Page 16 of Ashley & the A-Listers (Sweetverse)

16. THE ASHLEY EFFECT

CAMERON

Maybe Dylan was right and this was a bad idea.

Seeing Ashley almost every day was hindering him enough, his crush growing every time she pinned him to the mat.

But here, now, in this restaurant with the romantic lighting and that dress on her frame?

The way the fabric hugged her curves and showed off her muscles at the same time?

She looked beautiful. Elegant. Gorgeous. And not a single person who dared gaze at her as she passed knew how strong she was.

But Cameron did.

He felt downright faint, and it had nothing to do with the way he and River had hotboxed the bathroom like a couple of teens before Dylan drove them.

That was the effect of River. The beta kept Cameron from growing into just another bitter movie star. Instead he kept him young and excited for… well, everything.

The Ashley effect?

Was somehow different and yet the same. He felt like a schoolboy around her, harboring this crush and half afraid he was going to say something wrong.

River was all natural and breezy, going in for that hug like it was nothing, while Cameron’s pulse would’ve been sky-high if not for the weed.

Instead he was in the middle of a panicked calm, and he sipped his water to alleviate his dry mouth. That was from the proximity of the alpha, not the cannabis.

“Have you been here before?” Cameron asked.

Ashley scoffed and shook her head, a piece of long dark hair falling over her shoulder. “I don’t think I would’ve ever come someplace like this on my own.”

“No?” River asked, leaning around Cameron. With his head on his hand, he looked like the epitome of casual. Cam envied him. “What kinda places are Ashley’s style?”

“I’m more of a… fries in a basket kind of girl,” she said, and waved a hand. “But this is lovely, I mean…” She motioned to the honest-to-god chandelier overhead.

I knew it was overkill!

He’d wanted to impress her, but he should’ve known a fancy place like this wasn’t the way to do it.

“This place is… popular,” he said. “I figured, special occasion and all, might as well celebrate.”

“A whole month of training,” she said, and elbowed him. “How’s it feel?”

Cameron pursed his lips. “Sore,” he finally answered.

It pulled a laugh from her, and Cam wanted to give himself a high-five, because he loved that sound.

“There’s only more where that came from,” she responded in a sing-song voice. “But you have the weekend off, so enjoy it while you can.”

She tapped her fingers together like an evil mastermind and Cam worried for his future.

“It sounds like she’s going to bury you beneath the mat,” Dylan said.

Ashley gasped playfully, and smacked his arm. “I am not. I’m a good trainer,” she said defensively.

Dylan lifted his hands innocently. “I just call it like I see it.”

Dylan had been tight-lipped for several days, except around Ashley. Cameron knew something had changed. They were no longer downright glaring at each other with unsurety across the mat. Now they shared shy glances and chuckles, and it was killing Cam inside not to know.

He and River were the reason they’d worked anything out in the first place! The least the alpha could do was share the details.

But he didn’t want to bring any tension to the table, so he kept himself from asking about it.

Thankfully they were interrupted by the waiter, who brought a carafe of water over to refill their glasses and offer them menus.

They huddled over them once he was gone and pointed at different appetizers and entrées, and snickered when Dylan didn’t know the names of some of the dishes.

The grateful glance Ashley kept shooting the alpha’s way whenever he did so made Cameron want to pull them all from the restaurant and find the first diner just so she felt at ease.

Maybe one day she would feel at ease. With exposure.

Cameron could take her out every weekend. He could shower her in fancy restaurants and dresses that showed off her arms like the one she wore now.

She reached forward to feel the display on the table, rubbing a flower petal gently between her thumb and forefinger. If she liked the flowers so much, he’d buy her some.

Next time.

Because there would be a next time, he was certain of it. In fact, Cam refused to entertain a future that didn’t have more of Ashley in it.

Once they finally decided on food, the wine was brought out and they all sipped a glass and told the waiter it was lovely, so they could be left alone again.

I’m being a brat. It’s fine. She’s allowed to give her attention to whoever she wants.

Self-awareness was important; he remembered Dylan parroting that at him from those therapy sessions he’d been attending.

How dare the alpha be so well-adjusted while Cam felt like a fish out of water?

Cam wanted all of her focus, but this was a celebration. River squeezed his knee under the table, and when Cameron glanced his way, River’s lips were twitched in a knowing smile.

Don’t look at me like that, Cam tried to say with his eyes.

How can I not, when you’re so stupid and cute, River probably meant.

Cam loved him.

Fucker.

“Oh, I don’t know,” Ashley said, and Cam came back into the conversation.

“Don’t know about what?” Cam asked.

“My birthday is this weekend,” she said.

“What?!” Cameron blurted, and almost turned completely in the booth to stare at her.

