Ashton's Lie

chapter sixteen

"Careful Teddy, careful." I help him limp over to Ashton's hotel room couch and set him down.

Teddy puts his ankle on the table and I tell him I'll be back. I walk to the double doors to see Ashton coming in with an ice pack.

I cross my arms. "This is all your fault," I state.

He looks taken back. "No it wasn't."

"Yes it was!" I hiss. "He hurt his ankle because of you."

"I was on the phone while you were eating a hot dog," he says. "It's Teddy's fault for leaving us and running around rocks like he was on fire."

"There were birds circling around him," I say. "He's afraid of birds, jackass."

"Like I'm supposed to know that," he says walking to Teddy.

"I'm not mad guys!" Teddy says. "It doesn't even hurt that much!"

I roll my eyes. Teddy would say anything for us not to fight. He thinks Ashton and I will last forever which I know won't happen. It'll break his tiny heart to know we're fake and everything will end soon.

I look around the hotel room we were staying in. The place was nice, classy and fancy as usual and very pretty.

It was night out and chilly in here. I hug myself to keep from getting cold as I watch Ashton care for Teddy's bruised ankle.

"You okay?" Ashton asks.

I nod and go into the bedroom, flopping down onto my back. Ashton comes in minutes later. He takes off his leather jacket and lays down beside me.

I'm too tired to kick him out or even move. Today was a long day but Teddy is still energetic. I miss being a kid, growing up is a trap.
Is this your parents' hotel?" I mumble.

"Yeah, hope you don't mind but I'm too tired to drive you home," Ashton mutters.

"Where's Teddy?" I ask quietly, halfway sleeping.

"Other room." Ashton turns off the lamp. I want to get under the covers but my body feels numb and my head is throbbing.

As if he read my thoughts, he lifts me up and puts me under the duvet. I snuggle closer to my pillow, my warm clothes and the blanket making me feel warm and cozy.

I feel the bed dip and Ashton's body heat radiating off. I lift my head up an inch and see him shirtless, the duvet covering his lower body with his back to me.

I closed my eyes knowing this is the second time Ashton and I slept next to each other two days straight.

"Sweetheart," Ashton mumbled.

My eyes snap open and my body freezes.

Ashton wasn't sleeping.

He doesn't turn around or even move just like me. "Yeah?" I ask.

He doesn't answer. I slowly get up and look over his shoulder. His eyes were closed, his mouth was slightly open and his breathing was steady.

Was he sleep talking? About me?

I decide not to wake him and go back to sleep.

♠♠♠

"I'm on my way home mom." I put my phone in between my ear and shoulder as I pack my bags and get Teddy who's in the hotel living room.

Ashton was currently in the shower and my mom's bitching at me for not coming home or calling her. She thought I was kidnapped along with Teddy. Christian drove like a madman around town yelling my name. Surprisingly, he didn't get any noise complaints.

She mutters some things under her breath and I take the chance to hang up. I hear the bathroom door open and see Ashton walking out the bathroom with a towel around his waist and drying his hair with another towel.

The towel covering him seemed small. Too small. It was hanging way too low, looking like it's about to fall off of him. How did it even wrap around his waist? I watch his muscles move as he drys his hair. He doesn't seem to notice me or see me gawking at him.

He looks up and suddenly, his blue eyes pierce my own. He smiles at me, his dimples showing. It's the first time he's ever smiled, not smirk or grin. It suited him.

I wonder what's got him in such a good mood.

"Good morning sweetheart."

"Good morning Greek God," I drop my phone on the bed and lean against the bedroom doorway.

He chuckles. "You're really bold, you know that?" he asks. "Most girls would drop to their knees or stare with their jaw dropped but you're just telling me what's on your mind."

He walks closer until he's standing in front of me. I don't move my position or show any facial expression as I look up to his height.

"Do I look good like this?" he asked, showing his body.

I nod. "Oh, yeah, of course." I say in a 'duh' tone. Isn't it obvious?

He smirks at my response. "I'll be ready soon." He heads to the bathroom.

"Don't take too long!" I yell as he walks there.

"I won't!" he yells back.

"Taylor?" Teddy asks, walking into the room.

"Yeah, buddy?" I ask, bending down to his level.

"I like Ashton," he whispers like he's telling me a secret.

I smile widely. "I like him too," I whisper back. It was only half true. Sometimes he's annoying, sometimes he's alright.

Ashton comes out of the bathroom just as Teddy leaves. "I have a question," I say.

"Hit me," he puts on his leather jacket.

I walk over to him and punch his stomach. I hold my hand to my chest and groan in pain. "Aw, shit," I hiss in pain.

Ashton bursts out laughing. "I didn't literally  mean it," he says in between laughs.

"I was wondering if one of us were allowed to date outside of this fake relationship," I say seriously.

The night Ashton met my parents, I asked him how long this relationship would last. He replied with six months or a year. But I never thought about other relationships.

"No," he replied.

I frown. "Why not?"

"I planned this out," he says in all seriousness. "It would mean a lot if you went along. Think of it as a movie and you say your lines and do your role. No improvising. I don't want to risk getting caught. I shouldn't have to beg you, Taylor."

I could tell it was serious, especially since he called me by my first name for once. "No strings attached," I add.

He nods and shrugs. "That too."

He looked as if he wanted to say more.