Page 51 of And Everything In Between

“You good?” she asked, catching him staring.

“I’m great,” he said, not even pretending. “You make it easy to forget everything else.”

“What do you need to forget?”

“I don’t know if I wanna go that far into it with you tonight. I don’t want to run you off.”

“Don’t tell me you have a crazy number of kids and baby mommas to match.”

“Hell nah, my seed is reserved for my future wife. No bullshit.”

“I think we are past worrying about each other running off. If anything, life is going to come testing us. So, I’d rather you keep it one hundred with me now. Let me decide what I want to deal with.”

The waitress approached to take their order. Paige chose the seafood linguine while Giovanni opted for the lamb ragu. Once she left, he leaned in, forearms resting on the table.

“You’re right,” he said in agreement.

“I know.” She took a sip of her wine, eyes never leaving his. “Let’s talk.”

He took a breath. “I know the night at the house came out of nowhere. And I don’t regret anything about it, but I need you to know. I didn’t bring you there thinking that was it.”

Paige tilted her head. “Okay…”

“I got a lot happening,” he continued. “The show is moving. They greenlit the pilot. So for a little minute I’ll be back and forth out of town.”

“That’s big,” Paige said, and she meant it. “I’m proud of you.”

“Thank you.” His eyes dropped for a second, then lifted again, serious now. “But I’m not tryna be one of those men thatdisappear and then pop back up when it’s convenient. I want this to work. Us. Even if it means we gotta be intentional with how we move.”

She nodded slowly, the sincerity in his voice disarming. “Okay. That’s fair. But you know I’m here. My schedule is hectic at times, so it’ll give us some space. That’s not a bad thing.”

“I’m not saying I’ll always get it right,” he said, “but I’m not half-steppin’ with you, Paige. I’m all in if you are too.”

Paige took another sip of wine, “Ok, so what’s going to run me off. Because I’m going to be your biggest supporter and hopefully your peace through this process. I support what you are doing, Vanni.”

“Really? I remember you saying you weren’t what I was looking for. You remember that?”

“No need to bring up old shit. I wasn’t speaking from an informed place. Playa’s fuck up.”

Giovanni laughed softly and shook his head, “You funny. But speaking of old shit. My ex has somehow snuck her way back into my life. I’m not ever fucking with her again, but I ain’t want no bullshit coming to you and you be caught off guard.”

“Is she on bullshit?” Paige asked.

“Most likely, I’m not going to lie to you. Sienna is a … Scamela Anderson type female, a swindler. Got me for 30k. I don’t know what the fuck she on.”

“Ohhh she’s that ex. Midwest. Are you still in love with her?”

“No.”

“Well… if she’s bold enough to act out in front of me, I hope she stretches first.”

Giovanni blinked, then broke into a deep laugh.

“I’m serious,” Paige said, shrugging like it wasn’t a threat, it was a fact. “I’m not worried about an ex. I’m not for the games.So don’t have me out here lookin’ stupid. If she’s in the room, that’s cool. Make sure she knows her place in it.”

He reached across the table, thumb brushing over her knuckles, his eyes fixed on hers with that intensity that always made her breath catch.

“She is so irrelevant, she doesn’t have a place in the room.” His voice carried a finality that closed the door on that topic. “But tell me what’s up with you? I don’t think I like going days without seeing you.”

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