HT

anded him my eight-page list, and now we were on the freeway, heading who-knows-where. Lennox was sitting silently, reading through the lis

ced at the cars around us. "I should be the one

ip', I quickly added 'platonic' in my mind, but the memory of my s

Lennox was occupying my thoughts in such a w

d out from the list, tryi

aper. "It says you're not used to letting other people drive

n't realize you can't read,"

ass," he commented, flipping a page.

I tried to shake it off, but it kept playing in my min

a comma,"

paper. Don't critique my grammar," I said

his knee. He nonchalantly bit off and spat out a staple from the paper

n or someone skilled enough to disassemble and reassemble a gun blindfolded. Those hands ha

pages and warned me, "You

making my way to the right la

he pages, keeping only

g?" I ask, curious

about you let go of eighty-five percent of your ru

es are a reflection of how I currently liv

space for me. We can find a way to navigate together, b

ined by strict rules that he didn't creat

luntly. "You have a habit of spee

to this arg

her options. Watch me drive. Observe the other cars. Look

ough the pages before settling on one. "Number ninety-two. I prefer no

nonprofit organization. Every day will be like taking Lennox to work with me. It's strange. Even strange

to make a business

N

hen I have business calls,'" he remarks, opening the center console a

nterrupt, adjusting the air conditioner.

o and tune it to an EDM station. The hea

omments. "I've already starte

give him the middle finger. "I love how you take credit

ss fades as two paparazzi SUVs suddenly flan

et Street," L

it in an attempt to pass the SUVs. However, they have a blue Honda blocking

mn

ndows, invading my space. Desperate to shield my eyes from the blinding flashes, I reach for my sunglasses, but before I can grab them, Lennox, always prepared fo

t making it impossible to escape. Flashes of light assault me from every an

r be sold on eBay, and there's a mutual respect between us. But then they pull stunts like this, and I can't help but

is voice laced with concern. "Or would you ra

ndshield, defeated. "The

tches in my lungs as I watch his arm slide across the back of my seat. With determination, he slams

w of the road. But my attention is elsewhere, fixated on the fact that his

apart. His focus shifts to the paparazzi as he yells, "Tell the Honda to drive off, or I'll shutter Asht

more minute! Get out of the way!" He dismis

tic venom. Not surprisingly, the cameraman retreats into his SUV, and mo

is fina

finall

Rodney never had this kind of influence over the paparazzi. The pr

l up the window. He gathers his papers, and I steal a qu

row. "Do you have

you learn t

u're the bodyguard for the most famous woman in

man is

r sisters are famous. She's the reason I'm

iny, the media harassment, the invasion of paparazzi i

ver her

of love, kindness, or some magical phenomenon. I wis

It happened years be

mation when she was

ct. That headline rocked the entire globe. Just a single, scandalous headline was

burn. None of us need to fan t

in me. It's something I can touch and feel, something that r

only li

*

lace with an area of just under 900 square feet. The house features hardwood floors, interior brick wa

. However, I have to admit that the three-bedroom, one-bath setup is quite modest considering my weal

next to my car. The clock in my car reads 8:12 a.m. before I turn off the engine. Lennox, my bodyguard, unbuckles his seat

's r

's more like a drama or perhaps even

at stand side by side, connected by a door on the first floor for easy access. Security

ings. He knows he's moving in; there are two suitca

or you at the store." I almost cringe at my own words. Why am I even asking Lennox th

at me with a slight smile. "It's cute that you'r

for my own sanity. I'm acutely aware that Lennox is now obliged to accompany me everywhere. Very aware. I can't exactly pretend

exactly thri

doors. I open the trunk, reaching for his largest suitcase as I

duffel bag over his shoulder. "That's unfortun

ke," I mutter to myself, allowing a b

. "I just remembered that I

cond suitcase, still holding onto th

nd you're a pure-hearted soul

he larger suitcase from me

n handle my own stuff." Adjusting the strap of his duffel bag, he add

oving the smaller suitcase into his ch

vident that we are both dominant individuals, vying

male. As for Lennox, his entire upbringing and profession revolve around duty and helping others. We

ue further about t

ance leads where?" I gesture towards the two options. H

onds, "The left door leads to Azkaba

the one who cracks pop culture references

omeone who despises mayonnaise but

s of comic books and pop culture, undoubtedly the coolest. The Haynes girls and Wals

t, mine are th

l my muscles tense. I try to focus on his

with the whole secu

s sharing this wi

red to as Mordor. "I was told it started with your little brother. H

aking a comment about Harry

ait on a step below him, placi

in his pocket. "Rodney didn'

ve made more effort to get to know my bodyguard personally. Was I being rude? What if all

rld knows most things about me. But I o

anythin

, assessing my expression

. "He didn't reveal any security team

he turns fully to face me.

ckname, it takes me back to childhood. It emphasizes our five-year age difference, and when I ima

allowed to c

's f

, as if I'm being

I steer the conversation back on tra

s don't consider them secrets. The other half are so uptight, t

im a deliberate once-over, taking in his tattoos, black

as he nodded a few times. There was a hint of a smartass remark lingering on his to

ke sense of it, Lennox abruptly acted as if nothing had happened. He nonchalantly

e that I conjured up that fleeting moment out of the depths o

-night stand tonight. It was a desperate desire born out of my need for release

he would be a permanent fixture in my