Page 11 of Ashley & the A-Listers (Sweetverse)

11. PERMISSION

CAMERON

Cam had a photoshoot.

His palms were sweaty and his stomach rolled. He really hated eating breakfast so fucking early, but his nutritionist was intense and he was paying for it now.

All the people, the posing, trying to impress the right producers. And dealing with his unforgiving management.

Lifting his collar to get a whiff of River was keeping him sane, surrounded by all this chaos. It wasn’t as good as the real thing. How long did it take to get coffee?

Makeup and hair swarmed around him, stylists trying to pick the right colors.

It was like being doted on, he supposed, but he couldn’t fool his hindbrain enough to fucking relax.

“Okay, so. This is Axel’s third movie. He’s an established character. People are familiar with him, they adore him,” Christian, an alpha, one of his managers was reciting. “We’re going to filth you up, real explosion-style, before bringing in the product. I hope you haven’t had coffee today because you’re going to have to drink some pre-workout on camera. How do you feel about a few takes with Cale?”

“His name’s not Cale,” Cameron pointed out. Cale was the character. Lane was the actor.

Christian waved a hand. “Whatever. You good getting cozy with him?”

Cam’s soul sighed. “Yeah, it’s fine.”

Christian actually sighed, and lowered his tablet. “What’s the matter? You’re oozing upset.”

River still wasn’t back, and if Cam was going to broach the subject, he needed to do it now.

In for a penny… “I’ve been wanting to talk to you. About my image.”

Christian sighed. “Is that why you smell different?”

Cam’s hackles bristled, and he tried not to sound petulant as he answered, “Maybe.”

Christian dismissed the few crew still surrounding them with a less-than-polite tone.

“We’ve been over this, Cameron,” Christian said in that dismissive voice.

“I know, I know! But things can change! Things do change. What if I didn’t want to be the ‘anyone’s omega’ bachelor anymore? Things are serious with…” He glanced around to confirm there was no one still lingering. “River.”

Christian’s brow furrowed. “Oh, River? Right, you told me about that. We’re not concerned about him. Do what you want,” he said, and waved a hand.

“What?” Cameron snapped. “What does that mean?”

Christian lowered the tablet and spoke to Cameron as if he was dense. Maybe Cam should’ve waited to bring this up with Denise. She was usually the nice one.

“I can happily tell you that no one gives a shit if you’re messing around with River.”

“What do you mean?”

“River’s a beta,” Christian said, slower. It set Cam’s teeth on edge. “No one is going to take his claim seriously. Think of it this way: all of your fans, which include a high demographic of alphas and other omegas, aren’t going to see River as a threat. So we won’t either.”

Cam shut his mouth at around the same moment he heard a throat clear behind them.

“Good to know, Christian, thanks,” River drawled, a smile on his face. It felt out of place, and Cam wanted… well, he wanted to snarl and stand up for his partner.

Christian raised both hands, tablet clutched in one. “Hey, man, just speaking logically. Management isn’t concerned, but since you’ll be on set together I would definitely give it a bit more thought before going public, if that’s what you want.”

“You can go, Christian,” Cam muttered.

“But—“

“Give me a minute,” Cam snapped, scent flaring with frustration.

Christian arched a brow, and turned away, but not without one last smart comment. “Maybe we should up your suppressant dosage.”

Cam wanted to tear his hair out, and spun to River, who was already setting an extra coffee and water down on the table to his side.

“I cannot stand him,” Cam began.

River shrugged, sipping his coffee before staring down at its contents. “He’s not wrong. I’m just a beta.”

“You’re my beta,” Cam said, and stepped closer. His lingering scent on Cam’s collar, the ache in his shoulder wasn’t enough; he wanted to bury himself in this beta. “Put your coffee down.”

But River dodged and glanced around. “There’s too many people around that will talk.”

“I don’t care,” he whined.

“You don’t care right now, ” River corrected. “We can think on it, talk more later, when we’re not just reacting to that asshole.” He grimaced, the first crack in his facade.

“River…” Cam practically whined.

“I know,” River said gently. “Believe me, I’m just as frustrated as you. But reacting rashly will not help the situation. It’ll just give people reason to talk.”

He was right, and Cam hated it.

He sank back into his chair and tried to bury his irritation. He just felt sorry for himself. For River, too.

“I love you,” he said, catching River’s gaze.

The lines around his eyes softened, and Cam committed each one to memory. Too many late nights squinting at a bright screen and lines of text.

“I love you, too,” River said, softly.

Cam believed him. He just hated the way River’s gaze had darted around to see if anyone was near before he answered.