The Next Chapters: An on the Same Page Novella

But when Isla had reached for Gianna’s hand, all she’d been able to think about was how it just didn’t feel the same as Riley’s did. Riley’s hand fit so perfectly in her own, and clasping hands with someone else like this felt so – off. So wrong.

Only to realize it was Riley that popped into her mind when Isla nipped her teeth into Gianna’s bottom lip. Riley always dug her teeth into her bottom lip like that, and the vision was stuck in Gianna’s mind.

Because the thing was, if Gianna had to pick between limiting what she and Riley had in order to try to go on more fulfilling dates, she was never going to do it. This mattered so much more than dating.

“Not that you would do that; you, my love, have far too much integrity.”

Genuine Gianna.”

“Riley, you were an amazing partner to him for the last two years. And I saw him with you; he didn’t give any hint that he would turn around and do something like this.”

“And I’ve known it every day since. Living life with you has been my dream. I just never knew it would get to come true like this. A literal dream come true,” Gianna finished with a murmur, her eyes searching Riley’s.

All she knew was that she needed to turn her face away from Riley and face forward, before she let the offer to carry Riley’s babies slip out.

“I’ve never called you that and won’t stand for you to call yourself that, either. But. Yes. Even from the very beginning.”

but… you are what I revolve around. You’re my sun. It’s crazy that we didn’t get together long before we actually did because that’s been my truth for my entire adult life.

“So, you might have to be patient with me. And you will definitely have to deal with me hovering and needing to take care of you and Potential Baby.”

“I waited a decade for you, Riley Beckett. I think I know a thing or two about being patient where you’re concerned.”

“Ah, yes. Your baby,” Giulia’s voice absolutely dripped with disdain. “Gianna chooses to have a baby with your genetics, she changes her name, and then gives the baby she birthed your name as well. Dio santo. We send her to one of the best schools in the world, and she continues to make these stupid choices.”

“Stupid choices? Excuse you?”

All of that was terrible enough. But now, today, I truly see her throwing her life away for…” she eyed Riley with open disdain. “This. Enough is enough. Eventually, she will be in ruins, with no one to turn to.”

“When will she be home? I suppose, if it’s soon, I can move around my schedule.”

“I’m not telling you when Gianna’s going to be home, Giulia because you don’t deserve to even lay eyes on your daughter. And believe me, I say that with the loosest definition of that word.”

“If it were up to me, you wouldn’t be allowed to even have Gianna’s fucking phone number anymore. You wouldn’t be allowed to lay eyes on her, even from fifty feet away. You wouldn’t be able to follow her on social media.”

“Seeing as how it’s not up to me, though, I’ll simply tell you this: I won’t ever let you into our home unless Gianna expressly tells me to. And I won’t give you her schedule unless she informs me that she wants you to have it. Since that hasn’t happened today, all I can say to you is what I’ve already said: Gianna isn’t home, and you need to go.”

“I need to tell you about something that happened today.”

“I’m sorry if you felt like I was overstepping or–”

“You are never overstepping, carina,” Gianna murmured, bringing one of her hands to Riley’s chin, tilting her head so she could look straight into Gianna’s eyes. “It would be impossible for you to overstep in my life because you are my life.”

“I just want to make sure you’re going to be happy.”

“Look, I don’t care how long someone can last. I just care that you aren’t selfish after. Am I asking for too much?” Riley asked, turning her hazel eyes to Gianna, incredulous.

“She really, really does,” Gianna interjected, biting at the inside of her cheek.

“You know, it’s been so long, and I was a stupid kid back then. We both were, really, to get engaged back then, right? But, regardless, I’ve never forgotten the way I treated you. It’s – it’s one of the only things I look back on and really wish I’d never done.”

“We were stupid back then,” Riley agreed,

“Yeah. Yes. I’m – hey, you want to grab another drink and catch up, then?”

“It’s a wife, actually.”

“It shouldn’t be,” Riley agreed, squeezing her hand over Gianna’s. “So, really, you can let go of feeling bad about the past. I ended up exactly where I was supposed to be.”

With someone who would never cheat on her,” Gianna couldn’t help but slip in the barb

“I suppose, yes. But mostly, it was interesting that you seemed… jealous. Gianna Mäkinen Beckett, jealous. Never thought I’d see the day,” Riley’s tone was light, the teasing note of it clearly intended to soothe any part of Gianna that may still be experiencing a dark jealousy.

“You know you have literally no one on earth to be jealous of, right?”

“I’m not jealous now,”

“I was jealous then. So, so jealous.”