Sofia looked at Angel exasperated. “Don’t bother going into the restaurant tomorrow. I’ll be there.”

She threw her toast in the trash and walked out.

Angel was fuming. What the hell was Sarah thinking? He thought about what Eric had said. Maybe his warnings hadn’t been enough. If he hadn’t heard the rumors about the perv being accused of rape and he’d been at this school a lot longer, maybe she hadn’t either.

His only consolation was that she wouldn’t be alone with him. Sofia said there were a bunch of them going. The guy wouldn’t risk doing something stupid after being chased from one school already, and not with a bunch of kids around. Sarah should be okay.

*

Sarah woke up late Saturday morning. She had waited until yesterday to tell Sydney about going to Mount Soledad with the coach. And as expected he wasn’t thrilled. They stayed up pretty late talking. He gave her the usual warnings, but in the end was glad she was finally getting out with friends even if the coach would be there also.

The coach had texted her late last night to let her know three of the other’s going had cancelled but that it would still be four of them all together. Sarah was fine with that but was kind of uneasy when Sofia told her there was no way she was going. Knowing that Angel was dead set against it made her speculate what he must be thinking of her going. She’d seen the way he looked at the coach the day he showed up at her practice.

She’d just gotten out of the shower and was drying up in her room when her phone rang. It was the coach. Sarah glanced out the window as she answered.

“Are you guys here already I didn’t realize I was running that late?”

He chuckled. “No, actually I was calling to ask if you still wanted to go, or if we should try this another time.”

“Why wouldn’t I?”

“Nobody called you?”

Sarah looked at her phone. She had no missed calls. “No, nobody called.”

He was quiet for a moment then spoke again. “Yeah, looks like it’s just you and me. The other two flaked out at the last minute. But if you’re not okay with that we can totally do this some other time when everyone else can go.”

Sarah’s stomach stirred. She knew what Sydney would want her to say, but she felt bad. “I um.”

“It’s okay, Sarah. We can try again next week with the whole team, if that would be more comfortable for you.”

Sarah felt silly. He could’ve just picked her up without telling her and not given her a choice. And she’d looked forward to it all week. “No, I’m fine. If you’re still up for it, I am.”

“Are you sure?”

Sarah smiled feeling more relieved. “Yeah, totally. Just give me fifteen minutes.”

Sarah went over all the possibilities while she dressed. She knew Coach Rudy was harmless but something still gnawed at her gut. She was glad Valerie and her aunt had taken off early for a day of shopping. Valerie would’ve probably made her feel bad about going.

Last night’s conversation came crashing in her mind again. One of the only reasons Sydney had finally been okay with her going on this run was that it was a group trip. She felt like a liar now somehow.

Maybe that’s what was bothering her so much. If she didn’t tell him now it would bug her all day. She picked up her phone and called him. She’d learned a huge lesson about coming clean. Her motto now was no matter how bad it is, it’s best to come out with it sooner not later.

“Hey, Lynni.”

“Sydney, I don’t have time to talk, the coach will be here any minute. Just wanted to let you know, it’s gonna be just me and him today.”

Sydney didn’t say anything then she heard the unmistakable censure in his tone. “What?”

“Everyone flaked out, he called to ask if I wanted to just reschedule for another time when everyone could go.”

“So, why didn’t you say okay?” Sarah could almost picture his eyebrows furrowed.

“Because I looked forward to this all week, and it would be silly not to go. We’re going to be in broad daylight at a park. What’s there to worry about?”

“Sarah,” he uncharacteristically raised his voice, “isn’t this the same park you said has a lot of abandoned trails and you could walk for miles without ever seeing anyone?”

Sarah sighed. “I’m sure we won’t be running on those, Syd. I just called to tell you because I didn’t want you to be mad later. Not to worry you. I’ll be fine. I promise.”

“How did it just so happen that everyone else flaked out?” Sydney paused and then in an even louder tone said, “Are you sure he didn’t plan it like this in the first place?”

“Will you stop?” Sarah saw the coach’s car pull in the driveway. “Why would he plan it then call and ask if I would rather reschedule?”

“Maybe that was part of the plan?”

“He’s here Syd, I gotta go.”

“I don’t think you should, Lynni. Seriously, I got a bad feeling about this.”

“Sydney, please stop worrying,” She blew a couple of kisses in the phone and hung up.

Coach Rudy waited for Sarah without getting out of his car. Sarah leaned in the open passenger window. “Morning, coach.”

“You look good.”

Sarah looked down at her sweat suit and shrugged. “You know me, coach. I got all fancy for the occasion.”

She got in and put her seatbelt on.