Page 30 of Ashley & the A-Listers (Sweetverse)

30. JEALOUSIES

RIVER

“To two months of progress,” Ashley said, tapping her plastic cup of water against the other three.

“To making progress,” Dylan echoed, with a knowing glance at her.

“To… the future?” Cam added.

Future, huh? River mused in his mind. After his talk with Ashley, he certainly felt more comfortable with the idea it. A future with Ashley?

An omega and an alpha—it made sense, and yet his nerves still jostled inside him. Where did that leave him, a beta?

“To making history,” River said, burying his thoughts.

Their cups clanked together before they all took a sip.

“Making history is a bit much,” Cam pointed out as they sat their glasses down.

“No, it’s not,” River argued, and elbowed him. “Your franchise is one of the most successful in decades. You are making cinematic history, babe.”

Cameron tried to wave off the compliment, and River felt Ashley watching them. The four of them were tucked away in the back of a restaurant, into a cracked leather booth.

“I think the glory belongs to both of you,” Ashley interjected, motioning at River. “You wrote the damned thing, didn’t you?”

Heat traveled to his cheeks, and he ducked his head down, uncomfortable with the attention.

“He’s the one on the screen,” River argued. “The face of the Heated franchise. I’m just the guy hiding behind the camera.”

He tried not to look too closely at how accurate that statement was.

Cameron leaned over into him, throwing those big hazel eyes up at him, smiling. “She’s right. It wouldn’t exist without you.”

River could never resist that pretty face of his, and relented. “Fine, fine, I take all the credit. It’s my franchise; you’re just the actor.”

Cameron did not take the bait like River had expected, and instead nodded happily. “Damn right I am.”

It made him uncomfortable to take the credit, even in such a light tone. Without Cameron bringing his character to life, River’s work was just words on a page. They were a team, the two of them. Axel didn’t exist without Cameron.

One didn’t exist without the other.

A cheer from a nearby table snapped him out of his head.

Unlike their last celebration dinner, to close out the last month of training, Ashley had demanded she get her checkered paper basket of fried food.

It was entirely unlike somewhere Cam would frequent, and yet the omega was completely at ease. Maybe it had something to do with being hidden in the corner by three bodies and a ball cap. It was working so far, no one had recognized him and anonymity remained their friend.

“So, speaking of the future,” Ashley interjected, capturing their attention.

Not that Cameron’s was ever directed away from her for very long, anyway.

“What’s up?” Cam asked.

“I was just wondering, what’s next? I mean, since we won’t see each other at the gym anymore.”

River frowned as something in his chest lurched at the thought. That hadn’t even occurred to him because he just… figured she’d still be in their life, even if the gym wasn’t.

At the reminder of the change in schedule, Cameron’s entire demeanor shifted, like a rain cloud had opened up over his head. “You’ll still come over, right? To see… Dylan?”

River studied Ashley. Did she know how much Cam wanted to see her every day? How he would mourn their training together? How much River had gotten used to her being around?

“Is that… okay?” Ashley asked, wiping at the condensation on her red cup. “It’s not weird?”

“What? No!” Cam blurted. “Why would it be weird?”

“Not weird,” River interjected.

Ashley raised her hands innocently, her cheeks growing pink beneath the warm light above them. “I don’t know! I don’t want you to think I’m, like, a hanger-on or something.”

“Well, one, you’re mated to my bodyguard. Two, I like having you around,” Cam said.

“We’d miss you, simple as that,” River added. As Ashley smiled, seemingly shocked at their response, River let his attention trail to Dylan, wanting to clock his reaction, and found the alpha studying him already. They shared a look, a raised eyebrow each, before they both shrugged.

A mutual yes, I understand my partner is into your partner and they’re both too scared to do anything about it.

River liked Ashley. She was good people, and she liked Cameron. Probably more than she realized.

River tried not to feel territorial about it, but… River couldn’t compete with an alpha. After their talk, he knew Ashley wouldn’t replace him, wouldn’t leave him out. He just wished he would understand that through and through.

“You’re welcome anytime, is all I’m saying,” Cameron said. “And it’s not dependent on this asshole being there,” he said, waving a hand at Dylan. “Even if he’s not there, you can come visit.”

River swallowed a chuckle. Cam and Dylan had been glued together since the start of his contract—despite Cameron’s attempts otherwise—and he doubted there would be a moment when the alpha wouldn’t be around.

Well, besides the heat.

Cam was on such a tight schedule he’d already gone off his suppressants. His heat would kick in any day now, and they had exactly a week to get through it.

And who would be seeing the omega through it? River.

At the reminder, he felt like he could sit up a bit taller. He, a beta, would see Cam through it. Not an alpha. He was excited to disappear into their own little world for a bit, to take care of Cameron in all the omega’s favorite ways.

He’d been tending to Cam’s heat for years. Knew exactly the right treats to get, the right pillows and blankets, how exactly to work that perfect c?—

River cleared his throat and hid a proud little smirk in his drink.

