Sarah laughed and Angel turned his attention back to her.

Sarah’s grin teased and challenged him at the same time. “So, what about me, birthday boy? Where are you taking me?”

Angel’s heart thudded. He knew exactly where he was taking her.

*

As soon as they entered the restaurant’s back room Angel pulled Sarah into a long passionate kiss. He was ready for her. Hell, he’d been ready for her all night.

After a few minutes Sarah pulled away for air. “Wow,” She said breathlessly.

“Yeah, wow.” Angel smiled.

He was about to kiss her again when Sarah put her hand on his chest. “Wait.” She pulled away and hurried to her purse sitting on the counter. “I have something for you.”

Angel wasn’t happy. He’d told her not to spend any money on him. He knew whatever small amount she was making from babysitting she was saving for when she went back to Arizona. “Sarah, babe, I told you-”

“Shush, I wanted too.” She held out a small box with a silver ribbon around it.

Angel grinned sideways and took the box. She grabbed his hand and pulled him back toward the bed. They sat down and he began to open it. Sarah shifted next to him. Her excitement amused him.

He opened the box and pulled out the silver chain. He could tell she was anxious for a reaction, but she looked so cute he wouldn’t say what he really wanted to say, that she shouldn’t have spent this kind of money on him. “I like it.”

He kissed her again. “Read the engraving.”

Angel flipped it over. Forever yours, Sarah.

“I wanted you to have something to remember me every day when I’m gone.”

When I’m gone. Damn, he hated the sound of that. She was crazy to think he needed anything to remind him of her. The thought of her never left his mind anymore. But he smiled anyway and took her in his arms. It was time now for the gift he’d waited for all night.

CHAPTER 19

Sarah was alarmed when she saw the time on her clock. Her cell phone was ringing and it wasn’t even 6 A.M. Who’d be calling this early? She reached over and looked at her phone. It was Sydney. She flipped it open not sure what to expect.

“Hello?”

“Hey, Lynni.” He sounded calm enough.

“Everything okay?”

“Yeah,” he said. “Sorry for calling so early. I couldn’t sleep.”

“Why? What’s wrong?” In all the years she’d known him, she knew the only times he couldn’t sleep were when he was stressing about something. She sat up and plopped a pillow behind her.

“Nothing’s wrong.” But Sarah knew that tone.

“Sydney, you’re stressing about something. You should know better than to try and hide it from me.”

There was silence on the other end then a sigh. “I can’t stop thinking about you and Angel,” he said. “Are you sure you’re going to be okay coming back here?”

Sarah frowned, it had been over two weeks since she and Angel had made love for the first time. She kept it from Sydney for a while, not wanting to betray Angel by sharing something so intimate with anyone else. But about a week ago she hadn’t been able to keep it to herself anymore.

Angel told her how much he loved her every day now. It was killing her that she couldn’t say it back to him. So, she’d broken down and told Sydney, crying in the process. Ever since, Sydney had been beside himself, skeptical about her being able to come back to Arizona. But she’d been trying her best to convince him that she could and would. There was no way she’d let on that just the thought devastated her.

But she had to go back, no matter how much she wanted to stay now. She just wouldn’t be able to live with herself. How could she tell him she was turning her back on him now because of a guy that she’d known for just four months? Albeit they’d been the best four months of her life, she just couldn’t do it.

She’d never forget the way Sydney cried that awful day she found out she was going to have to move. She’d cried for him almost as much as she’d cried for herself.

“Sydney, I already told you. I can do this. Me and Angel are still gonna be together, even once I move back.”

“Are you sure?” he said. “You two haven’t been apart for even a day since you started going out.”

Sarah squeezed her eyes shut. She knew he was right. It was going to be hard, harder than when she’d left Sydney. Still, she had to do it.

“I’ll be okay, Syd. I made it this long over here and remember how I didn’t think I could?”

“Yeah, you’ve been fine; more than fine, because of him.”

“Well, I’ll have you when I get home to help me through this.”

There was a strange silence for a few long moments. “Lynn, in all the years I’ve known you, I’ve never heard you so happy. I’d hate for you to come back and be miserable.”

“Impossible,” she said. “As long as I have you there for me, I’ll be fine.”

She couldn’t help but let a yawn escape. She was so tired. The lustful stop at the restaurant had lasted much longer than they intended. She got home way after curfew. Luckily, as far as she knew no one had noticed. Everyone was sound asleep when she snuck in.

“You should go back to sleep,” Sydney said. "You sound really tired.”

“I’m okay.” She yawned again.

“No, you’re tired. Go back to bed, we’ll talk later.”