Lennox's gaze shifts towards me, surprise flickering in his eyes.
"It'll be really quick," the nerdy guy insists.
"Sorry," I reply, resolute in my decision.
Lennox interjects, "The bar is closed."
The sportier guy gestures towards the Jack Daniels. "Then how did you get that?"
"We're special," Davin asserts.
"Whiskey?" the geekier guy says, shaking his head. He places his hands on his J. Son beanie and looks at me. "You shouldn't be drinking, man."
ASHTONThe ballroom was packed with enthusiastic fans, every chair occupied. A pathway divided the room, leading to a microphone where fans eagerly awaited their turn to ask questions. A large banner, proudly displaying "FanCon presented by J.H.W. Philanthropies," served as the backdrop for a decent-sized stage. Five chairs were neatly arranged in a row, with the tour's moderator gently tapping the microphone at the podium.As soon as the moderator introduced us, we stepped onto the stage, causing an eruption of cheers from the crowd. The room echoed with applause and whistling, accompanied by the flashing of cameras. I couldn't help but smile and wave in response to the overwhelming support.I picked up a microphone from my designated seat, taki
LENNOXHe pauses, deep in thought, his mind churning with contemplation. "I'd survive either way," he says, breaking the silence. His hand moves from my chest to his own, emphasizing his point. "Between the two of us, I'm the trained swimmer."A smile forms on my lips as I respond, trying to steer the conversation in a metaphorical direction. "I meant metaphorically drowning."His expression darkens, a mix of 2% amusement and 98% irritation. But that doesn't bother me. I'm 100% satisfied with our exchange, and without realizing it, we draw closer to each other. The dirt and moss beneath our boots scuff and crunch."I'm not losing at anything," he asserts, attempting to reassure m
LENNOX"I'm going to ask you this once," Kaleb confronted me on Christmas Eve. We were all gathered in the second lounge at SFO, except for Davin who was driving us to Atlanta. It wasn't for a meeting or a pointless fight. We were undressing for a Hot Santa Underwear Contest, with our clients serving as the judges in the first lounge. We had randomly picked underwear styles from a hat, ranging from tame to nearly-naked. Perth had dubbed the evening as chill and fun, but everyone seemed to have forgotten that Kaleb had no concept of either.As I pulled my black shirt over my head, I tried to suppress an eye-roll. "Okay, ask me," I replied. Multicolored bulbs flashed to the beat of a holiday jingle, and more lights were strung throughout the bus.K
ASHTONMaddy whispered to herself, pondering the judging parameters. With a pen in her mouth, she sat with a blank sheet of paper on her lap. Meanwhile, I zipped up the back of Willow's reindeer onesie."Merci," Willow smiled, dropping to the floor in front of Lincoln. Although there were two gray couches available in the first lounge, Lincoln opened a sewing kit, planning to attach antlers to Willow's hood. He had already sewed identical antlers onto Maddy's onesie, and now she sat cross-legged on the opposite couch, deep in thought.A smile began to form on my lips.It was our first Christmas Eve away from our families, and although it felt strange, it wasn't a bad experience. Both Lincoln and I
ASHTON"Introducing Perry, also known as Samson Perry," Willow narrates, "a twenty-six-year-old Leo and former tattoo artist. He comes from an Irish background and is skilled in mixed martial arts."Perry twirls at the end of his walk and takes a bow.Without realizing it, I've been absentmindedly munching on some mediocre cookies. I finish my third one, surprised that Maddy seems to enjoy them enough to reach for more.Willow straightens herself up. "Perry, if you had to choose one word to describe yourself, what would it be?""Thirsty," he replies.
ASHTONThe sound of crunching ice beneath our feet resonates as we approach the Dairy Queen entrance, drawing closer to the curb. The wind howls around us, matching the intensity of my inner turmoil.Lennox and Davin are right by my side, the only other individuals braving the cold outdoors with us. They are probably here to ensure that Sandro and I don't end up killing each other."She called me!" Sandro yells. "You're angry at the wrong person!""I don't think so!" I scream, the cold air stinging my throat. "You're the one who should have told me. Told us. Informed a goddamn bodyguard—anyone in Omega should have known that she would be here without her own protection." I
LENNOXAshton appeared completely disconnected from reality, allowing me to take his hand and guide him towards the second lounge. I couldn't help but be surprised that he actually answered that phone call.He held his phone to his ear, listening attentively to his father's words, not yet uttering a response.I swung open the door and found Perth and Kaleb engrossed in a heated discussion about J.P. Without hesitation, I commanded, "Get out of here. Ashton needs to take a call, and both your clients are high in the first lounge."They quickly rushed out into the hallway.Alone with Ashton, I closed the door behin
LENNOXSleep eludes me as my mind is consumed by thoughts of the stalker. I yearn to uncover their identity, so that if they ever come close to Ashton, I can apprehend them and maybe even knock out a few of their teeth.In an attempt to distract myself, I pour a cup of coffee, turn on my iPad, and stretch out in the booth. The bus is divided between those asleep from a marijuana high and those passed out from the drama. Aside from Davin, who is driving, only two other people are awake.On the opposite side of the booth, Perry sits drawing in a notebook, his reading glasses perched on his nose. Beside him, Blanca flips through Isaac Asimov's Foundation, her charm bracelet tinkling. She lowers the orange book and says something funny to me.