Page 85 of And Everything In Between

He took her hand in his. His palm was warm, steady.

“Vegas.”

“Vegas?” she repeated, blinking. “Tonight? Giovanni, your show-”

“Will still premiere whether I’m there or not. And we’ll watch it.”

Paige stared at him, trying to make sense of what was happening. “But why...”

“Because”—he cut her off gently— “I’ve got something more important to do tonight than stand around taking pictures with strangers. I want a sure thing by my side.”

The intensity in his eyes sent a shiver down her spine.

“What's more important than your career-defining moment?” she asked, her voice dropping to match his tone.

“You. Us.”

Realization didn’t just creep in—it crashed, loud and sure. Her heart pounded, wild and frantic. Marriage. Tonight.

The magnitude of what he was suggesting crashed over her in waves.

A year ago, she would have called this crazy. Six months ago, she would have needed time to think, to plan, to control every variable. But sitting here with Giovanni, watching him risk everything for them, she realized something had fundamentally shifted inside her.

She wasn't afraid anymore. Not of loving him completely, not of being loved completely in return. Every careful wall she’d built had already crumbled anyway - brick by brick, kiss by kiss, gentle gesture by gentle gesture.

“Vanni...” tears rushed to the brim of her eyes, but not from fear. From recognition. This was right. He was right. They were right.

“You sure about this? About me?” she whispered.

“I've never been more sure of anything in my life.”

She searched his face and found only certainty reflecting back at her. The same certainty she felt bone-deep.

He brought a hand to her chin, drawing her gaze back to his. “Hey, don’t do that.”

She nodded her head and drew in all the breath she could muster up.

“I'm not doing it here.” He wanted that to be clear and quick. “Not in a car or in a parking lot. But I need you to know that's where we're headed. If you want to say no now, we can turn around. No harm, no foul, baby.”

Paige let out a shaky breath. “To Vegas? Or to whatever you're planning to ask me on a rooftop somewhere?”

His smile deepened, eyes crinkling at the corners. “Both.”

She should have been surprised. Should have needed time to think. But nothing about them had ever been traditional, from stopping traffic at a car show to dancing slowly in an empty shop to falling in love faster than either of them had planned. Spontaneous wasn't reckless when it came to Giovanni. It was just them.

“Let’s get on the helicopter,” she said, voice calm despite the butterflies running amuck in her stomach.

He studied her face for a long moment. “You sure about this? When I make my mind up, you know-”

“I’m sure about you,” she replied cutting him off, she didn’t need to hear anymore. “Everything else is just details.”

Giovanni leaned across the car and kissed her, one hand cradling her face. When their lips parted, his eyes were now brimming with tears.

“Let’s go then.”

The next hour passed in a blur. The helicopter ride was both terrifying and exhilarating, Giovanni's hand wrapped around hers, calm and certain as they soared above the city lights.

As they approached Vegas, the pilot announced they had one more stop before landing. The helicopter banked toward one of the tallest buildings on the strip, a luxury hotel with a rooftop helipad illuminated against the night sky.

---