Damaged ♡ Lashton ✔

Chapter 3

It's been three days since I met Ash, but it feels like an eternity. We exchanged phone numbers, but I haven't had the balls to text or call him. If he wants to get into contact with me, then there's nothing stopping him. I refuse to make the first move.

"Luke? Are you up?" Michael's head pops into my room and when he sees me lying fully dressed on top of my covers, he walks over and flops down on the bed beside me. "What are you thinking about, blondie?" He pulls me close and runs his fingers through my flat, blonde hair. Michael and I have always been super cuddly, but we've never been anything but platonic. Sometimes, you just need someone to hold you.

"Nothing," I mumble, lying my head on his chest and draping an arm across his stomach. I close my eyes as the feeling of his hands carding through my hair relaxes me, almost lulling me to sleep.

"You've been super quiet since you went to the dungeon. Did something happen?" His voice is soft, careful. When I look up, his bright green eyes are shining with concern and he has a slight frown on his face.

"I may have met someone..."

"Really?! Oh my god, tell me everything!" I chuckle at his enthusiasm and pull away from him, sitting up and crossing my legs.

"Well, his name is Ash, and he's... beautiful, Mikey. Absolutely stunning. He has this soft brown curly hair, these enchanting hazel eyes, a dazzling smile, the most adorable dimples..." I trail off with a dreamy look on my face, staring off at nothing as I picture the beautiful man in my mind. Michael's giggle snaps me back to reality and I glance back over at him with flushed cheeks.

"Someone is smitten," he teases, nudging me gently. I cover my heated cheeks with my hands and that just causes him to laugh more. "Oh god, Luke. I haven't seen you like this in ages. He must've been something else."

"He is," I sigh out dreamily. "He's so sweet and funny, has the most infectious laugh, and we spent hours just talking and getting to know each other. I felt... comfortable around him, y'know?" He nods along with me, a soft smile on his face.

"When are you seeing him again?" I frown and pull my bottom lip between my teeth.

"I have no idea... I gave him my number, but I haven't heard from him. Maybe he just isn't as interested as he appeared." I stare down at the chipped black polish on my fingernails and twist the ring around my finger. "Plus, I don't really know if I want him to message me," I confess quietly.

"What do you mean? He sounds perfect." I glance up at Michael whose eyebrows are furrowed, his lips turned down at the corners in a look of confusion.

"So did he," I whisper, my voice cracking slightly. Michael's face morphs into one of understanding and he lets out a soft sigh, scooting over so he's sitting beside me. He wraps an arm around my shoulders and pulls me close to him, placing a kiss on the top of my head.

"Think back to your first meeting with him. Now compare that night to the night you met Ash. Do you notice any differences?" I stay quiet as I think back to the night two years ago and then think about meeting Ash. "Well?" Mikey presses, rubbing his hand up and down my arm slowly.

"He was cocky and kind of full of himself, Ash was sweet and confident; he wanted to jump right into play to see if we were compatible, Ash spent the night getting to know me and making sure I felt comfortable; he seemed almost annoyed by my lack of knowledge whereas Ash almost seemed to find it endearing – he went out of his way to explain things to me that I didn't understand, and never once made me feel stupid or uninformed. I guess looking back now, he was always kind of a dick..." I rub at my eyes to try and force the impending tears away and a shaky sigh escapes my chapped lips.