Page 201 of Ashley & the A-Listers

“Okay,” he added. “I’ll do that… now.”

No one stopped him as he stepped backwards, away from the pack, and no one called out as he turned his back and made his way to the guest room. He gathered up a haphazard backpack of items so quickly that he wasn’t even sure what he’d actually grabbed that would be of use.

It was quiet as he exited the room, and when he reached the living room again, it was empty, except for Dylan, who was waiting by the door.

Like security seeing someone out.

“That was… intense,” he said softly. “I’m sorry it came to this.”

“Sorry I jeopardized your client,” River told him.

“I can handle some paps,” Dylan said, offering a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I know what it’s like to overcompensate when you fear losing someone,” he said, and they shared a moment of understanding that left River surprised. “I’ll talk to him.”

“Don’t know if it’ll help,” River replied. “I’ll keep my distance. On set.”

“That’s probably for the best, for now. Until he cools off.”

River stared up at him. “Sure.”

There was nofor now.

River had done the unforgivable, in Cam’s eyes. There was no going back from it.

River walked away and heard the door close behind him.

46. IN THE MIRROR

CAMERON

Cameron eventually emerged from the nest with puffy eyes and a dry mouth.

The next morning.

His makeup artist was going to hate him.

“Will you come to set with me?” he asked Ashley, who wrapped her arms around him as he leaned on the kitchen counter. She’d hardly left his side through the night, and while her presence filled the nest, something was still missing from it.

“Of course,” she said, and pressed a kiss to the bite mark through his shirt.

The bite mark that started all of this. If they had just waited, if they’d included River…

He called the paparazzi days ago,Cam thought.

Shivers danced along his skin from Ashley’s touch, a pleasant tingle that cleared his head a lot more than the coffee did.

“I’ll go get ready,” she said, and padded away softly.

It was early, the sun still rising, but the set awaited him—long string of action scenes, which was bound to exhaust him.

Seated at the bar was Dylan, who blew on his still-steaming mug. “Well. Now we know why he’s been so distant,” Dylan murmured.

Cam released a shaky breath. Of course. He thought River had just been overwhelmed with all the projects he’d been working on.

No. He’d been feeling too guilty to face them.Or too angry.

Cam shook his head. He felt like he was moving through molasses, a mix of disbelief and disappointment and sadness.

There was no River at the coffee bar, doctoring himself a to-go mug. His shoes weren’t on the rack. He didn’t greet Cam with a good-morning kiss; there were no sleepy conversations about the day.

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