Angel had been so good about letting it go ever since that day they hadn’t addressed the subject of her brother at all, and it’d been two weeks. Of course, it could also be because Sarah hadn’t much to report either. When she’d gotten back from the cabin, she’d finally been able to chat with Leonardo online in the privacy of her own room, but she’d noticed his weird mood immediately. Not wanting him to assume in any way that her ignoring his texts and even calls while she’d been up in Big Bear had anything to do with Angel, she explained that the wireless and Internet signal was spotty up there at best. It wasn’t exactly true, but she figured being up so deep in the mountains the excuse might fly. She just figured with Angel already not caring much for Leonardo the last thing she needed was for the animosity to go both ways.
Unlike all the other times when they chatted and he kept her on the phone longer than she usually planned, he’d cut her off quickly, saying he had things to do. Then she didn’t hear from him again until a few days later when she got the call. It was a normal call by any measure. He asked her how her day had been, told her a little bit about his, and then dropped the news. “I’m leaving for Mexico,” he said out of the blue. “This time it’s gonna be for a longer period, and I won’t have Internet service for sure. So I guess this is goodbye.”
Sarah felt that same hollowness she’d felt that first time he told her he was leaving. Once again, it sounded so final. The expression he wore was also a grim one she so rarely saw on him.
“Goodbye?” she asked, trying not to sound as clingy as she suddenly felt. “You’re coming back eventually, right? How long will you be gone?”
He sat back, and she’d noticed how fidgety he’d been from the moment their chat began—just like that first chat they’d had months ago. “You know my situation, Sarah. I gotta take every job I can get, and this one is a longer one, so I don’t know. A few months? Maybe longer.”
“But you’ll, uh . . .” She swallowed hard, trying to hold back the emotion. Just like the first time, this felt so final only it was worse now. This time he’d actually said the words she hadn’t heard but felt last time—this is goodbye. From the tone of his voice, he meant it. “You’ll call me once you’re back?” She was almost afraid to ask, but she wanted to know now instead of wondering later because it really felt like this was it. “This isn’t goodbye forever . . . right?”
He crossed his arms in front of him, staring straight ahead and didn’t say anything for too long. Then he sat up suddenly. “Nah . . . nah, of course not. I’ll be back eventually. It’s just that, you know, this is something I gotta do.”
She nodded again almost afraid to talk. What she’d finally been able to squash, after months of trying, suddenly resurfaced and nearly suffocated her: the doubt that Leonardo even with all his imperfections, questionable behavior, and appearance was actually real. He was her brother, and unlike her dad, he wanted to remain a part of her life—make up for all the years they’d lost. Now he was saying goodbye. This really had been too good to be true.
This time she didn’t hold back saying what she wanted to because something in her gut told her this really was the last time she’d be speaking to him. “I’ll miss you,” she managed to whisper.
His head dropped, and he stared at his desk without saying anything for a moment, and that’s when she knew. This was really goodbye. She wanted to ask him why. Why didn’t he at least want to try to stay in touch? Did he think it’d be too much of a chore to keep a relationship with his sister?
She didn’t understand what had happened. If she could speak, she’d ask him. Ask him why he’d been so impatient and anxious to meet her and now he was ending things? But with the boulder-sized knot in her throat, she couldn’t.
Finally, he looked up, his eyes as pained as she felt. “I’ll miss you too, baby girl.”
Sarah didn’t respond to that, and she knew there was no way he couldn’t see the pain in her flooded eyes. That’s why when he said goodbye one last time and cut their chat so abruptly, leaving her staring at a black screen, it felt like an even colder slap in the face.
Chapter 22
Angel
On the drive to pick up Sarah for their non-Valentine’s dinner, Angel remembered their first ever Valentine’s Day. It was a day he’d never forget. They were still in high school, and neither had ever actually celebrated the holiday before. While both agreed Valentine’s Day was nothing more than a commercial gimmick, it represented something different for them. Their first Valentine’s Day had come right on the cusp of the restart of their relationship. So even though Angel agreed with Sarah that they didn’t need a special day of the year to demonstrate their love for one another, for him it was a time for celebration, an occasion of the year he’d forever remember as happiest time in his life.
