Page 109 of Breaking the Habit
“I haven’t even asked anything,” he said, laughter in his voice as he popped open the ring box. A black diamond glinted back at her, and tears started streaming down her face. “But while we’re on the subject…” He looked up at her, mischief and joy brimming in his handsome features. Like he knew a secret.
But she knew it too. Love.
“Riley, I know we’re both not the marrying type, and I know this is fast, so we don’t have to rush anything or do it too soon…but, I already know, babe. I’ve known for months. You’re the one for me. The only one. I want you forever. My dark angel. Marry me, babe.”
She clutched the strong ridge of his shoulders, steadying herself as her balance swept away and tears filled her eyes.
“I will,” she whispered, her voice sticking to her throat. “You’re the only one I’d say this to. You’re….” Words failed her, and she laughed into her hands. “You’re the only one.”
Levi whooped and surged up, grabbing her around the waist before spinning her in a circle. She shrieked with laughter, and then Yuri came up a moment later, grinning from ear to ear.
“He just asked me to marry him!” Riley shouted.
“Where’s the ring?” Yuri asked, then she noticed he was holding his phone up still. Like he was filming. “Put it on! For posterity.”
“Oh right! We forgot about that part.” Levi laughed, lowering Riley to the ground slowly. He fumbled to pop the ring out of the box. When she held out her hand for him to slide it on, her hand shook.
“I asked him to film it,” Levi murmured, sliding the ring over her knuckle. “Thank God you said yes.”
Riley’s vision blurred from the tears in her eyes. She never could have seen this coming. The proposal, for starters, but alsothis. Levi as her love and supportive partner. The man who fought tirelessly—for his career, for his loved ones, for the betterment of those in his orbit.
She hadn’t realized it at the time, but the day he walked into her life was the day everything changed. The day that she’d started down the path to fulfilling her dreams. To finding a love that she’d believed to be fantasy.
“So you gonna stay Riley Montagne or turn into Riley Swain?” Levi asked, knocking her hip.
“I think it should be both.” She laughed, admiring the modest black diamond. It was perfect. It was exactly what she would have chosen. “Riley Mont-Swain.”
“Sounds like an edgy stage name. I like it.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead, and she wrapped her arms around him, relishing the solidity of his body against hers. When Yuri finished filming, he handed Levi’s phone over.
“I bet your followers would go nuts for that video,” Yuri said.
“They would,” Levi responded, “but some things are meant just for us.”
Riley propped her chin on his chest and smiled up at him.
Like their love.
It was meant for just them.
And they’d have it for the rest of their lives.
THE END