After he recovered, he’d have to be on set for the first day. Cameron had already been balancing table reads and Zoom calls on top of training. It was just another thing River hated about the industry, there was hardly any time to breathe in the middle of a production.

River couldn’t imagine how little the two of them would have talked if he hadn’t surprised Cam by showing up. Even living together, they had to hide in separate rooms during their meetings so no one would know.

Being in a secret relationship sucked. Especially when that secret relationship was with the love of his fucking life.

“The heat’s this week, though,” River interjected, and Cam glanced over at him. “So when it hits, you’ll have your big, bad alpha all to yourself.”

“Right,” Ashley said. “Dylan mentioned something about that. They can do that now? Trigger a heat?”

Cam nodded, leaning back in the booth. “All I do is stop taking my suppressants. They don’t stay in the system for long if you don’t keep taking them, so they should be gone by…” He checked his fancy smartwatch. “Tomorrow morning. Then we just… wait,” he explained with a shrug.

“Is it safe for you to be… out?” Dylan asked.

“Oh, now you want to be a bodyguard?” Cameron muttered.

“Well, I don’t think any of us want your heat kicking into gear out on the sidewalk, do we?” Dylan groused.

Cam, properly chastised for once, waved a hand. “I’ve been on them for so long, it’ll take more time than that to work its way out of my system. Starting tomorrow, I’ll be sequestered to the apartment, running lines if I can, and waiting.”

River knew he’d be nesting more than anything, but let him have his fantasies. If Cameron could eat, sleep, and breathe acting, he would.

He probably saw his heat as more of a hindrance than anything, and River felt a pang lance through him. River saw it as a chance for them both to be together. Alone, reconnecting. No matter how chaotic life got, River knew the heat would bring them together, even if just for a bit.

River already had a few surprises tucked in the bed to hopefully soften Cam up—he’d see them when they got home.

For now, Cam’s attention was rapt on Ashley, and River tried not to feel a little jealous.

Did Cam want her for the heat?

They’d never brought in another person before, but Ashley was an alpha. A female alpha.

As rare, if not more rare, than a male omega. They were practically made for each other.

The more Ashley and Cameron seemed to fit together, to drift toward one another, the more it felt like River didn’t fit. River would be remiss if he didn’t admit the fact stung, just a little.

Their food arrived in red baskets and checkered paper, and with it, the scent of fried food and carbs.

“God, this smells great,” Cameron said.

Ashley grinned across the table at him and crunched into a too-hot onion ring.

“I don’t get to eat stuff like this often,” Cameron said, and picked up a tater tot. Eager, he ate it far too soon and had to make that funny breathy noise as he chewed.

They all chuckled and his cheeks flushed, but River laid a hand over his thigh to soften the laughter.

Ashley’s gaze bounced between them, and River felt it, her attention warm like afternoon sunshine. It had nothing on the way Dylan stared at her. Whenever she wasn’t looking, Dylan was gazing at her as if she were the reason the sun rose.

They leaned into each other, laughing and being cute and sharing inside jokes. Being a couple.

River removed his hand from Cameron’s thigh, glancing around the restaurant, paranoid.

No one even noticed them.

Sometimes River wished they would.

They munched their way through chicken tenders, burgers, fries, and every other combination, sneaking bites from each others’ baskets.

It was… comfortable. Nice.

It wasn’t lost on River how easily they all meshed. How easily Ashley had fit right into their little… well, they weren’t a pack, were they?

But they could be.

Did River want that?

He hated this tug of war inside him. He adored Ashley, how genuine and sweet and hardworking and badass she was. Having these thoughts made him feel as if he was betraying the connection they’d made when he’d gotten to see her home. He loved the way she slotted so easily into their lives, but a small part of him begrudged her that ease.

River had worked so hard and sacrificed so much to cling to his spot at Cameron’s side, and some days it felt like it was all for nothing, because at the end of the day, River was still a secret.

“Alright, I have something to confess,” Ashley said once she’d paid the bill, despite Cameron’s protests. River’s heart leapt. My god, was she going to profess to him right here?

“What is it?” Cam asked, excitement concealed behind a mask so firm only an actor could don it.

Dylan buried a chuckle in his shoulder and Ashley rolled her eyes, elbowing him before she addressed Cameron.

“I got you something. But I didn’t want to bring it inside and make it smell like grease,” she said. “So it’s in the car.”

River swallowed a sigh of relief. Oh, okay. Just a gift. That’s fine!

Cameron lit up, leaning forward in interest. “Oh yeah? What is it?”

“Well, if I tell you, that just defeats the purpose, doesn’t it? You can take it home with you.”

Cameron pouted, and River practically felt his disappointment. “You’re not coming over?”

Ashley shared a glance with Dylan. “Well, with your heat on the horizon, I don’t want to complicate things,” she said.

