Page 19 of Ashley & the A-Listers (Sweetverse)

19. LONG TIME COMING

DYLAN

Realizing you’re in love with your childhood best friend at a concert on her birthday was maybe a bit awesome. Kissing her seconds after that earth-shattering realization? Magical.

In that same breath, popping a knot and also learning that, yes, everything you feared was true? Much, much less wondrous.

As the music came alive again, so, too, did he and Ashley out of their frozen romantic moment. As they shuffled apart, awkwardness now tinging the air between them, he tugged his shirt out of his waistband so the oversized fabric would cover his waist.

Dylan did not want to be an alpha. Anything but an alpha.

This is so fucked.

The concert was almost over, and he hated that he was wishing it away.

Well, at least all his weird feelings around Ashley lately had an explanation.

He was an alpha. Of course he was protective of her. Of course he wanted to take care of her. Of course he wanted to… kiss her. And put this stupid, godforsaken knot to use.

Dylan scrunched his eyes shut and tried to shake the feelings away. Ashley deserved better than that.

He tried to remain there, next to Ashley and singing all the words to the songs he knew by heart, but he was in his own head.

He swayed and sang and threw his fist into the air when required by the rock gods, but he was a million miles away.

His dad had been an alpha. His dad was the reason why Dylan’s mom was raising an omega—and now an alpha—all by herself. His dad was the reason his mom had spiraled through his childhood.

And apparently, Dylan was doomed to follow in his footsteps.

Ashley knew everything about his dad, and in turn, he knew her own dad had fucked off once he’d found an omega with a pack to keep his knot warm.

Would she see him with the same disdain he knew she felt for alphas?

“Dylan?”

He blinked, realized the band was leaving the stage and the concert was over and Ashley’s hand was soft on his arm.

“Yeah,” he said, shaking himself back into the moment. “That was awesome,” he said, as if he even knew what the last three songs had been.

She looked like she didn’t believe him, but nodded, and dropped her hand. “Ready to get out of here?”

He swallowed and nodded, and suddenly her scent, a barely-there citrus, was a bit stronger to him, though it had always been faint.

He stalked behind her as they left the venue, keeping an eye out for any assholes stumbling drunkenly out of the building. Thankfully they made it to the car without any events, and the silence felt oppressive once they shut the doors.

His ears were ringing and he couldn’t tell if it was from the concert or the new revelation.

“I can hardly hear anything,” Ashley said, probably a bit louder than she intended.

“Good, it’s not just me, then,” Dylan replied, trying his best to sound normal and not like his entire world was turned upside down.

It was late, and they wouldn’t be back for another two hours. Which meant he’d have to sit here. In the car. With Ashley’s light scent swirling around them.

“Can I play the setlist again?” Ashley asked, already fiddling with the cord that plugged into the cassette tape converter.

“Of course,” he said, and scrambled for anything so his response didn’t sound so short, so uninterested when in fact, it was the opposite. “Especially since I didn’t recognize it the first time.”

Her grin was sly as she restarted the playlist, and the thump of the electric bass filled the car, matching the beat of his heart.

The car ride lasted far too long and not nearly long enough. And as the dotted lines of the road disappeared behind them, Dylan realized he and Ashley had spent way too long avoiding the future.

Like what would happen now that they’d graduated. Now that summer was almost over and the college that Dylan’s omega sister applied to had accepted her, and even though he hated school enough as it was, he wanted to follow and keep her safe.

Like how Ashley was going to the community college nearby because she didn’t want to leave her mom.

How they’d assumed they’d keep in touch. How hard it was going to be to say goodbye.

Maybe that’s why they hadn’t talked about it, because they both knew the answer, and were dreading it.

Dylan knew he was.

That’s why this night was supposed to be so important. Celebrating Ashley, seeing their favorite band.

One last hurrah for them to remember until they could see each other again on some school break.

If they even made it that far. What if Ashley presented as an omega, like she secretly wanted, and got scooped up by some alpha?

His chest ached at the thought.

He replayed that kiss in his mind, and for a split second he almost convinced himself that the alpha supposed to scoop her up could be… him.

I’ve been an alpha for five minutes and I’m already convinced I could make Ashley mine.

God, this is why he hated alphas.

No. Dylan needed to figure his shit out first. He couldn’t spring something like that on Ashley right away. Not when they were about to part ways for the first time in years.

He felt so young just then, floundering with his new designation and all the feelings now bumbling around in his body and brain.

Eventually the headlights splashed across Ashley’s house, and he glanced over to find her asleep, head resting against the window. In that instinctive sense everyone had, she blinked her eyes open when the tires bumped over her driveway.