Regardless of the reasons everyone else celebrated Valentine’s Day, for Angel it represented a new beginning to their relationship and a new awareness that, yes, it was in fact possible to share Sarah with another guy—to a certain extent.
For weeks before that day back then, he’d lived with the heartache of believing Sarah had chosen Sydney, her childhood sweetheart, over him. He’d thought he didn’t stand a chance of competing with him since she’d willingly made a conscious decision that, no matter how serious things got between them, she was going back home and she was going back because of Syd.
So her decision to stay in La Jolla for Angel and hearing her say she loved him for the first time ever—after he’d been so tormented that she couldn’t say it because she was in love with Syd—would forever be the reason he celebrated this day.
Now he’d decided was a good time to add another reason. There was no doubt they’d get married after they graduated. They’d talked about it overtly, in front of others even, many times. They were having a big wedding, not just because it’s what Sarah had always dreamed of but because he already knew his family—most notably his mother—wouldn’t have it any other way. It wasn’t a matter of if. It hadn’t been for years. It wasn’t even a matter of when. It was happening the summer after they graduated, but Angel wanted to make it official. And he was doing so tonight.
As sure as he was that Sarah would be all for it, his stomach was still in knots as he got closer to her place. The moment she unlocked the door for him with her phone at her ear, he knew something was wrong. She barely acknowledged him as she opened the door, letting him in, and walked back into the living room with her phone at her ear.
“What do you mean he lied? He got out five years ago, and that’s what Omar said.” She brought her hand to her chest and stopped in the middle of the room. “And you’re absolutely sure about this?” She was quiet for a moment then spoke again. “But you said it was the same guy who showed up at your place, and my mom said she was certain it was him.”
Sarah paced the room, running her fingers through her hair. Angel took a step in front of her to stop her for a moment. “What’s wrong?”
She shook her head and turned around, walking the other way. “I know she did, but that was only because it’s been twenty years since she last saw him. It’s the only reason why she said she couldn’t be a hundred percent sure. And all of you said looking into his eyes was like looking into mine. How could he look so much like me? It makes no sense.”
Angel’s heart was already thumping but for an altogether different reason than it had been on his way there. He hated seeing Sarah this upset, and he hadn’t in a long time.
“No, I can’t, Sydney, because she’s not here right now. She’s out with Elias.” She let out a heavy sigh. “I know. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” She shook her head. “I didn’t mean to snap at you, but this is crazy. I don’t . . . I don’t even . . .” She finally stopped and looked at Angel, shaking her head, her eyes beginning to well up. “My dad is still in jail.” Angel stared at her, not sure if she was about to cry or spit. “He has been all this time. He got out five years ago like they said, but he was right back in within the year. Ever
ything Leonardo and Omar, or whoever the hell that man was pretending to be my dad, said was bullshit.”
She finished talking to Sydney then told Angel everything Sydney had told her. Apparently, Angel wasn’t the only one suspicious of Leo. Sydney had done some investigating himself. He hadn’t been able to find anything on Leo either, but he’d looked into Sarah’s dad and tracked him down. He was still doing time in an Arizona state pen.
The million-dollar questions now were who was this man who had come looking for her and was Leo even her brother. Angel wouldn’t say it outright because she was already too upset, but he pretty much knew the answer to the second question.
It had been over a month since Sarah had told Angel about Leo leaving, and it’d been just as long since he’d had to worry about him because they hadn’t heard from him since. He knew Sarah was a little bummed about him being gone so long. She’d finally admitted it when he’d asked her why she’d been so moody. He wanted to believe that her disappointment was nothing more than how she explained it. She said she had the feeling that like her dad had so unceremoniously bowed out of her life, Leo too had now done the same.
