Page 43 of Breaking the Habit

He watched her with wide eyes, and she could tell his entire body had gone rigid at her words.

“Why won’t you tell me?” She gestured toward the door. “Clearly you don’t live alone. And I know this was just a one-night stand or whatever, but damn.”

“Riley…”

“Got it.” She shook her head, snatching her panties from the floor. “Will you escort me out so your wife and kids don’t see?”

He deflated, burying his face in his hands. “No. Don’t leave. You’ll see who I live with. Trust me, we’re not getting past him at this point.”

Ah. So there was a “him.” Probably his live-in boyfriend.

“I didn’t want him to see you leave. You’re right. I did want to sneak you out. I mean, it was the plan. But…” He sighed, picking at the comforter. His entire left eye had grown muddy black and purple around the socket. One of many residual echoes of his victorious fight the night before. “That’s not gonna happen. So let’s go meet him.”

Riley swallowed hard. At least there was honesty now. “Who is it?”

“Come on.” Levi stood, jerking his head toward the door. “Put your clothes on.”

She grabbed for her teal dress, hesitating. “This is all I have. It kind of screams ‘walk of shame,’ don’t you think?”

He hefted with a laugh then headed for his sliding closet doors. Inside, T-shirts and pants and sweatshirts hung neatly, and precisely arranged sneakers and dress shoes lined the floor. So maybe this wasn’t the guest room. Maybe he did actually use this bedroom.

Maybe he didn’t have an angry boyfriend tapping his foot in the living room.

Levi tugged something off a hanger, handing it to her. “If we’re going to get outed, let’s go all the way.”

She rolled her lips inward, fighting an adolescent-grade smile. This was as cute as it was ridiculous. She held up the shirt. It said “LEVI, Property of Chicago Training Gyms.” She smirked at him.

“It’s from my old training camp in Chicago.” He sent her that heartbreaker grin, and she shrugged the T-shirt on. Impossibly soft and extra-large on her, she didn’t mind at all how it hung to the tops of her thighs.

“Got any shorts for me?”

“I’ve got everything from speedos to hot pants,” he said, winking, and then tugged something out of a hidden drawer in his closet. “Here. Now you’re camera ready.”

She giggled, slipping on the mesh workout shorts. They were too big, but also comfy. “I think I’m ready to join an MMA gym.”

“Yeah, dressing right is 90% of it,” he teased.

“Physical strength definitely factors in second or third, right?” She stuffed her hands in the shorts pockets, assessing herself in the mirror. “I look like you hired me to be part of your brand.”

“You’re on the Levi train now.” But some of the regular spark was missing from behind his words. He started for the door and then stopped. “Hang on. Just let me talk to him real quick, okay? I gotta let him know you’re coming out.”

“Who is he?” Riley asked as Levi reached for the knob.

Levi’s chocolate eyes swung her way. “My little brother.” He slipped out of the room a moment later, the revelation hitting her.Oh shit.It was a family member. Somehow, that was the most enormous relief she never could have counted on.

The door swung open a few moments later, and Levi gestured for her to come out. She walked out carefully, every inch of her body expectant and nervous. She had never felt so much buildup prior to meeting someone.

And then there he was—Levi’s little brother, a strange, twin replica of him, except much, much younger.

And he was in a motorized wheelchair. Grinning at her like he knew the biggest secret in the world.

“Gage, this is Riley.” Levi’s voice sounded clipped. “Riley, meet Gage, my little brother.”

“Hi, Riley.” Gage’s dopey grin made her own smile grow wider.

“It’s nice to meet you, Gage.” She headed over to him, offering her hand. He gave her a surprisingly firm handshake. Questions erupted inside her, but not now. She’d have to wait until much later to ask everything that had sprung to mind.

“Yeah, it’s really nice to meet you too.” He peered around her at Levi, sending a pointed look. “Interesting to finally meet my brother’sgirlfriend.”

---