Page 81 of Angel

Chapter Twenty-Five - Angelo

“You’re going to have to make a sports-only section and put it in the back,” I told Franko and Tre.

Franko’s face wrinkled. “Aw man, stop being a downer.”

“I’m not. Ask Mom. You think she’s going to want your football and two dozen Louisiana State ornaments next to her Nativity one?”

Franko grumbled something and turned away. In the far corner, the men who brought the tree finished putting it up. Everyone stopped what they were doing to admire the sight.

“Wow,” Dominic said, coming into the room. “Admirable.”

Lia followed close behind, her arms folded and her jaw set.

“Did you guys see Paige?” I asked, realizing it had been a while since she went to retrieve the last box of ornaments.

Dominic shook his head and went to sit on the couch.

Leaving the swaths of decorations on the floor behind, I left the room.

Paige was halfway down the hallway, the cardboard box pressed against her stomach.

“Hi.” She smiled at me over the box flaps, but the grin didn’t reach her eyes… Eyes that were puffy and red.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” she quickly said.

I took the box from her. “Don’t do that.”

She sighed and looked past me at the living room. “I just heard Lia and Dominic talking about me. Lia thinks that I...” Her eyes shifted to the side. “That I’m into you for your money.”

I couldn’t contain the scoff. “No. She wouldn’t say something like that.”

She dismally looked back at me. “I heard it myself.”

I wasn’t too surprised. It was Lia, after all. Her delicate exterior was the perfect contrast for her inner toughness. She wasn’t callous, but she could be careful and critical, as well as overly protective. Her strong personality was both her strength and, sometimes, her fault.

“I’m sorry she said that.”

Paige’s shoulders sagged. “It’s not your fault.”

“I know you’re not. That’s all that matters.”

Noise and laughter erupted from the living room. I glanced over my shoulder. “She’s my sister, I said, lowering my voice. “Sometimes she can be hard on people. It’s because she’s so protective. I’ll have a talk with her.”

More like rail into her. Paige was my girlfriend. The first woman I ever went so far as to bring home. Not even Lia could get away with giving Paige any disrespect.

“No,” Paige pleaded. “Please don’t. I don’t want to be the subject of any drama.”

I put the box down and placed my hand on her shoulder. “This is already dramatic. If we ignore it, things might get worse. She has to accept you, Paige. You’re a part of our family now.”

A small smile played at the corners of her mouth. “All right, but go easy on her.”

“Why? Doesn’t sound like she’s returning the favor with you.”

“Come on. Maybe she’s just being a protective sis. I know all about how far that can go.”

“I will.”