Page 200 of Ashley & the A-Listers

“I’m the reason the paparazzi found us at that restaurant,” he admitted.

You could’ve heard a pin drop. Well, maybe they could have. River’s heart was pounding too loudly for him to hear anything else.

“I was…” He shook his head. “I was hurt, after the heat. And my bruised fucking ego couldn’t take it. So I texted a contact. They were supposed to captureus,” he said, making a motion with his hand between him and Cameron. “Wewere supposed to be the ones on the front page. I was tired of watching you struggle with the decision you so clearly wanted to make, tired of promises that didn’t mean anything. But it backfired. I guessCam getting casual with an alpha was more important than him being with a beta.”Big surprise there.“I’mthe reason everything went wrong.”

Ashley swung her legs over the side of the couch, far too calmly, and River’s throat went tight. He braced for her bark.

“So that day, when you consoled me after I left the gym—you knew the whole time?”

He winced. “Yes, and it was killing me not to tell you. I know I fucked up,” he said. “It was so, so wrong of me, and the guilt has beeneatingat me, and I can’t take it anymore!” He breathed, shaking his head. His hands were fists at his side. “But I’m so… frustrated! Tired of feeling like I don’t belong, like I’m not worth the trouble even afteryears,” he managed, meeting Cam’s gaze. It was filled with disbelief and hurt, emotions River was not a stranger to.

Ashley turned to face him, her expression carefully blank. Dylan stared at him over the back of the couch, surprise and even a bit of hurt in his eyes. Cam was silent, jaw tight and eyes shiny, and River’s chestached.

“You… put your omega in danger. Because you were jealous?” Ashley asked.

The words felt wrong. River would never do something like that. He loved Cameron. But he couldn’t deny it, either.

“If we’re being honest, Cam was never my omega. He’s yours, and you’ve made it abundantly clear.”

Ashley gnashed her teeth at that, guilt crossing her face.

“I’m sorry,” River said.

“But I even—but I told you I was getting new management. To help us,” Cameron said, as if it would change anything.

Indignation filled him, and he snapped, “I believed you the first time you told me that. Years ago, when we spent two weeks separated. I believed you when we made up, when you promised that you were justwaiting for the right time.I believed youevery time after that, when you swore that you meant it. You pushed me off, gave me just enough crumbs to come back for more without ever actually making any changes, Cam!” River’s voice broke. “I know. Iknowit was wrong to contact the press, but at the time, I was just so in my head about it. I just… couldn’t believe you anymore. I convinced myself it would never happen, that you didn’t—” River swallowed. “That you wouldn’t love me like you do… Ashley.”

Two inches tall, River stared up at them and wished he could change the past. That he could undo one text message. His actions weren’t righteous or good, but they weren’t something he would've done without provocation.

Maybe it was about time he recognized that.

“You couldn’t give me the benefit of the doubt? Two years, River!” Cameron whined, and the sound hit him like a blow.

“Longer,” River corrected. “Two years of us officially dating. Two years of secrets and distance and broken promises.” He shook his head. “I messed things up for you at the gym,” he motioned to Ashley. “I caused you to leave the one place you loved, and I’m sorry.” He turned to Dylan. “I added unnecessary stress on your shoulders, when all you were doing was trying to protect Cam. I’m sorry for that, too.”

Cam’s lips twisted in a pained sneer, and he shook his head. “I can’t believe you would do something like this.”

“You benefited the most from it,” River told him. “Got the pack of your dreams, got rid of your shitty manager I’ve been telling you to ditch for years.” River cocked his head. “Funny how you didn’t see it until he was making you erase Ashley’s scent.”

It was right in front of him the whole time. He’d never mattered here. Cameron had the person he wanted already.

“You set me up,” Cameron continued.

“I was afraid of losing you, so I tried to hold on harder. The difference is, Cam, I can admit when I’ve hurt you. I’m sorry that I betrayed your trust.”

River had never seen a frown so severe on his lips.

Cameron crossed his arms, biting the inside of his cheek like he was known to do, a tiny dimple appearing on his cheek.

He wouldn’t meet River’s gaze.

“You should leave,” Cameron said.

River felt the words like a kick to the chest, and as much as he wanted to plead, to drop to his knees and beg, now wasn’t the time.

He didn’t deserve to be here. Maybe he didn’t even want to be.

“Alright,” River said. There was a beat, a pause, a breath he couldn’t catch.

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