Page 97 of Ashley & the A-Listers

She tried to compose herself before she reached Cam and River, and dived into the pool next to them.

Their grins were all-knowing, and Ashleyfeltthe heat rise to her cheeks.

“I think there’s steam coming off her,” River mused, and Ashley splashed him.

“Hey!” he complained, and Ashley shrugged.

“That’s what you get.”

“Oh, come on, let her have this moment,” Cam said.

“Thank you— wait.” She narrowed her eyes. “What do you know?”

“A whole lot morenow,” Cameron teased. “Dylan wouldn’t tell us anything and it was—“ Cam swam closer until there were scant inches between them. “—killing me,” he finished.

“You’ll survive,” she said, and placed a hand atop his head to push him underwater.

He went with a sigh and it was just so silly she couldn’t help but laugh, her worries from a moment ago already gone.

Part of her had expected Dylan to stay that night. To make all those little fantasies she’d dreamed up come true.

But that was silly. He had a job to do, literally. Guarding Cam, an omega movie star, was a full-time, around-the-clock job. He couldn’t just abandon his client and stay the night.

Ashley gathered her bag and damp towel from the floorboard, skin already pebbling from the sun she’d gotten that day.

The same sun that was still a few hours from setting.

And even though Ashley had thebestday she could imagine in a while, she’d still be spending her birthday alone.

But that was okay.

It kind of had to be, didn’t it?

“Thank you guys for an awesome fucking birthday,” she said as she got out, leaning back in to make sure and meet Cam and River’s gaze. “Seriously.”

Cam looked downright sleepy, and he stared at her so sweetly she wanted to tuck him right in. “I had so much fun with you today, even the hiking part.”

“Ditto,” River said, and winked.

Finally her attention fell on Dylan, and his eyes were dark and lovely andknowing.

He loves me.

“We’ll see you tomorrow morning,” he said, as if to saywe won’t be apart that long.

Ashley nodded. “Bright and early.”

She closed the car door with a smile and kept it pasted on her face as she made her way to her house, fishing out her keys. They jangled as she unlocked the front door and pushed it open.

Silence met her from within, and the hum of the car engine filled the driveway.

She turned to watch them pull away, and found the car still sitting in the same place.

She waved them off, but they didn’t move.

Just as she was about to retrace her steps back to them, thinking she’d forgotten something, Cameron appeared out of the sunroof, a grin on his face.

“Do you want to have dinner with us?” he called out. “It’ll be low-key. Takeout, even! We’ll have it delivered to my place!”

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