Page 15 of Ashley & the A-Listers (Sweetverse)

15. CASUAL

ASHLEY

The following days were… suspiciously lovely.

She saw Dylan at the gym, and while she still harbored confusion and hurt over his actions, she no longer wanted to punch him in the fucking face.

Progress, you know?

Cameron made excellent strides in the next weeks, and he even managed to get her down on the mats one time, though she was reluctant to let him gloat about the victory.

“You’ve still got four weeks to go,” she told him. “That’s a long way from now.”

But she could admit to herself that Cam’s growth was downright impressive. He’d thrown himself entirely into the art of kickboxing, and she saw improvement every time he stepped inside the gym.

River was like his shadow, tapping along at his laptop while Cameron got his ass kicked. He was focused on a screenplay, and he hadn’t shared much of it with the group, but he worked diligently. She wondered if he’d been making changes based on what he’d been seeing them do on the mat over the past weeks, or if production was way past that point and he was on a different project.

And you know, Ashley didn’t mind his attendance when he showed up with a whole tray of coffees in hand. Every time, Cameron complained about the calories, and every time, River told him he’d gotten a version that wouldn’t piss off his nutritionist.

When they left, Dylan usually trailed behind, sometimes shooting her finger guns or waving awkwardly.

It was… endearing. All of them. If it wasn’t too bold of her to say, it was almost like they were a… pack.

But that was crazy. Dylan was just their bodyguard. In a few weeks, when Cam was on set shooting for his big movie, they’d move on and forget all about her, and her job would be done.

She’d see him on the big screen when his movie came out.

Ashley tried not to let that get her down, but it was the theme of the day, apparently.

While Cam was taking a water break, Ashley’s phone buzzed, and she found a text from Kenzie. Jordan’s family had an emergency and Kenzie was tagging along to support her. The two of them were on their way out of town.

We’re already missing you, the text said. Happy birthday love! Check your email!

So Ashley tabbed over and found a gift card to treat herself to dinner with that weekend.

She wished them well and told them to call her if they needed anything, but in the meantime Ashley sparred with Cam as usual.

It wasn’t until they were about to leave the gym that Friday, the day before her birthday, that Cam said something.

Bag in hand, he walked over, all sandy-blond attractiveness with a cute smile on his face.

“So, since we finished a whole month of training… would you want to celebrate with dinner? With us, in case that wasn’t clear.”

Ashley cocked her head to the side. She wasn’t one to mingle with clients outside of the gym, but…

Cam had that sparkle in his eye, and he was shuffling his feet as if prepared to run away at her dismissal.

River waited over by the door, looking expectant, and even Dylan seemed a bit hopeful.

And Ashley was maybe a bit bummed about spending her birthday alone.

“Alright,” she said, finally, after making him sweat. “Dinner sounds nice.”

“Really?” Cam asked, face lighting up. Even his light scent perfumed a bit sweeter.

“Where to?” she questioned.

“Uhh… I didn’t get that far,” Cam said. “We’ll talk about it and let you know. Can I text you?”

“Of course,” she said.

“Great!” Cam said, a bit too loudly, and lowered his voice. “Great,” he said again, and nodded.

River snorted and covered the lower half of his face with a hand, and Ashley tried to ignore it, but humor bubbled up inside her.

“See you tonight, then,” Cam said, and practically skipped to the front door.

Ashley watched them go, and offered them a wave as they left the gym, shaking her head as the door closed.

“What was that?” a voice asked behind her, right as Ashley turned to tidy up their corner of the gym.

She jolted and placed a hand over her heart. “Jesus, Nic. Give a girl a warning,” she muttered.

The beta didn’t look the least bit sorry. “Did you just get invited to dinner?”

Rolling her eyes, Ashley moved past Nic and began collecting the towels and training equipment they’d used.

“Are they taking you out for your birthday?” he asked.

Ashley shrugged. “Didn’t tell them it was my birthday. They just want to celebrate a whole month of training. No big deal.”

“You, Ashley, never accept dinner invites from clients.”

Ashley averted her gaze. “There’s no rules against it…right?” she asked, just in case something had changed and she’d missed the memo.

Nic was quick to shake his head, even waving a hand. “Of course not. You can do what you want on your own time. I’m just nosy, give me a break,” he whined.

“Great,” she said, and nodded once in a dismissal.

Stubborn Nic of course did not pick up on it, or chose to ignore it outright. Wouldn’t surprise her.

“You and Cam seem to be getting on nicely,” he hedged.

