Page 95 of Angel

“Ew!” Franco complained. “Get a room.”

I broke off the kiss, but kept looking at Paige.

“Breakfast?” Pops asked, hauling himself out of the armchair by the fire.

“The quiche is just ready,” Mariel said, leading the way out of the room.

“That was a really amazing present Lia,” Tre said.

“Thanks Tre.” She stood and pushed her way through a sea of discarded wrapping paper. Tre’s eyes followed her, his face practically glowing.

“Hmmm,” I muttered.

“What?” Paige questioned.

I smiled down at her. “I’ll tell you later.”

The procession moved into the dining room. The usual giant Christmas morning spread covered the table, leaving barely any room for breakfast plates. We all found somewhere to sit and began to chat. As we ate, the topic bounced around, sometimes breaking off into three or four separate conversations. Sophia kept it lively, making everyone laugh with her jokes. I kept one arm draped across the back of Paige’s chair.

This is what I call time well spent with family.

At the end of the day—or rather, the beginning—what more could anyone need than the people you loved the most?

“I’d like to make a toast,” Paige blurted out, getting to her feet.

I stared at her in surprise. Paige rarely ever demanded attention in a group.

She raised her glass of spiked eggnog. “To my new family.” She looked around at all of us. “For years, it was just me and Sophia. We scraped by as best we could. We had to be not only each other’s sister, but each other’s parents as well.”

Across the table, Sophia blinked hard, and sucked in her bottom lip, something she did when we were young to stop herself from crying. I had not seen her this vulnerable for years.

“For the first time in a long time,” Paige continued, “I know that we have more than each other to count on. And I just want to say that knowing … having that feeling of home and family. It means a lot to both of us.” Her face was heavy with emotion as she looked down at the table. “So, thank you for having us.”

“Cheers to that!” Sophia shouted, standing up and raising her glass.

Everyone else added their cheers. Paige took her seat and I kissed her, though it was a pathetic attempt since I couldn’t wipe the grin from my lips.

“I love you,” I whispered against her mouth.

She sighed in pleasure.

She didn’t have to say a word. I already knew, without a doubt, that she felt just like I did.

Another set of words itched on my lips.

Now would be the perfect time to say them.

But no. I would wait. I wouldn’t spoil Paige’s toast by following it up with my own.

The things I had to say were important, but their time would come.

Soon.