”

She’d been back down the walk as she spoke Reaching the grass, she turned and fled to her car

But not before he’d seen the tears pouring down her face

She was hurting More than she could bear

And he was sorry

SHE HADN’T WANTED to overhear, had tried her best not to But then, when she’d resigned herself to her fate, she’d tried to hear every word so that she could knohat they were dealing with She’d expected hi stopped She heard the front door shut and heard Tressa’s car starting up in the distance

It was another two or three ht hers And then moved away

“I’ you heard that?” he asked almost nonchalantly as he stacked their dirty dishes, silverware on top

“Most of it” All of it But having counseled many people on the victim end of abuse, she wanted to spare him as much humiliation as she could

Instead of sitting and talking to her like she expected, he carried their dishes into the house and calasses

“Sorry about that, I just wanted to get them rinsed and in the dishwasher before stuff hardened”