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“I love you.”

“I love you more. Now pay attention,” she said, with a smile and kiss to the corner of his mouth.

As the crowd around them responded to the show, laughing at the right moments, gasping at the reveals, and applauding at the end of particularly impressive builds, Giovanni and Paige remained in their own world, connected by touches, heated glances, and deep breaths. He was tryna get between her thighs again and for the rest of the night. But there was still more to do.

When the episode ended and the lights came up, they were immediately surrounded again, congratulations on the show mixed with surprise but well-wishes for their marriage.

Her phone buzzed in her clutch. A text from her father.

Daddy:Congratulations, he called me this afternoon and asked for my blessing.

Before she could feel guilty about him missing out on an important milestone in her life, another text came through.

Daddy:I’m happy for you, baby girl. That’s all I ever wanted. Me and your momma. She’s here too.

Paige’s eyes watered as she showed Giovanni the message. He kissed her behind the ear and her phone rang showing it was her mom calling.

“Congratulations, baby. I’m so happy for you. Lord grandbabies. Paige, what should I call myself? It must be fly and cute.”

“Ma, you’re getting ahead of yourself,” she laughed. “First, we need to be husband and wife before we become mommy and daddy.”

“Yes, you’re right, I’ll brainstorm alone. Any who, you looked beautiful. My heart couldn’t take it. I cried so bad at the pictures from Blake.”

“I love you, Momma. Call me tomorrow.”

“I love you, too, Paige.” Paige disconnected, happy that her parents weren’t feeling jaded, but Paige had always felt like she raised herself. Her mom was too busy being the fun mom and getting her life back after grief. That wasn’t them.

“Son, I am so proud of you,” Betsy said, pulling Giovanni into a hug before cupping Paige’s face. “For the show, for the man you are, and for the husband and father you’re about to be. You’ve made us so proud. Paige, welcome to our family.”

“Thank you,” Paige said, her voice full of emotion. “But more than that, thank you for raising this man beside me. To love women. To protect what he values. I’m so blessed.”

Giovanni leaned in with a smirk and whispered, “There you go again.”

Paige gave him a playful glare, before she swatted at his chest, and hugged his momma tight.

Spirit appeared next, practically vibrating with excitement. “I can’t believe I pulled that off. I can’t wait to tell my niece or nephew how I came through with the come-through for their parents. Welcome to the family, sis.”

“Thank you. And you did the damn thing,” Paige said, shaking her head. “It’s a story worth telling.”

Later, when the night was quiet again and the cameras were gone, Giovanni would tell her the truth. That none of this, not the deal, not the network, not even the buzz, meant shit without her.

The song switched, and she dipped her head back, laughing as the opening notes of “ART” by Tyla filled the room.

The same song she’d been humming that morning in the hotel, the lyrics that had been living on her lips for days.“I’ll be your piece,”she sang softly against his ear, swaying into him, her movements fluid, in sync with the rhythm pulsing between them.

No wonder the song had been on the tip of her tongue all this time. The universe had been preparing her for this final reveal. She was a masterpiece, his masterpiece. And he was hers. They moved together on the dance floor, husband and wife, artist and muse, builder and foundation. Balance.

Giovanni’s lips found her temple. “Thank you for trusting me with your heart.”

“Thank you for being someone I could trust it with,” she whispered, and she meant it with every fiber of her being.

Chapter 22

Paige leaned against the hotel balcony railing, steaming coffee mug cradled in her palms, as she watched the city wake up twenty floors beneath them. The traffic looked like toy cars, the palm trees like miniatures in an architect's model. The premiere had been a whirlwind, cameras flashing, industry executives shaking Giovanni's hand, congratulations flowing like the champagne they'd sipped until the early hours.

She couldn't believe her life. She was married. Someone's wife. Giovanni's wife. The thought sent a thrill through her that made her giggle softly until her phone rang beside her.

“Hey Momma, everything okay?”

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