The last thing he wanted was to see Sarah hurt. This was exactly what he’d been afraid of when she first told him about having a long lost brother. Like Sydney, his efforts to come up with anything more about Leo had proved to be in vain. It was almost as if the guy didn’t exist. Aside from his Facebook profile that had been so recently established, Angel hadn’t been able to find even one match to another Leonardo or even just Leo Ortiz that was tied to her brother. He’d even begun to wonder if maybe like Sarah he’d taken his mother’s surname and not his dad’s, but Sarah assured Angel that Leo had told her that his last name was Ortiz. Now it made sense. Leo probably wasn’t even his name.
He never told Sal he’d given up on digging into Leo because he knew his brother would never give up so easily and he’d likely think Angel’s efforts had been half assed. But Sarah seemed so convinced that she’d heard the last from Leo, and unlike the first time he’d taken off to Mexico, she hadn’t heard a peep from him this time. Angel figured it was safe to assume if the guy wasn’t coming back there’d be no sense in trying to turn up every nook and cranny to find him. Now if he ever showed up again, he’d have to go through Angel to get even a word in with Sarah.
Angel held Sarah as she fell exhausted against his chest. She wasn’t crying, but Angel got the feeling she was holding it in. “I feel so stupid,” she whispered.
“Don’t,” he said, pulling away from her to look at her. “We all got conned, Sarah. Even with all our reservations, all of us gave them the benefit of the doubt. Not just you. I did. Your mom did. Syd too. Because it’s what honest people do. We expect others to be honest too. The dishonest people who do these kinds of things are professionals, okay? They know how to fool others. They’d probably been planning this for a while. They knew exactly what to say.” He shook his head as she stared at him, her eyes still full of the very confusion he was feeling. “I just don’t get why they did this? They never asked you for anything? Money? Personal information about your dad or mom?”
“Only what I told you Omar . . .” She frowned, pressing her lips together. “What that man asked about the past and the jewelry, but I can’t imagine anything I told him was of any use because I knew so little. And Leonardo . . .” The hurt flashed in her eyes as her brows pulled together suddenly. “He never asked me for anything. Nothing personal, just about me in general, but nothing I can think of that would warrant all these lies. Everything he said felt so sincere . . . a little weird maybe but sincere.” She glanced away, lowering her voice. “God, I feel stupid.”
“You shouldn’t, babe.” He held her tightly. “How the hell were you supposed to know?”
“You did,” she said, looking up at him, the hurt in her eyes turning into anger. “You knew something wasn’t right from the very beginning, and, of course, I ignored your warnings because I was so desperate to believe it was all true.”
“You knew too,” he reminded her. “You said didn’t trust him either.”
“But I wanted to.”
“And that’s normal. Of course you’d want to believe. Sarah, you know me. I’m suspicious of everyone.” He lifted her chin and kissed her lips. “When it comes to any guy—man—trying to get close to you, that suspicion is even worse. But we both know that doesn’t make me a better judge of character. It just means I’m cynical. That’s not something you wanna strive to be.”
She shook her head adamantly. “I’d rather be cynical than stupid.”
“Stop saying that. You are not stupid.” He looked into those beautiful hurt eyes, wishing he could magically make her feel better and knowing that if those two motherfuckers ever came around her again there’d be hell to pay. “You’re heart is sweet and untainted, even having gone through some of the things you have. You still wanna believe the best of people. That’s a good thing.” He smiled.
“Yeah, but what does it do me?” She pulled away from his hold, looking around. “Even Leonardo said it himself. His stepsister and I, if he even has a stepsister, are easy targets.”
“You did nothing wrong, babe,” Angel assured her as he watched her pick up her phone. “You gave them the benefit of the doubt, but you were careful. It’s all you could’ve done.”
She hit something on her phone and brought it to her ear. A second later she let out a bitter scoff. “His voice mail still says Leo.”