And getting him a courting present wasn’t?

River shut down the bitter thought. It wasn’t a courting present. But it was suspiciously timed with his heat.

“I saw it, thought of you, and figured since we were celebrating and all...” She shrugged. “Congrats on finishing training,” she said, and lifted her cup once more.

They toasted, and then Ashley wiggled her way out from under the booth. “Alright, I’ll head out first and wait by the car.”

River’s brow furrowed. “What? Why?”

Ashley pointed her gaze at the busy dining room. “I always get a lot of stares. Less heat on Cameron that way. See you outside.”

Then she was off, walking away from their table in the back, weaving her way to the front. The three of them watched her go, and River saw what she meant.

As a female alpha, she did get a lot of looks. Almost every table she passed turned to look her way, staring until she was out the door before going back to their meals.

A small growl slipped from Dylan, and River and Cam turned to look at him at the same time. His cheeks flushed. “Sorry! Sorry.” He cleared his throat, suddenly bashful.

River knew how he felt. Everyone always stared so longingly at Cam, and it filled River with a mix of pride and jealousy.

The only difference between River and Dylan was that River couldn’t do anything about it.

Dylan led them out of the restaurant, and River brought up the back. Cam tugged his cap down and walked with head lowered, making himself smaller to keep from being noticed or pointed out.

The air outside was cool and refreshing as they made their way to the parking lot, where Ashley waited.

She grinned as she saw them, and reached into her trunk before pulling out a large gift bag.

Cam made grabby hands at it, and she chuckled as he rushed toward her.

“Can I open it now?” he asked.

“Sure,” she said, cheeks pink.

Dylan wrapped an arm around her shoulders, gaze turned toward the lot so he could keep an eye out.

Cam’s gasp, his excitement made River’s heart flutter… nervously.

“It’s so colorful,” Cameron breathed, pulling out a blanket still in its packaging. “And soft,” he murmured, rubbing his fingers over it.

“The apartment’s really… white,” she said. “And every time I saw this I thought of you, so I finally figured, why not?”

“Thank you, Ashley,” he said, voice utterly affectionate. He leapt at her and Dylan scooted out of the way as the omega wrapped around her—just. Out in the world. In the parking lot, where anyone could see.

She laughed, her entire expression melting as Cameron hugged her.

River glanced at Dylan, but the only emotion he found on the alpha’s face was one of… affection. None of the jealousy River felt between his ribs.

They looked… good together. Next to Cam’s slim frame and dirty blond hair, Ashley looked every bit the alpha, even with her muscles mostly hidden by the thin sweater she wore with jeans. It was the way she hugged him back, the way she inhaled—even if subconsciously—capturing Cam’s scent for her own.

“It’s beautiful,” Cam said as they finally parted. “It’ll look great in the nest.”

Her cheeks flushed. “You’re very welcome. Super. I’m glad it’ll go… there,” she stumbled, and Dylan’s face went very still as he stifled a laugh.

It was just a blanket—there was no need for this spike of bitterness to grow in his chest. River had gotten Cam a blanket, too, just that morning, to soften the blow of his heat coming. River hadn’t quite been koala’d, but he’d gotten a kiss.

Plus he had more surprises waiting at home, in the nest, including a new toy.

As far as he could tell, there was no damned vibrator in that bag.

So. It was fine.

He’d be spending the heat with Cameron anyway. Not Ashley.

River buried the feelings deep and bid everyone goodbye as they parted ways.

Cam cuddled up with him in the back of the vehicle, and everything should’ve been right once more, but something gnawed at the back of his mind. He spent the whole ride home ignoring it, and offered Cam a sheepish smile before he opened the door to the nest.

“River!” Cam cried. “This is too much!” And yet he was dropping down into the depths of the nest to start opening the presents.

River’s grin hurt his cheeks as he watched Cam reveal the blankets, pillows, robes, silk boxers, and even the toy he’d gotten him with gasps and smiles.

“Oh, we’ll be putting this to use,” Cam murmured, tugging him into the nest amongst all the plush, colorful items.

Ashley’s blanket was tossed to the side, and River was unsure if he felt smug about that—as if he’d won some imaginary competition—or disappointed, because he liked her scent, too.

As Cam’s lips met his own, he decided it didn’t matter.

River had Cameron.

“Love you,” River said into the kiss.

“I love you, too. I can’t wait to see this heat through with you,” Cameron sighed, sinking back into the cushion and pulling River with him.

They cuddled for exactly sixty seconds before Cameron sighed loudly.

River chuckled. “Do you want me to leave so you can begin nesting?”

Cameron grumbled, pouting up at him, but nodded. It was normal for an omega to want their space to organize their nest, but it still hurt a bit.

River kissed him once more, powerless when he put his bottom lip out like that.

“Alright. Just let me know when you want me.”

“Always,” Cameron breathed.

God, River hoped that was true.