Page 46 of And Everything In Between

“Young man, that is the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard. I’d love to help. I’m a hopeless romantic,” she swooned, but her face contorted before she yelled back to Bobby again. “Bobby,you never did this for me. Damn shame, I had all your big head babies and all I get in return is a damn headache.”

“Shut up, Glenda.”

“Look, we got it. I’ll get in our group chat, and we will take turns.”

“I’m forever grateful. What do I owe you?” Glenda bit her lip. She loved Paige and would do it for free, but this man before her didn’t look like the type to go for that. “Ok, I see you’re conflicted, that means she’s special. I respect that. I’ll give each truck $500 a week to feed her and feed others, too, until the money runs out. I don’t care, make suresheeats that’s the job.”

“Deal.”

“Now, Bobby, this is effort. You used to do this for me.” Finally, Bobby came to the front and grabbed Glenda by the waist.

“So our Sunday ice cream dates chopped liver now? Young man, get on from here making it hard for us.” Bobby winked and extended his hand.

Giovanni shook Bobby’s hand, nodding once before sliding his business card across the counter.

“Anything y’all need, hit me.”

“We gotchu,” Bobby said. “And tell Paige her lunch crew said she’s deeply loved out here.”

Glenda smirked. “And tell her I said if she don’t lock you down, I’m sending my daughter Tamara after you.”

Giovanni laughed.

“Nah, I’m off the market,” he said with a wink. Glenda slapped her towel down with a laugh as he walked off. He pulled his phone from his pocket and snapped a picture of the food trucks lined up.

Giovanni:Heard you put the whole block on. My type of lady.

Paige:How do you know that? And what are you doing?

Giovanni:Streets talking. And I had to feed you.

Paige:Thank you. OMG, I didn’t know what I was going to do for lunch today.

He smiled.

Giovanni:I got lunch every day until Ashton is back. No back talk either.

Paige:Are you serious?

Paige set the phone down, smiling so hard her cheeks hurt. She knew she might be in trouble, good trouble.

Giovanni:Enjoy the rest of your shift.

With that handled, Giovanni headed toward his car. He slid in, and her vanilla scent filled his nostrils. He shook his head as he slipped the keys into the ignition and started the engine. His mind was already on her smile. Already on what the night might do.

But first?

He needed a nap. Tonight, might require more energy than he thought.

#

Paige

Paige couldn’t help but giggle at herself as she sat in her office, halfway through the quesadilla that had appeared like magic on her desk. The steak was perfectly seasoned, the cheese stretched into those satisfying strings with each bite, and the container of extra sour cream on the side was exactly what she would have asked for.

She shook her head, muttering, “Damn,” into the stillness.

It was lunch, nothing to write home about, but the thoughtfulness of it made her feel important in a way she wasn’t used to. But when she thought back to the flowers, he sent her, there was nothing about his actions that wasjust anything. Theman was consistent and a man of his word, she’d give him that much.

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