PAINTS, WORDS, & LIQUORS [LASHTON AU]

eight

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"Honey, I'm home!" I heard Ashton called as he entered the house.

I couldn't help but laugh and then I made my way to the front door to meet him. I walked over to him as he hung his jacket and placed his bag on the floor by the door.

He was supposed to be home last night but he had to reschedule his flight to this morning. So here he is now, just in time for breakfast.

"Hey..." I said, making him look at me and I smiled at him before leaning in and kissed him on the lips.

Ashton smiled after we pulled away and said, "It's nice to come home to you and with you greeting me like this."

I laughed lightly at what he said, "I expect the same from you."

"Well, that's not a problem."

"Good. Well, anyway, I'm sure you haven't eaten yet. I made breakfast."

Ashton's face lit up, making me chuckle fondly, then I took his hand and led him into the kitchen.

"This is perfect. I'm really hungry. I just had coffee. I woke up late and almost didn't get to the airport on time."

"Well, who's fault is that?"

"Yours. You kept me up too late last night."

I gave him a look of disbelief, making him laugh and then he hugged me from behind as soon as we entered the kitchen. He pressed a kiss on my shoulder and I smiled at that before I said, "Now, go sit down and I'll get the food."

"Thanks, honey."

I laughed at the pet name he used as I made my way around the counter.

"Whose dog is that?" I heard Ashton ask as he had his attention to the backyard, watching Petunia run around the grass.

I smiled and said while making a plate of food, "Her name's Petunia. Adopted her yesterday."

"So she's yours? She's gonna be staying here?"

"Yeah," I said with a shrug as I made my way over to the dining table then placed Ashton's plate in front of him before I sat down across him with my own plate.

Ashton looked at me with what seems like a mixture of surprise and disbelief and a little bit of...I don't know...irritation? Well, I honestly don't know how to feel about that.

"Why didn't you tell me first that you're getting a dog?" He confronted me.

I was slightly taken aback and I looked at him and said, "Well, I didn't think that I would need to tell you first. It was a decision I made for myself."

"Well, we're living together under the same roof, Luke. Don't you think that your decision of getting another living being to live in this house wouldn't affect me as well?"

I fell silent for a moment, surprised at the tone of his voice. So I gave him a tight smile and said, "You're right. I'm sorry." I stood up from my seat then and continued, "You finish your food. You're hungry."

With that I left the dining table, but didn't get to go far as he said, making me stop walking, "You're angry."

I took a breath and smiled tightly again as I looked back at him and said, "No, I am not." I sighed, "You are right, Ashton. This is your house and I am just living here. So I am sorry that I didn't tell you about the adoption and I didn't think about the consequences of my decision."

"Then where are you going?"

"To take care of my...mess. I'll make sure that my dog won't be in your way."