From A to Z - Angel Reyes

Chapter 18

It was three days before Angel would hear from Zara. He'd texted her once a day, something short and sweet to let her know he was trying but still giving her space. When she showed up a little after ten that Tuesday morning Angel almost jumped out of his skin.

"Hey," he said eagerly. "You okay?"

"I'm okay," she said casually. "Just wanted to stop in and say hi."

"You look good," he remarked.

Blushing a little, Zara playfully pushed him away. "You look pretty good yourself," she told him. "I have to meet with Campbell, it's a video thing, but I wanted to see if you want to talk later. Discuss things a little more rationally than before?"

Angel nodded. "Yeah. We can, we should. Where you meeting him?"

"Coffee shop," she said, "I don't really want to be alone with him." Especially not after their last encounter but Zara didn't elaborate.

"Smart girl," he said, kissing her cheek. "Z, mi dulce, I'm sorry about Friday night. I fucked up."

Zara pressed her palm to his cheek and smiled. "I know you did. Apology accepted."

He grimaced a little. "You gonna slap me?"

"You'd like that, wouldn't you?" She asked him seductively.

"You know I would," he growled. Zara slapped him with a smile on her face, it was playful but his flesh still stung from the impact. "Rock hard," he whispered to her.

"You're gross," she laughed a little, "And you're not off the hook. Reyes."

As she turned to walked away from him, Angel hurried after her and grabbed her hand. "I know I'm not. If he really pushes the favor thing tell me, I'll talk to Galindo and I'll deal with it. It was stupid. I was stupid and I'm really sorry."

"My guy," she practically sang with a sunny smile on her lips, "You're the best."

"What?" He looked around. "You joking?"

"No," she sighed. "I can't punish you forever. I can't be mad forever. You apologized, you know you messed up, and you're prepared to fix it if necessary. There's really nothing else I could ask you to do, you know?"

He smiled and nodded.

"Oh, there actually is something," she said suddenly. "I wanted to have dinner with your dad."

"What? Why?" He asked with a huff.

"Ever since my mom brought it up I've been thinking about it," she explained. "I know things aren't great, so I get it if you don't want to, but I want to and I think he wants to."

Angel nodded, "He probably would want to."

"Do you?"

"You trying to heal shit here?"

"Maybe," she smiled a little. "I think you want a relationship with your dad and ignoring it isn't going to make that happen."

Angel sighed heavily. "I don't have any crazy ex-girlfriends for you two to go attacking together."

Zara rolled her eyes. "Just think about it, okay?"
"I'm gonna be thinking about that slap," he said in a low gravelly voice.

Zara giggled and shook her head, "You're a pervert and I love it." They started walking back toward her car when she stopped and looked over at him. "Could you maybe go with me? Wait in the parking lot while I talk to him?"

"Yeah," he said without hesitation. He didn't expect the request, even before their most recent fight, and that meant it was more serious than she was letting on. "Of course I'll take you up."