Page 31 of And Everything In Between (Love By Any Means #3)

“Yes, ma’am. That’s the plan.”

Myra gave him one more appraising look before turning to Paige. “Let me show you what I brought for your father’s meals this week. Everything’s prepped, just needs heating.”

As Paige followed her mother to the kitchen, Giovanni found himself alone with Perry. The older man adjusted himself in his recliner, eyeing Giovanni with that same sharp gaze his daughter had inherited.

“So,” Perry said, keeping his voice low enough that the women wouldn’t hear from the kitchen. “You got her outta my hair this time.”

“She loves you and you know that’s why she’s doing this and whatever else she can.”

“I know and I love that child too death but she gotta live a little. Promise you’ll do that.”

Giovanni settled into the chair across from him, leaning forward slightly. “Yes, sir I got her. I wanted to holla at you because your daughter is stubborn. How can I help my baby out by helping you out?”

“You serious?”

“Very,” Giovanni replied without hesitation. “Paige is... special. Anything she needs, I want to make sure she has it.”

Perry studied him for a moment longer, then nodded slowly. “She is. Too good for most. Including me. Probably, you too.”

Giovanni laughed but got serious, “Sir, how can I help you?”

“Well, you know I need a donor and I ain’t asking for you to do that, but maybe you can put my transplant information on one of your cars or something. I’ve lived a long life, I don’t need fancy home dialysis. I like my friends there. It’s my time to be with people that understand.”

“‘Preciate that. I got you.”

He gestured toward the TV remote. “You watch the game yesterday?”

The conversation shifted, but Giovanni recognized this for what it was. Perry’s way of taking his measure while giving them space to connect man-to-man. From the kitchen, he could hear Paige and her mother’s voices, sometimes rising with laughter, sometimes dropping to serious tones.

Family dynamics were complicated, but Giovanni found himself surprisingly comfortable in the middle of the Bishop family drama. It felt like a place he could belong.

The two held hands as they left her father's house. The visit had been good, surprisingly good. They'd sat and laughed, but now, Paige was ready for fresh air and a change of scenery.

Giovanni helped her into the truck but didn't rush to the driver's seat. Instead, he rested against the doorframe, eyes scanning her face like he was trying to read between the lines.

“You okay? Like for real, don't feed me bullshit.”

Paige didn't answer right away. She stared through the windshield, swallowing hard.

For a moment, she was ten again, running cold water in the sink, pretending not to hear her parents fighting down the hall about what her father had done and what it would do to their family.

Now her mother was offering help and forgiveness.

“I think so. That was...a lot. In a good way. But still a lot.”

Giovanni reached in, brushing his fingers over her cheekbone.

“You held that moment with grace, P. I saw it hit you. I’m proud of you for lettin’ it.”

That made her eyes sting all over again.

“You gotta quit talking like that before I get used to it.”

“You should do that. I want you to. What you see in everyone else, I see in you.”

“Vanni, I’m still getting used to that, letting things settle in. Not having to act like it didn’t matter. Thank you for being patient.”

“Let it matter.”

“Okay.”

“And if you crash from it later, I’m right here.”

He stole a kiss before closing her door. When he got inside, he turned to her and asked, “My turn, you sure you ready for this?”

“You mean meeting your momma and sister?” Paige teased. “I’ve been ready.”

He grinned and kissed her knuckles. “You’ll charm ’em. You already got me.”

#

The smell of barbecue hit them before they even parked.

Smoke billowed from behind the garage, and music thumped low from a speaker playing The Ohio Players.

A folding table sat under a canopy, stacked with foil pans and Tupperware.

Lawn chairs formed loose circles, and kids ran wild between setups, juice boxes, and hot dogs in hand.

“You do this every year?”

“Yeah, they work hard and a lot of them sacrifice time with family to ensure this shit run the way it should. I’d be nothing without them.”

Giovanni pulled up to the curb, hopped out, and opened Paige’s door. She stepped out in her sandals and white off-shoulder sundress, eyes scanning the scene. It brought back flashbacks from their first night. The same vibe was before her.

“You nervous?” he asked, grabbing the bags of drinks and chips they’d picked up.

“Nope.” She popped her sunglasses on. “I’m tryna decide who I want to impress first.”

Giovanni chuckled. “Betsy, my mom is over there in the striped sundress. Spirit got the braids and the iced tea. They’re cool people and you ain’t gotta impress anybody. Be you.”

