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2023-07-25 09:29:29ASHTON
…a few years ago.
The docked yacht sways gently as the ocean waves crash against its sides. Amidst the lively and crowded deck, I find myself standing, detached from the rowdy end-of-summer bash behind me. Swimsuit-clad individuals navigate their way through the party, occasionally bumping into low-hanging pineapple streamers as they make their way to the bar.
Torches cast a warm glow, illuminating the night.
I tighten my grip on the yacht's railing and direct my gaze towards the dark horizon. My eyes narrow and remain fixated, unblinking.
Only twenty minutes ago, I committed a colossal mistake—one that no
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ASHTONIn a rush, I hastily slip into a plain green shirt inside a bedroom at the lake house. As I hurriedly dress, my elbow accidentally knocks over a bear-shaped lamp. I react too slowly, unable to catch it in time. The crash of glass meeting the hardwood floor fills the room, and frustration escapes my lips.Knowing there are more pressing matters with my family, a broken lamp seems insignificant. I reassure myself that I can handle it. Squatting down, barefoot, I start picking up the larger pieces of shattered glass. Just as I begin, Lennox joins me, crouching down and assisting in collecting the sharp fragments. He's multitasking, fitting in his earpiece while already having a radio clipped to his black pants.I consider protesting, wanting to tell him that I
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ASHTONTo my surprise, I wasn't the one running late this time. Willow sent me a text saying she would be in the kitchen shortly. I'm not the type to wait patiently, so when Lennox starts unwrapping a piece of gum and rummaging through the fridge, I offer my help.Lennox chews his gum slowly and looks at me in a way that reminds me he's older, twenty-seven to be exact. I'm only twenty-two, and he's perfectly capable of doing things on his own.A smile starts to form on Lennox's face. "It's cute that you think I need help getting eggs," he remarks as he grabs a carton and closes the fridge."You could've dropped the damn eggs," I retort, engaging in a pointless argument. I cringe and force a smile, ann
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LENNOXThe weather reports warned of a white-out blizzard at 0900 hours, and Kaleb's voice echoed through the communication devices. Exhausted from a never-ending Omega meeting, I climbed the wooden stairs to the second floor, removing my earpiece. I had hoped to escape Kaleb's presence, but his voice still reached my ears, even with the volume high. "Be alert if you're driving to the lake house," he cautioned.Turning the knob on my radio, I silenced his voice. Security had agreed to stay at the main house instead of the cabin a mile away. There were plenty of empty rooms, but I decided to share one with Ashton.Quietly, I entered the bedroom, expecting to find him fast asleep. To my surprise, he was sitting up, leaning against the log headboard, typing furiously on
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LENNOXThe weather reports warned of a white-out blizzard at 0900 hours, and Kaleb's voice echoed through the communication devices. Exhausted from a never-ending Omega meeting, I climbed the wooden stairs to the second floor, removing my earpiece. I had hoped to escape Kaleb's presence, but his voice still reached my ears, even with the volume high. "Be alert if you're driving to the lake house," he cautioned.Turning the knob on my radio, I silenced his voice. Security had agreed to stay at the main house instead of the cabin a mile away. There were plenty of empty rooms, but I decided to share one with Ashton.Quietly, I entered the bedroom, expecting to find him fast asleep. To my surprise, he
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