Waiting Tables

Chapter 23 - Making Improvements

    Ashton giggled, hiding his face in the towel as Luke scowled at Michael and tried to flick his nose.

    "That's the first thing I'm going to do when I get back to the office if you call me a dickhead again," he growled, winking at Ashton who just smiled. Michael grinned cheekily, stepping backwards.

    "I do have to go though, but maybe we can do a raincheck? Perhaps dinner one night this week?" Michael asked. Ashton nodded, he and Luke saying goodbye.

    The blonde shut the door, looking back at the man on the couch, smiling at him. After a moment, Ashton got uncomfortable, squirming under his stare.

    "What?"

    "I'm just so incredibly proud of you, is all."

    Ashton scoffed.

    "For what?"

    "For going out of your comfort zone and talking to my friend. A week, or even a few days ago, you never would have." Luke had noticed that after coming back from rehab, Ashton seemed scared most of the time. It seemed new, but something must have happened before was admitted. He just needed to figure out what. He sat next to him and gently placed a hand on his arm. "You're getting there, baby."

    Ashton couldn't stop his smile from growing. Maybe he was getting better. Soon he could get back to normal life without being scared of everything and everyone.

    "What's that?" to get the attention off of himself, he pointed at the briefcase that had been sitting by the door.

    "Oh, Mikey dropped some stuff off for me so I can keep working."

    Guilt flooded Ashton's senses. Here he was, being selfish and keeping Luke from his job when he could be helping people and making money.

    "I-I'm sorry, you don't h-have to stay here—"

    Luke quickly shook his head, shutting the thoughts down.

    "Don't even try, Tesoro, you know that I know I can go whenever I want. I want to be here with you, and I've made all the arrangements so that I can. That's one of the perks of being the big boss, I have people I can trust, and they're all adults, they'll be fine on their own. They know how to reach me if necessary, and I'm still doing what I need to do, both at the office...and here with you."

    Ashton nodded.

    "If you want though, I'll leave. Just say the word. I had thought..."

    "No, no," Ashton protested. "I love having you here, it's been..." he trailed off, looking into Luke's eyes. He couldn't find the words to express how much he appreciated what Luke had done for him, but he nodded understandingly.

    "You know," Luke started, then stopped. He bit his lip, looking up at Ashton. "You can tell me anything if you want. Not that you have to, but..."

    Ashton sighed, pulling the towel off his shoulders and running it through his hair for the last time. He threw it on the floor next to him and settled himself into the couch.

    "Get comfy, it's sharing hour," Ashton said dryly.

    Luke's eyebrows rose to his hairline.

    "You—what?"

    "I want to talk to you. That's what you want, right?"

    Luke shook his head.

    "It doesn't matter what I want, Ash, I want you to tell me whatever you're—" he stopped when he saw Ashton's face. He meant it. "Okay, sure, yeah. Let's do this." Luke had thought he'd get upset like he used to, or just brush him off, but he could see how much Ashton had improved in just a few weeks.