Page 32 of And Everything In Between (Love By Any Means #3)

“I wouldn’t start our relationship with a lie. I love your son, and you’ve raised a good man.” Paige turned to face her. “Thank you.”

A comfortable silence stretched between them, punctuated by laughter from across the yard.

“His daddy, Lord rest his soul, taught that boy everything he knows about cars,” she said, voice softening with memory. “Had a chop shop over on Jefferson back in the day. Not strictly legal, you understand, but necessary at the time.”

Paige’s eyebrows rose, and Betsy chuckled at her expression.

“Oh yes, honey. We weren’t always this respectable. Times were hard, and Vanni’s daddy, Gerald, did what he had to do. Giovanni used to hang around there after school, watching everything. By thirteen, he could take apart an engine blindfolded.”

She touched the gold band still circling her ring finger, twisting it absently.

“When Gerald got sick, Giovanni transformed that shop and gave up the illegal shit. Said he couldn’t do it anymore.”

“Giovanni, chopped cars?” she asked with wide eyes.

Paige had wondered about his past, but she didn’t care enough to ask about it.

She knew that life too, and she recognized the signs and vibes.

Sometimes you just know. No need to play police games asking a bunch of shit that was in a person’s past.

“Yep, and I’m proud of him. Extremely proud of him for doing the right thing.”

Betsy leaned in slightly, her voice lowering. “He taking good care of you though?”

“Yes, ma’am. Better than I’m used to, if I’m being honest.”

Betsy nodded with satisfaction. “That’s my boy. Giovanni’s always taken care of the people he loves. It’s in his blood. Sometimes to his own detriment.” She gave Paige a pointed look. “You know about that girl Sienna?”

“He told me,” Paige said rolling her eyes causing Betsy to laugh.

“Good. No secrets. That little bald headed skank took advantage of a good heart. Had him thinking love meant emptying your pockets and sacrificing your peace. Took me a long time to rebuild that boy’s trust in his own judgment.”

Paige swallowed, suddenly remembering his act of love this morning and probably for whatever he wanted to speak to her dad about.

Paige was the catch, but she couldn’t deny or downplay that Giovanni was too.

And she’d treat him as such. Him trusting her meant so much to her. She’d never do anything to hurt him.

“I’m not here to take from him,” Paige said firmly. “I’ve been that person for other people too long, always giving, always fixing. With Giovanni, it feels more like... balance.”

Betsy’s face broke into a wide smile. “That’s exactly what I was hoping to hear. A relationship ain’t about who gives and who takes. It’s about who stands steady when the other one needs to lean.”

Across the yard, Giovanni had resolved whatever crisis had erupted. He looked back at them, eyes questioning when he saw their heads bent close in conversation. Betsy waved him off with a “we’re fine” gesture.

“We do lunch every Sunday at Choosy Eats,” Betsy said, turning back to Paige. “The three of us, me, him, and Spirit. Been our tradition since his daddy passed.” She patted Paige’s hand. “You’re welcome to join us anytime. Any woman who’s got my son smiling like that deserves a seat at our table.”

Paige recognized the significance of the invitation. It was more than a meal, it was access to their inner circle, to the sacred space they’d preserved for family.

“Thank you. I’d like that very much.”

“Good.” Betsy nodded decisively. “Because that boy’s already gone on you, whether he’s said it out loud yet or not. I can read my children like books, and that one,” she said with a nod toward Giovanni, who was making his way back to them, “is going to hell or jail about you.”

“Remember something, Paige,” Betsy said, leaning in for one final piece of wisdom. “Giovanni builds beautiful things, but the most important thing he’s ever built is his sense of peace. Guard that for him and you’ll have him for life.”

Giovanni approached from across the yard before Paige could respond. Betsy smoothed down her dress and greeted her son with a playful swat. “You leave this poor girl alone with your momma too long, and I might talk her out of dealing with your stubborn behind.”

Giovanni laughed, sliding his arm around Paige’s waist. “Too late, Ma. She already in too deep.”

The look he gave Paige made her heart stutter, and from the knowing smile on Betsy’s face, she hadn’t missed it either.

“That’s what I’m counting on,” Betsy said, winking at Paige before moving off to check on the dessert table.

With his mother gone, Giovanni bent down and kissed Paige’s temple, his hand resting gently on her shoulder. Something about him felt different now, like all the pieces of him were falling into place. Paige couldn’t stop the little smile pulling at her lips.

She caught Spirit watching them from across the yard, her grin wide, mouthing “Finally.”

The cookout continued around them, conversations flowing, plates being filled and refilled. Paige felt herself relaxing into the warmth of Giovanni's community, who’d welcomed her without question, when Rolani appeared beside her chair with two plates of food.

“What she asked?” as she watched him settle into the seat next to her.

“You know, I ain’t seen that man smile this much since... shit, maybe ever,” he said, nodding toward Giovanni at the grill.

Paige accepted the plate gratefully. “So glad no one snatched him up. He’s good man.”

“Something in the water around here. First Emon and now G. I need the tea ain’t that what y’all say?”

Paige laughed and rolled her eyes. Anytime she heard about Rolani he was joking around.

“Yes, that’s what we say but there’s a reason your single. What is it?” she asked with a squint trying to read him while he weaved his head to get out of her eyesight.

“Aye, hell nah,” he joked. “I’m just tryna get my groove back too.”

“Mmhmm, I hear you. You probably need to get out your own way.”

