Forever Mine (The Moreno Brothers 1)

Angel waved it off. “We’re done. It’s over between her and me. I just wanna know what you were talking about.”

Dana seemed surprised. But suddenly her eyes were full of compassion. “I’m so sorry to hear it.”

Angel fought the urge to roll his eyes. They’d been there all of five minutes and he was already losing his patience. “Saturday, Dana.”

“Oh, okay. Well, I didn’t see them, but I got a call from Lorena asking me if I knew what was going on with you and Sarah.” She fidgeted with her napkin. “She was calling from Lujan Beach and said Sarah was there holding hands and making out with some guy.”

Angel could feel it happening all over again. The rage seared through his veins. “Making out? Are you sure?”

“Well, I think that’s what she said.”

Fuck He should’ve known better than to think he’d get a straight answer from Dana, especially about Sarah.

“It’s important Dana.” There was no masking the irritation in his voice.

“But I thought you said you two are broken up.”

“We are.” He raised his voice, then stopped to take a drink of his coffee, give himself a second before speaking again. He decided to play nice, it might calm him down. He reached over and put his hand on hers.

He strained to speak calmly. “It’s a pretty big detail, Hon. I’m just trying to get it straight.”

She smiled at his hand on hers. “Well, let me text her.”

She pulled her phone out of her purse and began texting. When she was done, she set the phone down and reached across for Angel’s hand again.

“Do you wanna talk about it?” She traced his fingers slowly. “I meant it when I said I’m here for you, Angel. You know that.”

Angel forced a smile and sat back in his chair. “I know you did. But I’d rather not.”

Just then her cell phone beeped. She picked it up and read it. “Alright, she says they were holding hands, embracing and gazing into each other’s eyes. She seemed really happy.”

Angel tried to hide the wave of pain that jolted through him as she read the text. It made sense. Not once since he’d met Sarah had she hidden her affection for Sydney. After Saturday, he didn’t think the pain could get any worse. Why was he doing this to himself? Why’d he come here? He already knew Sarah was in love with Sydney. Then he remembered. He needed confirmation. And now he had it.

Angel could tell Dana was annoyed that as soon as he’d got the information he wrapped things up and herded her out of there. But he didn’t care. He didn’t even finish his coffee. After that text he couldn’t stomach anything.

He dropped her off and went back to the restaurant. Alex was on the phone in the back office when he walked in. He put his hand over the receiver and sat up when he saw Angel. “That was fast.”

“Yep, just had coffee.” Angel grabbed an apron from the shelf. He saw Alex hang up the phone. “You can take off now if you want. I got it from here.”

“That was Valerie.”

Angel slowed down for a second but didn’t look at Alex. “Yeah?”

Angel hadn’t even turned on his phone in the past two days. Told everyone he’d misplaced it and to just call the restaurant or the house. The last thing he wanted was to hear Sarah apologize for being in love with Sydney. He’d rather never speak to her again.

“Yeah,” Alex said. “You won’t have to worry about seeing Sarah around here anymore.”

Angel stopped tying the apron and looked at Alex. “Why’s that?”

“She’s leaving for Arizona.” Alex stood up. “Tonight.”

Angel’s stomach roiled. He couldn’t understand why that bothered him so much. He knew she’d be leaving soon. But she wasn’t supposed to have left until Christmas and that was more than a week away.

He finished tying his apron and shrugged. “Good for her.”

He rushed past Alex and made his way to the office door. He didn’t want to hear anymore about Sarah, let alone talk about her.

“Hey, Angel,” Alex said. “Valerie said Sarah and that dude are really just close friends.”

Angel was still searing from what Dana’s friend had said about them at the beach. Was it possible that Alex of all people was falling for this crap too? Admittedly, he’d thought about that possibility himself about a hundred times since Saturday. But it made no sense, and after today he was even more convinced it couldn’t be true.

Angel barked a laugh. “That’s bullshit, Alex.”

“Yeah, that’s what I said.”

In a killing mood, Angel turned on Alex, “Then why the hell are you telling me?”

Alex smirked at Angel’s rising temper. “Because she made a pretty good argument.”

Keeping his stony gaze on Alex, Angel didn’t move. “She’s in love with him.”

“Did she tell you that?”

“She didn’t have to.” Angel charged out the door leaving Alex behind in the office. He was done with this subject. But Alex wasn’t. He followed Angel to the back door of the restaurant. Angel knew Alex was never one to meddle, but he had a feeling Valerie was behind his sudden need to pry.

“She’s been crying for days, Angel.”

Angel slowed his step a bit. He was beginning to feel sick again. The last couple of days had been hell for him, but he hated the thought of Sarah hurting. The image of her and Sydney assaulted his mind again and he clenched his jaw.