Chapter 8 ~ A Thing for Ashton

***

It was quiet in the bank. It hadn't opened yet, no customers were inside, employees were still sleepy and stayed in their own space, anxiously clutching travel mugs of coffee like it was their last lifeline.

Luke stood behind the computer in the far corner of the line, the one they don't often use because it's all the way in the corner, and kind of creepy because the light above it is out. It makes customers uncomfortable to be all the way over there, so they usually don't use it. Luke uses that computer though sometimes, when he has to do work for the company and doesn't want to get in the other employees way.

It wasn't unusual to see Luke sitting at a stool behind that computer. He tried to do work there as often as possible so that no one would bat an eye to see him sitting in the dark corner alone. That way, when he had shady business to conduct, it wouldn't seem out of the ordinary.

Gunner told him to mess with the ledger again. The ledger kept track of all the withdrawals and deposits made in the bank during the day, and generally was checked after the bank closed, and the total was verified in the morning, so they knew the balance in the vault at the start of the day.

Luke had made sure that people weren't too concerned with the ledger, he told them that he would take care of it for them when he was there, and since he'd been doing that for about 2 years, no one really looked at it. That made it much easier when he wanted to change the numbers around and make it look like there wasn't as much money as there was in the vault.

Why do that? What's the point?

When Luke and Ashton decided to take money from the bank, no one knew how much they actually got. They were able to take much more than anyone thought they got, because Luke fudged the numbers so it looked like less money was in the vault than there was. They figured the more money they took, the more likely someone would be to track them down. If the executives thought they had taken less money, it wouldn't be as much of a big deal.

And so far it worked. The executives were still upset, but not as upset as they would be if they knew how much had been taken from them.

So there Luke sat, fudging the numbers in small amounts, and over time, it added up to $100,000 unexplained extra dollars in Luke's pocket. It was pretty genius.

"What are you doing?"

Luke's heart stopped and he whirled around, panicking over who had caught him.

It was Niall, the little Irish man, standing a couple feet away and glancing behind him at the computer.

"Oh, hey, Niall. I'm just checking the ledger, making sure everything is adding up." Luke turned around and quickly saved the changes before exiting the program.

Niall took a step closer.

"Uhm, do you think..."

"What is it, Niall, I'm kind of busy right now." Luke sighed impatiently. He needed to get back on there quickly and make sure everything added up properly. He wasn't quite done yet.

"Oh, s-sorry," He bit his lip and backed away. Luke nodded and let him go, thankful that he didn't want to snoop. He had an excuse ready, he would just tell him he found a small inconsistency and it happened sometimes and that's what he was fixing, but it was always better to not have to use it. He tried to make sure as few people as possible saw him with the ledger. If anyone figured out what was happening and those asshole cops came back, they'd be able to connect the dots and Luke would be sent to jail faster than Michael could clap his hands in celebration.

Luke opened the ledger again when he heard someone clear their throat behind him. He was about to yell at the person for interrupting him, but before he was able, Niall started speaking again.

"I'm sorry to bother you, sir, but I was really hoping you could teach me about the ledger. I've been working here for almost 4 years and I'd like to start taking on more responsibility." Niall wouldn't look at him. He was nervous, his little speech seemed rehearsed, Luke realized. He was the bosses son after all, it was probably intimidating to talk to him.

"You want to look after the ledger?" he asked dubiously.

"Y-yeah, I thought it would be a g-good step to taking on more around here. I don't mind being a teller," he admits, "But I don't want to stay one forever."

Luke understood. He wanted a promotion.

"I don't think managing the ledger is the way to get what you want, bud."

Niall deflated, the twinkle always present in his eyes fading. He didn't understand why Luke was being like this, he didn't come across as the power hungry type who wanted to assert his dominance over everyone. Maybe there was another reason why he didn't want Niall to see it.

"Well, unless there's a real reason why I can't see it...would it hurt to show me some things?"

Luke sighed. He was asking fair questions, ones that he shouldn't have any issues with.

"Okay, here's the deal, Niall." The boy leaned in, eager to hear the compromise. "With everything that's been happening with the robberies, I don't feel comfortable handing over control of the ledger right now,"

Niall nodded.

"No, I understand that,"

"Great. But, since I like you and I think you're going places, I'm willing to draw up a mock-ledger for you to practice on. And I'm going to start paying more attention to you, make sure you're trustworthy and I'm going to start giving you more responsibility around here."

Niall grinned.

"Really? You'd do that?"

Luke shrugged.

"Sure, you're literally asking for it, why would I deny that?"

Niall was so excited he forgot all about how shady everything seemed before.

"Thank you, Mr Hemmings, I promise you won't regret it, you can trust me."

Luke smiled.

"I know I can, Ni, you're a great worker. And just call me Luke, Mr Hemmings is my father."

"Y-yeah, Luke. Sounds good."

Luke raised his hand for a fistbump which Niall returned before grinning and walking away.

Luke breathed a sigh of relief, quickly finishing the ledger before returning to normal work. That was too close.

***

After the stressful morning, the rest of Luke's day wasn't too bad. He did have to head to a different branch for a couple hours which he didn't like because that meant he wasn't with Ashton, but he was able to get back to the main branch before closing and see his friend.

He was the last to leave, locking the door and walking to the car park with Ashton. He told him a bit about what happened at the other branch before they went their separate ways.

Luke was kind of tired, it had been a long day, so when he got home, he changed out of his suit and into sweats and a "You complete me(ss)" shirt and decided to lay on the couch, appreciating the silence. His phone buzzed, a text from Ashton and he talked to him for a bit.

