Sarah shook her head. “You’re the one that told me to answer it!” Valerie used the stupidest guy voice she could make.

Sarah had to fight the urge to smile, and felt guilty when she saw Valerie wipe another tear away. “So, you told him you’re not gonna see him anymore?”

“Yeah, I told him I couldn’t deal with him anymore. He said I was being silly but when I asked if he’d be okay with me sleeping with someone else, he shut up real quick. Then turned it around, accusing me of having someone else I want to sleep with, and that’s why I was breaking things off.”

“No way,” Sarah said. “What did you tell him?”

“To go to hell, and I asked him how it could be that there was anything for me to break off when he was obviously still seeing other girls. He didn’t say anything. All the way home, though, he kept trying to convince me that I was overreacting and that he did care about me, only right now, with school and his football schedule, he can’t commit to anything. He said he still wanted to see me but I refuse. I’m done with him. It hurts too much.” Her eyes welled up again.

“I did tell him though, before I got here that there were no hard feelings, in case I ran into him being that you and Angel are together and all. I don’t want things to be awkward.” She leaned against Sarah again.

Sarah rubbed her back again, feeling terrible and partly responsible. She was the one that kept telling Valerie that there was a definite connection. But she really thought there was. She saw it in Alex’s eyes when they were together. Angel had tried to warn her, Alex was a heartbreaker. She should’ve listened and warned Valerie, instead of egging her on.

CHAPTER 16

Thanksgiving felt different this year. From the moment Angel woke up he was all nerves. Sarah would be spending the day with his family then he’d take her back to her aunt’s for dinner there.

It’d worked out perfect because his family’s Thanksgivings were always more of a brunch with everything meticulously laid out by one in the afternoon at the latest, buffet style in the kitchen.

He was worried about Sarah. He knew this would be her first Thanksgiving without her mom. The only time she’d mentioned the holiday at all, was a few days ago and only to ask him to please not be hurt that she wasn’t inviting him to dinner at her aunt’s. She wasn’t looking forward to being with a bunch of family members she’d never met, and she thought having him there might make her even more nervous.

He did want to be there. Protect her from any unpleasantness but he respected her wishes and agreed.

Angel had big plans for this evening. Depending only on if she was up to it, he wanted tonight to be the night. Tonight would be a night Sarah would never forget.

While most boys his age were still dreaming about getting laid, Angel already had a good share of experience. From the time he was fifteen, the girls had made it just too easy for him. But Angel had always been extremely careful, even passing politely the first several times girls had literally offered themselves to him. Thanks to his older brother Sal’s lecturing, he’d been deathly afraid of disease and knocking someone up.

Eventually, though, it’d become too much of a temptation and he’d given in. But in the beginning Sal’s words would ring in his head, rattling him every time just as he was about to do the deed.

Think with your head, not your dick. ALWAYS use a condom, no means no, and don’t go sleeping with everything that moves unless you want to end up with something you can’t get rid of, like a disease or a baby. Remember condoms aren’t 100% effective. And the most endearing of all. Don’t be stupid.

That was the main reason why he’d end up with Dana so often after parties and dances. The idea of switching partners so often made him nervous. But nothing compared to the nerves he was feeling now. Ever since Sarah had told him she was ready he'd felt on the edge. Even with the experience he had he knew this would be a first for him too. This was Sarah. Just being around her made him feel things he couldn’t even begin to describe. And now he was going to be making love to her. Not once had he slept with someone he cared about. And saying he cared about Sarah was an understatement.

He eyed the front door of her aunt’s house, turning off the engine. The keys weren’t even out of the ignition when he saw her rush down the front stairs and toward the car.

Angel had told her to not worry about dressing up. Thanksgiving’s at his house were anything but formal. Even in jeans and a sweater she looked amazing.

The moment she stepped in the car and he touched her hand, he felt a tenderness that swelled his heart. There was something more beautiful about her than usual, and he loved the way her delicate scent always filled his car. She leaned toward him and brushed her lips against his, pausing to gaze in his eyes for a moment, then smiled.

He always felt like an untamed animal around Sarah, but lately it was different. She was all he ever thought about now, and any time away from her felt too long. Angel closed his eyes and kissed her. Then the words came out without warning. “I love you, Sarah.”

His eyes flew open and pulled back to see her expression. Sarah’s eyes were as wide as his felt. They were both stunned. But he knew he meant it. “Really?”

“Yeah, really.” He took a deep breath, and leaned his forehead against hers. As absurd as it sounded he thought he felt it from the moment he kissed her that first night. But now he was certain. There were no two ways around it. He’d fallen for her hard.