“I think you’re the one that’s worried.” Alex smirked.
Angel strolled away. “Whatever,” he said, without turning around. “And get your hands off her.”
Alex put both his hands in the air, smiling. He sat back and crossed his arms, pretending to analyze her.
Sarah couldn’t get over the resemblance between him and Angel, except Alex was thicker, fuller somehow. But not heavy, just buffer, and his neck was huge. He had those same amazing dimples as Angel. With him smiling like that, looking so perfect, it was hard to believe he had such a short fuse, like she’d heard.
His silliness made Sarah feel less nervous. “Well, I didn’t know Angel had a girl, did you know he had brothers?”
“Yeah, I did. I must say even though I’ve never seen you, I’ve heard an awful lot about you.”
“Really?” he said. “Well,don’t believe a word of it. Angel’s just jealous.”
Sarah laughed “Actually, Angel hasn’t said a thing about you. It’s my cousin who’s been doing all the talking.” Valerie was gonna kill her.
“Your cousin?”
“Yeah, I guess you can say she’s one of your biggest fans.” Sarah smiled.
Alex leaned closer to Sarah. “Okay, I gotta know now. What’s your cousin’s name?"
“Valerie Zuniga,” she said. “She’s a senior like me at La Jolla.”
She watched as he concentrated. “Valerie Zuniga? What’s she look like?”
“Tiny.” Sarah giggled. “She’s really petite. As tall as you are, she might have passed by you a hundred times and you probably never saw her. Maybe that’s why you don’t remember her.”
“Maybe. So, your tiny cousin Valerie is a fan uh? Does she have eyes like yours?”
Sarah felt herself blushing again. “No, actually she’s my step cousin. My aunt married Valerie’s dad a few years ago. So, she looks nothing like me. She has shorter blonde hair and brown eyes.”
“Hmm... a blonde? Well, if I don’t remember her, what can she possibly have to say about me?”
Oh no. Sarah hadn’t expected the conversation to get this far. She couldn’t possibly tell him Valerie worships him. What if he ever did meet her? She cleared her throat. “Oh, she’s just told me about what a good football player you are and stuff.”
“You’re back peddling Sarah,” he smirked. “You said you’d heard an awful lot, now spill it.”
Sarah’s eyes opened wide. “Well, yeah but it’s girl talk. I can’t tell you that, she’d kill me.”
He sat up even more interested. “Girl talk uh? This is getting even better. You have to tell me now.”
“No way.” She laughed nervously. Where was Angel?
Alex was playing with her now and she could tell he loved it, loved seeing her squirm. “Okay, just one thing. You can’t leave me hanging like this. You’re the one that brought it up.”
This was true and now she wanted to kick herself for it. She sighed, feeling defeated. “Alright, just one thing and then we drop it, okay?” She tried to sound firm.
“Yes ma’am.” The corner of his lips went up, making the dimple on his cheek even deeper. How could he not guess what girls said about him?
“She’s just told me many times about... Well, you know…how good looking you are, and how popular you were in school. Okay? I’m not going into any details either, so, don’t ask.”
Alex chuckled. “Okay, fair enough, but now you’re gonna have to bring her around some time, so I can get a chance to check her out.”
“Alright, maybe one of these days.” Somehow she doubted Valerie would want to now. She changed the subject. “So...I thought you were away at school.”
He shook his head. “I’m in school, just not away. I go to UC San Diego. I wanted to stay close by, so I could still help out with the restaurant. I don’t have school or practice on Sundays.”
He glanced over her shoulder and smiled real big. He picked up her hand and kissed it. Sarah tensed up. “You’re too late,” he said. “We’re getting married.”
“Get the hell out of here.” She heard Angel say from behind her.
She turned to see him walking back toward them. Their eyes met and he puckered his lips at her, making her heart flutter. She’d been with him all weekend, and she still couldn’t get enough of him.
By the time he’d reached the booth, Alex was already on his feet. “Yeah, you better leave.” Angel said.
