Page 61 of Angel

I just couldn’t figure out quite when that time was.

Sophia was done talking.

“Yeah,” I said, hoping just agreeing with whatever she’d finished with was enough.

“Good.” We took a few steps forward as the line progressed and she nearly dropped a pair of women’s boots. Boots most definitely in her size, for the record. “Are you ever going to clear your room out?”

I studied her face. “Do you want me to?”

Over the last ten months, since Angelo and I became an official couple, I’d probably spent less nights at mine and Sophia’s apartment than I had fingers. They’d all been days when Angelo was out of town and I went home to spend time with Soph. Though usually when we had sleepovers we just stayed at Angelo’s. He had door service, a bathtub that was really more like an indoor jacuzzi, and a penthouse bigger than most country homes. Plus, Sophia was known to enjoy sliding down the banister between the two floors after having a drink or two. Our rinky-dink apartment couldn’t really compare.

Sophia’s face scrunched up. “No. I guess I don’t want you to leave.”

“We could just give up the apartment. You could move… anywhere.”

She looked slightly hurt. “Anywhereis big. I don’t want to be away from you.”

My heart squeezed. I went to reach for her hand but, since it couldn’t be found underneath all the clothes, I gave up.

“I can’t wait for tomorrow,” Sophia sighed. “Does this private jet, by chance, come with champagne?”

“Likely.”

“Male strippers?”

“Doubtful.”

“Shit.”

“I’m nervous.”

“About what? You already know Angelo's family.”

“Most of them, yeah.”

“So what’s the problem?”

I chewed on my bottom lip and tried to figure it out. “It’s just… I don’t know… Maybe it’s because it’s Christmas. It makes me think of all the ones in the past.”

“The ones with Mom and Dad?”

“Yeah,” I choked out.

“Have you been remembering any of them?”

I shook my head.

“But you might.”

“Uh-huh.”

But did I want to? I didn’t know. All I knew was I had this impending feeling of doom when it came to Christmas. That suggested I either had a bad and repressed or forgotten memory attached to it or I either had only joyful memories and was just struggling with celebrating the holidays past those.

This is an assumption based on my past experiences working to figure myself out.

But really, heck if I knew. I’m no shrink.

We finally managed to check out. Escaping the mall into Columbus Circle was like being born again. The fresh and cold air hit my lungs, invigorating me and bringing me back to life.