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Chapter fifteen; amnesia Summer arrived promptly and Luke found himself starring out of the kitchen window at some of the neighbours and his friends who were gathered in the garden.
It was Calum who set it up. Of course it was, Luke you've lived here for how long? Interact with your friends! So here the blonde was, hosting a BBQ for the neighbours to keep Calum happy. Although he wouldn't deny the happiness he felt as he watched Lexi toddler around the garden, being fussed by everybody.
"You know Ashton is back in town." Michael said as he came and stood beside the blonde, joining him in starring out of the window.
"Yes, Michael. I know." Luke hummed, "He rings me to talk to Lexi all the time, he tells me when he's coming to see her."
Michael nodded beside him before adding, "And you still haven't made up yet?"
Luke groaned, dropping the knife that he had been using to chop fruit pieces up for Lexi and any other kids that ended up in his back garden. "Michael. We are not fighting anymore, we have both mutually agreed that we will share custody." He added, "Stop trying to make it into a bigger deal. He's coming today to see Lexi."
Michael started walking towards the door to find Calum but paused as he looked over his shoulder at Luke, causing the blonde to stare back at him with a frown. "I don't think he wants to be in London, Luke. And I think you know that too." And then he was gone, leaving Luke starring down at the chopping board helplessly.
"Not interrupting anything, am I?" Luke managed a smile as he saw Ethan enter the kitchen, offering Luke a drink that he had picked up outside. Yes, he had invited Ethan. Because Ethan was a friend.
"Of course not." Luke chuckled, silently thanking him for the drink. "Thanks for coming. Calum said I need more friends other than him and Lexi."
Ethan laughed at that before placing a hand on his shoulder and squeezing. "Im happy to be your friend too..."
The past couple of weeks, Luke had thrown himself into work at the bakery and looking after Lexi. Ashton had been dedicated to his job, however he had been checking in for updates for Lexi and spending time with her, without Luke. It was easier that way.
"Sorry about how it ended last time." Luke smiled awkwardly, referencing to where he had totally ditched the guy for Ashton.
"No need to apologise, in fact-" his words were drowned out by the door opening and a certain Ashton Irwin walking through the doorway, sunglasses already on the end of his nose despite being inside and his usual ripped jeans to finish the look. A stark contrast to Ethan and his gingham button up.
"Luke." Ashton greeted as if they were in a business meeting, however his eyes remained narrowed on Ethan as if he was trying to work out why the fuck he was here.
The awkward encounter only lasted a minute or so because Ashton was adding, "Where's my baby?" And it was then Calum walked in with Lexi on his hip.
The second the blonde child saw Ashton she was throwing her arms in the air in a desperate attempt to get to him. Luke smiled as he watched them reunite, Lexi instantly grabbing Ashton's curls while the man held her like he never wanted to let her go again.
"I missed you." Ashton cooed, pressing a kiss to her forehead. She was getting so big now, Luke was already planning how he'd do her hair for her first day at kindergarten. "Did you miss me?"
"Pa!" She grinned, tiny hands against his stubble. Pa was now Ashton, which Luke figured would soon become papa, Luke remaining dada. Although, it took them both a long time to accept the names, after they tried to correct her about fifty times that they were actually Ashton and Luke, but ultimately they decided that if they were going to raise her, Dada and Papa it was. "Yes!" She added, clearly happy to be back with Ashton.
"So Ethan is here." Ashton spoke up once it was just him, Luke and Lexi in the room. Ethan and Calum had headed outside. "That's nice."
Luke frowned at Ashton's words. "He's my friend. I'm allowed to invite him around."
Ashton nodded, eyes still focused on Lexi who was showing him her new train track. "So this is how it's going to be now I guess? Unless I'm around all the time, you're going to move the doctor in and soon Lexi will start liking him more than me and I'll be pushed out. Right? All because I got a job offer in London, huh."
Luke really tried to bite his tongue, after all, Lexi was in the room with them and he really didn't want her to see her two role models fighting. "Firstly. Me and Ethan are only friends, and that's all we have ever been. Okay?" He was not planning on getting another relationship. "Secondly, nobody will replace you in lexi's eyes. Okay? So don't even say that, if Erica and Isaac asked us to raise their daughter then it will always only be us raising her. Right?"
Ashton seemed to accept that response however grumbled under his breath as he turned back to Lexi.
The BBQ went on for another painful couple of hours, Ashton either spent time with Michael and Cal or some of the neighbours that had grown fond of him. Lexi spent most of her time in Ashton's hold.
"I'll see you soon, baby." Ashton sighed as he pressed a kiss to Lexi's forehead, slowly removing her grip on his jacket as he attempted to pass her back to Luke. As if she could tell he was leaving, she hung onto him with all her strength, starting to cry softly when Ashton moved backwards.
"I'll call you." Ashton mumbled to Luke, clearly feeling guilt over Lexi's tears. As clingy as she was to Luke, she also was with Ashton. "I love you." He whispered to Lexi before glancing up at Luke and forcing himself to look away.
"Fucking hell, that was heartbreaking." Michael spoke up once the door slammed shut and Ashton was gone again. Calum moved closer to Luke, pulling him into a side hug with Lexi.
"Luke... you know he'll go to London unless you tell him not to." Calum sighed as he held tighter onto his friend. Michael reached out and took a still sniffling Lexi from the blondes hold, Lexi only struggling against him for a few seconds before relaxing when she realised Luke was still in close distance.
"I can't tell him what to do." Which was hypocritical considering he told him to go in the first place. "He made his decision by leaving."
"You can tell him to stay." Michael butted in, swaying Lexi back and fourth and causing her to giggle at the fast movement.
"C'mon Luke, this isn't the life you want." Calum added, supporting his own partners argument. "A life without Ashton? Really?"
Luke has loved Ashton from the moment they met, not even their breakup was enough to ruin the love he had for the other man. And if you had asked him a year ago if he would have gone running after Ashton, he'd have laughed and would have never have done it.
Now? Starring at Lexi who so desperately wanted Ashton near her too, he decides pride was nothing compared to having his family back together.
Because that's what they were, a family.
"You think we could stop him?" Luke asked, looking between his two friends with hopeful eyes.
Michael smirked, "I'll drive, you all know I'm the best at it." Before adding, "Cal hold Lexi. Luke practice the best fucking speech you've ever heard in your life and let's go..."
