Angel turned around. Eric was holding Romero up. “Damn, is he that wasted?”

Eric shot him a sarcastic look. Angel turned to Sarah. “This is my ride.”

She glanced over at Eric holding Romero up, and giggled a little. Angel could see she was lightheaded from the wine. She seemed so small and delicate and incredibly vulnerable, “I won’t leave though. Where’s Valerie?”

She smiled at him. “Go ahead, I’m fine.”

Like hell. “Yeah, you are fine. But I’m not leaving you until Valerie gets back.”

The party was beginning to end and Valerie, Sarah’s ride, was nowhere in sight. Sarah had tried calling her several times on her cell, but the call wouldn’t go through. Angel grabbed Sarah’s hand in his, and both their ice chests in his other. “Come on, let’s go look for Valerie.”

As they walked through the party, one of Dana’s friends tried to stop him. “Hey, Angel, where’s Dana?” Her eyebrows were arched and she peered at Sarah. Angel kept walking, pretending not to hear.

“Is Dana your girlfriend?” He could feel Sarah try to let go of his hand but he only tightened the grip.

Angel pressed his lips for a second, “Nope.”

Eric was right outside looking a little irritated. Angel knew how Romero could get when he was drunk, and Eric had been on his own with him now all night, so he understood his frustration.

“Dude, are you ready to go?” Eric asked.

Sarah was still holding Angel’s hand. Angel looked at him apologetically. “Give me a sec. She needs to find her friend.”

Sarah was calling Valerie on her cell again but she wasn’t answering. When they got to the car, she looked at him. “I can’t leave Valerie.”

“Okay.” He pulled her closer to him, out of the way of oncoming cars that still cruised past the party. She leaned against him and he put his arm around her waist. He’d burned to touch her, all night, and now all he wanted was to take care of her. He examined her face, smiling tenderly. “How you feeling?”

She smiled, finally looking in his eyes. “Better now.”

It took all his willpower to not lean over and kiss her, but the last thing he wanted was for anything to happen tonight that she could dismiss tomorrow and blame on the wine.

He turned to see Eric adjusting Romero in the front seat. Romero was totally out. Angel motioned toward him. “By the way, meet my friend Romero.”

Sarah laughed. “Is that really his name?”

“Well, his last name. His first name is Ramon, but he doesn’t like it.”

Eric walked over and leaned on the car next to Angel and Sarah. He looked exhausted. Sarah rested her head on Angel’s shoulder.

“Oh, hey,” Angel said looking at Eric. “This is Sarah. Sarah, this is my friend, Eric.”

Sarah held her head up just long enough to say hello. Angel knew Eric assumed she was just another girl he’d picked up. Sarah moved off of Angel and leaned against the car now, but he still held her hand. “Where could she be?” Sarah grimaced.

They all stood there watching the driveway of the house where the party had been. There were people still walking out, and standing around the front of the house. A car pulled up and let someone out of the back seat. It was Jesse Strickland. The car that had dropped him off drove right past them and up the street.

Sarah didn’t see him at first but when she did, she straightened out. Angel noticed and his muscles tensed. “Something wrong?”

“Can we leave?” Her eyes were still on Jesse.

Jesse walked in a hurry to the back yard. Eric and Angel exchanged glances.

“What about Valerie?” Angel asked.

“We’ll come back for her,” she said, “I just don’t wanna be here right this minute.”

Angel stared at her for a second. “Sure.”

He let go of her hand to gather up the ice chests. Sarah tried Valerie again on her phone. For whatever reason, Jesse made Sarah nervous and Angel didn’t like it. He grabbed the ice chests and threw them in the trunk, then walked Sarah around and into the car. He sat down next to her and reached for her hand immediately. Eric eyed him through the rearview mirror.

“Let’s drop off this guy first,” Eric said motioning toward Romero. “Then if you want, you can drop me off and take my car. I’ll pick it up in the morning.”

Angel smiled. Suddenly he was relieved he’d only had two beers. He wasn’t ready to say goodnight to Sarah yet. He could always count on Eric to understand.

***************

Minutes passed, while she sat in the passenger seat, heart pounding, waiting for Valerie to answer her phone.

“Hello?”

“Valerie?”

“Sarah, I’ve been so worried. Where are you?”

“I’m with Angel. We’re dropping off his friend. Are you on your way home?”

“Home? It’s still early, there’s another party we’re going to. Do you need me to come get you?” Valerie asked.

“No, I think I’m good for now.”

“Oh, my God, are you and Angel gonna hang out?” Valerie gushed.

The thought of what Valerie meant by hang out, made Sarah’s heart beat even harder. She bit her lip.

“I’m not sure,” Sarah said. “I’ll call you and let you know where to meet me.”

“Is he right there next to you?” Valerie whispered, as if he might hear her.