Page 32 of And Everything In Between

Giovanni laughed and swiped a hand down his face.

“Just a friend, for now. Paige stepped out.”

“Mhhm, friend my ass.”

Paige had heard enough. She cleared her throat and stepped into the room. Both of their faces lit up when they sawher. Giovanni stepped aside to let her sit but he stopped her gently before completely passing.

“You good? How you feeling?”

“I’m good,” she responded before glancing back at Perry with a smirk. “We gon’ talk about you eavesdropping later.”

“I’m not dead shit. Just half.”

“Don’t play like that, Daddy. Look at where you are.”

“You talking to me or him?”

Paige blushed and fought a grin. “You. He’s just a friend.”

“Bullshit I heard‘okay baby’when you kissed me goodbye.”

Giovanni chuckled, shaking his head. Their interaction made him miss his own father.

“Caught that, huh?”

“I got ears, don’t I?” Perry murmured. “I like him. Got jokes. But he stayed. That counts for something, I guess.”

She looked at Giovanni again, the thank you stuck in her throat, but sitting heavy in her rib cage. He met her eyes and nodded, already knowing. She stood and stepped out into the hallway, and Giovanni followed.

“You should go,” Paige said suddenly. “This isn’t... you stayed long enough. Thank you.”

Giovanni looked at her, his expression unreadable. “You want me to go?”

She couldn’t quite meet his eyes to answer him. She was looking anywhere but into those damn eyes.

“I’m saying you don’t have to stay,” she clarified. “This isn’t your problem.”

“Didn’t ask if it was my problem.” He tilted her head up by the chin. “I asked if youwanted me to go.”

Paige swallowed hard. The distinction wasn’t lost on her. Want versus should. Desire versus obligation. The exact battleground she’d been fighting on.

“I’m sure you got better shit to do on your day off. You got a week to prepare for. I understand.”

“That’s not what I asked,” Giovanni repeated, leaning forward slightly. “Say the word and I’m gone. But don’t push me away ‘cause you think that’s what you’re supposed to do.”

Paige’s head snapped up, eyes finally meeting his. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Means I’ve seen this, no done this before,” he said, voice gentle but unyielding. “The moment shit gets real, you hit a switch. Shut down, double down on running.”

“You don’t know me,” she said, but the words lacked conviction.

“I know enough,” he countered. “Know you spent all morning talking about carrying weight nobody helps you with. And now here I am, offering to help carry it, and you’re trying to send me away. Like I ain’t been here before, in this very hospital.”

“It’s not that simple,” she said after a moment.

“Actually, it is,” Giovanni replied, not moving but letting her have the space. “Tell me what you need. If I ask, know I’m asking for a reason.”

“I need...” she started, then faltered. “I need to not be alone right now.”

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