Ashley came to a stop, arms full of equipment. “Nic. Remember those boundaries we talked about?”

He downright pouted at her. This grown-ass man, her boss, pouted at her.

“I just haven’t ever seen you really put yourself out there. I’m excited for you, that’s all!”

“This is not like that,” she told him. “We’re not courting or anything,” —her heart raced at the thought— “this is just a casual dinner where we celebrate Cam’s accomplishments. In case you missed it, he’s kind of been kicking ass.”

“Yeah, yeah, I know, ” Nic said. “And that’s all thanks to you!”

“Which is probably why he’ll buy dinner,” Ashley guessed, even though a small part of her wanted to buy dinner instead.

Her hindbrain was all, Provide for omega!

And Ashley was all, Be a reasonable person!

“All I want to say is keep your mind open. I mean, I got all packed up when I least expected it. Maybe the same could happen for you.”

Ashley sighed and nodded, if only to appease him. “I’m not keeping my hopes up, but I will keep my mind open,” she parroted, and Nic seemed happy with her answer.

He patted her on the shoulder. “I’ve always wondered what kind of pack you’d end up with. I hope I get to see it happen in real time. Love you, kid.”

Rolling her eyes, Ashley refrained from reminding Nic that she wasn’t that much younger than him. “Yeah, yeah. Now let me get back to work.”

He lifted his hands in a gesture of innocence and made his way back to the front desk.

She tried to ignore his words, and the weird stirring in her chest they caused, but as she went home to her house—her house that was definitely not large enough to be a pack house—and awaited Cam’s text, she couldn’t quite get it out of her mind.

Not the way that the three of them—Cam, River, and Dylan—looked like a pack, or the way Nic had suggested she needed a pack.

Not the way her and Dylan’s easy truce had bloomed into something resembling a friendship that felt as comfortable as it always had. Not the way he cheered for her on the mat, beaming with awe every time she taught Cam something new.

Not the way her pulse went up from way more than just the sparring when she and Cam were on the mat.

And not the way her heart softened a bit every time there was a fourth coffee on River’s tray, her order already memorized by the sweet beta.

“This is casual,” she reminded herself, standing in front of the mirror in a dress that she almost never wore. “Casual,” she repeated, and then grimaced at her image before changing.

She laid on the bed and awaited the text. She could decide what to wear when she figured out what restaurant they were going to.

For a casual, friendly, trainer-client celebration dinner.

That’s all.

This is not casual, Ashley told herself as she handed her keys off to a valet.

She’d heard about this place—from her other celebrity clients, mostly. According to people like Lyric, this was the most exclusive place in town.

Boulevard was displayed in big block letters over the brick building, framed by a display of real flowers. Tall planters guarded the doors and string lights lit up the sidewalk, where only shiny dress shoes seemed to tread.

Ashley never thought she’d have a chance to eat at such a place.

Was this Cameron’s version of casual? He was a Hollywood star, so it wouldn’t surprise her if the omega only ate at high-class establishments.

It just felt different from the Cameron who wore sports shorts and ate meal prep from bento boxes.

Her stomach fluttered with nerves as she floundered, phone clutched in her hand displaying an I’m here text.

As she scanned the crowd, a dark figure came through the carousel doors, and Ashley… froze.

It was Dylan, clad in a suit, of all things. He skimmed the crowd, but it barely took him a glance before his gaze locked on her.

Warmth kissed her from head to toe as he studied her. Then those long legs were striding her way, and Dylan offered her his arm as he got closer.

“Cam sent me to retrieve you,” he said. “And by that, I meant he threatened physical violence. You look… lovely.”

She was glad she went with the dress from the back of the closet, because it was about the only thing she owned that allowed her to blend in.

It was black, of course, like most of her clothes, and fell to just above her knees, with straps that made it impossible to wear a proper bra, but it showed off her arm and back muscles.

Something she usually was proud to show off, but in this moment, with sparkly, dainty omegas and packs around her, she felt out of place.

She slipped her arm into his, and hoped her cheeks weren’t pink. “Wow, really searched your vocabulary for that, didn’t you?”

“Take the compliment,” he muttered at her, and Ashley rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t deny it did make the butterflies in her stomach a bit more active.

“Thanks,” she returned, and Dylan offered her a smile, one that reminded her of the carefree Dylan she used to know, the one that had slowly been emerging these past few weeks.

“He’s gonna shit when he sees you. I can’t wait.”

