Page 62 of And Everything In Between

“Okay, thing 1,” she replied with a bounce on the bed, hair all over the place.

“There’s a safe in my man cave and in that closet behind you. There’s money, jewelry, bonds, and deeds. If you ever need anything and I’m not here the code is 0328. Thing 2.”

“Oh no you don’t just drop that on me and move on. Are you sure? Why? Vanni...” Words spilled out of her as her mind went a mile a minute. She knew this was big for him. She wanted to make sure she heard him correctly.

“I’m positive. I told you, you solid. I trust you. I see that. Your dad is sick, and things happen outside of that. I’m not always going to be here and if you need to say yes, I don’t want you counting pennies to do it.”

Paige turned her head to hide the tears on the brink of falling. She took a second to get herself together before she closed the distance and pressed her lips to his, morning breath be damned.

“Thing 2?” she asked.

“We should check on your pops before we slide to the shop. I wanna holla at him.”

“Mmhmm,” she murmured, rubbing her eyes. “You makin’ ribs and…?”

“And chicken. Spirit said she’s comin’ through, and I gotta show off a little. It’s time for y’all to meet if you’re cool with that.”

Paige chuckled, finally peeling herself from the bed. “Yeah, I’m cool with that. I’m ready to go ahead and meet your momma, too.”

“That’s a big step now, be careful. You meet my momma, I’m going to assume you tryna be Paige Simone Dowlen and stuck with me forever.”

“I got the code to your safe, so I guess we both taking big steps.”

He nodded. “Yeah, you about to be kidnapped.”

“You’re always threatening me with a good time. I need to get dressed and hide these hand prints and faint hickies so my daddy doesn’t know I’ve been laid up over here being fast. So let me be.”

Giovanni smirked. “But you were laid up bein’ fast, though.”

She tossed a pillow at his head and disappeared into the bathroom. Giovanni wasn’t far behind her. They showered, dressed, and ate a little bit before heading out.

“We need to grab some stuff for the cookout,” Giovanni said as he grabbed his keys. “My fridge is looking desperate after this weekend.”

“That’s what happens when you let a woman in your house,” Paige laughed, sliding her feet into her sandals.

Without even trying, they ended up matching. He was doing it on purpose, anything she had at his house, he provided. It was cute to her. She was in a white sundress, and him in a white tee and ripped jeans, and fresh forces. She didn’t even fuss or ask. She was learning to accept. The end.

The PDA had gotten out of control in the best way, like it was a game they both loved to win.

They walked through the store like they were the only ones there, giggling, bumping hips, singing along to the old-school song playing overhead like they were backup vocalists. Paige felt like a teenager again, except this time, it was different. This time, it waspuppy love with a big dawg. Real affection. Real security. Real silly.

Giovanni pulled her into him, arm draped lazy around her neck, mouth at her ear.

“Me, you, chocolate syrup…magic,” he murmured, voice full of sin. She squealed, smacked his chest, and kept walking, still grinning.

That laughter followed them all the way to the car, through the ride, and up the steps of her father’s place. But the second Paige stepped inside her father’s house, everything in her shifted. She stopped abruptly.

Giovanni automatically stepped closer to her, one arm extending slightly to shield her and the other on his waistband.

“Relax. My mom is here.” She hadn’t expected his reaction, but she smiled at his protective instinct, the way he was ready to handle whatever threat might have been waiting. It was both comforting and amusing, given the circumstances.

“Oh my bad,” he muttered, straightening his shirt.

They rounded the corner, and sure enough, her mother sat on the edge of the couch, stirring a cup of tea.

“Hey, baby,” her mother said, standing with a half-smile. “Didn’t mean to spook you.”

Paige blinked, surprised but not mad. “You did. A little. Because what is this, and why am I just now hearing about it?”

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