Page 39 of Howl for Me
Lori perks up immediately. “Really? Where?”
I hesitate. I’m not supposed to say too much about the studio, Hector’s orders, but technically, this isn’t giving everything away.
“At a studio,” I say. “Reggie helped me out, actually. So thanks for that.”
Her eyes go wide. “Wait. Shut up. You work for Moonlight? Me too!”
I blink. “You work there?”
She practically squeals. “Yes! I do a couple shoots here and there. Saving up until my art takes off. Oh my god, so who’ve you worked with so far?”
I raise both hands. “I’m not an actress.”
Lori’s brow furrows. “Then what do you do?”
“I’m an assistant. To one of the actors.”
Her nose wrinkles. “Who the hell needs a personal assistant on a porn set?”
I hesitate again. “Johnny Howler.”
She chokes, almost spits her coffee back into the cup. “WHAT?!”
“Yeah,” I reply, sipping mine like maybe the caffeine will help this moment feel less chaotic.
“You’re Johnny Howler’s assistant? Are you okay? Like… mentally?”
I want to laugh, but something inside me tightens instead. “He’s not that bad,” I say, quieter. “He’s just… different. Misunderstood.”
Lori stares at me, long and hard. “Oh, my god. You like him.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You didn’t have to.”
I turn away, trying to hide the heat crawling up my neck. “It’s professional.”
Lori raises an eyebrow. I ignore it.
“I just… got to know him a little better, working so close. He’s not that bad. I mean, yeah, he’s rough around the edges and he doesn’t really do… people. But once you get past the snarling and the sarcasm, there’s a person under there. A real one.”
Lori tilts her head. “So, what, you’re with him all the time?”
I sigh. “Hector has me staying with him. Just for now. Until Johnny proves he can show up on time and stay out of trouble.”
Her jaw drops. “Wait. Staying with him? Like, in his house?”
I nod, and she gasps like I just told her I joined a cult.
“Oh my god, Cassidy. That’s huge. You’re like… embedded. Hector does not do that unless it’s someone important. But it makes sense. Johnny’s top talent. I mean, the guy is legendary. The bad kind and the good kind.”
She sips her coffee with a smirk. “I personally haven’t worked with him, but I know women who have. And from what I hear… the sex is definitely good enough to look past the whole moody werewolf thing.”
I stare at her over the rim of my cup.
“Lori.”
“What? I’m just saying. If he ever wants a scene partner with a high pain tolerance and low standards, I’m available.”
