Page 93 of Ashley & the A-Listers

All around them, the forest was alive, birds and bugs singing while the trees whistled with the breeze.

And amongst it, she heard a smallpopas River’s steps returned. “Birthday girl,” he said, and offered her a joint from a glass tube.

Ashley held the golden cone in her hand and gaped. “What the hell is this?”

Cameron snickered, looking awfully proud of himself. “It’s a 24K gold cone.”

“You donotbuy gold rolling papers,” she told him, aghast.

“Told you, I like to spoil myself.”

I'd like to spoil you for your birthday, too.

She heard the words in his buttery-smooth voice, and spun the joint in her hand. Itwasher birthday, after all. Was it so bad if he’d spent a little extra money on her?

She lifted her gaze to him and grinned. “I guess for today, I’m spoiled, too.”

Ashley did, in fact, feel spoiled. She was about to smoke movie star weed. Recreational use was legal everywhere, especially because it was known to help omegas during heat, but that didn’t mean she could afford to splurge on the nicest strains.

Lifting the joint to her nose, she inhaled the green musky scent and arched a brow at Cameron. “This is nice.”

“Only the best for you,” he said.

Ashley rolled her eyes to disguise how pleased she actually felt.

The flame leapt to life as she flicked the lighter, and the paper at the end of the joint caught.

She inhaled, the smoke filling her lungs, and it even tasted nice, some kind of lavender flavor that lingered even after she exhaled.

“That’s delicious,” she said, and held it out for whoever wanted it next.

River took it, and he had no fucking right looking so damned good with that joint between his fingers.

Warmth licked through her just like the flame had lapped at the end of the joint.

They passed it around, and she thought it was kind of funny how they all melted into the rocks around the water, like sunbathing lizards.

They ashed into the glass tube and then stored it away when everyone was happy with their high.

Ashley felt floaty and at ease, and she slipped off the rocks to drift in the water.

Through the water lapping at her ears, she heard the murmur of their voices and opened her eyes. Above her, the sun sparkled through the trees, marbling the ground and the water, and she watched the breeze move the green summer leaves around.

It was a beautiful day, and Ashley was suddenly so thankful to be here. Even with the tangle of emotions and unresolved feelings in her chest, she was here with people she enjoyed being around.

I kissed Dylan.

She sat up and sank beneath the surface, wetting her hair once more and washing away her thoughts before joining the others at the rocky edge.

“What are you guys talking about?” she asked, propping her head on her hands.

Dylan was sitting on the rock now, and he looked so good with the water dripping off him it made her brain lag like dial-up internet.

“I’m gonna lay out the snacks,” Dylan said, and glanced up. “I don’t have service, but it is getting a bit late, and I don’t want us to?—“

“Quit being so responsible,” Cameron whined, and Ashley couldn’t help but laugh.

“Well, someone’s got to,” Dylan said.

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