More than anything he wanted to ask more about her mom, but it was obvious she didn’t want to talk about her. Why would a mom dump her daughter on someone else, just like that? What kind of problems could she be ironing out? Something in Sarah’s poignant eyes told him she’d been through a lot, and he felt for her.

Damn, this sucked. All week long all he had wanted was a chance to talk to her, get to know her a little. But after last night, he wanted so much more, and soon she was leaving. He sat up and shook his head. He wouldn’t worry about it now. Fact was her plans weren’t carved in stone. Anything could happen between now and then. She could change her mind.

He glanced at the clock, 8:30. Deciding it was too early to call her, he showered and went downstairs. Eric was already there sitting at the kitchen counter talking to Sofia. His parents left early to open the restaurant and Sofia had made breakfast. Eric looked up from his plate at Angel and smiled knowingly.

“Hey, how’d it go last night?”

“It was cool,” he said. He walked over to Sofia and kissed her on the forehead. He looked at Eric’s plate of eggs and bacon and then at Sofia.

“Any left for me or did he eat it all?”

Sofia rolled her eyes. “There’s enough for everyone.”

Angel walked over to the refrigerator, glancing at the clock. It was just after nine. Good enough. He pulled the orange juice out of the fridge and poured himself a glass. Walking by the table where he left the keys to Eric’s car and his cell phone, he picked them both up and tossed the keys at Eric. “Thanks, man.”

Eric caught the keys in mid air, nodding his head. “Late night?” he asked, with a smirk.

On his way out the back door, Angel motioned he’d be right back. Outside, he looked up Sarah’s cell number on his phone. She’d programmed it in last night before he dropped her off. Just seeing her name, Sarah Lynn, did something to him. He sucked in his breath deep and pressed the call button. It rang a few times then she answered.

“Hi, Angel.” Her cheery tone made him smile. “I was on the other line, let me hang up.”

“No, that’s ok, I can call back.”

“No, it’s Sydney, we’ve been on the phone for a while. I was getting ready to hang up anyway. Hold on, okay?”

“Alright.”

She clicked over to the other line. It was only nine, and she’d already been on the phone for a while? She wasn’t kidding when she said she was close to her friend.

He thought about it and wondered if he’d feel the same way in her situation. Eric and Romero were his best friends, but he couldn’t imagine himself so hung up on those two numb-nuts that he’d be dying to get back to them. Then again, girls were different in their relationships. Not only that, he thought, Sarah’s situation was different altogether. He sat down on one of the patio chairs, and then he heard the line click.

“Angel?”

“Yeah.”

“Sorry about that.”

“That’s okay. Chatting this early?”

“Yeah, Sydney can be an early bird. The phone woke me up, actually.”

“Ah, she’s like my sister. Her damn music woke me up this morning. Are you tired?” He hesitated then asked, “any plans today?”

“Not now, but tonight I do.”

Angel felt his face warm. “Oh?”

“I’m working,” she said. “Babysitting for the neighbors down the street.”

He exhaled slowly. “So, when can I pick you up?”

“I can be ready in about an hour.”

He’d never felt so damn eager to see anyone in his life. “Alright then, I’ll call you in an hour and you can tell me how to get there.”

Once off the phone, he walked back in the kitchen where Sofia and Eric were laughing. Angel was surprised he was still there. He remembered Eric saying he had to be up early. He walked over and grabbed a piece of bacon from the pan on the stove.

“Didn’t you have to be somewhere this morning?” He leaned against the counter across from Eric.

Eric smiled. “You trying to get rid of me?"

“Nah, but I remember you tellin’ Romero you couldn’t stick around and hang out with those chicks ‘cause you had to get up early.”

Eric cleared his throat and wiped his mouth with a napkin. “Yeah, well, why do you think I’m here so early? I handled my business already, and then came over to get my car.”

“I need to change. I told Mom I’d be at the restaurant early.” Sofia finished putting the dishes in the dishwasher and started out the kitchen.

Angel winced. “How early, Sof? I gotta be somewhere soon.”

“I can drop her off,” Eric said.

Angel looked back at him. “You sure?”

“Yeah, I gotta go by there anyway. I’m gonna go work out at the gym. Maybe I’ll pick up a burrito while I’m there.”

“I won’t be long!” Sofia yelled running up the stairs.

Angel glanced at Eric’s plate. “Dude, you just ate.”

“Yeah, that’s why I gotta work out,” Eric patted his stomach.

Angel shook his head. He turned around and grabbed a plate out of the cabinet, emptying the rest of the eggs and bacon onto it.

“So, what happened last night, did you score?” Eric cocked an eyebrow.

Angel had a mouthful of food and didn’t respond immediately. After a couple more seconds of chewing, he shook his head. He didn’t usually kiss and tell, even with girls he didn’t care about, and he knew Eric wasn’t the type to go telling anyone. But he felt especially protective this time.