Damaged ♡ Lashton ✔

Chapter 20

"We're not late, are we? Fuck, we're totally late. We should have just had a quick shower and left, but no, I can't control myself around you, and now I'm meeting your mum for the first time, freshly fucked and late." Ash keeps glancing over at me, eyes alight with amusement as I rant in the passenger seat, wringing my hands together in my lap as my eyes dart around at the scenery passing by.

"Babe, just relax. We're not late, it's going to be fine. And even if we were a few minutes late, she wouldn't care. Just breathe for me, okay?"

"But Ash!" I whine, turning my body to face him. "I care! I want to make a good first impression, and being late is not the way to do that." I pull on the hem of my t-shirt anxiously before pausing my movements and looking back at him with wide eyes. "Am I dressed okay? Is this too casual? Oh god, she's going to think I'm a slob, isn't she? She's going to hate me, and then make you break up with me, and..."

"Luke, listen to me. You need to breathe, okay?" He takes my hand in his and starts rubbing soothing circles into my hand while I try to calm my suddenly erratic breathing. "My mum is going to love you, and do you want to know how I know that?" I bite my lip and look up at him with slightly teary eyes as I keep trying to calm my nerves. "Because I love you. Believe me when I say that you have absolutely nothing to worry about. She won't give a shit what you wear, if we're late, what you look like in general – all she'll care about is happy you make me, and that will be enough for her. Please stop stressing about this." Once he finishes his speech, he picks my hand up and places a soft kiss to my knuckles, effectively calming me down completely.

"I'm sorry," I whisper, leaning my head against the window. "You're right, I have nothing to freak out about. Plus, going to meet her tonight was my idea, so I need to chill. You'll be there the whole time... right?"

"Of course, Princess. I won't leave your side, I promise."

With his reassurances at the forefront of my mind, I squeeze his hand gently and we spend the rest of the drive in comfortable silence. It doesn't take long before we pull up in front of a cute, white, two storey home with colourful flowers lining the front. As soon as we start walking up the little cobblestone walk, an older woman with blonde hair and clear blue eyes opens the front door and steps onto the front porch.

"You're here!" she calls out happily, bouncing on the balls of her feet with her hands clasped in front of her as we make it up the front steps, a wide and friendly smile spread across her lips.

"Hey, mum," Ashton says as he pulls her into a hug and presses a kiss to her cheek before standing beside her and wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "Mum, I'd like you to meet my boyfriend, Luke. Luke, this is my mother, Anne."

"Hi, it's nice to meet you ma'am," I say with a shaky smile as I stretch my hand out for her to shake. Her smile brightens further and she steps away from Ashton, ignoring my hand completely as she pulls me into a tight hug. My eyes widen slightly and I return the hug, albeit a little more cautiously, as I glance over at Ashton who simply winks in return.

"Please, honey, call me Anne. I'm so happy to finally meet you, I've heard so much about you," she gushes, pulling back to press her hands against my cheeks in a motherly way. I can't stop the smile from creeping across my lips as my eyes dart over to where Ash is standing a few feet away, a light blush on his cheeks. "Come in, come in! Food will be ready shortly." She takes my hand in hers and leads us inside the house, the smell of chicken permeating my senses and making my mouth water.

"Mum, are they here?" an excited female voice calls from somewhere in the house, followed by a set of footsteps coming down a set of stairs. A girl a few years younger than I am comes running into the foyer, a wide grin on her face when she sees us, and immediately runs into Ashton's outstretched arms.