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?”

Sarah put her hand on her stomach and made a face. “Stuffed.”

“Really?” Valerie asked. “We haven’t even had desert yet.”

“Stay and finish,” Alex said. “I’ll keep you company. This guy just can’t wait to get Sarah away from me.”

Angel smiled and pulled Alex by the back of his shirt. “Let her out.”

“Are you okay with me going?” Sarah asked Valerie.

“Not really,” Alex said, getting up “But if he’s gonna be an ass about-- Oh, you were talking to Valerie."

Sarah laughed and Angel shoved him, barely moving him.

“Yeah, go ahead,” Valerie said. “I’ll see you at home later.”

CHAPTER 11

Sarah and Angel headed to the beach. Not the cliffs where they usually went. Sarah wanted to walk on the beach.

It wasn’t too crowded for a Saturday. They walked for quite a while and were already on their way back to the car, when Angel brought up his Spanish class woes.

“You don’t know Spanish?” She was completely surprised.

“Well, I thought I was okay at it,” he said “But according to the scores I’ve been getting on my quizzes, I suck.”

Sarah couldn’t help laughing despite the agitation she was feeling about the impending conversation. “I can help you.”

Angel turned to her curiously. “You know Spanish?”

“Claro que si” Of course.

Angel smiled at her impressed. “Good, because I have a quiz Tuesday, and progress reports go out on Wednesday. If I don’t get higher than a D on my quiz I’m sitting out the game on Friday.”

Sarah smiled. “I’ll be your private tutor.”

They got to the car and Angel leaned on it, pulling her against him. “Mmm, sounds good.”

Sarah knew she needed to ask him now or she’d have to wait until tomorrow and she wanted it over with. She took a deep breath “Speaking of your game, Angel. Can I ask you something?”

Angel’s hands moved all over her back. “Of course.”

“Why would Dana be wearing your jersey at the game?” She thought she saw a flicker of panic in his eyes for a second and then it was gone. He exhaled, glancing away then back at her.

“I don’t know, Sarah,” he said. “I’ve hung out with her in the past, but she’s always made more out of it then it really was.”

Sarah felt something inside her ignite. “Was she your girlfriend?” She was trying so hard not to sound jealous. But she was, completely. She’d heard all the stories from Valerie about him and Dana, but hearing it from him set her on fire.

“No,” he snapped. “I told you, I’ve never had a girlfriend.”

“Have you slept with her?” What the hell? She hadn’t intended on going there but the words just flew out and they kept coming.