She seemed taken aback by his response, eyes wide as she blinked at him.

“Yeah, tomorrow.”

“Are you doing anything? We should do something!”

Over her shoulder, Dylan was making a cutting motion across his neck, and stopped right when she turned to glance at him, running a hand through his hair to cover.

Cam hated that he looked hot while doing so.

When she spun back to Cam again, she shrugged. “I did have plans, but my friends had a family emergency and had to leave at the last minute. No big deal. I’m gonna get dinner and have a quiet night in.”

“Would you… want to do something with us?” River asked. “I know birthdays don’t mean the same to everyone, but we’d be happy to celebrate you.”

Ashley tilted her head at them. “Birthdays used to be my favorite thing.” She shot a glance at Dylan and god the curiosity was eating Cam alive.

“Are you going to bring me to another place like this?” she asked, and motioned at their empty chandelier-lit plates.

Cam shrugged. “We’ll go wherever you want. It’s your day.”

Ashley hummed. “And what if I said I wanted to go on a short hike and smoke weed at a waterfall? What then?”

River clapped his hands together and pointed at her. “That’s my kind of day. Let’s fucking do it.”

“I’m in,” Cam agreed, and grinned.

“Really?” she asked dubiously. “There won’t be any Michelin-star granola bars.”

Cameron leaned a bit closer, and he felt his heart pound as their thighs touched. “What makes Michelin stars so scary?” he whispered.

She arched a brow, eyes sparkling in the low light. “The… pretentiousness of it all.”

Cameron patted his chest. “Do you think I’m pretentious?”

Ashley laid a hand on his knee. “No, absolutely not.” Her lips twitched as she pulled away. “Spoiled? Yes.”

“I like to spoil myself. Is that such a bad thing?” Was it too soon to tell her he’d like to spoil her, too?

She pursed her lips, her gaze dancing to the beta over Cameron’s shoulder. “I suppose not.”

“I’d like to spoil you for your birthday, too,” he admitted.

“Money doesn’t impress me,” she told him softly.

“Maybe I’m not trying to impress you,” he responded, a total lie. “Maybe I’m just trying to show you how fun it can be.”

“How fun what can be?”

Cameron reached for his wine glass, lifted it to his lips, and noticed the way Ashley watched him. “Being a celebrity.”

Ashley’s smile curled, and she’d never looked at him quite like that. Something in his chest lurched.

“You impress me plenty on the mat, Cam.”

“I just thought, since we finally got you out of the gym, that?—“

A hand landed on Cam’s shoulder from the other side, and River’s smooth voice was in his ear. “Quit while you’re ahead.”

Ashley chuckled, a hand covering her lips as laughter sprinkled out.

Cam hung his head dramatically, which made her laugh a bit more, and his embarrassment was totally worth it if it pulled such adorable sounds like that from her.

Her scent surrounded him, all lemongrass and ginger, and Cam tasted it heavy on his tongue.

“Fine, fine. No more fine dining establishments,” Cam declared.

“So a hike? You’ll all go on a hike with me tomorrow?” she asked, eyes darting between the three of them.

Dylan… well, Cam noticed Dylan looked a little… subdued as he nodded. “If you want us there,” he said.

He and Ashley shared a look that Cam couldn’t decipher from his spot at the table.

“I haven’t seen any of the local beauty—besides the one at this table, of course,” River interjected. “So let’s go see a damned waterfall!”

Ashley rolled her eyes, but that cute smile was still molding her lips. “Fine, you’re all invited.”

“An honor,” Cameron said.

“Sorry your wax-stamped invitation got lost in the mail,” she quipped, and Cam shrugged.

“I’ll overlook it this once.”

“We should probably start early while it’s cool, then we can get to the waterfall by the time the heat is ramping up,” Ashley mused.

“Good plan,” River said.

“How early are we talking?” Cam asked, suspicious.

“I don’t know… it isn’t a very long hike. Nine a.m.? Ten?”

“Oh, that’s not too bad. I was worried you were thinking, like, six a.m.”

“Aw, do you need your beauty sleep?” she teased.

“Duh,” Cam answered. “How else do you think I look this good?”

Ashley grinned. “Through dedication to your many training instructors, and eating well?”

Cam shook his head in a very serious manner. “Nah, it’s all about the sleep.”

The food was amazing, and Ashley eventually relaxed, because in this corner where it was just them, it was easy to block out all the other diners.

“Dessert?” the waiter asked, and Cameron agreed before anyone else could. He never wanted this night to end.

As the waiter walked away, a young woman in a sparkling pink dress approached the table.

Dylan sat up straighter, moving to the end of the booth, ready to intervene. She looked harmless enough, though, as she earned all of their attention.

