Sarah chuckled. “Yea, well, Angel thinks you’re a girl.”

The expression on his face made her laugh. “He assumed when I told him about my best friend Sydney, that you were a girl and I never corrected him.”

She held her breath, not sure what to expect.

He smiled slowly. “Well, Lucy, we both have a lot of ‘splaining to do.”

Sarah giggled and slid her hand in his like she’d always done before. “I was gonna tell him today. My mind was totally made up. Why do you think I’m wearing this get up? But then you showed up.”

Sydney checked her out from top to bottom. “You know I was gonna say something earlier. Then thought I better not.” He shook his head still taking it all in. “Damn, Lynni. I almost didn’t recognize you at first.”

Sarah blushed. “It wasn’t my idea, okay?”

“Oh I didn’t say it was a bad idea. Just sayin, wow.”

Sarah laughed feeling self-conscious. “Stop.”

“Alright, alright, but yeah. Tell him as soon as possible. And, Lynni, if you need me to talk to him, I will.”

Sarah smiled, she just didn’t think that would fly with Angel. She just couldn’t picture him listening to another guy talk about his relationship with her, even if it was Sydney.

“I’m starving,” she said.

“Anything good around here?” he asked.

Sarah didn’t care about good. All that mattered right now to her was discreet. “We'll find something.”

*

Angel stood still for a moment. He knew it couldn’t be, but Romero sounded so convinced. He took in what he’d just heard, then shook his head and started walking again. “Nah, dude,” he said. “She’s babysitting for her neighbors right now.”

“Call her then,” Romero said.

Romero’s dogged tone made him uncomfortable. He was so sure. Angel stood quiet for a moment. “Did she see you?” What was he doing? This was absurd. There was no way Sarah would be out with another guy. He trusted her.

“No,” Romero said.

“I didn’t see shit!” Eric yelled in the background.

“Yeah, well, he would’ve if he didn't drive like a girl. By the time we turned back, they were gone.” Romero said.

They’d actually gone back to check? Angel picked up the phone at the hostess desk without mentioning it to Romero. “So, what was she doing?” He dialed Sarah’s cell phone number.

“Talking, I guess,” Romero said. “I saw her as we passed the car, and I had to do a double take but Eric was driving so fast and wouldn’t slow down. She looked different.”

“’Cause it wasn’t her!” Eric yelled again.

Angel listened to him with one ear, and waited to hear Sarah’s voice in the other. But it went to voicemail.

“So, she’s supposedly working then right?” Romero said.

Angel didn’t like the way that sounded. He knew Sarah wouldn't lie to him. He hesitated to answer.

“I’m just saying,” Romero said. “In case we see her again. I’ll go ask her, what’s up? If the ass**le even thinks of saying anything I’ll pop ‘em.”

Angel chuckled but he didn’t feel the least bit amused. This was starting to feel weird. It wasn’t like Sarah to not answer when he called. She always answered. Even when she did miss his call, she’d call back almost immediately. But then he had called from the restaurant phone. Maybe she didn’t recognize it. He’d only called her from that line a few times.

“I’ll call you back, dude,” Angel said.

“Call her,” Romero persisted.

“I will.”

As soon as he hung up he called Sarah. It went to her voicemail again. This time he left a message.

“Sarah, babe, it’s me. Call me as soon as you get the chance, okay?”

Within a half hour the restaurant was empty and clean. Angel double checked the kitchen then closed up. On his way home Eric called again.

“Hey, dude, you still at the restaurant?”

“Nah, I’m on my way home.”

“What? You’re not gonna meet up with us?"

“I’m tired, man." Angel yawned. "I’ve had a long day today.”

“Alright then. Hey, did you ever talk to Sarah?”

Angel frowned. “No, not yet.” He glanced at the clock on the dash. It was just after nine.

“Well, don’t sweat it, dude. I’m sure it wasn’t her, but you know how Romero gets.”

Angel smiled. “Yeah, I know. I’m not sweating it. I’m just tired.”

He sat staring at the red light. Shit he was getting a headache. For some reason, Dana’s call popped in his head. He tried remembering all she was blabbing about. Now he wished he’d paid attention.

She’d said something about being there for him. The light turned green and it came to him.

I’m not calling to rub it in, I don’t know what happened with you and Sarah, but I know you were really into her.

What was that about? None of it made sense. Well, hell, he’d never make detective that was for sure.

That was it. He was done. He didn’t need this aggravation what he needed was sleep. And he planned on getting some when he got home.

If he had never talked to Romero tonight, he wouldn’t be questioning where Sarah was, even if he hadn’t been able to get a hold of her all night. He knew exactly where she was, at her neighbors, babysitting.