Alex messed Angel’s hair. “You’re lucky I have work to do.” He smiled at Sarah. “It was a pleasure, Sarah.”
Angel pushed him playfully. “Get to work you bum.”
Just as Alex began walking away, Sofia leaned in the dining room. “Your food’s ready Angel.”
Alex seemed surprised. “You’re still here Sofia?”
“Yeah, there were people waiting and Julio wasn’t here yet.”
“Who’s taking you home?"
Sofia shrugged. “I thought you would.”
“Sweetheart, I can’t leave. I’m doing payroll this week.” They both turned to Angel.
Angel’s shoulders dropped, and he looked up at the ceiling. “I can take her.” He conceded. “But I’m eating first.”
He leaned over and kissed Sarah, before leaving again to get their food. They ate their dinner, and as usual, Angel was incapable of keeping his hands and lips off her. After they finished they sat there stuffed.
“God, that was good.” Sarah stared at her empty plate.
Angel had eaten the biggest burrito on the menu. It looked big enough to feed at least two. He leaned his head on Sarah. “I think I ate too much.”
“You think?” His plate appeared to be licked clean. She started giggling. “There’s no way I could’ve finished even half of that.”
Angel groaned. “It’s not funny.”
Sarah turned around and scanned the restaurant. “We better go,” she said. “Your poor sister’s been waiting all this time.”
Angel stood up and started piling the plates up but a busboy rushed over. “I got it, Angel.”
“I can get this, Ernie.” Angel said.
“No, no, I got it.” Ernie insisted and quickly piled everything on top of Angel’s plate.
“Thanks, man.” Angel took Sarah by the hand. They walked by the door to the back office and Angel yelled in. “We’re outta here, Alex.”
“Alright,” Alex yelled back. “You got Sofia right?”
“Yeah, I’ll drop her off.”
“Alright then,” Alex said. “Byyyye, Sarah.”
“Byyye, Alex.” She giggled. They heard Alex laugh.
Angel shook his head. “Don’t encourage him.”
CHAPTER 7
On the ride home from the restaurant the two girls hit it off right away. They both loved running. Sofia was on the track team, and Sarah had been in track since the ninth grade. Sarah hoped Sofia wouldn’t ask about her moving out here. She didn’t. She was more interested in why she hadn’t gone out for track at La Jolla.
“It’s not too late, you know,” Sofia said. “The meets aren’t until next semester anyway. Have you done relays? 'Cause the girl that ran the relay with us last year was really good, but she graduated. So, now we’re trying to find someone to replace her, but no one so far has come even close to her speed. ”
Sarah knew she had the speed. She’d been the fourth place runner in both the 400m and 1600m relays back home and won plenty of times, a few times coming from behind. Her heart ached to think she wasn’t there training with all of her old team mates. She hadn’t even said goodbye to any of them, not wanting to answer any of the inevitable questions. Instead she’d asked Sydney to keep it simple and just tell them she’d moved out of state over the summer. She’d figure out what to say when she got back. “I ran a few relays back home on the team.”
“Oh, my God.” Sofia sat up, at the edge of her seat. “Are you fast?”
Angel turned to her. He’d been holding her hand the en
tire way. “Yeah, I’m pretty fast.”
“Come out and meet the team Sarah, see what you think. And, oh,” Sofia glanced at Angel and then back at Sarah. “Coach Rudy is fine.”
She mouthed the word fine again, in case Sarah hadn’t caught what she meant.
“He’s a perve.” Angel huffed.
“He is not! Those are just rumors.”
That sparked Sarah’s curiosity. “What rumors?”
“He’s young and hot. Last year was his first year teaching, ever.” Sofia made a face. “So, a lot of the stupid girls are always flirting with him. Anyway people started talking that maybe he’d dated some of the older ones outside school. Even if he did he can’t be more than twenty three, that’s not old.”
Sarah’s eyebrows shot up and Angel gave Sofia a disgusted look. “I warned you about him.”
“Yes, yes, Angel I know.” Sofia turned back to Sarah and rolled her eyes. “I’m not allowed to be alone with him, can you believe it? Anyway, you should come out and run with us Sarah. Coach Rudy will be so excited.”