“Don’t tease me,” she grumbled, and punched his arm. As soon as her fist made gentle contact, she wanted to take it back. It was too eerily similar to how they were as kids.

And as his dark gaze met hers with a lick of heat, she suddenly remembered how much older they were.

“I’m not teasing,” Dylan said.

He led her inside.

Boulevard was all dark, moody tones. Colorful, elegant flowers hung in baskets and huge displays over the bar and sat in crystal vases, and it was just as beautiful as all the photos she’d seen on social media.

They were almost the same height, and Ashley felt like there was a spotlight on her as she walked through the low lighting of the restaurant. A few glances landed on them, lingering on her tall form, her sharp build.

“Come on, I know you know,” Dylan murmured, leaning into her and lowering his voice. “His big, obvious crush on you?”

Ashley’s steps almost stumbled, and she was embarrassed to admit that it was Dylan’s easy stride and her arm in his that kept her steady.

“His what? ” she hissed.

Dylan rocked his head back, eyes a bit wide and lips parted.

A realization occurred to her in that moment: Dylan was still handsome.

And apparently her client had a crush on her.

Now that he mentioned it…

Ashley thought back on the past few weeks through a new lens. Cameron’s smile, his teasing. He never minded getting thrown around the mat.

Ashley’s lips pursed as a smile tried to slip free.

Well. What a development. A movie star had a crush. On Ashley.

She couldn’t pretend a little thrill didn’t dance through her at the possibility.

“Oh shit,” Dylan said. “Pretend I never said anything.”

They rounded a corner, and Ashley would’ve addressed the subject more, but a private corner booth came into view and she didn’t get a chance to.

Because Cameron and River were there in said booth, and looking every part the movie star and boyfriend.

Her heart dropped. Right. Boyfriend.

Even if Cameron did feel some kind of blooming affection for her, he had a partner. A serious one, even if it was a private kind of secret.

Omegas usually had more than one partner, so it wasn’t out of the ordinary if Cameron really did feel something for her.

Her cheeks flamed at the bold thought, at imagining Cameron opening up his world for her .

Yeah, right.

River was the most casual, wearing a loud floral-patterned shirt by a very specific, very expensive designer. It probably cost more than what Ashley made in a day. Behind him she noticed a suit jacket thrown over the booth, and next to him…

Well, Dylan hadn’t been wrong.

Cameron stared at her for what might have been too long, a bit frozen, and it reminded her of the way she’d been struck when she’d seen Dylan.

His messy blond hair was still artfully mussed, but he was in a wine-red suit, almost burgundy, and it fit him like a glove. It might’ve been a bit tight around the arms, but Ashley only attributed that to his gains, and felt a bit of pride glow within her.

“Ashley, you made it!” River said first, and slid out of the booth to greet her.

It was the first time he’d ever greeted her with a hug, and his scent was so pleasant and light and his presence such a comfort that she had no choice but to return it.

She caught a whiff of something familiar at his collar and shared a private grin with him.

“I smell that,” she told him, and tapped her nose.

He shrugged, his smile reaching his slightly glazed eyes, and Ashley couldn’t help but chuckle.

Cameron slipped out of the booth next and he followed River’s lead, enveloping her in a hug. She returned it, and amongst honeyed vanilla, she smelled the same musky weed on him.

“It’s weird seeing you outside the gym,” he said, and pulled back. “It’s a good look on you.”

Ashley plucked at the hem of her dress and shrugged. “Thanks. This is the only dress I own, so. I’m glad I never threw it out.”

River and Cameron shuffled in next to each other, so that left Ashley on the other side of Cameron.

Dylan was… standing next to the table?

“What are you doing?” she asked, motioning to the empty seat.

“I’m the bodyguard,” Dylan reminded them.

Even Cameron rolled his eyes. “Have a damned seat, Dylan. No one at this restaurant is going to rush the table.”

“You don’t know that,” Dylan returned, but eyed the empty spot by Ashley.

Just to be a little shit, she patted it and made big, round eyes at him.

His gaze narrowed, as if he knew her game, but he dropped into his seat, shooting a paranoid glance at the rest of the venue.

The low-lit chandelier draped with flowers over their table was far too intimate, and Ashley suddenly realized that she was on what some would call a dinner date.

Especially in this type of setting. With other packs around them.

Was it warm in here?

Ashley pushed her hair off her shoulders, but it did little to help the warmth, since she was squeezed in between two of the most handsome men.

Remember, this is casual .

Yeah, right.