Page 60 of Ashley & the A-Listers

If only he hadn’t taken that job; if only he hadn’t busted his phone that year.

If only he hadn’t run.

He hadn’t just left Ashley behind. He’d left Lorie too, who had been there for him when his own mother hadn’t.Fuck.

Maybe he should’ve considered it a possibility—it just hadn’t occurred to him. His own mother was still around, though theydidn’t speak much. She had a beta now who, last time he’d heard, made her very happy.

Dylan could run himself in circles about it. Instead he thought of what he could change.

Whatdidhe have control over?

He could be there for Ashley. Like he hadn’t years ago.

But he also had ajob?—

A job which he was slacking on royally.

He pulled out his phone and… found a text from Cameron.

Don’t freak out, River drove me straight home. Here’s a ping for proof of life. Don’t fuck this up.

Fuck.

He knew he should rush after Cameron. It was literally why he was here—to protect that stubborn omega, no matter how much he hated it.

But he was… home. And the ping was right where it was supposed to be. The security system was excellent, and Cameron wasn’talone. He had River.

There was no immediate threat to Cameron. He didn’t constantly have to look over his shoulder for shadows… not on this job.

Cameron would be fine.

Just this once.

Nothing will happen. He’s safe.

The glass doors to the gym opened just as Dylan put his phone away. Ashley walked out, bag over her shoulder, a frown on her face, her brow furrowed.

It looked like much more than the small duffle was weighing her down.

It felt like he should look away, like he shouldn’t see her without the mask she maintained in front of him.

But she’d already bared part of herself on the mat with him, opened up to him a little, told him how she felt. At the very least, he could meet her halfway.

Before it was too late, he pulled on the car door, realized it was locked, and cursed as he fumbled for the locks. His shoes met the pavement and he cleared his throat as he closed the distance between them.

His hands were sweating.

She heard him, and glanced up from where her attention had been locked on the ground. He caught the surprise in her expression before she hid it behind her indifference, that visage she protected herself with.

With the evening sun glaring down on them, he steeled himself. Her lips parted to question him, but Dylan got there first.

“I would’ve been there,” he told her.

Her head cocked to the side. She used to do the same exact thing when they were younger, and the memory overlaid the present like a punch to the gut.

“What?” she asked.

“I would’ve been there, if I’d gotten your message about Lorie. I would’ve been there for you. I just wanted you to know that.”

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