“But I’m not gonna be here next semester.” Angel squeezed Sarah’s hand and their eyes met.
He turned his attention back on the road. She could see his jaw tense, and his expression turn hard. He turned into a long circular driveway.
The house was impressive, a lot bigger than her aunt’s, and she’d always thought her aunt’s house was big. Well, compared to the one bedroom apartment she and her mom had lived in, anything was big. But this was huge. She looked out the window as he reached the front entrance and stopped. It had an elegant double door entry. “Why?” Sofia almost whined.
“I’ll have to tell you about it another time.” Sarah said, looking back at her.
Sofia frowned and opened the back door. “Tell mom I’ll be back later.” Angel said.
Sofia got out and came around to Sarah’s window. “Please tell me you weren’t the fourth place runner, ‘cause that’s what we really need.”
Sarah felt guilty. “Yeah, I was.”
“Uughh,” Sofia was deflated. “Maybe you can at least come practice with us one of these days.”
“Sure, I can do that.” Sarah said. “I should be training anyway. I plan on getting back on the team at my old school.”
“Good.” Sofia smiled. “I’ll talk to my coach and let you know when.”
“Sounds good.”
Sofia thanked Angel for the ride and went inside. Still smiling, Sarah turned to look at Angel. His expression was so hard, her smile disappeared immediately.
“We need to talk.” He pulled out of the driveway.
***
They drove up to where he’d taken her the night of the party. Angel could feel the onset of a headache, and his stomach felt a little queasy. What the hell was she doing to him?
Except for when she’d asked him if he was okay and he simply responded, “nope,” the drive silent. Still, he held her hand firmly in his. He parked facing the cliff where they had a perfect view of the setting sun. But Angel wasn’t interested in that. He didn’t even wait to get out of the car, as soon as he turned off the car he leaned against his door and looked at her. The worried look on her face made his words softer than he originally intended them to be.
“I don’t understand why you’re in such a rush to get back to Arizona, Sarah.” Without waiting for her response he added. “I mean, is it really that bad here? I know you said your friend is waiting for you, but is your mom going to be there for you?”
He saw the hurt in her face, and his heart dropped. He immediately felt like an idiot. Shit. Who the hell did he think he was prying into her life like that? He had barely known her for a weekend, and her plans were made long before him.
“I’m sorry, Sarah.” He kissed her hand.
He saw the tears in her big eyes and he felt like kicking his own ass. Her painful expression twisted his insides. Damn it, how could he be so stupid? For all he knew her mom could be in a hospital somewhere. He leaned over and pulled her gently to him, kissing her head.
“God, Sarah, I’m so sorry,” he said, “I had no right --” She shook her head before he could finish.
“It’s okay,” she said. “It’s not your fault; there’s no way you could know.”
Know what? “So, tell me.” He said, then quickly added, “Or don’t. You don’t have to… if you don’t want to.”
He’d pushed her too much already. He wanted to be there for her, make her pain go away, but he had to stop being so damn pushy.
“It’s not that I don’t want to,” she said. “It’s just too embarrassing.” Then added in a hushed whisper. “…shameful.”
“What?” He lifted her chin gently. “Sarah, there is nothing you can tell me that would make me feel any different about you.” And he meant it. He had a feeling whatever it was, it couldn’t be anything Sarah had done. He couldn’t imagine Sarah doing anything shameful.
He pulled open the glove compartment and pulled out a napkin, handing it to her. She took it and cleaned herself up. “Can we get out?”
Angel pulled the keys out of the ignition and got out of the car. He walked around the car quickly, meeting her as she got out. He hugged her tightly, wanting her to feel just how sorry he was. “I’m really sorry.”
“Don’t be,” she said. “You didn’t do anything.”
“I’m an ass.”
“No, you're not,” she laughed.
She closed the door and they walked back to the exact spot they’d stood that first night. Sarah held onto the rail and he stood behind her, his arms around her waist. As they looked out into the ocean, Angel felt her take a deep breath.
