Tell Me You Love Me by Kayla Perrin Page B

thing?’’
    “I’m not saying that. But I think we probablyconcentrated more on sex than on the relationship. Sex won’t keep a relationship alive. When I look back, there’s a lot that was missing.’’
    The question “Like what?” was on the tip of Sheldon’s tongue, but he held it in check. A man had to have a bit of pride, didn’t he?
    So instead, he said, “Yeah, I guess you’re right.’’
    “Good. That means you understand why…why this would be a bad idea. I know you were in a tough situation, but the fact that you could just walk away…That says something. It says a lot. Maybe I didn’t give you something you needed, or maybe the relationship was strictly about sex. I don’t know.” Tyanna shrugged. “All I know is that looking back, it certainly wasn’t about love.’’
    Aw, shit. Not that. And she even said it with a straight face.
    If this was a test, he knew he’d just failed. He cared about Tyanna, yes. But love?
    There were many days when Sheldon had lain in bed, wondering just what love was. He knew he felt strongly for Tyanna. But the word love got stuck in his throat the few times he even thought of saying it to her.
    And he knew it was a bone of contention with her.
    His old man had used the word all the time, threw it around so often it became meaningless. Maybe he wouldn’t have felt that way if his father hadn’t beat the crap out of his mother all the time.How could he hurt her so often, reduce her to tears, yet turn around and say “I love you,” like that made everything all right?
    “Our relationship wasn’t as superficial as you make it out to be,” Sheldon finally said.
    Tyanna hesitated just a moment, and that moment said everything. She didn’t think he loved her. And maybe he didn’t, if he couldn’t say the words.
    But to say the words now—that would be like applying a Band-Aid—exactly what his father had done time and time again.
    “Regardless, it’s over. Look, I’m sorry about what you went through. But I’m glad you’re okay. I’m glad that Dino got what he deserved, considering everything.”
    “But can we be friends?” Sheldon asked, cutting her off before she could deal the final blow. “No matter what you think, I’ll always care about you. I never lied when I told you that. I want to be able to call you from time to time, see if you’re okay. Maybe even hang out now and again.’’
    He had long ago realized that it didn’t matter what he felt for her, because her family would never approve of him. Therefore, they could never have a future. So he’d been content to live in the moment until things came to an end. But there was a part of him that knew he would always care about her, always want to know she was happy, and always want her in his life on some level.
    “I think…I think we can work toward that,” Tyanna told him. “That’s the best I can offer you.’’
    “All right.’’
    “Thanks for coming by. I appreciate it.’’
    So she was kicking him out. “No problem.’’
    She walked to the door, and he followed her. “I’ll talk to you later, okay?’’
    Sheldon nodded as she opened the door. He stepped over the threshold into the hallway. “Call me whenever you feel like it,” he said.
    She smiled at him, but Sheldon wasn’t sure it was sincere. “Sure.’’
    Then she closed the door, leaving him standing there wondering if he would ever hear from her again.

Chapter 12
    Not the phone , Tyanna thought when it rang the next day around noon. She was still lying in bed, preoccupied with her thoughts, and didn’t feel like talking to anyone now.
    But when it stopped ringing and then promptly began ringing again, she grabbed the receiver from her night table.
    “What?” she practically shouted into it.
    “Whoa. What the hell kind of greeting is that?’’
    A slow breath oozed out of Tyanna. “I’m sorry, Wendy. I’ve got a lot on my mind.’’
    “Anything you want to talk about?’’
    “Not really.”