Forever Mine (14 page)

“Be here as early as possible. That way as soon as I’m done we can take off.”

Valerie made a coddling face and puckered her lips. Sarah nudged her playfully. “Okay, as soon as she’s ready we’ll leave.”

No sooner had she hung up than Valerie ran to the desk to get her plate. She was nearly out the door, when she stopped sharply. “Oh, hey, did you ask him about stupid Dana?”

Sarah shook her head. “No, I might today.”

“I almost forgot why I came in here to begin with,” She made a sour face. “Last night after you guys left, she showed up still wearing his jersey, and within a couple of hours she was crying drunk. Her bonehead friends hovered all around her consoling her, making a ridiculous scene. I even heard her asking Eric how Angel could hurt her so bad. I’m telling you she’s pathetic. She really acts like they had something. It’s such a joke. Like I said before Sarah, don’t argue with him because of her. But you might want to ask him to get his jersey back.”

Sarah felt an uncomfortable fog settle over her. Valerie was adamant that there was never anything real between Dana and Angel. But she wasn’t so sure anymore. She’d seen the way he acted when she talked to him at school. It was too nice for her to stomach. She knew he wasn’t rude, but she wished he’d just ignore her. Instead, he listened attentively. Now she was crying over him, and at a party, in front of everyone?

She was absolutely bringing it up today.

CHAPTER 10

Valerie squealed in delight when Sarah told her about meeting Alex. But Sarah had left a few things out. On the way to the restaurant, Sarah thought it was only fair she fill Valerie in on everything she’d told Alex. To her surprise, Valerie wasn’t fazed.

“God, Sarah,” she laughed. “As if he doesn’t have a big enough head already.”

Sarah thought of the outrageous way he’d flirted with her. Yeah, he was a ham, but not necessarily conceited. “I didn’t get the impression he had a big head.”

Valerie rolled her eyes. “Sarah, I told you they’re all sweethearts. I’m sure he’s a real nice guy, but trust me he knows he’s hot.”

Sarah smiled. She had to admit there was no way he couldn’t know. “But you’d go out with him if he asked you right?”

“Are you kidding?” Valerie said. “He's the ideal guy for me. He’s so hot, older, and more experienced than most of the lame guys from school. The last thing I’d have to worry about with him would be any pressure to commit.”

Sarah’s jaw dropped. “You mean you wouldn’t want a relationship even with him? I thought he was the man of your dreams?”

Valerie turned to look at her. “Oh, he is, and I’d be all over him if I ever got the chance. But I learned my lesson with Reggie, Sarah. As much as I liked him, after a while it just got to be too much. I couldn’t stand it. If I hadn’t broken up with him I would’ve cheated on him for sure.”

Sarah was floored. “Really?”

Valerie nodded as she pulled into a parking spot across from the restaurant. She turned the car off and pulled down her visor to check her face in the mirror.

“Yeah.” She powdered her face. “I know it sounds terrible but Monica and the girls had already gone to T.J. a couple of times and it killed me that I couldn’t go because of Reggie. When you go to T.J. you’re gonna hook up. No question about it. I’d already told them that the next time they went I was going with them for sure.”

She flipped the visor down and looked at Sarah who was staring at her still in disbelief. “So, I broke up with Reggie before we went and sure enough I hooked up with this hot guy from LA. I had such a blast; I knew the committed relationship thing just wasn’t for me. Maybe someday, but not now, I’m just having too much fun.”

Sarah still couldn’t believe it. Valerie had told her the whole Reggie story before, leaving out the part about T.J. But Reggie was no Alex. Still, if that’s the way Valerie felt, who was she to tell her otherwise?

“You’re something else.” Sarah said as she opened the car door.

“But I’m honest.” Valerie said.

“Yeah,” Sarah couldn’t argue there. “That you are.”

As they crossed the street Sarah’s thoughts shifted back to Angel and Dana. She took a deep breath and frowned. She wasn’t looking forward to having that conversation with him, but she knew she had to address it before things got worse.

When they walked in Sarah felt faint when she realized Angel’s parents were there. She hadn’t prepared on meeting them so soon.

As soon as Angel saw them he’d walked over and planted Sarah with a kiss that made her legs weak. He introduced both her and Valerie to his parents.

His mother, Isabel, was an average height, slender woman in her mid forties. Sarah could see Angel and his siblings had got some of their most attractive features from her. She had big eyes and the thick lashes. Her lips were big and pouty, and when she smiled she had the same dimples Angel and Alex had. Sofia had them also, just not as pronounced.

She was very nice and spoke with a slight accent. Angel thought she went a little overboard trying to make Sarah and Valerie comfortable, offering them more of everything a few too many times. But Sarah and Valerie thought she was very nice.

His dad, Salvador, was also in his mid forties and very tall with broad shoulders. He was built very well for a man his age. He didn’t talk nearly as much as Angel’s mother did, saying only that he was glad to meet them, and then quickly excusing himself to get back to work But Sarah had been able to see just by the way he spoke to Angel and Sofia, that he was a no nonsense kind of man.

