Page 76 of Breaking the Habit

“He’s trying to impress you still,” Levi told Riley.

Gage sighed tersely, his gaze in the fridge. “Levi?”

“Yes?”

“Where’s my orange soda?”

Levi had tossed a half-empty bottle the night before. Now his brother would probably make a scene. “Um…in the landfill where it belongs?”

Gage sent him the meanest look possible. “That stuff isgoldaround here, and you threw it away?” The crack in his voice told Levi Gage was about to get emotional. He stifled a groan.

“What do you need?” Riley asked, sitting up. “I can go get it.”

“No, Ri,” Levi said, shooting out an arm.

“I wouldlovea crisp and perfect orange soda,” Gage said, death rays still aimed toward Levi, “butsomeonewon’t let me enjoy it.”

“Gaaaage,” Levi said into his hands.

“Let me go—” Riley began.

“I’ll call the delivery service,” Levi shouted, hopping to his feet. Riley wasn’t leaving within minutes of arriving, and hell if Levi was going to make the trek for the sugary shit. “But just this once. And I swear to God, Gage—” Levi pointed at his brother. “You better savor every last drop.”

Gage grinned, whizzing past them, headed for his room. “Let me know when it’s here.”

Once Gage’s door shut, Levi deflated. He shook his head, swiping through screens to order his brother’s favorite drink of all time.

“Why the big deal about the orange soda?”

“It’s bad for him.” Levi fisted the front part of his hair as he completed his delivery order.

“But so is alcohol, and you do a lot of that,” Riley said.

He glanced over at her. The comment was strange, but there was no malice in her voice. It was just sort of…factual.

“I’m sober right now,” he reminded her.

“Yeah, rightnow,” she said. “But on your off days, you go wild.” She crossed her ankles on the ottoman, looking up at him. “And you’ve already had two lawsuits started against you for drinking-related charges.”

Levi blinked. “And…?”

“I’m saying, in comparison, orange soda isn’t so bad.”

He narrowed his eyes at her, sinking back onto the couch beside her. “He’s sixteen, and he has muscular dystrophy. I’m trying to make sure he doesn’t put unnecessary shit into his body until he’s old enough to choose how to abuse himself.”

Riley gnawed at the inside of her cheek, picking at something invisible on the couch. “I’m not trying to be a smart ass. It’s…” She paused, shaking her head.

“What?”

She lobbed a sigh, sinking back onto the couch. “It seems like a double standard. So I wonder what other sorts of double standards there might be with you.”

There was something confrontational about her now. But it wasn’t her words. It was her energy. The lilt of her tone that begged him to dive in. The glint in her eyes that said she was up for a different sort of fight.

Levi caught on quick. He looked down the hall to Gage’s closed door, and then he jerked his head that way. “Let’s go into my room.”

Riley followed him, and once he shut the door he leaned against it.

“What’s going on, Ri?”

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