Page 68 of And Everything In Between

“Yo, let me holla at y’all for a minute.”

The crowd quieted. Heads turned.

“I know this wasn’t supposed to be anything formal,” Giovanni began, “but I wanna say thank y’all. For real.”

He looked out over the familiar faces. Mechanics, office staff, friends, and neighborhood kids posted because they were always safe with him and on his property. “We’ve built somethin’ solid here. From scratch. More than a shop, more than just a team, but a family. And it means somethin’ to me that y’all hold it down every day like it’s your own. My daddy would be so proud to see what we created and what we are still creating.”

He took a breath.

“Things are changing. The TV deal is moving. Merch is comin’. More spotlight, more opportunities... but more pressure, too. I want y’all to know I ain’t forget where I came from. And I damn sure ain’t leavin’ anybody behind.”

There were a few nods. A couple claps.

“So yeah. Shit’s movin’ fast. But we built for it. And whatever this next season looks like, we going into it together. That’s the only way I want it.”

“The network cut the check so bonuses will be in your accounts tomorrow. I can’t thank y’all enough.”

He raised a bottle of water, the closest thing he had to a toast. “To hard work, to fresh starts, to elevation.”

“To elevation!” several voices echoed back with loud claps and roars.

As the cheers died down and folks returned to their ribs and red cups, Giovanni appeared and sat down beside her. Paige rested one hand on the back of Giovanni’s chair, her eyes lingering on him for a minute.

Watching him move through his world, confident but never arrogant, Paige understood why she’d fallen so quickly. This wasn’t attraction or good timing. This was recognition, to the tenth power. Her soul finally seeing something it had been searching for without even knowing.

She’d dated before. But this was the first time she’d dated a man through and through. There was something undeniably masculine about him, not in a chauvinistic way. It was strength tempered with tenderness. Vision paired with responsibility. The rare balance of ambition and presence that meant he could build an empire without losing sight of what truly mattered.

What struck her most wasn’t how he commanded respect, but how he created space for her dreams, her independence, her voice. He didn’t try to absorb her. Instead, he seemed to understand that they were two complete people choosing to build something together, not two halves desperately seeking completion.

And that, more than his touch or his words or his promises, was what made her certain she wasn’t going anywhere.

Paige pulled her phone from her bag, thumbs flying as she sent a quick message to the group chat with Blake, Taylor, and Kennedi.

Paige:Start planning now, bitches. I’m telling y’all, he’s the one. Deadass.

Taylor:Oh, baby, welcome to the club.

Blake:I owe Emon $100. He bet me that Gio would wear you down before summer ended. Stand up heffa… JK.

Kennedi:Y’all, what’s the prayer again? I must be saying something wrong.

Blake:You gotta say it three times and mean that shit.

Paige: I can’t stand y’all, but pay the man, sis. I’m a goner.

She laughed so hard she almost spit her drink out. It was wild how her friends could read her better than she read herself sometimes. She slid her phone away and leaned in close, whispering in Giovanni’s ear.

“I love watching you lead.”

He didn’t say anything right away, he took her hand and kissed each of her knuckles.

“P, I’m convinced you want me in your guts all day, every day. The way you affirm me makes my dick stand at attention. You play too much.”

“You nasty as hell.”

“Never hid that from you. I’m finna take you home. I don’t have much time before we gotta step out of our bubble. What you tryna do?”

“Let’s get out of here.”

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