“Oh my god, sorry I slept the whole way. Shitty passenger much?” she mumbled and rubbed her eyes tiredly.

She was so cute he wanted to just hold her tight and squeeze. The affection was so strong he couldn’t breathe.

“No worries,” he managed to say. “Easy drive.”

He watched the moment she remembered the kiss, her eyes widening before dropping from his own, avoiding.

Dylan shut the car off and the silence was loud, louder than the concert had been. “Ready, sleepyhead?” he asked.

Ashley snapped into action, grabbing her bag and water bottle and looping the former over her head.

He got out and walked her to the door, because he always did. He was hyper-aware of where their arms brushed as they walked, and they came to a stop far too soon.

“I had so much fun.” She squeezed her eyes closed, still grinning. “Literally the best night of my life, I think.”

“Glad I was there for it,” he said, both wishing she would open the door so he could get this goodbye over with and also aching for the night never to end. If only they could go back to that one perfect moment where their lips met, before everything went sideways, and live there.

“You look tired,” she said. “Thanks for driving. Get some sleep.” She squeezed his arm and he cupped his hand over hers.

“You, too,” he responded, unsure of what to say because in his newly alpha brain, with nothing but hormones buzzing around, he couldn’t exactly find the correct words to describe just what was going on in his chest.

For a moment, she lingered, and if he wasn’t so in his own head he would’ve seen how she swayed toward him, eyes studying, waiting for a moment that never came.

And then the moment was over, and she pulled away and opened the door and the light of the lamp her mom had left on spilled onto the concrete step.

“Goodnight,” he said softly.

“Night, Dylan,” she said, gaze just as sweet as ever. “Text me?” she asked.

“Yeah, I’ll text you,” he said, and waved as she tiptoed into the house, a shy smile on her lips before the door closed.

He stuffed her mom’s money in the mailbox with a hastily scribbled thanks, and left.

Dylan did not text Ashley.

Not when he got home. Not the next morning. Not the following days as he packed his shit and moved to the campus near his sister and found a job at a coffee shop for criminally low pay and shitty tips because all the customers were equally broke students.

Not as he found some alphas to buddy up with, failed out of college in his second year, and used their connections to get hired into a security program. For the first time ever, he had insurance, got therapy, and talked his shit out.

His pack found an omega, his own damned sister, so Dylan left, on his own once more.

Then once he finished training, he bounced around from place to place depending on where the security company needed him.

Dylan tried not to think about the biggest mistake of his life.

But the texts he received went ignored, until he broke his phone on a job and then they… stopped.

Some things would never change, no matter how much time passed or how much distance was between them.

It had occurred to Dylan before, of course, that he shouldn’t have run. That he shouldn’t have moved with his sister without saying goodbye. That he shouldn’t have left Ashley behind.

All of it was for nothing, because what he was running from was something he’d never escape.

And it was never more obvious than when Dylan was back at that house.

Ashley opening the door, running over her checklist, forgetting something last-minute—like she always had and likely always would.

Sitting in the driver's seat while she buckled herself into the passenger’s side felt like it used to. When they were seventeen and running around town just to fill the hours after school because they had nothing more fun to do than hang out with each other.

He’d never be able to stop loving Ashley.

And he didn’t know why he’d tried running from it in the first place.

I was scared.

And then that damned song had come on.

The one from the concert.

The one he’d kissed her to.

The one that had played as he’d had a full-on crisis about presenting as an alpha.

The one that haunted him, because he’d made a decision in that moment.

A decision to leave, to try starting over in a new city with his sister, leaving behind their shitty family. To try to adjust to being a fucking alpha, the thing he hated most.

He regretted it. Because even after all of that, he’d still hurt Ashley when he’d left to avoid hurting her in the first place.

He wanted to go back in time and tell his younger self to stop being an idiot, to stop panicking, and tell him that he wouldn’t turn out like his dad.

And now here Dylan was, with Ashley still in his passenger seat, a person who meant the world to him.

He had a second chance.

And Dylan knew he wouldn’t get another.

He couldn’t fuck this up. Ashley needed to know everything. She needed to know how he felt, why he’d left, how much he regretted it.

Was it selfish? To bring all this up, to apologize again? It was her birthday.

The day he’d fucked up so royally, all those years ago.

And Cam and River were here, singing along to some pop song he’d reluctantly added to his list because Cam had enjoyed it so much when it had come on one day.

As Ashley began singing, too, the sun streaming in and turning her dark hair a vibrant mahogany, he decided… it was worth it.

These things needed to be said. Maybe if he’d been brave enough to say them ten years ago, they wouldn’t be here right now, inches apart but years away.

He’d just have to find the right moment.

They put the windows and sunroof down and the morning breeze flowed through the car. Ashley’s hair was tucked in a high ponytail or else it would be flying everywhere.

