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Falling for a John 11
LENNOX The street was alive with activity as the bright street lamps illuminated the scene. Rapid camera flashes filled the air, casting intermittent bursts of light on the idling black Escalade. Ignoring the continuous chatter in my right ear from the security team, I confidently maneuvered through the chaotic swarm of paparazzi. Around five men swarmed the car, desperately trying to capture a glimpse of whoever was inside. They pressed their lenses against the tinted windows, while others paced anxiously on the sidewalk, hastily relaying information to their colleagues. "Hurry up and get here!" "We think it's one of the Johnson kids, hopefully Blake." Two men were huddled near the rear door, but I powered forward. With each stride, I exuded an air of menace that sent them stumbling backward. Taking hold of the Escalade's handle, I mimicked opening the car door to shoo away the overly eager fools. Suddenly, a man rushed towards me and collided with my solid back. I shot him a br
Falling for a John 12
LENNOX I handed her a cup with a mixture of mouthwash and saline solution. "Swish it around and spit." Blanca winced as she swished and attempted to say "dammit" with a mouthful of salt water. Saliva dripped down her chin, and I guided her to the sink. "Now spit," I instructed. She did as told, and bloody salt water splattered into the metal sink basin. "That stings so bad," she breathed, gripping the sink's edge. "It's happening again," I warned her. "Stick your tongue out." Blanca winced preemptively. "Right now?" She wiped her forehead with her arm, her cheeks turning beet-red. I needed to take her temperature. Ashton glared. "Do you plan on going somewhere, Blanca? What else are we doing?" "Well, Willow promised a movie night. We could watch the movie first and then come back," she suggested, awkwardly shrugging her shoulders. "Yeah?" She gave me a thumbs-up. "Stick your tongue out," I said. Blanca frowned. "Tony is supposed to be the tough one." I rolled my eyes. "I was
Falling for a John 13
LENNOX Seth absentmindedly scratches his unshaven jaw, sweat glistening on his golden-brown skin. A small scar lies beneath his eye, and his slightly crooked nose bears the evidence of a past boxing injury. Davin shares similar marks. Security personnel often joke that no matter how many punches they've taken in their professional boxing careers, they will always be good-looking. "I was deliberately censoring myself," Seth clarifies. "I didn't want to mention anything inappropriate about a teenage girl, you know?" "Clit," Perry interjects. "Jelly bean," Davin adds with a smirk. "Magic button," Perry chimes in again. Seth shakes his head, as if thinking we're all messed up. I raise an eyebrow at him. "You're the one who jumped to 'clitoris piercing' when I said 'unmentionable.' And weren't you a teenager yourself just a year ago?" Davin and Perry burst into laughter, while Seth gives me a half-hearted glare. He still has a lot to learn about intimidation—he's new to the security
Falling for a John 14
LENNOX Perth began, "Tony made it crystal clear that he won't allow any of his siblings or cousins under eighteen to attend the event." "Then Epsilon is out," Davin remarked, referring to the security provided for the young kids by SFE. Perth shook his head, his black hair slightly tousled. "Most of them will be present at the event to enhance security measures." I stretched my legs, feeling the strain in my muscles. We had never needed extra security for the Camp-Away before, and that realization hung heavy in the silence that followed. "We asked Tony for more than seven days to conduct background checks on the attendees. That means the raffle would have to be closed more than a week prior to the event," Perth mentioned, addressing the main point of contention for the security team. "Tony agreed to give us more time, but he handed us twelve pages of statistics compiled by Willow." I shook my head, a smile forming on my face. Wolf scout. I already knew what he had done before Per
Falling for a John 15
LENNOX The saltshaker slips from my fingers, falling to its side. Tony glanced at me as I straightened the salt shaker on the table. It was a simple gesture, but it triggered a surge of jealousy within me. I found it absurd that I could feel this way about an anonymous celebrity wearing a beanie at a bar. My ex-boyfriends would have found it hilarious that I cared so much about a twenty-two-year-old famous person. I unwrapped a piece of gum and just as I peeled off the foil, Ashton, sitting across from me, asked an unexpected question, "What's your favorite color?" A smile formed at the corners of my mouth. "My favorite color?" I repeated, as if he had asked me something trivial. Well, it was a kindergarten-level question, but in that moment, I couldn't help but think that Ashton's interest had shifted from that other guy to me. Ashton crossed his arms and challenged me, "What kind of high school names someone valedictorian when they can't even answer their favorite color?" Leani
Falling for a John 16
ASHTON I tense up, my face betraying no emotion except for the sharp definition of my cheekbones. It was inevitable that I would have to face Lennox, no matter which alternate reality I found myself in. He was always there, an unavoidable presence. A cringe-worthy thought enters my mind. "What?" Lennox asks, absentmindedly fidgeting with his silver rings. He notices my gaze fixed on his hands. That all-knowing smile of his drives me crazy, and I swear he's just a second away from saying, "Do you like that?" And I realize, I overthink things way too much. I refuse to share the intimate details of my second thought. How his father, Dr. Burke, checked on me when I had a rash on my genitals at the age of eleven. It was just chlorine irritation. But imagine if Lennox had been the one examining me—shudder with me. I gesture towards him. "The mere thought of you being my doctor gave me a mild stroke." I pretend to be surprised. "If only you were my doctor, you might actually save me now
Falling for a John 17
ASHTON I’ve said all those words before: be the bigger person. Walk away. You’re feeding into their bullshit. Violence solves nothing. You’re the CEO of a nonprofit. Stop. Stop. Breathe. Leave. I let about fifteen feet divide me and the bartender. Backing up. Backing away, all the while he’s talking shit. “What about your sister,” he laughs mockingly. “Blanca Johnson—another wet slut. Bet she puts out twice as much as your mom. Is she a little sex addict too?” I taste acid on my tongue, but words burn the back of my throat. Dying inside of me. And Lennox can’t provoke the bartender. If these insults eat at him, he can’t show me either. I’m in a thundering boat of one. Trying to steer myself towards the door. I almost get there. And then he says, “I hope she locks her doors at night.” I go rigid. Motionless and still faced towards him. “What’d you say?” He laughs. “I hope she keeps her doors locked. You know how many men would break through just to taste her—” I lose it. Te
Falling for a John 18
LENNOXSwiftly, I skimmed the screen. 25 Reasons Why Ashton Johnson Is Like Colton Haynes!He slowly scrolled down to the first bullet point, and I saw words: Ashton Johnson fights with his fists first and talks later. Just like Colton! I compared the most recent video of Ashton losing his cool at a Philly pub with an old video of his Uncle Colton Haynes outside a diner.Ashton played the video of his uncle and increased the volume, barely audible in the club. Colton couldn't have been older than twenty-five in the footage. He was unshaven, with a tan from the sun, and had a brooding look. The tabloids liked to call him an aggressive jackass.Colton grabbed his helmet off his black Ducati. A preppy-dressed man snickered and jumped up on the curb near Colton, taunting him, "How's that Rees pussy, Colton Haynes?""Go fuck yourself," he growled, gripping his helmet tightly. Colton stood his ground, focused on the man like a predator ready to strike. The intensity in Colton's eyes reminde
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