All Bets Are Off (Lashton)

Why does this have to be a game?

"It's great. I'll send it to submissions." Ashton smiled as he looked up at one of the writers.

"Whoa, I get final say here, not you." Luke snapped snatching the papers from Ashton.

"What? What about our deal?" Ashton frowned following Luke to his office.

"The deal was we work together." Luke reminded Ashton.

"Ugh, I just don't know how this is going to get us ratings." Luke groaned.

"Would you trust me already?" Ashton huffed.

"Your date last night went well did it not?" Ashton asked crossing his arms.

"It was one date. Don't get cocky." Luke rolled his eyes.

"If you'd been yourself he never would have kissed you." Ashton said taking a seat across from Luke.

"Oh, please, you don't know that." Luke shook his head.

"I do actually." Ashton grinned.

"Why do you think you know everything about guys?" Luke huffed.

"Because I do." Ashton answered.

"What makes you so sure?" Luke demanded.

"Cause I am a guy and I've been with enough of them to know how they all operate." Ashton answered.

"For instance. I know you've been checking your phone every five minutes in hopes that you missed a call from chisel chin. I know that if you don't hear from him by lunch you're going to call him, which I won't allow. I also know if you don't reach out to him by Oh say six pm. He'll text you with a simple had fun last night or we should get together again." Ashton smiled at Luke who looked annoyed.

"You mean I'll have to wait til six tonight to message him?"

"Oh, no you'll message him in the morning." Ashton answered.

"Morning?" Why do I have to wait so long?" Luke whined.

"Because you want him hooked. He's already curious. When you don't respond tonight, you'll have him interested. Then when he knocks on your door in the morning with a cup of coffee you'll take it, thank him and rush off to work even though he intended to drink it with you. Then you'll text him a simple thanks for the coffee really needed it, or whatever and he'll be hooked." Ashton shrugged confidently.

"I can't believe you have this all played out. What if he doesn't text me? Or show up with coffee?" Luke frowned crossing his arms.

"Don't you worry, he will." Ashton grinned before walking out.

-

"It's five-fifty I'm getting nervous." Luke bit his lower lip.

"Trust me at six o'clock you'll get a text, calm down and enjoy the food." Ashton said taking a bite of his steak.

"I can't calm down, I shouldn't have trusted you." Luke huffed.

"If he doesn't text you then you can say that but until then, I've been right so far." Ashton frowned at Luke.

"I just don't get it, why does this have to be a game?" Luke whined.

"It's not a game. It's how men operate." Ashton shrugged.

"I'm a man and I don't operate that way." Luke pointed out.

"There are four types of guys. Straight guys that want nothing but sex, straight men that want a real relationship, gay guys that want nothing but sex, gay men that want a real relationship." Ashton explained.

"You are a gay guy that wants a real relationship, chisel chin is a guy who wants nothing but sex. My job is to make you two meet in the middle. You be mysterious enough that he wants to be in a relationship with you." Ashton smiled.

"So which one are you?" Luke asked simply.

"W-what?" Ashton asked caught off guard.

"Which gay guy are you?" Luke asked asked being more specific.

"Who said I was gay?" Ashton winked causing Luke to laugh.

At that moment Luke's phone buzzed.

"Six o'clock on the dot." Ashton smiled smugly as Luke quickly pulled his phone out.

"Hey, Luke, I enjoyed last night we should go out again." Luke read.

Ashton watched Luke's eyes light up.

"He wants to go out again!" Luke bounced excitedly in his seat.

"See, what I tell you?" Ashton smiled.

"I can't respond?" Luke asked with pleading eyes.

"Nope." Ashton shook his head.

"Besides it's rude to text other guys when you're out with one." Ashton chuckled.

"Yeah, like I'd ever date you." Luke snorted.

Ashton forced another light laugh.

-

Luke was just finishing up getting ready when the door bell went off.

Luke's eyes widened. Calum.

Luke took a breathe remembering what Ashton had told him.

"Be calm, be short and be in a hurry." Luke repeated to himself.

One the doorbell rang a second time. Luke rushed to the door.

He opened it and just like Ashton said Calum was standing there with two coffee's.

"H-hey." Calum grinned.

"Oh, hey." Luke tried to seem surprised to see Calum.

"I text you last night and didn't hear from you." Calum said glancing at Luke's phone in his hand.

"Oh, right, sorry." Luke shifted uncomfortably. He wasn't supposed to spend too long talking.

"I umm, got you a coffee." Calum held out a to go cup.

"Oh I need this. Thanks. I'll see you later." Luke quickly hurried to his car before Calum could respond.

-

Luke walked into work with his coffee causing Ashton to smile smugly.

"Hey, what you got there?" Ashton smirked.

"Okay, you were right. Are you happy?" Luke sighed.

"I think the question is, are you happy?" Ashton asked with a smirk.

Luke rolled his eyes but grinned widely.

"I suppose." Luke chuckled.

"Well have you text him yet?" Luke asked.

"Not yet." Luke shook his head.

"Go for it." Ashton urged.

Luke grinned before pulling out his phone. He hurriedly sent a simple thank you for the coffee text.

"What's my next rule?" Luke asked when Calum responded.

"No rules. Just talk to him. But do me a favor don't babble too much about stuff he won't care about." Ashton smiled earning one from Luke as well.

*AN*
Update! Enjoy! Love you guys!