Page 82 of Breaking the Habit

“I missed you more,” she shot back.

“You taking pictures today, or are you just happy to see me?” he asked, looking down at the bag trapped between their bodies.

“I’m actually on my way to the studio, but I wanted to come say hi.” Riley had been working at the studio a lot lately, which meant some nights they didn’t see each other. The nights they spent apart felt strange. Like a night away from Gage would feel. Like he’d had Riley in his life for years instead of weeks.

“Hi,” Levi said.

“Hi,” Riley said, laughing as he pressed his forehead to hers.

“You comin’ over later?” he asked.

“I think so. I actually have a lot of editing to do today and a meeting with a new client.” Her face shone with excitement. “I actually have a few new clients this week. I can’t believe it.”

“I can.” Levi laced his fingers through hers.

“Well, it doesn’t hurt that you tagged my business in your Instagram post last week I guess,” Riley said. “Thanks for the signal boost. I need to start surveying people to see how many clients you’re sending my way. I’ve even got a social media gig coming up.”

“Social media gig?”

“Yeah, like, a lifestyle shoot. Except all the pictures will be used for this influencer’s social media account.”

Levi and Riley chatted until Lex interrupted them, pulling Levi away like he was a kid not wanting to leave a candy store. Once Riley left, Levi settled into the familiar pace of the Holt fight ticket, offering feedback and watching the other fights.

But his mind wouldn’t stop homing in on the Titi dilemma. The dilemma he himself had signed into action and was now legally responsible to uphold. The clock was ticking. He needed to do something fast. Titi would keep showing up. Levi could only dodge her for so long.

Rumors would swirl regardless. And after today, Lex already had suspicions—Levi read them all over his face. Maybe other people had taken pictures, and those pictures would eventually leak. He could see this ending a thousand different ways, all of them horrible.

As soon as training was done for the day, Levi sat in his SUV and called Marcus. With the air blasting and the hip-hop music humming softly through the speakers, his palms went hot once Marcus answered.

“Heeey, Levi!” His forced-jovial voice grated on Levi today.

“Hi, Marcus,” Levi said, pressing the back of his head against the seat. This was going to be a difficult conversation. Mostly because Levi still didn’t entirely know what the solution would be. “How’s it going?”

“Sunny and seventy-five as always,” he joked. “What can I do for you?”

“I’m calling about Titi.” He paused, palms getting sweaty. “I don’t know if I can do this, man.”

“Do what?”

“The agreement.” Levi swallowed a knot of anxiety. “I told you things had changed. And they’ve really changed. I’m in love with someone. I don’t want to fuck that up.”

Marcus was quiet for a long time. So long that Levi worried they’d been disconnected.

“You there?” he asked.

“Yeah, I’m here.” Marcus’s voice sounded curt now, all the former joviality twisted into disdain. “So what are you suggesting right now?”

“I want to know how I can get out of this,” Levi said, rubbing at his forehead. “I’m sorry. I signed too soon. I haven’t touched the money, so I can give it back.”

Marcus sighed, tutting. “Oh, no. It’s not that easy, Levi. You signed the agreement.”

“Yeah, I know. But now I’ve changed my mind. Don’t people change their minds?”

“They do. We have provisions for this.” He paused. “But you’re not going to like the options.”

“What are they?”

On the other end of the connection, papers rustled and a chair creaked. “We have a kill fee. That’s probably your fastest option.”

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