Page 103 of Breaking the Habit

He narrowed his eyes, leaning in. “Yes. I love Ri. I loveyou.”

The words from his lips stunned her, made her mouth fall open and all the thoughts inside her body grind to a halt. She must have given him the deer-in-headlights look for too long, because he squeezed her waist.

“Did you have a heart attack?”

She dissolved into laughter, resting her head on his shoulder, getting lost in the reassuring solidity of his embrace.

“Oh, Levi.” Her eyes fluttered shut, and suddenly emotion was clogging her throat. “I love you too. More than I ever thought possible.”

Chapter 34

ONE MONTH LATER

Riley rushed around her house, readying herself for the final fight night, take two. Nikki and Fiona rushed alongside her.

“Fi—” Riley started, rummaging through her makeup bag. “Have you seen my—”

“It’shere,” Fiona announced, coming into the bathroom, holding her mascara in her hand. Riley’s newest mascara acquisition worked wonders, which meant everyone constantly borrowed it.

“Thank God,” she murmured. She needed to look perfect tonight. Because there had never been as important a night asthis.

Levi had really worked wonders with his fame. His dramatic climb from MMA obscurity to celebrity meant that the normal celebrity world had taken notice. Now, people who’d never seen an MMA match in their lives were tuning into the WFC second final. Nikki had even seen a shout-out on Twitter from Lady Gaga, which meant that this league was already going to be the most popular, even in its first year in existence.

And Levi was at the forefront of it.

Her belly prickled with excitement as the three of them piled into Fiona’s beater car. Riley checked and double checked that she had Levi’s house key, which he’d presented to her soon after the last fight attached to her favorite Stamos keychain that she’d thought was lost after the non-drama of Titi.

In return, Riley had gifted Levi with her own house key. Attached to a miniature plastic orange soda bottle.

Fiona belted out the lyrics to her newest single as they crept through traffic. Fiona had always been an amazing singer, but recently she’d been offered a serious deal by a very serious record label. And the girl was about to be going places.

It seemed everyone was being lifted, finding success, right around the same time. Maybe Levi’s meteoric ascent had catapulted everyone around him. Holt Body Fitness was an icon in the LA gym scene now. They had a waiting list a year long for the training camp, since so many non-professional fighters wanted to train with Travis just because.

And just the other day, Riley found her name on a list of the most influential sports photographers in history. In all of freaking history. She’d printed out the article to hang in her studio, which was undergoing a major overhaul to include her recent—and her personal favorite—work. All of which centered around MMA, Levi, and the haunting shadows and tension of the octagon.

And that was the other thing—she could afford rent now. Several times over. Her own client base had ballooned, including welcoming on a boxer who was so impressed by Levi’s photos that he needed Riley to start something similar for him. With four viral photos in her portfolio, two ongoing sports photography clients, and a diverse assortment of creative side projects, Riley had never felt happier or more fulfilled in her career.

And there was so much more yet to come.

“I noticed you always sing about love,” Riley murmured as Fiona finished singing another song. “Why is that, if you’re so against it?”

Fiona sighed and shook her head. “Love is everywhere, in everything.”

“I think there’s someone out there for you,” Riley said, squeezing her friend’s arm from the backseat. “If only you’ll let it in.” Six months ago, if someone had told Riley that, she would have laughed in their face. But now? Every inch of her body sang with contentment. With gratitude. With excitement for what the future held at Levi’s side.

Because now, the two of them were an out-in-the-openitem. Marcus had been thrilled when Riley offered herself up on the tabloid pyre, unprompted and bitter. It only fueled his and Titi’s campaign. Now the dust had settled, and the contract was fulfilled.

“That’s very sweet and all,” Fiona started, searching out Riley’s gaze through the rearview mirror, “but superstardom is going to be my long-term boyfriend. Haven’t you noticed? Lady Gaga never keeps a man for long. It’s part of marrying your job.”

“Lady Gaga tweeted about the match tonight,” Nikki murmured as she inspected her lipstick in the visor mirror.

“And probably she’s going to hook up with a variety of MMA fighters afterward,which she should do,” Fiona said.

“I can see if Levi has the 411 on any other hotties,” Riley offered. “Maybe you can join the Holt family.”

“Wait, can I join the Holt family?” Nikki asked.

“I’m sure that we’ll all be related by our gym family sooner or later,” Riley said with a wink to her friends.

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