Page 79 of Giovanni
Giovanni nods, his short curls barely moving with the product in his hair. They walk ahead of us, Taylor whispering something to Paolo that has him turning his head and kissing her. Their affection is sweet, if not obvious, that they only have eyes for each other. I never imagined that dating Giovanni would also mean gaining a lively group of friends, a mix of charming ladies my age and energetic young men.
As Giovanni and I walk hand in hand towards the backstage area, the people we pass offer their congratulations and well wishes. It’s a proud moment, walking alongside him, feeling the warmth of everyone’s reception to him.
Each congratulatory word adds to that wide barrel chest raised with pride, marking his hard-earned success and the journey it took to get here. The admiration and respect from onlookers is neat to watch as I share in their awe.
We enter the bustling backstage area. The contrast between the lively atmosphere and Giovanni’s quieter space is striking. His belongings are organized neatly amidst the chaos.
He breaks the silence with a sigh, a hint of longing in his voice.
“I’m dreaming about a hot shower back at the hotel and just unwinding in bed with you for the rest of our stay here.”
He stops, his hands resting on his hips as he turns to me, his gaze intense and questioning. The statement hangs like questions between us, and with a slight chuckle, I shake my head.
“You know you can’t do that. They are waiting for you. Wanting to celebrate this first of many wins to come with you.”
I step closer, reaching out to touch his arm, feeling the residue of his oil.
“I know.”
His hands slip from his hips. An exhausted sigh passes through his lips as the adrenaline wears off.
“I’ll get cleaned up and make a night of it. But just so you know, I’m cutting it early to spend the rest with you. That’s not negotiable.”
His warning rings more to himself than it does to me, as he generally is in charge of our social calendar. I smile, holding out my fist to bump, which he does wholeheartedly, preferring to sneak in a few kisses.
“Alright, let’s get going.”
As he pulls a towel from his bag to wipe away the oil, I can see his energy levels dipping, the culmination of his physical and emotional exertion throughout the day catching up to him. He moves with quiet efficiency, focused yet clearly tired, with a groan from a back strain still healing while putting on his sweats. He gently places his bags over his shoulder and puts his arm around me.
“Now you can touch me.”
I snug up against his side, my hand resting comfortably on his waist as we head out, ready to join the others to celebrate his victory. Before we meet the group in the lobby, I have a surprise of my own for him. Little does he know that waiting just outside the door is a fellow competitor in a different weight class wanting to speak to him.
When we push through the double doors leading into the hallway on our way to the lobby, he’s standing off to our right. When I call his name, his face jerks up from the phone he is tapping on. Giovanni’s hand instantly tightens on my waist, a silent claim as the attorney I told him about that night in the loft we know both affectionally call the cocoon walks toward us.
“Congratulations, Giovanni. That was an impressive performance.” His hand is extended with a broad smile and a casual glance in my direction. “I don’t think Kacie has formally introduced us, but I’ve heard quite a bit about you.”
Giovanni, gracious yet visibly puzzled, accepts the handshake.
“Thanks, I appreciate it.”
I step in to bridge the gap.
“Giovanni, this is Bruno. He’s the criminal defense attorney I told you about. The one that also competes.”
Their handshake lingers for a moment as understanding dawns on Giovanni’s face.
“Ah, right. Kacie has mentioned that you juggle a very active law practice as well as your bodybuilding competitions.”
Bruno returns the smile, releasing Giovanni’s hand.
“Yes, that’s me. It’s a bit of a balancing act but rewarding in its own way. And seeing performances like yours today reminds me why I keep at it.”
He fiddles with the sleeve of his athletic jacket when his diamond-studded Rolex snags on the material. The atmospherebetween them is of mutual respect, bridging the worlds of discipline, nutrition, and bodybuilding.
“Well, it’s impressive. Juggling two demanding fields is no small feat.”
Giovanni raises his hand to the strap on his shoulder, adjusting the heavy bag to a more comfortable position.
