Daisy (lashton)

Chapter 49

​​Ashton took in a deep, shaky breath. His fingers clenched and unclenched around the steering wheel as he tried to will the tears that gathered behind his lashes away. If there was anything that becoming a parent taught Ashton, it was how to pretend he had everything together, even when things seemed to be crumbling to pieces. And right now, Ashton was being buried alive in the rubble that was his relationship.

Daisy's cries had long since died down as he drove around the city, like he used to do when she was a baby and couldn't sleep. After a good 30 minutes, she finally settled in her carseat, Ashton assuming she'd fallen asleep until her small voice spoke up.

"Daddy?" It was the softness in Daisy's voice that finally made him crack. As quickly as the tears fell, he swiped them away, not wanting his little girl to see him like this. To see him weak over a man.

Ashton always promised himself he'd teach Daisy never to let anyone walk over her in a relationship, and here he was being the world's biggest hypocrite. It was pathetic, and sent anger rippling through his chest. It was almost enough to mask the pain from Luke's dismissal- almost.

"Yes Pumpkin?" Ashton cleared his throat, trying to hide the way his voice caught.

"Are you okay?"

Ashton bit his lip as he thought through his answer carefully. Was he? God no.

"I will be." He settled on, nodding his head as he finally calmed down enough to turn back down their street and towards the apartment complex. The self pity and sadness he'd been feeling ever since his phone call with Luke had been slowly transforming into anger, both at himself and the stupid blonde boy that had somehow wormed his way into his heart.

He watched through the rearview mirror as Daisy nodded. "Okay. Can we have spaghetti for dinner?" The father couldn't help but chuckle, the pain he was feeling pushing to the back of his mind as he parked the car in front of their building and began gathering their things.

"Sure thing, Angel."

* * *

He grabbed his phone from the counter, flipping it over to see the picture he'd taken of Luke and Daisy cuddled up watching Scooby Doo on the couch.

No notifications.

"A watched pot never boils, you know." Anne said, making Ashton jump as he whipped around to face his mom.

"When did you get here?" Anne laughed, walking across the room to wrap her eldest in a hug.

"I just got here, Daisy opened the door."

"She really needs to stop opening the door every time someone knocks."

Anne laughed, nodding as she joined her son at the stove top. "Yes, but I'm her grandma, so it's okay." She shrugged, glancing in the boiling pot of pasta. "Do you ever feed this girl vegetables?"

"Yes," Ashton scoffed, grabbing the bag of broccoli from the counter and pointing towards the Alfredo sauce he had heating up in another pot. "I just didn't have the energy to argue about it tonight, so broccoli covered in cheese sauce it is."

Anne nodded, turning towards her son. "Calum told me what happened."

Ashton chuckled, stirring both pots to avoid eye contact. "Since when do you and Calum text?"

"Since Daisy's party when we swapped numbers to keep an eye on you. He said something happened earlier. Wanna talk about it?"

Without hesitation, Ashton shook his head.

"Okay, well then how about I talk and you listen?"

He knew it wasn't really a choice, so he just shrugged.