Page 57 of Angel

“Sophia! I forgot all about her.”

“Maybe the appetizers have come to keep her company.”

I turned around and placed my hands on his chest. “We should get back.”

“Yes,” he growled.

His hand moved around in his pocket, retrieving something. “I have something for you.”

Out came a small plastic snow globe. I had to smile. “That’s cute, but why…”

He held it up to my eye level for better inspection then shook it just enough to make the little white flecks torpedo around. In the center of the globe a beach house sat, next to it a sign sayingAtlantic Beach.

Unable to hold back my gleeful smile, I took the globe in both hands. “Atlantic Beach?”

“Best weekend of my life.”

He said it so seriously the smile fell right off my face. “Even with the asthma attack? Even with a whole day spent in a hospital room?”

“Even with that. It made me see I couldn’t go on in life without you.”

My palms grew clammy. Angelo reached up and ran his fingers along the side of my face.

“Sophia,” I softly reminded him.

“No. You’re Paige,” he seriously replied. “I know you’re identical and all...”

I chuckled, swatting his shoulder.

“It’s her birthday too,” I pointed out. And then, “Are you going to give her the same thing you gave me?”

“A romp in the bathroom or a snow globe?”

I threw back my head in laughter. “She’d probably punch you in the jaw if you tried to pass her the first one.”

Angelo wrapped his arms around me and nuzzled his face into my hair. “Good. As far as I’m concerned there’s only one woman for me.”

His words filled me up and set me buzzing. Up and up I went, flying high on the promise of the future. Flying high with the man in front of me.