Page 100 of Breaking the Habit

Just as she was wrapping up for lunch, the reassuring voice of John Stamos crooned “Oh, hi.”

Riley looked up.

And John Stamos was standing in her studio.

She knit her brows together, mouth opening but no words coming out.

“That’s my voice!” John Stamos said, a huge grin spreading across his face.

“Are you—”

“Oh, hi,” John said, mocking the recording as he stepped forward, offering his hand. “I’m John Stamos. Are you Riley?”

Riley could only stare at him, head tipped back as she beheld the handsome, wonderful man before her. He was dressed in a casual linen day suit, with pointed alligator shoes and a grin that sparkled.

“I’ll take that as a yes,” John said.

Riley huffed, trying to grasp onto her thoughts. Any thought at all. Anything that might make her function. “Uh—”

“Maybe we should hug?” John suggested, and that jostled her out of her stupor. She nodded, rushing around the counter and launching herself into his arms. She could hear his laugh through his chest—through John Stamos’s chest—as she pressed her ear to it.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you Riley,” John said.

“How do you know my name?” Riley demanded.

“Well, I’ve been sent here by someone who’s very in love with you,” John began, and already Riley knew. She started laughing before he’d finished talking. “And this man sent me to say that he’s very sorry and please forgive him for something stupid he did, which I’m not very clear on.”

The recording played again—another new arrival. But Riley couldn’t move.

“Oh my god.” Levi’s voice now, but she could hear him smiling. “You know, I’m not even mad about this.”

“He also said you were a pretty big fan,” John said to her.

“I can’t move,” she mumbled into his chest.

John shifted, and she relished another moment of hugging-John-Stamos bliss before she ripped herself off him. Levi stood to one side, looking so damn pleased with himself.

“Hey, Ri,” he said, flashing that dimple that only came when he had the ear-to-ear grin.

“I cannot believe this,” Riley said, looking between John and Levi. “I can’t eventhinkright now.”

John poked around the studio a bit, checking out some of the portraits. “Your work is really good.”

A blush invaded her cheeks. “Thank you. So much.”

“She’s my full-time photographer,” Levi said, with a little touch of bravado.

John pointed at one print in particular near the door. “Can I take a print of this one?”

Riley almost fell over herself. He wanted a print. John freaking Stamos wanted some of her artwork. “Yes. Just take that one off the wall. It’s already framed.”

“But it looks so good here. I can take a print.”

“No. Please. It would be an honor.”

John grinned over at her, and then popped the small frame off the wall. When he came up to the desk, he asked, “How much do I owe you?”

“Nothing,” Riley blurted. “You’ve given me the gift of a lifetime meeting you.”

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