Page 55 of Breaking the Habit

Chapter 17

Riley turned her studio into a sunny editing oasis.

She pulled all the curtains open, even propped the door openwhile stillusing air conditioning. She wanted that city breeze. It was inspiring today, somehow. A special lead tang of creativity.

And she needed to get lost in her work. The past few days had been an emotional whirlwind. Going from Definitely No Levi to Completely Filled With Levi, followed by Pining for Levi only to end with Strangely Absent Levi.

It was too many twists in seventy-two hours. Perhaps the worst twist of all was yesterday. Spending the whole day blissed out on their night together. Fantasizing without meaning to about what the next time would be like. Waiting for a text from him. Waiting. Waiting. And then finding out the next day that he’d actually been out all night drinking.

She knew what happened when single men like Levi went out in Hollywood. She didn’t need to guess why he didn’t text her. After all the heartbreak in her life, she could figure it out by now.

And after the tense morning at Holt’s, she still didn’t know what she felt about it all. The only thing that kept coming to mind was:So this is Levi’s dark side.

It was only fitting that he’d show the shadow side so soon after their amazing fireworks display of a night. He liked to go out and get fucked up. That was fine, really. The man deserved it. But the drunken beatdown he didn’t remember? Probably came on the heels of fucking a girl he didn’t remember in the bathroom.

It wasn’t her place to judge. She had zero say in this man’s life. But she hated that she wanted to know more. Why did he do it? Where did he go? Was it really publicity or something else? Their night together had left her hungry—no, starving—for more Levi. But this about-face drew the line clearly in the sand. Reminded Riley of her place in the scheme of things.

She and Levi were nothing. She shouldn’t want more. It needed to be one and done.

Riley had her legs kicked up while she reclined on the fluffy pink sofa. Incense named Golden Temple burned in the corner while beta beats pulsed from her speakers. This was her haven. Her safe space.

A commotion from outside tugged at her attention. She glanced up, seeing a group of people approaching from down the street. A man headed toward the studio, walking backwards, his arms spread out as he shouted at some other people following him. The sharp undertones of his voice made her sit up.

The hair. Chestnut tresses pulled back into a low, short ponytail. Broad shoulders that screamed protein shakes and daily bench presses. It had to be Levi. She set the computer aside as he grew nearer. Finally, he turned, confirming what she’d suspected. Levi strutted toward her door, pure swagger and smirks. A navy-blue tee stretched over his impressive shoulders, light gray shorts riding low on his narrow hips.

He had a train of about five photographers, cameras raised and active. Her chest seized, and all she could do was stare while she tumbled backwards, down the tunnel of the past.No. No.This couldn’t be happening. Not again.Not again.

Visions of her breakup flooded her. The photographers swarming her studio, waiting for a word, a flinch, a glimpse, any whiff of drama. Her hiding in the corner, waiting them out as her inbox filled with hate mail.

All because she’d made the mistake of falling for the wrong guy. It was practically a bad habit at this point. But not anymore.

John Stamos crooned his greeting a moment later, and Riley leapt to her feet, heart pounding. Levi hadn’t gotten two steps inside before she locked the door behind him and then darted over to the front windows, tugging at the curtains.

“Hey—” Levi started.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Riley spat once the windows were blocked. She turned to him, hands on her hips. She was shaking. Literally shaking.

Levi’s smile melted away. “Um…coming to say hi to you?”

“No, Levi. I meanthem. The photographers following you?”

“Oh.” The grin returned. “I’ve got fans. Isn’t it cool?”

She hefted with a humorless laugh. “I wouldn’t call them fans. More like drama-hungry sharks.”

“I’m happy to have sharks in the water,” Levi said, easing onto the couch. He propped his palms behind his head, looking impossibly casual and cool. He had no idea. None at all, and that made her angrier. “It means I’ve finally made it to sea.”

Riley frowned, snatching up her laptop. “Yeah, well, the sea is overrated. These sharks don’t care if they take an entire leg off, or, I don’t know, ruin a career? When they’re interested, it’s because they smell a scandal waiting to happen.”

“Oh, come on,” Levi said.

“I’m serious. Having the paparazzi follow you around is not a badge of honor.” She swallowed a knot of emotion. “It’s the first sign of a downhill race.”

Levi’s smile had completely fallen away. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Jesus, Riley. Can’t you be happy for me for like two seconds that there’s any interest in my career at all? I’ve been busting ass to get noticed, and now it’s happening.”

She snapped her gaze up to his. “I’m happy there’s interest. I’m not happy you brought the sharks to my doorstep.”

“Yeah, well, they’re here for me, not for you.” Levi’s words grated on her. “Besides, the limelight isn’t all bad. Why can’t you enjoy it? Oh my god, it’s something mainstream happening in your dark and serious world. Or maybe that’s not cool enough for you.”

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