Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
chapter five; adapting Luke wouldn't deny that it was hard to adapt from a life as a single, independent to a man that now had a toddler in his care. After all, he was no longer his main priority but instead it was a two year old who he took everywhere with him.
It wasn't just that either, Ashton was with him all the time- apart from the time he left for work. They had both agreed to stay at the house, knowing they both needed to be there for Lexi it just made more sense to stay at Erica and Isaac's full time with her. Although, Luke wouldn't deny the guilt he felt when the lawyer had replaced Erica and Isaac's names on the tenancy with Luke and Ashton's.
They hadn't argued, yet. Although, Luke figured that was because they hadn't spent any alone time together. Lexi was always with them and when she went to bed they did separate things, Luke often in the home office sorting through paperwork for his bakery while Ashton watched a sport channel that Luke would prefer to avoid.
They often tried to avoid domestic tasks, so when Ashton asked if they should go pick up groceries together, Luke was a little shocked.
So that's how he ended up in the local supermarket, pushing a cart while Lexi sat in the little kiddie seat while Ashton threw a bunch of food in the cart, despite Luke's protests.
"We don't need that many flavours of ice lollies, Ashton." Luke sighed as he picked a box up and threw it back into the freezer, making the other man glare back. Although for once, his annoyance seemed lighthearted.
"Lexi wanted them." Ashton argued, of course he'd use the kid as an excuse. Parent 101. "Didn't you, Lexi? Tell Luke he's being mean."
Lexi just giggled between the two adults, and Luke for once found himself smiling between the toddler and Ashton, amused by Ashton's humour.
"I didn't realise I was looking after two kids." Luke teased as he pushed the cart further down the isle, hoping that would distract Ashton from his blueberry ice pops. Thankfully it did as Ashton followed behind them, eyeing the shelves as he did. "Ashton c'mon, I actually want to get home in time to be able to bath Lexi before she falls asleep in her high chair-"
Luke cut himself off as he pushed his cart straight into another person, swearing under his breath he glanced up and met a pair of familiar eyes.
"Luke-" Ethan grinned as they both realised who each other were. "I'm starting to think you like bumping into me at supermarkets-"
"I'm so sorry." Luke awkwardly rubbed his neck, "I wasn't looking where I was going."
Ethan smiled. "Hey, no worries. Neither was I. So-" his words were drowned out as Ashton caught up to him and Lexi and eyed the man suspiciously.
"Uh, um, Ashton this is Ethan." Luke mumbled his words, "And this is Lexi." Luke said that part a little more proudly, Ethan grinned as he spotted the toddler in the chair putting a hand out which she happily grabbed.
"Oh, she's cute." Ethan smiled, tickling Lexi slightly which caused her to burst into a fit of laughter. "Aren't you? Very cute!"
Luke smiled at the scene in front of him. Lexi liked Ethan, that was a good sign.
"Is she yours?" Ethan asked, looking in between Ashton and Luke. Ashton still hadn't changed his expression, his eyes remained narrowed and he had his arms crossed over his chest.
"Uh, we are her guardians. Yeah." Ethan seemed to get the message that maybe this was a complicated subject to ask about at the moment, so he just nodded and turned his attention back to Lexi.
Luke looked up at Ashton to see the man was frowning at Ethan and Lexi laughing together, the blonde quirking an eyebrow when Ashton held his arms out for Lexi. And Luke knew how much Lexi loved being held by Ashton so of course she made grabby hands at him, Ashton smiling suddenly as he picked her up from the cart and shot a quick smile in Ethan's direction before turning to look, "Meet you at the checkout." And then they were gone, luke watched longingly as Ashton placed the two year old on his shoulders and walked away.
"Is that... sorry if this is too personal, but is that your boyfriend?" Ethan asked, clearly picking up on Ashton's pissed off vibe.
"Oh, nah." Luke chuckled awkwardly, "We're not together..." anymore, was left unsaid.
"So that means we could maybe meet up sometime soon?" Ethan asked with hopeful eyes and Luke glanced around, biting at his lip which he often did when he was nervous.
"Maybe." He smiled, "I'll see you around." And then he walked away, ready to find Ashton and Lexi and get the hell out of this place. He realised he might have been a bit dismissive to Ethan there, but he was a little preoccupied at the moment.
He did find Lexi and Ashton at the checkouts. Ashton was flipping through a magazine, occasionally pointing out pictures he thought might interest Lexi. While the toddler sat on his knee was more interested in the chain around Ashton's neck, tugging it with all her strength.
Luke quickly packed the groceries before reuniting with the pair, Ashton looking up at Luke with a quirked eyebrow. "Where's your friend gone?"
Luke frowned, "he's shopping, y'know, what people usually do at the store."
"Who is he anyway?" Ashton asked while pushing the cart with one hand, Lexi held in the other.
"He's a doctor." Luke shrugged, "We only bumped into each other once, why?"
Ashton pursed his lips, walking ahead with Lexi with no response for Luke. Right, sure. Luke knew better than to push Ashton, so instead he caught up to them and passed Lexi her bottle, deciding his guardian duties were much more important right now.
"This is awfully domestic." It was later in the day now and Luke had invited Calum and Michael around the house for dinner, deciding that they had to bring some normality into Lexi's life.
Ashton and Michael were in the front lounge, entertaining Lexi with her favourite tv show and Michael was drawing with her. An act that Calum thought was, freaking cute, to quote the brunette.
"Well, the setting makes it domestic." Luke shrugged, in defence of himself. "But it's not domestic in the way you are implying it is."
Calum smirked as he followed the blonde around the kitchen, watching Luke cut up some vegetables into tiny pieces. He gathered they were for Lexi. "You're living with your ex boyfriend and a toddler. I might ring up the local radio station-"
"You're annoying." The blonde sighed, although there was underlying humour in his tone. "I wish Michael was in here instead of you."
Calum grinned, "Well I wish Ashton was in here instead of you."
They were both silenced by Ashton walking into the kitchen, a messy looking Lexi on his hip. The toddler had one pigtail in while the other hairband had fallen loose so half of her hair was up, the other hair remained down. She had crayon all over her tee shirt, and now Luke noticed Ashton had purple over his own too.
"You both look like you've had fun." Calum chuckled as he also took in their appearance.
"Lexi is expressing her creative side." Ashton agreed, placing the toddler down on the kitchen counter while he washed them both up. "Isn't that right my little artist?"
"You look cute with a toddler, Ash." Michael complimented as he walked into the kitchen, messing up Ashton's hair as he walked past. "Don't you think Luke?"
The blonde rolled his eyes, placing the large bowl of pasta on the dining table before reaching over and picking Lexi up before placing her in her high chair. "Dinner time."
Ashton grinned and took a seat beside Luke, trying to ignore the fact that this totally looked like a double date.