Her cheeks flushed. “I’m so sorry to interrupt, and this is probably really rude of me, but I just had to ask.” She lowered her voice. “Are you Cameron Thomas?”

Dylan stood up. “We’re in the middle of dinner right now?—”

Cameron knocked on the table once. “It’s fine.” He addressed the girl. “No photos tonight, but I can sign something for you, if you’d like,” he offered with a smile.

Her blush deepened and Cameron tried not to feel awkward about the way Ashley’s gaze lingered on him.

“Sorry, I know it’s a bad time. I just couldn’t miss this chance to tell you how much I loved you in Omega’s Valentine . I’ve got a slip of paper here somewhere,” she said, and began rummaging around in a small purse.

Cameron blinked. “Really? That one?” That was one of the first movies he'd done when he was just breaking into acting. It had been a terribly cheesy rom-com, but he’d had fun making it.

“Yeah, it was just so sweet. It’s one of the movies my pack and I tend to watch on rainy days.”

Cameron’s chest felt funny about that.

“That’s really sweet of you to say,” he said, and accepted a small piece of paper, torn from a tiny notebook, and a pen. He signed it with a flourish and added a little heart, a tiny thanks for watching, and handed it back to her.

“The Heat of the Moment movies are great, too, of course, but I’m a romantic at heart,” she gushed. “Oh my god, thank you again. I’m so sorry to bother you. Have a great night with your pack,” she said, and scurried off to join a pack of alphas waiting not too many feet away.

His cheeks heated at the assumption she’d made, and felt everyone at the table recognize it, too.

He cleared his throat. “Sorry about that,” he said, and rubbed a hand over the back of his neck.

“Does that happen a lot?” Ashley asked, and sipped her wine.

The tension fled as she led the conversation. “Not too often,” he said. “Usually I’m wearing a hat or a mask or something to disguise myself.”

“You do look red carpet ready,” she said, glancing over him, eyes shining.

“That’s a high compliment,” he told her. “You look like you could stand right beside me.”

Her cheeks turned pink, and Cameron wanted to cheer.

“Alright, smooth talker,” River drawled. “Dessert is here,” he said as the waiter approached with a few little trays of beautiful crème br?lée.

The night ended far too soon, and Cam wished they could order dessert ten times over just to keep Ashley at the table.

He liked spending time with her outside of the gym, beyond running drills and sparring.

Tomorrow, he told himself.

“So we’ll see you tomorrow morning, then?” he asked as they awaited the valet.

“Yeah. Are you guys cool meeting at my place, and we can go from there?”

“Of course.”

“I can drive,” Dylan announced, and Ashley shrugged right as the valet arrived with her car.

“Perfect. Tomorrow morning,” she said, and lingered as if she didn’t want the night to end, either.

Cam was not going to miss his chance, and scooped her up in a hug.

She giggled as she let him, and Cam felt higher than any cannabis would ever take him when her arms wrapped around him.

Her scent invaded his senses and Cam didn’t care how embarrassing it was to cling to her, breathing it in. He hoped it stayed with him.

She cleared her throat when they reluctantly parted, and he didn’t think he was imagining that they were both reluctant.

A blush colored her face, and then River was moving in to get a hug, too.

Bastard , he thought playfully.

Cam grinned as they embraced, Ashley’s cheeks coloring even more when she caught his gaze.

Then it was Dylan’s turn, and that was the weird one. It was like they didn’t know what to do with each other, so it was a brief, short embrace before Ashley was waving goodbye and settling into her car.

Then she was gone, and it was quiet between the three of them.

Cam felt like he was about to burst.

“Breathe, babe,” River leaned over and said softly.

Cam tried to follow the advice, but he felt like a kid with a field trip planned the next day.

He practically vibrated the entire way home, barely noticing the way Dylan was oddly quiet. Well, quieter than normal.

Cam waited until they were back in the safety of their apartment before he finally cracked.

“So, we have a date with Ashley tomorrow. Did you know it was her birthday?” he asked Dylan.

Dylan huffed, and spun at once. “Of course I did! I even had a plan, and you two fucks ruined it!”

“What?” Cameron asked, brow furrowing in confusion. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

“Why would I tell you two? We’re not friends, ” Dylan scoffed . “I’m a guy your rep hired to keep you safe from dramatic fans.”

Ouch.

The alpha groaned and raked his hands through his hair. “I finally made a breakthrough with her and I thought—“ He shook his head. “Nevermind. It’s fine.”

“No, what is it? You have to tell us now,” River said, and hopped over the back of the couch to sink into the cushions.

“It doesn’t concern you,” Dylan tried.

