Falling for a John

HT

ugh I hadn't actually been keeping count, the annoyance in Perth's bite into his blueber

colossally more complicated. I could handle shit storms while single-handedly propping up the Earth, but I liked to have at least some

l before responding. "Yo

ne," I

ur new b

one thing I already fucking know." It had been driving me up the wall like a possessed Spi

h his wife and two kids, rather than being the 24/7 bodyguard to an internationally famous in

at. I wished he coul

rywhere, dined with us, and guarded our rooms if we brought home strangers-or in my case, "uncomplicated" hookups

t wasn't just going to be a day in the life of Ashton Johnson; it was a permanent po

Perth, the head of Security Force Omega, refu

"it's better if you meet him in person." B

twatch, I realized he was already twenty minutes late, even

s were switched on, casting a dim glow throughout the place. As I waited, the silence enveloped me. Behind the bar co

d and blue vinyl booths, stools, and rows upon rows of comic books and merchandise neatly displayed on shelves, the place exuded a nostalgic diner

s. The second floor used to house offices for a comics publishin

ended towards a loft area on the second floor. The space was adorned with colorful bean

, J. Son Paradise would come in at a close second

indicating incoming messages. I wiped my mouth with my forearm, observing the text message notifications l

ith a flimsy napkin. "It's

to catch a glimpse of

g through the messages. "Relax. Eat. Try not to ove

dmitted, not mi

uscles beneath his blue Studio 9 shirt hinted at his formidable strength. There was no specific dress code for security detail; body

stretch and swim a few laps. Glancing at the time on my phone, I took an

eaning of life or a map of uncharted galaxies. You could at le

eeting mine, silently conveying that I couldn't

h making your list f

y in the pocket of my jeans. Perth had advised me to create a bullet

hem to post the pictures. Not all of my cousins or siblings do this. It provides t

moment I entered this world, I had been thrust into the limelight. It didn't bother me much anymore if someone knew m

from its original dark brown shade. But then again, you probably already knew what I looked like. My face had graced the front pages of countless tabloids,

th sharp cheekbones resembling knives and a lean, sculpted physique from my days as a competitive swimmer, my appearance didn't go unnotic

five years, even though he wasn't my personal bodyguard. Leading the Security Force Omega, he was responsible for managing the team, handling

i, also owned the popular Studio 9 Boxing & MMA gym just down the street. The place was always pack

yes with me. His gaze seemed to convey a mixture of concer

I couldn't afford to be stuck here when the store opened its doors. I knew the drill-I would be bombarded with autograph

that raised millions of dollars annually. I had set an ambitious goal to raise $300 million

, his words carrying a weight o

lp but wonder if they had chosen someone who could keep up with me. Would he sputter out after just an hour or two? My life was a constant whir

ouldn't assign someone to your detail who can't handle your lifestyle." He ca

his size, a bulky individual known for using steroids who had once been my cousin Lincoln's bodyguard. And he

ger guy reduced the middle-aged man to tears, as if he had committed some grave offense. It dawned on me why most

ly collided with the glass, bouncing on their toes in excitement. They screamed a jumble of names, in

read acros

gle day. Typically, there was a line of people waiting outside the store until

"One, two, three," before erupting in

in wi

one-time philosophy major, a competitive swimmer. I was the son of a sex addict mother and a recovering

one. Occasionally, when I wasn't careful enough, they would come across photos of me with random girls or guys,

r lives as close as family members. It's their duty to maintain anonymity with

Perth Kitsuwon and the res

n't see us, but we can see them flailing excitedl

entertainment." Two homem

JOHNSON! She looks twelve,

thout saying, but I'd never have sex with a preteen or teenager or anyone who l

uch inevitable, but it has to be a.) consensual and

"that shit doesn't even faze me anymore." He eyes the loc

r friend: I WANT TO HA

fourteen-yea

f without a long thought. Perth resumes texting agai

ate?"

e removes his elbows off the cou

. My nineteen-

re with me?" I needed a bodyguard just to drive here and meet a new bodyguard. The i

be asleep until

r him to

ops t

eeping me out of the loop. I could get twice as much information b

sively and eats another bite of

ly." She's not a part of secu

s sisters. And it is through this familial connection that our destinies are forever linked. The Reess, particularly my grandfather, had established a soda company called Rees', which h

ext message, I make a move to grab my phone. However, the p

ack from the state park. She didn't arrive home until three in the morning," he types out in another text

ing Every Fu

rts to form

hat term herself. The most predictable thing about

t Maddie. But then again, he is her personal bodyguard. He has been assigned to protect Madiso

ing to ignore but can no longer evade: someone is about to

t g

my green crew-neck shirt. As the lock on the tin

ing. Someone who

w bod

he has