Page 35 of Breaking the Habit

“Is that a new nickname?” Riley asked, setting her bags down.

“No. This kid has had lead fists since the day he started fighting,” Travis said.

“They called me that back in Chicago,” Levi said, his voice a little hoarse. He was definitely the least energetic in the room, and with good reason. “And whaddya know? It came to the West Coast with me.”

Travis let out a whoop. “Damn! I’m still not over the finish on round three.”

“Oh my god, the Superman punch!” Lex bounded over.

“Strong finish, dude.”

The doctor checked out Levi’s articulations once he stood up, making sure nothing was broken, and then gave him the all clear. Travis applied some tape to a cut near Levi’s eye, then one on his forehead. He’d managed to wipe up all the blood she’d seen streaming down Levi’s face in the cage.

“No wonder you got the chants started afterward,” Lex said, grinning ear to ear. “I smell another meme coming!”

“Aw, come on.” Levi swatted weakly at Lex. Then he looked over to Riley. “How were pictures?”

“Great,” she blurted, not wanting to dampen the mood with her broken lens. She could bring that up later, once the triumph died down. Levi deserved to bathe in his happiness now. “And yeah, there’s definitely another meme on my memory card somewhere.”

Travis and Lex got things wrapped up in the dressing room, including Levi’s face, and were ready to leave.

“You need a ride?” Travis asked Riley.

Words evaporated in her mouth. She didn’t know how to admit that she wanted to hang around Levi as long as humanly possible. “Uh…no. I…have a ride.”

“Good. You ready, Levi?”

Levi still hadn’t budged from his seat, and it didn’t look like he would anytime soon. He squinted up at Travis. “No, man. I’m staying.”

Travis cocked his head. “You got a ride?”

Levi jerked his head toward Riley. “Her.”

Both guys had knowing smiles crest their faces.

“Whatever you say,” Travis said. To Riley, he asked, “You agree with that?”

“Yeah. We talked about it. It’s…I’m driving him.” The fibs tumbled out of her mouth now. She had no car. And either did he. But they’d figure something out.

“All right. Just take it easy on the victor, okay?” Travis shot her a thumbs up before he and Lex let themselves out of the dressing room. A thick silence filled the room as Riley propped herself against the dressing table facing Levi.

He watched her with an expression that told her he knew exactly where this was headed…even while she didn’t. She crossed her arms over her chest, viscerally aware of how close her exposed thigh was to him. He could reach out and brush her…if he wanted.

“So,” she started, cocking her head, “looks like you didn’t need that good luck kiss after all.”

Levi cracked a smile and shook his head. “No. Probably good anyway.” His smile dimmed a little. “It would just become a crutch anyway.”

His words made her scoot closer to him, like her skin was desperate to bridge the remaining space between them. Hungry for contact. Anything.

“What would become a crutch?” she asked.

“Kissing you.”

If the sexual tension had already been high between them, those two words kicked it up to a tightrope waiting to snap. She gripped the edge of the table jutting into her ass, trying to corral the emotions swirling beneath the surface.

But there was no hope. Not really. After seeing what this man had to offer, physically and otherwise, she was postponing the inevitable.

“I wouldn’t want you to have to depend on me for success,” she said, her voice coming out soft, husky. “Or my kisses.” Levi’s gaze snapped back up to her. Like he’d heard the intent in her words. The decision she’d made about him, unveiling itself in her tone. He worked his jaw back and forth.

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