Ashley heard the door close from her spot on the bed. She had decided to stay home for the rest of the day because she really wasn’t feeling much better. Since she had stayed home, she had gotten some more studying done.
“Lucas? Is that you?” she called, standing and making her way to the kitchen.
Lucas heard Ashley’s voice, but he chose to stay silent, instead drowning his juice to cool himself down.
He hoped she wouldn’t try to talk to him. He didn’t want to snap at her. It wasn’t right to be angry at her for something that wasn’t even her fault.
“Lucas?” Ashley tried again, stepping into the kitchen. He looked upset… Was it because of what she’d said earlier? She softened her voice to ask, “Babe, are you okay?”
“Don’t,” Lucas said in a low voice. “Don’t talk to me right now. Please. I don’t want to upset you, or do something I don’t want to do.”
God, he loved her voice. He loved the soft feeling that came with it, but he couldn’t be in her presence. Not unless he wanted to lash out. Not unless he wanted to snap at her.
Ashley flinched slightly at his tone, the movement barely perceptible unless you were paying close attention to her. She nodded slowly and backed out of the kitchen with a quiet, “Okay…”
Lucas sighed loudly, putting his glass on the shelf, taking a deep breath.
“Damn it,” he cursed, tugging at his own hair. The hurt in her voice killed him. What was he even doing? Why did he hurt her like this? But he did this exactly so he didn’t hurt her more. He was feeling terrible right now and he didn’t want to say the wrong thing. “I’m such an idiot…”
The in-class competition hadn’t even started and the teacher already removed him from the selected candidates. Because he snapped in class. Because the team he lead, he lead poorly. Because he snapped at them because of the stress eating at him. He deserved what he got.
Ashley walked back into their room and rubbed at her face. What was going on? Where had all this tension come from? And it wasn’t the good tension, either, that came from a heated look or a long kiss. It was a biting, aching tension that made her want to just sit and cry. And she hated it.
Lucas shook his head, put the box of juice back in the fridge and grabbed his back.
He took out the notes he gathered for Ashley (no matter how frustrated he was, he didn’t forget) before walking into their room.
“Ashley?” He called, trying to sound calm.
Ashley pulled her hands away from her face at the sound of her boyfriend’s voice. She looked up at him and gave him a small smile, seeing the papers in his hands.
“Hey… Are those my notes?” she asked softly.
Lucas nodded, handing them over to her. He was about to walk back out when he stopped and looked at her hard.
Her eyes looked glassy. She was tearing up.
Shit.
“Ash, I’m not upset at you,” he started, trying to be as gentle as possible despite the irritation he felt. “Okay? I’m not upset at you.”
Ashley closed her eyes, her hand tightening slightly around her notes. “Okay… I just— Okay…” she sighed.
“I’ll be outside if you need me,” he said softly, turning around to walk to the living room before he paused. “Did you eat anything?”
“I didn’t feel like it,” Ashley admitted in a mumble, opening her eyes to look down at the papers being squished in her hands.
Lucas furrowed his eyebrows. He did not like the sound of that.
“Didn’t feel like it— never mind,” he shook his head. “I’m going to order a cheese burger with fries, and baked fish. We already have juice at our place, so I don’t think we’ll need to order any drinks.”
“Okay,” Ashley sighed, daring to glance up at him. “Luca… You know I love you, right?”
Lucas’s expression softened.
“I know,” he replied gently, walking over to her and wrapping his arms around her. “I love you, too, my angel. Nothing in the world will ever get rid of what I feel for you.”
Ashley nodded and buried her face in his neck. “Good… I’m sorry for earlier. I don't— My emotions are all crazy right now,” she whispered.
Lucas ran his fingers through her hair.
“No, you don’t have to apologize,” he said softly. “I’ve… been too protective of you. Not because I don’t trust you to take care of yourself, but because I’m worried about you. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
“I know… And I’m glad you care about me so much,” Ashley murmured, nuzzling him gently. “But maybe try to remember that you don’t have to take care of me all by yourself? I can help in this whole thing.”
“I know you can,” Lucas murmured. “But God, there’s a bean growing in your uterus that will literally tear through you to enter the world. Compared to that, what I’m doing for you is absolutely nothing. I want you to be safe, and happy and satisfied and let me take care of you.”
Ashley chuckled softly at his analogy and tightened her arms around him. “You’re ridiculous sometimes… Thank you, Lucas, for always being here for me.”
Lucas held her tighter, kissing her jaw softly.
“And I’ll always be here,” he said. “Forever. You aren’t getting rid of me that easily.”
“Like I’d ever want to,” Ashley chuckled, pulling back just enough to lightly press their lips together.
Lucas pushed against her, cupping her cheek softly.
“I’m sorry,” he breathed out. “For almost making you cry.”
Ashley let her hand find the back of his neck as he pressed back against her, playing with his hair.
“It’s okay… I know you were upset. And I’m just really emotional lately; otherwise, I would have been fine,” she replied softly.