Daisy (lashton)

Chapter 14

"Luke, my boy, where've you been? We're about to cut the cake!" Martin's loud voice rang out through the hall as Luke made his way back into the venue, wiping the last of his tears and pulling his camera back over his head.

After the unexpected and surprising encounter with Ashton, Luke took a couple more minutes to collect himself. Ashton's words rang through his head as he took in a few deep breaths. Was Ashton right? Was his excuse for hating kids just that, an excuse?

"Sorry Uncle Martin, Dad," Luke nodded to each man, watching as his dad looked at him in concern, but Luke simply looked away, grabbing another champagne flute off of a passing tray and downing it in one go. "guess I just needed a bit of fresh air."

He tried to think back over his encounters with kids over the years. Of course there weren't many, Luke felt uncomfortable in the presence of children, and he knew that he was no where near the favorite uncle of his brother Ben's children. Luke was awkward around kids, but for the life of him, he couldn't explain the reason behind his strong dislike of them. Sure, kids were annoying, but that didn't justify the feeling in his chest when he thought about them.

Fuck, Ashton was right.

He didn't hate kids. He hated the idea of hurting kids. And he didn't really hate the idea of dating. He hated the idea of being hurt again. He hated the idea of breaking apart a family, again. He hated himself.

He hated what Drew had turned him into.

"Luke? Son? Are you okay?" Andy clapped a hand on Luke's shoulder, shaking him from his thoughts.

"Yeah, um," Luke cleared his throat before setting down his now empty glass and picking up another. "Yeah I'm fine. Just peachy."

"Now that's a load of bullshit." Luke laughed a bit before he brought his camera up to his eye, snapping a few photos as people ooh'd and aww'd when the kitchen doors flung open to reveal Ashton and another man carrying out a large cake.

"Is it about a boy?" Luke rolled his eyes as he continued snapping photos, stopping only when Ashton turned in his direction and they made eye contact. Luke stiffened, letting his camera lower back to his chest and Andy couldn't help but notice the way that Luke reacted.

Is it about that boy?"

"Dad!" Luke hissed. He could feel the tips of his ears redden in embarrassment.

"Do you two know each other? Because by the way that boy is blushing I'd say you two probably know each other a little too well." Luke groaned as he picked up his camera and pretended to be preoccupied by taking photos of the crowd.

They were just beginning to sing Happy Birthday to his godfather and he wanted to make sure he captured the moment.

"He's no one. Just a hook up." Luke brushed it off, snapping photos of the room and grinding his teeth when he noticed the way the other chef next to Ashton was standing a little too close.

"He doesn't seem like no one." Luke rolled his eyes before he continued taking pictures, ignoring his father's comment.

"I see you never told Uncle Martin about Drew." Andy shrugged as he picked up his own glass of champagne and took a sip.

"Didn't feel like it was my information to tell, and you haven't come to visit us in nearly five months. Which, by the way, has made your mother terribly sad." Luke knew when he agreed to photograph this party that he'd be facing a hefty guilt trip for not making the day trip sooner.

"I've been a bit busy recently." He knew the moment he stepped foot in his childhood home without Drew, he'd be bombarded by questions and sympathy. His parents knew they were no longer together and they knew it was a sensitive topic for their son, but it wouldn't stop them from digging, and Luke knew that's exactly what would happen if he made the trip out.