Page 62 of Glass & Groundwork
“Mmhm. That they do.” I agreed, and Gio responded by giving her a squeeze.
We sat there together, allowing her time to soak in our warmth in a safe space to process whatever it was she was working through. After a while, she turned to tuck into me, making my heart feel like it would burst.
“You had a weird day? Are you okay?”
I shrugged and rested my head on top of hers. “I’m rich.”
“That sucks,” she murmured and nestled against me. Gio met my gaze over her head and we shared a smile.
Iwasrich. Rich beyond zeroes, beyond banks. In this bed, this house, I had more wealth than my parents could ever grasp. Reaching around Nicky, I found Gio’s hand and held it. I had my husband. I had my family. I had love.
Jasper
It had been a month since we got my trust transferred to my name…ournames. My first call the next day was to George from Grove Hills Construction to pay the remainder of the bill. After we were all squared away and he set a schedule to continue the work, I followed through on the promise I made to myself, and called Frankie. Together, we planned a menu and I took them grocery shopping, which was as much fun or more than clothes shopping, seeing the way their eyes lit up. It wasn’t that Gio hadn’t always provided generously for them, but it was a special treat for both of us, and I loved getting to have that time with them.
It had been a good distraction, too. I had been doing everything I could to keep myself occupied while waiting for the hot shop to be ready. Now, that day had finally come. It wasdone. The shop was really fucking done. I couldn’t believe it. After everything I’d worked toward, it was actually happening.
Dressed in my logo’d shirt and jeans, with my hair tied back, I was ready for my official grand opening. Of course, I’d gone in as soon as George’s team was done and tried everything out, but I was eager to get to launch it officially.
“Are you ready?” Gio asked, peeking over my shoulder in the mirror.
I swear every time I saw him, I swooned a little. The man wore his glasses so well. I loved his sexy scruff and his silver and black hair, he was so handsome. I didn’t hate the way his eyes raked over me, either.
“I’m ready.”
Gio held his arm out and I hooked mine through it, feeling so proud and grateful to have him by my side. When I walked out of the bedroom, it was loud, louder than I expected. Loud until the noise stopped when Gio and I appeared in the living room.
“Surprise!” Eduardo said, holding his arms out to reveal a house full of people.
“What? What’s all this?”
“Well, we didn’t get to do a proper wedding reception for you, so I figured we might as well make it a two-for-one. Shop-warming partyandreception.”
I felt my eyes well up as I looked around to see a lot of familiar faces. Marley was the first to greet us, with Derek behind him. Then there was Theo and Onyx, Collin and Harper, Dash and Evan, and Jason and Nico and their kids. All these people who I’d met at Heartcraft, who’d known Gio for a long time, were all here to help celebrate us.
“Did you know?” I asked Gio.
He responded with a smirk. “It was Eduardo’s idea; I can’t take credit, but yeah, I knew.”
“This is amazing. Thank you, Eddie. Thank you everyone. I’m so happy you’re all here.” A house full of the people I loved, it was the greatest gift I could have asked for.
I followed Eduardo to the kitchen where the table and counter were covered with food. “Nico cooked up some food from his family diner, and Dash put together some delicious charcuterie boards with his own smoked meats and cheeses. Jason brought enough pie for an army, and Marley did the floral arrangements.”
I looked at the bouquets that were the same yellow and purple theme he used for our wedding day. The tears released and Gio gently wiped them away and met my watery gaze with a wide smile.
Somewhere behind us, someone tapped a glass with a knife. The distinct twinkling sound that was often heard at weddings to encourage the newlyweds to kiss. Eduardo was right. Wehadmissed this part. I didn’t know it or want it then, we weren’t there yet. I thought of our wedding night which consisted of a reheated meal and a movie. Now, nearly two months in, we had more than made up for our wedding night, and it felt right getting to have this big celebration with family and friends, too.
The twinkling sound grew as more people tapped on their glasses. Gio shrugged and bent over me, kissing me lightly at first, and then the kiss deepened, like he wanted to devour me right there in front of everyone. Once so shy about showing affection, now he seemed happy to show everyone I was his.
Cheers erupted around us and I grinned against Gio’s mouth. I was deliriously happy. I could have forgotten all about my shop and stayed right there in that moment, but Gio put his arm over my shoulder and faced the crowd.
“Would you all please join us outside for the unveiling and shop demonstration?”
He led me outside and everyone followed. Nicky, Noah, Yahir, Frankie, Eduardo, and all of our Heartcraft family. A tarp hung down from the roof of the barn, blocking the entrance. I tilted my head at the sight, before sliding my gaze to Gio. That hadn’t been there yesterday. I felt a warmth bloom in my chest at the idea of Gio putting it up in order to make a more dramatic unveiling. He knew me so well.
He pursed his lips, holding back a smile, and held an arm out to indicate for me to step forward. Standing in front of the barn, I faced the crowd. Family. How big the word had grown since I’d met Gio. Looking at all the faces of those who came to celebrate with us, I felt truly honored, blessed, to have so many people cheering me on. After years of trying to fight for any kind of approval from my parents, I no longer needed it. I had people who genuinely cared about me and about my dream and were here to witness it come true.
“I can’t express what it means to have you all here. I once was fortunate enough to travel to Venice, where I was introduced to the beauty and wonder of glassblowing. It sparked something in me that had been scratching beneath my skin without a name. Once I found it, I knew it was right. So many of you have your own passions, so I believe you understand what that feels like.”