“Yeah, probably. Seeing y'all... I don’t know maybe it's time I stopped making excuses.” He grinned. “You got any friends?”

This was about to be a big friend group because only one person came to mind. And she didn’t like to meddle.

“Maybe, let me think on it,” she replied. Paige wasn’t crazy there was probably a reason he was single and she needed to make sure her girl was going to get top of the line treatment, not trauma.

“Damn, it’s like that. After I brought you a plate?”

“Bros before hoes, ain’t that what y’all say?” she joked.

“Touché.”

Rolani hit her with a nod before he headed off to go bother Spirit.

Paige reclined in a lawn chair nearby, belly full and heart even fuller. She caught his eye from across the gathering. He gave her a subtle nod, then turned and tapped a metal serving spoon against a glass.

“Yo, let me holla at y’all for a minute.”

The crowd quieted. Heads turned.

“I know this wasn’t supposed to be anything formal,” Giovanni began, “but I wanna say thank y’all. For real.”

He looked out over the familiar faces. Mechanics, office staff, friends, and neighborhood kids posted because they were always safe with him and on his property.

“We’ve built somethin’ solid here. From scratch.

More than a shop, more than just a team, but a family.

And it means somethin’ to me that y’all hold it down every day like it’s your own.

My daddy would be so proud to see what we created and what we are still creating. ”

He took a breath.

“Things are changing. The TV deal is moving. Merch is comin’. More spotlight, more opportunities... but more pressure, too. I want y’all to know I ain’t forget where I came from. And I damn sure ain’t leavin’ anybody behind.”

There were a few nods. A couple claps.

“So yeah. Shit’s movin’ fast. But we built for it. And whatever this next season looks like, we going into it together. That’s the only way I want it.”

“The network cut the check so bonuses will be in your accounts tomorrow. I can’t thank y’all enough.”

He raised a bottle of water, the closest thing he had to a toast. “To hard work, to fresh starts, to elevation.”

“To elevation!” several voices echoed back with loud claps and roars.

As the cheers died down and folks returned to their ribs and red cups, Giovanni appeared and sat down beside her. Paige rested one hand on the back of Giovanni’s chair, her eyes lingering on him for a minute.

Watching him move through his world, confident but never arrogant, Paige understood why she’d fallen so quickly. This wasn’t attraction or good timing. This was recognition, to the tenth power. Her soul finally seeing something it had been searching for without even knowing.

She’d dated before. But this was the first time she’d dated a man through and through.

There was something undeniably masculine about him, not in a chauvinistic way.

It was strength tempered with tenderness.

Vision paired with responsibility. The rare balance of ambition and presence that meant he could build an empire without losing sight of what truly mattered.

What struck her most wasn’t how he commanded respect, but how he created space for her dreams, her independence, her voice.

He didn’t try to absorb her. Instead, he seemed to understand that they were two complete people choosing to build something together, not two halves desperately seeking completion.

And that, more than his touch or his words or his promises, was what made her certain she wasn’t going anywhere.

Paige pulled her phone from her bag, thumbs flying as she sent a quick message to the group chat with Blake, Taylor, and Kennedi.

Paige: Start planning now, bitches. I’m telling y’all, he’s the one. Deadass.

Taylor: Oh, baby, welcome to the club.

Blake: I owe Emon $100. He bet me that Gio would wear you down before summer ended. Stand up heffa… JK.

Kennedi: Y’all, what’s the prayer again? I must be saying something wrong.

Blake: You gotta say it three times and mean that shit.

Paige : I can’t stand y’all, but pay the man, sis. I’m a goner.

She laughed so hard she almost spit her drink out. It was wild how her friends could read her better than she read herself sometimes. She slid her phone away and leaned in close, whispering in Giovanni’s ear.

“I love watching you lead.”

He didn’t say anything right away, he took her hand and kissed each of her knuckles.

“P, I’m convinced you want me in your guts all day, every day. The way you affirm me makes my dick stand at attention. You play too much.”

“You nasty as hell.”

“Never hid that from you. I’m finna take you home. I don’t have much time before we gotta step out of our bubble. What you tryna do?”

“Let’s get out of here.”

Giovanni broke every traffic law known to man, getting Paige back to the house.

He barely cut the engine before they were inside, doors locked, shoes kicked off, mouths pressed to skin, fearful the world might end in the next hour.

She’d been his since the moment she stepped into his life with those smart-ass jokes, guarded heart, and eyes that said don’t play with me unless you mean it.

Clothes dropped like breadcrumbs down the hallway.

Her back hit the wall, his lips found the curve of her neck, and everything else was lost to moans, gasps, breathless yeses, and unspoken needs.

She gave herself to him completely, matching every kiss, every thrust. Paige loved this man.

And he loved her. He made damn sure she felt that every time he slid in her walls.

Afterward, they bathed each other in silence, soft music playing low, his fingers gently detangling her curls while her legs rested over his lap. They didn’t need to talk about what it was; they felt it.

Tomorrow, it was back to work. Back to emails, clients, and contracts. But neither thought about that. They vowed to stay in the moment until they couldn’t anymore.

Giovanni kissed her behind her ear once they slid beneath the covers.

“You already know,” he murmured.

Paige nodded, curled into his chest with a steady heartbeat and sank into the mattress. “I know.”

It came out soft, like a secret she was finally ready to admit.

And with the moon high and their skin still warm, they fell asleep, full, fed, and all in.