Free Forever Mine by Elizabeth Reyes Page A

right?” He closed in on her and put his arms around her waist from behind. He spoke in her ear. “You wanna give me some names so I can start kicking ass?”
     
    He felt Sarah stiffen in his arms and he smiled. “Relax I’m only playing.”
     
    He’d had this conversation before with other girls. They all seemed to think any guy that waved at them or forwarded them some stupid text was their friend. That’s not what Angel was talking about at all. He knew it was debatable. But he had no intentions of arguing with Sarah on their first date. He kissed the side of her face and she seemed to lighten up.
     
    Sarah didn’t comment, instead she reached for a pair of earrings. Angel looked at them over her shoulder as she examined them. They were very delicate looking, the kind that hung off the ear, not studs. The stone that adorned them was shiny and flat.
     
“Is that pearl?
     
“Looks like it.”
     
“You like ‘em?” he kissed her temple.
     
“Yeah, they’re pretty.” She held them up to the light and Angel took them.
     
“Sold.” He let go of her and started toward the register.
     
Sarah followed. “No, Angel that’s okay. I didn’t mean-”
     
He turned around and winked at her. “They’re yours now.”
     
    Angel helped her get them on when they were outside the small shop. She stared at him with that wrinkle between her eyes. “How do they look?”
     
    “Perfect” He said and then kissed her again and again.
     
    Angel had been to Old Town many times with his family. But he’d never really experienced it like he had today. He enjoyed every minute of it. It occurred to him that it didn’t matter where they went or what they did as long as Sarah was with him. He would even enjoy sitting through a chick flick. He winced at what the guys would say when they knew.
     
    He glanced down at Sarah leaning against him. Her head rested on his chest, his arm around her as they sat in the back of the trolley. At that moment he didn’t care what anybody thought. After only a weekend with her, he knew he had it bad. There’d be no way of hiding it. It was a bit alarming. He’d never been in love but this felt close. Too close.
     
    Something gnawed at him. Even through all the laughter, it still bothered him, and any attempts to block it were in vain. I’m only here for the semester . He squeezed his eyes shut and held her tighter. He’d change her mind. He had to.
     
    They exited the trolley and headed back to the parking lot and Angel’s car. Even with all the snacking they’d done Angel was getting hungry. As if on cue, Sarah squeezed his hand. “I’m starving,” she said, looking up at him.
     
    “Feel like Mexican?” he asked.
     
    She smiled big and nodded.
     
     
     
    *********************
     
    They parked on a small quaint looking street, just off the main strip. The sign over the restaurant read: “MORENO’S” She felt her stomach tighten, and wondered if his parents or brothers would be there. What was he thinking? This was too soon, she wasn’t ready for it, but she didn’t want to hurt his feelings.
     
    He held her hand as they walked into the restaurant. It was much bigger than it looked from the outside. Angel had made it sound insignificant but she knew better. Valerie had told her about it and said it was actually a very nice restaurant. Even with what Valerie had said, she still wasn’t prepared for it.
     
    It was anything but insignificant. She was immediately taken by the high ceilings and the huge round metal chandeliers that held what looked like small red candles all the way around. There were dramatic arches everywhere and the walls were textured to look old with brick showing through some parts, just like the historic houses they’d seen in Old Town.
     
    The hostess at the front, a young pretty girl with big brown eyes and lashes that went on forever, was busy talking to one of the waiters when they walked in. Her uniform was snug fitting and it