She hung up then began texting something. Angel stared at her quietly as her fingers tapped down on the phone furiously. It wasn’t until she finished and looked up that he saw the tears, and it crushed his heart.
“Baby,” he started to say, taking a step toward her.
Her face crumbled, but she brought her hand up to cover her eyes. “I need a minute, please,” she said, rushing away toward the restroom.
With his heart aching for her as the restroom door slammed shut, he took a deep breath and brought his attention back to her phone. She’d left it sitting on the kitchen counter. He’d never been one to snoop at her texts or email, but he felt so desperate for the right words to say to her right now. He needed to know exactly what was going on in her head.
Glancing back at the restroom, he walked over to her phone and picked it up. The screen was still on the text she’d just sent so he read it.
I don’t know why I’m so surprised that you’re a complete fraud and an ASSHOLE! I just don’t get how people like you and that slime who pretended to be my father live with yourselves. You talked about the kind of people who prey on suckers like me and your so-called other sister. Well, I guess you knew exactly what you were doing because you really made me want to believe every word you said to me. You disgust me!
Angel put the phone down and walked over to the restroom door, trying to calm down for her sake. He knocked softly and waited. “You okay, babe?”
“Uh-huh.”
Her voice was strained, and he knew she was still crying. It was all he could do to keep from punching a hole through the door. He’d known from the beginning that there was a possibility that she might get hurt. Even though he’d warned her to not get her hopes up about this, he still should’ve done more. How the fuck had he not thought to look up her dad in jail—confirmed if, in fact, he was out or not?
“Listen, Sarah. You have every right to be upset with them, not with yourself, okay?” He placed his hand on the door, struggling not to fist it. “For all we know, they could’ve been planning this for years.”
The door opened suddenly, and she stood before him as he looked into her sad eyes. Though they were dry now, they were still all puffy and red. Immediately, he pulled her into his arms and hugged her tightly, willing her pain away.
“I’m okay,” she whispered against his shoulder. “I just felt really stupid for a moment there. I even argued with Sydney that he had to be wrong.”
Angel pulled away slowly to look at her. “That’s not stupid
, babe. It was wishful thinking. You were just hoping he was mistaken. Nothing wrong with that.”
Frowning, she shook her head and looked away. “My whole life I was fine without having siblings,” she said, looking back at him, her voice a near whisper. “It wasn’t until the possibility presented itself that I might actually have a brother that the idea began to excite me. Then I guess because he was so different than what I’d imagined he’d be”—she shrugged with a sniffle—“I guess I was expecting someone more normal or average looking—boring—like me.”
“You’re not boring, and you’re anything but average looking,” Angel said, raising an eyebrow.
“You know what I mean.” Her lip lifted sideways. “I wasn’t expecting anyone like Leonardo. It was stupid really, but when we talked that first day I was certain we’d have little to nothing in common. Our super long first chat should’ve been my first clue that it was all an act. He asked so many questions.” The sadness in her eyes was so crushing he couldn’t help but interrupt her with a kiss and a tight hug until she pulled away with a weak smile. “I don’t want this ruining our night. I was about to change when I got Sydney’s call. My hair and makeup.” She frowned. “I was ready otherwise. Just give me a minute to retouch my makeup.”
“Take your time,” he said, kissing her forehead one last time before letting her walk away to her room.
Minutes later, he sat flipping aimlessly through the channels on the TV in her front room, thoughts of Leo and Omar and what they possibly could’ve been after inundated his head. Why did they go through such lengths and then just disappear? Sarah walked out of her room in a candy red sweater dress that hugged her body just so and big heels. Angel had told her he was taking her somewhere nice for dinner, and since he’d never seen the dress on her before, he could only assume she’d bought the dress just for the occasion.
This would’ve been the perfect night to do what he’d originally planned, but given the circumstances, he wasn’t sure it was such a good idea to taint his proposal with the memory of it happening on the same night the reality of her almost sibling came to light.