Once Ashley directed him to the correct parking area—it turns out her assistance was needed, because he lost service not too far into the mountains—they arrived.

“I didn’t realize all of this was so close to the city,” Cam murmured as he got out of the car.

“You’d be surprised what you can find up here,” Ashley said. “There’s tons of trails and water holes besides the one we’re going to today.”

“Maybe if Cam doesn’t die, we can plan another hike,” River said, and nudged the omega.

Cam pouted, and it was adorable, as he often was. “I will not die. I’m not that dramatic.”

“I wouldn’t put it past you,” Dylan drawled, because he never passed up a chance to put that look on Cam’s face.

That one. The pinched one with his eyes all narrowed and lips in a line. “Poke your fun now.”

“Nah, I’ve got all day to amass ammo,” Dylan teased.

“I brought a small first aid kit,” Ashley chimed in. “You know, just in case.”

Cam groaned, “Not you, too!” and threw his hands up in the air before storming off. “I’m going to be the best hiker today, just you see,” he called out.

“Wrong way!” Ashley shouted, and Cam paused, came to a complete stop, and hung his head.

Dylan bit the inside of his cheek so hard to keep from laughing, he was surprised he didn’t draw blood.

Ashley shared a grin with him, and he swore his heart skipped a beat right before she adjusted her backpack straps and followed after Cam, clapping him on the back. “Just follow me,” she said, and began leading them towards a bright orange arrow sign nailed to a tree. A few other trails were marked at the edge of the lot with other colors like blue and yellow and pink.

Dylan held up the back of the line, keeping an eye on Cam and River as Ashley led the way.

It was a pretty easy hike, all things considered. The trail was visible, well-manicured and kept-up, not like Dylan had imagined it at all.

As the morning went on, the sun filtered through the trees and warmed them, the dew drying and the birds singing even louder.

Cam handled it like a pro. There weren’t crazy inclines or giant logs or rocks in their way, but he was an active, strong guy.

Hiking was still certainly different from cardio in the gym, and all of them were suffering because of it.

Well, everyone except Ashley. She was the real professional here, barely breaking a sweat.

But she didn’t hesitate to pause or take a breather at the slightest hint, and was the first to make sure everyone had water.

Dylan recognized it not only as the kind, caring person Ashley was, but also… the alpha in her.

She was watching after Cam especially, and Dylan wondered if she even realized it.

“Did we put sunscreen on?” she asked, squinting at each of them.

Dylan’s lips twitched as he nodded. “It’s not time to reapply yet.”

“Okay, okay,” Ashley said, and held up her hands. “I get it. I don’t think we’re that far out anyway.”

The heat of the day was catching up with them as they continued on, the sun beaming down through the trees.

The humidity was unbearable, like walking through a wet blanket, and Dylan felt the past several weeks of the air-conditioned cushy life of a movie star catch up to him.

Not all of his clients were as kind as Cameron, who still disliked the necessity of a bodyguard.

Cameron, however, was the best client he’d had… ever. Even if he did tend to run away from protection instead of toward it most days, making his job redundant and impossible.

“Are we there yet?” Cameron whined, and Dylan swallowed a chuckle, glancing ahead. Bringing up the rear, Dylan had a perfect view as Cameron dramatically leaned against a tree. They were on an incline, but Dylan could already see the peak a few yards away.

“We’re so close,” Ashley called back. “You can hear the water already!”

Cam snapped his head up, staring in her direction as Dylan caught up. He clapped the omega on the back before motioning for him to go forward. “She’s right, you can hear it.”

Cam sighed and finally pushed away from the tree.

River and Ashley were chatting up ahead, pointing at certain trees and laughing.

“They’re cute,” Cameron mused from beside him, hinting.

“Don’t ask for much, do you?” Dylan teased, keeping his tone light.

Cam nodded. “I usually get what I want.”

“Spoiled.”

“Never said I wasn’t,” he replied, his grin a little feral.

“Not that much further, come on,” Dylan said, and quickened his pace.

Cam groaned. “I never thought I’d miss the treadmill.”

“You have to admit this is better,” Dylan said, and pointed up above them at the sunlight scattered through the canopy of trees.

“It’s pretty, don’t get me wrong,” he said, and slapped his arm. “But there’s bugs. And it’s humid.” He patted at his hair self-consciously, and Dylan chuckled before rubbing his hand through it, messing it up further before taking off.

“Hey!” Cam grumbled, and Dylan glanced back to make sure he was following.

“I’m gonna push you off this damned waterfall,” Cam called out as he caught up.

They reached the peak of the incline, only for a skinny trail to lead them down the other side, which, in Dylan’s opinion, was almost worse.