“My mom’s in jail.”
He stood perfectly still. The last thing he wanted was for Sarah to feel he was judging her. He was determined not to interrupt and let her say what she wanted, and only what she wanted.
She turned to face him and he felt his heart sink, when he saw the tears in her eyes again.
“My mom is a good person.”
“Sweetheart, you don’t have to convince me.” He wiped away a tear that rolled down her cheek.
She threw her arms around him and he held her tight. After holding her for a few minutes, she pulled back and looked him straight in the eye.
“Things weren’t easy for us, Angel,” she said. “It’s always been just the two of us. We had no one else. My grandparents were non-existent, disowning my mom when she got pregnant with me. She was only seventeen when I was born, and I’ve never known my dad.”
Angel hung on her every word. His heart broke as she bravely sucked it up, refusing to let herself fall apart.
“Then I started asking for things.” Her voice was full of disgust. “Things she couldn’t afford, expensive running shoes, and clothes, and an iPod. I was selfish. She kept up with everything I asked for and I didn’t ask how. Deep inside I knew we couldn’t afford it all, but I didn’t care." She paused to take a deep breath and wipe her nose.
"Then one day, she sat me down and cried. She told me she’d been bad. I still don’t understand the whole thing but she took money from her boss. She’d been doing it for years. Embezzlement is what they called it at the trial. Now she’s doing three years and it’s my entire fault.”
She collapsed on his chest and cried softly. Angel held her tight, feeling an invisible hand squeeze his windpipe.
“It’s not your fault,” he whispered frantically in her ear as he kissed her again and again. He walked her over to the bench where they could sit, and sat her on his lap.
She sat up straight, composing herself, and looked at him. “She’s in a minimum security correctional facility in Phoenix.” She held up her fingers to emphasize the quote sarcastically.
Angel stared at her helplessly, taking her hand back in his and squeezing it.
“She doesn’t want me to visit,” she continued, “said she didn’t want me to see her like that ever. But there’s no way I can go
three years without seeing her. I plan on visiting her, no matter what she says.”
“Can she call you?”
Sarah nodded. “Yeah, she calls every week and we write all the time, but it’s not enough.”
“Sarah,” he tried to sound optimistic, “people rarely serve their full term, especially when it’s not a violent crime. She’ll probably be out before the three years.”
“That’s what her attorney told her,” Sarah said. “But she just went in so she’s still looking at at least a year and a half, if she’s lucky.”
Angel cradled her, kissing her forehead. She leaned on his shoulder. “The thing is Angel, growing up we moved constantly. I don’t know why, but most of the jobs she got would rarely last. Each time she got a new one it was time to move. Sometimes she knew it was going to be a short stay ahead of time and we wouldn’t even get an apartment, we’d stay in a hotel for a few months at a time.
"Up until I was nine years old we moved so much I’d been to more than a dozen different schools, sometimes moving twice in the same year. I’d given up making friends or even unpacking. It was almost a year after we’d moved to Flagstaff before I finally allowed myself to completely unpack.”
“And that’s where you met Sydney?” Angel felt her tense up a little and straighten up again.
“Yeah,” she said quickly. “But most importantly we stayed there. For eight years. It may not mean a lot to anyone else, but to me it was everything. I was finally home. And then just before I can finish school, this happens. Packing up all my things brought back all the painful memories of when I was a little girl. Thank God for Valerie, I don’t know how I would’ve survived starting a new school all over again.”
Her expression turned affectionate. “It’s not that it’s so bad here, Angel. It’s just that it took so long for me to feel like I belonged somewhere. I just feel like I have to go back. I need to, it’s my home.”
Angel kissed her gently. “Sarah, you don’t owe me any explanations. I had no right questioning you to begin with.”
He was repulsed with himself. After everything she’d been through, she was sitting here trying to make him understand. She could go back to Arizona if she wanted to, she should. As much as he disliked the thought of her being so far, she deserved to be happy. Hell, he’d drive out there every weekend if he had to.