At the same time she heard tenderness in his voice when he spoke to Isabel and Sofia, referring to both as My Love or Sweetheart. She’d felt the same familiar hint of envy she’d felt all too many times when she’d been around Sydney and his parents.

The restaurant was busy and Angel had hung with Sarah and Valerie off and on while they ate. At the moment, he’d been called back into the office by his dad.

Valerie was on her second round at the buffet, and Sarah sat at the table lost in thought. All through breakfast she kept thinking of what Valerie had told her that morning about Dana and could feel herself getting tense. She sat there playing with her food when she was startled. “Is that Valerie?”

Sarah jumped, almost spilling her drink, and looked up.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sneak up on you.” Alex put his hand on her shoulder.

Sarah smiled feeling silly. “That’s okay.”

She moved her drink a little further away from her plate. When she glanced back at Alex he was busy sizing up Valerie. Sarah followed his eyes over to Valerie who was still piling food on her plate.

“Well.” He smiled. “I’m partial to brunettes but a cute little blonde every now and then could do a body well.”

Sarah rolled her eyes.
Every now and then?
Valerie wasn’t kidding when she’d said he was her ideal guy. There’d be no talks of commitments between these two. Well, at least there’d be no hard feelings if anything happened.

“That’s really romantic,” Sarah said.

Alex smiled at Sarah. She was sitting all the way in the booth so Angel could sit next to her whenever he stopped by their table. Alex slid in next to her. “You think so?

Sarah sat up a little straighter and kept her eyes on her food. “I didn’t think you were here today.”

“I just got here,” he said “You missed me?”

Sarah felt her cheeks warm.
Damn him.
Why did he like to make her squirm? “No, Valerie asked about you, actually.”

Valerie walked toward them with a big giddy smile.

“Did she now?” Alex raised an eyebrow.

Valerie put her plate down on the table and sat down facing Alex. Sarah immediately did the introductions.

“Alex this is my cousin, Valerie.” Then smiling silly she said, “and I think you know who Alex is right, Valerie?”

She’d meant to embarrass Valerie playfully but Valerie took it in stride.

“Of course, I do.” She reached her hand out to shake his. “I’d have to of been buried for the last few years if I didn’t”

Alex smiled. “Really? I remember you now.”

Valerie rolled her eyes slightly.

“I saw that.” he said.

“I wasn’t trying to hide it.” Valerie laughed.

“You don’t think I remember you?”

“Nope.” She dug in to her food.

“You wanna bet?”

Valerie shook her head. “You’ll lose.”

“Does that mean you’re scared?”

“Of betting that you don’t remember ever seeing me before? Of course not. But what are we betting for?”

Alex thought about it for a second then smiled big. “You have plans for tonight?”

Sarah choked back a laugh. As if he’d have to win a bet to get a date with Valerie. “I might,” Valerie said.

Sarah nearly spit up her food and Alex turned to look at her. She put the napkin to her mouth coughing.

“Are you okay, sweetheart?” Alex asked.

She put a hand up feeling stupid. “I’m fine” She managed to say. “Just went down the wrong pipe.”

She saw Valerie glaring at her but quickly changed her expression back to a smile when Alex turned back to her.

“You might?” he said. “What does that mean?”

Valerie shrugged. “All depends on if anything better comes up.”

She took a spoonful of food and chewed while smiling sinfully at Alex.

“Okay,” Alex smirked. “If I win the bet, you cancel whatever plans you have and I take you out.”

“You’re on.”

Sarah was amazed at the ease these two were talking. She remembered barely being able to breathe the first few times she spoke with Angel, let alone flirt. She watched and listened to Valerie, completely impressed.

Alex sat forward with that wicked smile of his. “What time do I pick you up?”

Valerie and Sarah both laughed. “You haven’t won yet.” Valerie said.

Alex turned to look at Sarah, then back at Valerie. “Oh, yeah, that. Sure, I’ve seen you before. You’re Reggie Luna’s ex.”

Valerie expression went blank. She looked at him then at Sarah.

“I never mentioned Reggie.” Sarah said, quickly.

“No,” Alex said. “We played on the same team last year. You broke his heart.”

Valerie’s eyes opened wide. Sarah smiled, glad it was Valerie he was making squirm now, and not her. Valerie tried to regain her composure. “Did I?” She looked at Alex curiously.

“Sure did.” His expression was smug. “So, why’d you dump ‘em?”

Alex’s eyes were fixed on Valerie. Sarah could see Valerie’s face turn bright pink. Angel approached their table just behind Valerie and she decided to come to Valerie’s rescue.

“Angel, how much longer do you have to work?”

Angel shook his head. “That’s it. I’m done,” He reached the table. “Now that this lazy slug finally got here, I can leave.”

“Work?” Alex said. “I’m busy.”

Angel glanced at him, then at Valerie. Sarah smiled. “I’ve pretty much been invisible for the past fifteen minutes or so.”

“Well, at least he’s not hitting on you anymore.”

“Who said that?” Alex leaned on Sarah.

Angel pulled him off her. “Are you done?”