Page 107 of Breaking the Habit

“Riley, I want everything with you. Up to and including andbeyondmarriage and a baby carriage.”

The tears were back again, and Riley buried her face in his chest, drawing in deep gulps of the coppery tang of his skin.

She hadn’t thought that such happiness could exist. Not after so much heart break. Not after the deception and the hate and the scars.

But really it was prepping her for so much more.

Deeper love.

Bigger risks.

Payoffs better than her wildest dreams.

Epilogue

SIX MONTHS LATER

“Oh wow. This is just…wow.”

Riley grinned into the heel of her hand as she eavesdropped on yet another visitor. The gallery opening at DRK was packed, and the owner Yuri reported that a line had formed outside, since the building was at capacity.

Everywhere she looked, strangers were peering at her art. Pointing, murmuring to their friends, or shaking their heads.

This was the pinnacle. Right here. She’d made it to the top, and she could die happy.

“Babe…I just need to tell you how gorgeous you look over here, in your fancy dress, soaking it all in.”

Levi’s husky voice at her ear sent electricity skating beneath her skin. She twisted to look up at him, warmth flowing through her as her gaze landed on his hickory tresses and square jaw. He’d taken to wearing a neatly trimmed beard in his off-season, which made him look somehow even more manly and rugged. It paired perfectly with his slate gray suit. Everything paired perfectly with him, though.

“Are you spying on me?” she asked, unable to hide the grin. She nudged him with her hip, the bottom of her mauve evening dress swishing.

“All night.” He pressed a soft kiss to her lips. “Not gonna stop, either.”

She giggled, brushing her nose against his. His warm hand on her lower back was a reassurance she hadn’t counted on needing so much. With all the swirling anxieties of this show—the months-long preparation, the endless stressing of whether or not anyone would come or even care, and of course the nail-biting decision-making process of which prints to include and which to toss—it wasn’t as easy as just sitting back and basking in the glory now.

Of course, her perfectionist artistic side wanted to take the pulse of every attendee’s thoughts and feedback. But that was impossible. She just needed to let the show be what it would be. She’d made it here. That was enough.

“You’re making an incredible amount of sales,” Yuri murmured to her as he edged past, squeezing her shoulder. “We’re almost out of one of your signed prints.”

She bit her lip and covered her heart with a hand. Some of her worries about the show living up to expectations melted away with that little tidbit. Levi pressed a kiss to her cheek.

“I am so fucking proud of you, babe,” he whispered into her ear. Emotion overwhelmed her for what felt like the hundredth time that hour. The success of this opening night was partly due to him. Levi had been using his fame and platform strictly for three purposes in recent months: muscular dystrophy awareness, fitness, and promoting the hell out of her gallery opening.

“Hey, lovebirds!” Fiona weaved through the crowd, holding her champagne flute in the air as she navigated the crowd. “Pretty sure I just saw Susan Sarandon over there.”

“Let the celebrity count begin!” Riley laughed, looking up at Levi. “You didn’t invite John Stamos tonight, did you?”

“I did. But he was busy.”

Fiona grinned. “I love that you have a Stamos in. How you feelin’, babe?”

“Like this is still one of many crazy dreams I’ve had over the years and I’m about to wake up,” Riley said as she beheld her best friend’s easy smile and elegant blonde bun. Her black-and-teal eyeliner contrasted nicely with her tan skin and the ivory gown she wore. She’d always been a music starlet in waiting, but tonight looked every inch an up-and-coming funky celebrity.

“No waking up from this one,” Levi said, squeezing his arm around Riley. “And hopefully, you don’t dream about cars, otherwise, you’ll wake up exhausted.”

Riley laughed, pressing her forehead against the warm steel of his chest. “Good one,” she said, while Fiona groaned.

The swell of conversation and laughter swelled around them, like the collective volume knob had been turned up. A server wandered by holding a tray of cheese. The girls each picked their own, and Levi snagged three. Riley giggled as he popped all three cubes into his mouth at once.

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