Page 66 of Angel

“Months,” Sophia said. “It’s been growing for months. She needs to go back to therapy, Angelo.”

Paige’s eyes flashed. “I can handle this!”

“Trust me. You can’t,” Sophia snapped, before crossing her arms. “I’m just trying to make sure you get help.”

Paige forced a smile. You could tell it was fake by the way the corners of her mouth trembled. “How about we add this to the list of things we talk about after the holidays?”

“That doesn’t really seem right,” I carefully told her. “Since you’re dealing with these feelings right now.”

“It’s fine. It comes and goes. It’ll be gone soon.”

The new information stung. “So just how long has this been going on for? And you never thought to tell me?”

Her eyes glistened. “I didn’t want to worry you.”

I sighed. “Oh, Paige. I want toworryabout you. It’s my job.”

I want to do it for the rest of my life.

I thought about adding that last part, but the timing wasn’t right. Especially not with my girlfriend’s sister sitting just a few feet away. A line needed to be drawn somewhere.

I searched for a level way to finish the conversation. “Just promise me this talk isn’t over.”

She smiled slightly. “Deal.”

Sophia sat up straighter. “Hey, look! Is that Chicago over there?”

I turned around in my seat to get a better view out of the window. “Yep, that’s it.”

The pilot came on, announcing we were close to landing. The three of us buckled ourselves in. Sophia started drilling me on the best places to shop around the greater Chicago area while Paige fell silent. I held her hand, noting how light and cold it seemed.

Paige could try and brush her feelings off, but they were a bigger deal than she’d let on to. Looking back, it became clear there had been signs over the last few months. She started a lot easier than she used to, and she didn’t seem to want to go out as much as before.

Every once in a while, I asked her if she had any memories come back, but she always replied in the negative.

But maybe her warped emotional state was a reaction to a still repressed memory.

What could be worse than watching your parents be murdered?

I stifled a sigh.

Whatever was going on with Paige, whatever was causing her fear, I would figure it out.

I would fix everything.