Page 66 of And Everything In Between

“Go.” She shooed him away.

He jogged off, leaving his woman in the care of his mother, knowing she would be fine.

Betsy settled into the lawn chair next to Paige, a knowing smile playing on her lips. She handed Paige a fresh cup of sweet tea, the ice cubes clinking against the plastic.

“That boy ain’t looked this relaxed after...well, ever,” Betsy said, her eyes following her son across the yard. “But especially back from L.A. Usually, he’s all wound up tight, full of ideas but tense about execution. He’s different.”

Paige sipped her tea, feeling the weight of Betsy’s assessment. “I don’t think he likes it that much. Something about it being too big for him.”

“Mmm,” Betsy nodded. “He’s a small-town man with big dreams. Sometimes those two things don’t sit easily together.” She adjusted her white shawl around her shoulders despite the warmth of the afternoon. “But seems like he might’ve found something worth coming back to.”

The knowing look she gave Paige wasn’t subtle, but it wasn’t judgmental either. It was appreciation. Recognition. Betsy was simply a mother who could read her son better than anyone. And liked what he liked.

Betsy had lived a long life at 62, she was far from a spring chicken. She knew what love looked like. But more than that she loved how it looked on her son. However, she wouldn’t be her if she didn’t check the temperature.

“I don’t do this with everybody. But something tells me you ain’t passing through. And I don’t believe in letting good women walk into love blind.”

Paige raised an eyebrow, a soft smile tugging at her lips. “Is that what I’ve done?”

Betsy leaned in, not unkind, honest. “You’ve walked into a man who don’t play about his peace. A man who’s quiet untilit matters and locked in until you give him a reason not to be. Giovanni is a good man. But he’s had to be his own anchor for a long time. I need to know he can trust you if he finally let’s go.”

“I need that man like I need my next breath, and I don’t even get down like that. I’m going to keep it straightwith you.”

Paige felt her cheeks warm thinking about what came out of her mouth, but she meant every damn word. If she had misread the writing on the wall that Giovanni was her person, she’d enjoy it until otherwise.

“Is that right?” his mother asked.

“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 thesigns 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.”

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