Cam scoffed and circled one of Dylan’s big arms with his hand, tugging him to the other side of the couch before pushing him down onto it. “Sure, my rep may have hired you, and you may not see us as friends, but at the very least we’re more than strangers. And we’ve all got it bad for the same alpha.”

He looked properly cowed and averted his gaze. “Sorry. You’re right. But my past with Ashley is my business.” Dylan turned an amused glance up at him. “You’re not very good at playing it cool around her.”

Cam shrugged. “No, I’m not. I think it’s part of my charm,” he teased, and took a seat between them.

Cam practically felt Dylan’s eyes roll, but chose to think it was offered with the tiniest bit of affection.

“Come on, tell us your plans,” River told him.

Dylan sighed dramatically and Cameron had a momentary thought of , But I’m the actor? and had to stifle his chuckle.

“Ashley’s eighteenth birthday was the last time we saw each other,” he said.

Cameron’s eyes widened and he wanted to turn and share a look with River, but thought it would be considered rude.

“Wow. That’s a long time ago,” Cam said.

“I know. So I wanted to plan something big and cool and show her that I’m sorry.”

“All hope isn’t lost, my guy,” River said, and leaned over to pat Dylan on the thigh.

Cam made note of that casual touch. “Why don’t you pivot? Bring some stuff tomorrow to surprise her.”

“Like what, a picnic? Isn’t that cheesy?”

Cameron shrugged. “I think a picnic is romantic. Think of all the planning it’ll take. She’ll know it wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment thing.”

“Exactly,” River chimed in. “You’ll have to put thought into it, which I think is the most important part.”

Dylan was coming around, his expression shifting. “Okay. Okay. I could find, like, a small… you know one of those personal cheesecakes? She used to love the shit out of those. And I’ll bring a candle.”

“See? That’s so sweet. Still impressive.”

“Besides, if it’s too big and showy, it won’t feel… genuine,” Cameron added, thinking of his own disaster with the fancy restaurant.

“I mean, babe, I could’ve told you that place was too nice,” River said. “I think I still have hives from being in there.”

Cam rolled his eyes. “Don’t be so dramatic. It was nice!”

“Too nice,” Dylan muttered.

“You, too?!” Cam asked, a whine slipping into his voice. “I just wanted to impress her!”

“She knows you’re wealthy already, because you subscribe to the gym she works at,” Dylan pointed out.

“Right,” Cameron said, and crossed his arms. Full-on pouting. Why hadn’t he thought of that?

“Well, next time we can get burgers and fries in plastic baskets with checkered wax paper,” Cameron said. “It’s not the place that matters, it’s the people. It was just our first… outing with her. Seeing her outside the gym, I wanted it to feel different than when we’re on the mat.”

“It was certainly different,” River purred suggestively. “She looked divine in that dress.”

“Aaaand that’s my cue to go,” Dylan said, slapping his thighs and standing up.

“What? Why?” Cameron asked. “You were looking, too.”

“I have a picnic to plan,” Dylan said, voice all gruff and grumbly, and yet something told Cam that he was… excited.

He stood there with his hands on his hips. “You won’t go anywhere if I run out to get some stuff?”

Cameron held up three fingers. “Scout’s honor. I’ll stay right here.”

Dylan arched a brow at him. “Were you a scout?”

“Absolutely not,” Cam said with a grin.

The alpha rolled his eyes, and how dare he look so attractive in that all-black suit Cam had helped pick out?

“Please just go to bed so I don’t have to hunt you down.”

River threw a hand over Cam’s shoulders. “I think I can come up with a way to distract him.”

“Thank god I’m leaving, then,” Dylan muttered. “I heard enough of you two last night.”

Cam’s cheeks heated, and he felt suddenly shy that Dylan overheard them. “Sorry. I forgot how thin the walls can be here.”

Dylan stared at him a moment too long and waved a hand. “Don’t be embarrassed. I put my headphones in and didn’t really hear that much. I was just giving you a hard time.”

River grinned evilly. “Which is what I’ll be giving you, too, in just a?—“

“Okay, I’m going,” Dylan drawled. “At least wait until I’m out the door.”

“Waiting,” River sang, and Cam couldn’t help but chuckle as Dylan made his way to the door and slipped out. The lock rattled as he checked it, and then the security system beeped as it was armed.

“As annoying as he can be, I like him,” River said, all teasing gone from his voice.

“I think I do, too,” Cam said slowly.

As much as Cam enjoyed annoying the alpha, Dylan would still do everything he could to protect them, and Cam didn’t think it was just because of the paycheck he was getting.

It was… nice, knowing Dylan was there.

Before Cam could look too far into that, River kissed his neck, and drew his attention back to the present moment.

“Ready for bed?” River asked.

Cam nodded. “With you? Always.”