As the sound of water grew louder, they made their way down carefully. They were catching themselves on tree trunks to keep from slipping, and eventually the forest gave way to a patchy, grassy area to the left.

“Oh my god, look at it!” Ashley said, and rushed ahead.

They followed after her from the copse of trees and Cam’s gasp was totally worth the trouble as they all stared to the left.

The water was loud, crashing in white foam against the natural pool.

They could feel the mist from the edge of the rocks, and as the light struck through the trees, bits of rainbow were visible from it reflecting off the mist.

“Okay, well. This was worth the hike,” Cameron said.

Ashley beamed . The waterfall had nothing on her.

“You wanna jump?” Ashley asked, practically bouncing on her feet.

“Is it safe?”

“Of course,” Ashley said, brow furrowed. “I’ve jumped plenty of times. The water is deeper than it looks and it’s… exhilarating.” She sighed as if just thinking about it.

“I’m in,” Dylan agreed without hesitating.

“It’s not as scary as it seems. Do you guys wanna wait down here?” she asked, and turned to Cam and River.

“Uh… Maybe I’ll decide once I’m up there. What do we do with our stuff?”

“We can stash it down here, and get it once we jump.”

“Alright, alright. Fine,” Cam said. “Lead the way.”

Ashley dropped her pack, hiding it between a cropping of rocks, and then stripped her shirt off, revealing a bathing suit top in the style of most of the sports bras she wore at the gym.

“I wore shoes I can get wet, but I’ll volunteer to hike back up to the top and get yours,” she said, eying Cam’s probably expensive tennis shoes. “I don’t recommend making the climb up there barefoot.”

Dylan stripped his shirt off next and stuffed it in his pack, and Cam and River followed suit.

“Ashley,” River called, and held up the sunscreen. “Will you…” He waggled it at her.

After arching a brow and glancing between Cameron and River and finally Dylan, she accepted the bottle, checking to make sure it was waterproof, and pursed her lips as River spun around.

“Oh, this is the good stuff,” Ashley said, noting the label.

The beta winked at Dylan as she dispensed a healthy dollop and rubbed her hand along his skin.

Her cheeks pinkened as the moment stretched on, and Cameron finally stopped pretending to be searching for something in his pack before declaring, “My turn!”

Dylan’s jaw tightened as River and Cameron changed places, sly little grins on their lips that Dylan could see right through.

Turning his attention to the alpha, Ashley didn’t seem bothered by the request. Did her blush mean she was embarrassed, or interested?

Why can’t both be true ?

Doubt filled him again, and he felt the weight of the present in his backpack as he lowered it to the ground.

Was he being selfish? Should he just let things continue as they are, step back so Ashley could be the alpha she was so clearly meant to be to an omega one day? To… Cameron?

Why can’t she be an alpha to all of us?

He blinked as the thought occurred to him. A pack. With Cameron and River? With Ashley?

Dylan had never thought of himself as alpha material, proven time—hurting Ashley—and time—failing his last client—again.

“Ready?” Ashley asked, pulling him from his thoughts.

He glanced back up to realize that Ashley had tugged off her loose shorts and left them with her pack. She was clad in nothing but a bikini.

Dylan was going to pass away.

She took off, trotting up the trail to the left of the waterfall. Dylan was trying to be respectful. Truly. But Ashley was so fucking hot. He was trying to merge the awkward eighteen year old from his memory with the full-grown, confident, and capable alpha before him.

The one whose thigh and arm muscles flexed as she walked and tugged Cameron along. He glanced at River beside him, and found the beta just as distracted.

Dylan was struck with a lance of possessiveness.

His alpha. His Ashley.

The same one who marched fearlessly through the water at the top of the waterfall, keeping her balance even on slippery rocks, and stood at the edge.

“We made it!” she said, and turned to them, the biggest smile on her face.

Yep. She was his.

Dylan just had to make it real.

She made a circling motion with her hand to draw them closer, and Dylan tugged off his shoes and left them at the edge of the water as he waded toward her, his favorite direction.

“That’s… really high,” River said as he joined them, and gulped. “We’re gonna jump from here? ”

“That’s the plan. Want one of us to go with you?” Ashley offered, but Cam was already stepping up beside his partner.

“No, it’s okay, I’ve got it,” Cameron said, and gripped River’s hand.

“Why don’t we go first?” Ashley suggested, motioning to… Dylan. His heart skipped a beat. “You two can watch.”

River smirked. “Not the first time I’ve heard that.”

Ashley snorted, rolling her eyes, but she met his gaze with that lighthearted grin and Dylan was lost. He’d do anything she wanted.

Including, apparently, jumping off a waterfall.