The brunch rush was over and the restaurant was enjoying a very short break. The afternoon crew had arrived and was getting things ready for the dinner parties that evening.
Sarah’s absence was blaringly obvious, so Angel had filled in his family about the break up, briefly, some more than others. He told his parents they’d decided to call it off since she was going back to Arizona.
Sofia had taken it the hardest and to his surprise was mad at him for not understanding. What was there to understand? Sarah was moving in with another guy and she’d known it all along.
He made it clear to everyone he didn’t want to talk about it. The bitterness only grew stronger each time he did. Sofia must’ve seen something in him, because she asked him not to hate Sarah. Angel had held in a laugh. Hating her would be a hell of a lot easier.
For the past ten minutes, Angel sat in the office staring at the pencil he twirled through his fingers. Sarah’s voice from her earlier call was still on his mind.
Sofia popped her head in. “Someone’s here to see you, out front.”
Angel sat up. “Who?” Sofia shrugged and walked away in a hurry.
He got up and walked to the front of the restaurant. As he turned the corner he saw his guest. Every muscle in his body tightened, and automatically he clenched his fists. Alex left the hostess desk and walked past Angel toward the dining room, oblivious as to what was going on.
Sydney glared at Angel “I got a bone to pick with you.”
Maybe this wouldn’t be such a bad Christmas after all. He’d felt like kicking someone’s ass all week and now here was Sydney, of all people, calling him out. Sydney wasn’t a small guy and he had a fairly good build but either way, Angel felt certain he could take him. Hell, the way he was feeling he had been ready to take Alex earlier.
Angel smirked and leaned against the entry archway to the dining room
“I thought you and Sarah would be back in Arizona by now.”
Sydney was still glaring at him. “Have you listened to any of her messages?”
Angel’s teeth locked and swallowed hard. “I’ve heard all I need to know.”
“Then you know she’s a wreck?”
Feeling a dull ache in his heart, Angel shook off any thoughts of Sarah in pain. She was happy now. She was with Sydney, where she’d wanted to be all along.
“I’m sure you’ll fix that.”
Patrons were beginning to arrive in groups, filling up the front entrance, Sydney moved closer to Angel. “Is there somewhere else we can talk?”
Angel glanced at the hostess desk. Alex had already sent someone to cover it. He walked out the front door without saying anything and Sydney followed.
The weather was considerably cold with many of the people arriving in coats and heavy jackets. But Angel felt hot.
The yellow Impala was parked across the street. Angel squeezed his eyes shut for a second, remembering that night. He leaned against Alex’s truck parked just two cars away from the restaurants front door.
“I don’t have a lot of time.” Angel crossed his arms over his chest.
“I’ll make this fast.”
Angel did his best to look bored.
“Sarah loves you, Angel.”
Angel stared at Sydney, his expression shrouded. “Funny, she's never told me that.”
“She couldn’t, she felt too guilty saying it when she knew she was going to be leaving,” Sydney said. “That’s just the way she is.”
Of course she’d felt guilty.
Angel chuckled. “She loves me so much she’s dying to go back to Arizona to live with another guy?”
Sydney stared at him. “For someone who claims to love Sarah so much, you really don’t know shit about her do you?”
Angel pressed his lips together, and made every attempt to remain calm. “I know she lied about why she really wanted to go back and that she’s been in love with someone else this whole time.” His words oozed with bitterness.
“You have no idea, do you?” Sydney shook his head. “Sarah and I go back a long way, and yeah, she loves me. I love her too.”
Angel felt the knife, already lodged deep in his heart being twisted viciously.
“She’s like a sister to me, always has been and always will be. But the thought of her being close to any other guy besides you, has you so f**ked up you’re gonna lose her.”
Angel’s pulse rose. He stared at Sydney square in the eye. “She’s made her decision.”
“You made it for her.”
“She made it the day she decided no one would stop her from going back to you,” Angel clenched his teeth. “Not even me.”
Sydney glared at him in disbelief. "So, that’s it? You’re gonna let your insecurities come in the way of your feelings for her? You’re letting her go, just like that?”
Angel didn’t respond. It took everything in him to not bang his fist against Alex’s truck.
Sydney looked disgusted. He shook his head and began walking away. After only a few steps he stopped and turned around. Angel hadn’t moved.
“You know, after all she’d told me about you. I expected a lot more. I was actually happy that she’d found you. But now I can see I was way off, I’m glad she’s coming back to Arizona. You don’t deserve her.”
Angel felt the same sick feeling he’d felt that night he'd seen Sarah with Sydney. The same feeling he’d felt when he was sick the entire next day. He glared at his feet.