Page 74 of And Everything In Between

“It feels a little unreal. But I worked hard for my promotion. I deserved it, and I did while dealing with my dad. I earned that shit.”

He inched closer, eyes locked on hers, “And what else? Tell me everything.”

“And things have been up since the day I met you. I don’t know what we did to deserve this. But I’m happy.”

“I gotta say I agree. I had to take my chance, and it paid off.”

“I’m in love with you, too,” she finally said, the words feeling both terrifying and like the most natural thing she’d ever spoken. “I think I have been since you stopped traffic for me. I’ve been scared to say it out loud.”

Giovanni reached across the table, taking her hand in his. “I didn’t need you to say it. I felt it, and that was enough. But it feels good to hear it. I know that was hard for my Thug Misses.”

“So that’s going to stick huh? Your little joke.”

“Yeah, that’s what you are, and I like that about you.”

“You make me want to be."

Their plates arrived plated perfectly, with filet mignon, asparagus over rice. Giovanni nodded at the server, then poured her wine.

“You earned every bit of this,” he said, eyes on her. “You survived the shit life threw at you. You alchemized it. You got promoted. You got your daddy straight. You got me straight. You are a blessing, and you need to know that.”

He stood, circled the table, and pulled her gently to her feet.

The music turned up a little, it was Forever Mine, the song they slow danced to on the first night. He held her close, her head resting on his chest, and they moved together in slow steps.

“You made me eat all of my words.” A laugh escaped as they continued to sway. He was singing in her ear, it was off-key, but she sounded the same the minute she joined him.

“I did, didn’t I? I wasn’t going for the shit. When you looked me in my eyes and said you weren’t gon fall in love with me, you shook something. I said, ‘Okay bet.’”

“That’s so crazy. I said I’d never turn in my player card.”

He laughed, “Yeah, I need that, before you leave today.”

Now it was her turn to laugh.

“You said you wanted to show me something,” she murmured against his chest.

“I do.” He kissed her forehead and stepped back, keeping one arm around her waist as he guided her toward the center of the warehouse. “Remember that sketch I sent you?”

He moved the cover back with one clean motion.

The car glinted under the lights. A sparkling purple, bold and unmissable. Custom gold wheels. The hood curved like her hips, the front grill sharp and commanding. On the headrest, embroidered in gold thread, were two initials: P.B.

“I built this for you,” Giovanni said behind her. “If you ever begin to wonder about where you stand in my life, I want you to look at this, drive this, and feel me here.” He touched her heart and then her stomach.

“I’m firing on all cylinders about you. I want that to be clear.”

She turned to him slowly, overwhelmed.

“Gio…”

“I love you.” He’d never been clearer about anything in life. “You made me want to move differently. Build differently. Be different. I'm not saying I'm perfect. I got a past. I got habits. But I've got room for us. For you.”

“You built this for me?” she asked, voice shuddering.

Paige stepped back from the car, overwhelmed. Not just by the gift, but by what it stood for. This wasn't just custom paint and wheels - this was Giovanni seeing her completely, understanding her in ways she was still learning to understand herself. She pressed her palm to her chest, feeling her heartbeat quicken.

She’d anticipated needs, solved problems, and carried weight. But here was a man who’d spent months creating something just for her joy. No strings. No expectations. Just… love in action.

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