“Always.”

They made their way toward the grill, where a couple of his guys from the shop were flipping meat and nodding along to the beat.

Paige felt the eyes on her as they moved through the crowd.

Not shady or hostile, that small-town curiosity that came whenever someone new stepped into an established circle.

These were Giovanni’s people, folks who’d watched him grind for years, who’d celebrated his wins and probably helped him through the losses.

She couldn’t blame them for wondering who this woman was that had their boy looking so damn happy.

Giovanni didn’t flinch at the attention. His hand stayed firm at the small of her back, guiding her through the room like she belonged—because to him, she did. He wasn’t parading her like a prize. He was bringing her in. Introducing her to people who mattered.

Because he’d brought women around before, sure. But not like this. This time, he felt it in his chest. This time, he was nervous—not because he questioned her, but because he didn’t want her to question them . Ever.

And that? That meant something to Paige. She’d been someone’s secret, someone’s “we’ll see.” But this—like everything else between them—was honest. Present. Real.

“Ma! Spirit! Come meet my lady, Paige.”

His mother turned first, face lighting up. Giovanni got his color from her. She was beautiful, sure, but it was more than that, there was a calmness in her that made everything make sense. Paige could tell: the softness her man carried came from this woman right here.

“Ohhh, so this is the one.” Arms wide, grin wider. “I was starting to think you were a myth.”

Paige laughed and leaned into the hug. “Nice to finally meet you.”

“Don’t be nice,” Spirit said, approaching with her cup in hand and a grin that matched her brother’s. “Oh brother, you got a fine wine here. And I recognize you. It all makes sense now.”

Giovanni groaned, but Paige grinned. “Well, I’m flattered... I think.”

Spirit sipped her drink. “You should be. I saw the video. I’ll be in the wedding, but I’m not wearing heels.”

The four of them laughed, and the ice broke.

Giovanni’s mom looped her arm through Paige’s without warning, firm but affectionate. “Come sit with me, baby. I wanna know everything.”

Before Paige could even glance back for backup, Giovanni was already being pulled away by Rolani, calling him over with some drama at the grill. Smoke was rising, and voices were getting louder.

Giovanni squeezed her hand. “I’ll be right back, baby. You good?”

“I’ll be fine,” Paige said, even though she felt like she’d been handed over like a baton in a relay. “Go on.”

He gave her that look, double-checking.

“Go.” She shooed him away.

He jogged off, leaving his woman in the care of his mother, knowing she would be fine.

Betsy settled into the lawn chair next to Paige, a knowing smile playing on her lips. She handed Paige a fresh cup of sweet tea, the ice cubes clinking against the plastic.

“That boy ain’t looked this relaxed after...well, ever,” Betsy said, her eyes following her son across the yard. “But especially back from L.A. Usually, he’s all wound up tight, full of ideas but tense about execution. He’s different.”

Paige sipped her tea, feeling the weight of Betsy’s assessment. “I don’t think he likes it that much. Something about it being too big for him.”

“Mmm,” Betsy nodded. “He’s a small-town man with big dreams. Sometimes those two things don’t sit easily together.” She adjusted her white shawl around her shoulders despite the warmth of the afternoon. “But seems like he might’ve found something worth coming back to.”

The knowing look she gave Paige wasn’t subtle, but it wasn’t judgmental either. It was appreciation. Recognition. Betsy was simply a mother who could read her son better than anyone. And liked what he liked.

Betsy had lived a long life at 62, she was far from a spring chicken. She knew what love looked like. But more than that she loved how it looked on her son. However, she wouldn’t be her if she didn’t check the temperature.

“I don’t do this with everybody. But something tells me you ain’t passing through. And I don’t believe in letting good women walk into love blind.”

Paige raised an eyebrow, a soft smile tugging at her lips. “Is that what I’ve done?”

Betsy leaned in, not unkind, honest. “You’ve walked into a man who don’t play about his peace.

A man who’s quiet until it matters and locked in until you give him a reason not to be.

Giovanni is a good man. But he’s had to be his own anchor for a long time.

I need to know he can trust you if he finally let’s go. ”

“I need that man like I need my next breath, and I don’t even get down like that. I’m going to keep it straightwith you.”

Paige felt her cheeks warm thinking about what came out of her mouth, but she meant every damn word. If she had misread the writing on the wall that Giovanni was her person, she’d enjoy it until otherwise.

“Is that right?” his mother asked.