Megan walked into the room and immediately noticed her husband was home. She'd been in the basement in the craft room, working on a new painting when she looked at the time and realized Luke was probably home. She wondered why he didn't come look for her, when she saw him on the couch.

"Hey, baby, I didn't know you got home."

"Yeah, got back a little while ago," He said, not looking up from his phone. She wondered who he was texting, so she walked over to the couch and sat on his lap, lying down with her head on his chest. He had his arms over his head, holding his phone up and she was able to see messages from Ashton.

Why wasn't she surprised? He was always with him, or talking to him. She remembered last night when the two men had ignored her for hours, in their own little world together while they watched a movie.

"Luke, I think we should talk about something."

He hmm'd quietly, not really listening to her.

Sighing, she sat up and snatched his phone away.

"Hey!" He shouted.

"You weren't listening to me." She set the phone down on the coffee table next to them and moved over so Luke could sit up and they could talk.

"What's so important?"

She laughed bitterly.

"Clearly not me,"

Luke rolled his eyes.

"What does that mean?"

"Exactly what I said. You don't pay any attention to me anymore."

"That's not true, this morning I--"

"That's not the same thing," Despite herself she shivered, remembering the way he decided to wake her up this morning. "And you know it. I'm talking about just in general. Why didn't you come find me when you got home?"

"It was a really long day, baby, I just needed a minute by myself, I'm sorry."

"But you were texting Ashton,"

"That's different,"

"How? You can talk to him, but not to me?"

Luke put his hands over his face.

"I'm sorry you feel like I'm ignoring you. I'll do better to talk to you more."

"That's not it," Megan got up from the couch and walked into the kitchen. He wasn't getting it, she wasn't upset that he didn't talk to her enough. She didn't want him to just agree that he was going to try harder.

Maybe she didn't know what she wanted.

Or, she did, but she knew she couldn't ask that from him. She felt tears well up in her eyes and told herself not to cry.

"Then what is it, Meg, because I don't understand."

"That's the point!" she sobbed, finally letting the tears fall. "You don't get it,"

"Then explain it to me, hey," Luke rushed over, holding her in his arms. She wanted so desperately to cave, to give in and let him comfort her, but she couldn't. She pushed him off of her and took a step back. "Baby, what's going on?"

"I just...don't feel like I'm important to you anymore."

Luke frowned.

"You're my wife, of course you are,"

"Then why do..." Why do you care about your best friend more than me?

"What, what am I doing? I can't be better if I don't know what you're upset about, just tell me and we can work on it,"

Luke thought he knew what the issue was, but he wanted to hear it from her.

"No, it's not...I don't..." by now she knew she was making no sense but she couldn't help herself from getting more hysterical.

"Let's go sit down, take a minute to compose yourself, and we'll start again, yeah?" Luke nudged her shoulder and led them into the living room.

Megan took a tissue from the box on the coffee table and blew her nose while Luke sat on the couch next to her.

"All right, ready?" he asked once she'd been able to take a few breaths and she nodded. "Okay, tell me what's been bothering you."

"I don't want you to get mad," she started, but Luke rolled his eyes.

"Meg, if you're upset about something I won't be mad. No matter what your feelings are valid."

Luke knew he was going to have to step it up if he wanted this to work, but pretending was just so hard. So much of his life consists of him lying, and honestly it's exhausting.

"Well, I guess I'm just jealous." she admitted, her face heating up. Luke gave her a look, asking her to explain. "S-sometimes...when you're with Ashton you tend to forget everybody else around you."

"Megan, he's my best friend."

"I know that," she said quickly. "And I'm not asking you to stop being his friend, or telling you that you can't see him--"

"Good, because I won't." Luke interrupted. He stood, pacing in front of the coffee table. He was not about to give Ashton up, not for anybody.

"I know, Lukey. I know he's important to you and that--"

"He needs me, Megan. It's not just friendship,"

"Luke, I get it!" she puts her hands on his shoulders, forcing him to stop and look at her. "I don't need you to stop being his friend, or caring for him. I just need you to care for me as much as you care for him."

Luke scoffed.

"I don't care about him more, I love you, Megan."

It was Megan's turn to laugh. She let him go and turned away so he couldn't see her.

"I'm sure you think so, but recently, it hasn't felt that way." She thought about it. "Actually, it's always been like that, now that I think about it. I used to think it was cute, how close you two were, but he's always been the one you rush to when there's a problem."

"I don't--"

"No, you don't get to argue with me!" She faced him, eyes blazing. "I'm telling you that what you're doing is making me feel like I'm second rate. You can't tell me otherwise."

Luke sighs.

"I'm sorry you feel that way."

Megan scrunches her nose. That's it? That's all she gets? A half-assed apology?

"Well?"

"Well what?" He asks. "What do you want me to do?"

"I..." What did she want? "I want you to treat me like your wife, not some random girl you're kind of flirting with. I want you to sit and cuddle with me when we watch a movie, to find me when you come home because you actually want to see me."

Luke was silent. He didn't know what to tell her that was going to make it better.

"I'm sorry."

Megan shook her head.

"Don't apologize, I need you to promise that you see the issue with it and that you're going to fix it."

Luke bit his lip. He wasn't sure if he really wanted to change how things were. He liked the way his life was.

"C-can I ask you something?" Megan asked, leading him back to the couch. He sits next to her, and their knees touch. "Promise you won't get mad?"

"Megan, what do you want to know?" Suddenly, Luke remembered how tired he was and that all he wanted to do is sit on the couch and be alone.

Not alone, his brain thought. He shook the thought away.

"I just...please don't be angry. I'm not mad, I don't want you to get all indignant, because I think it's a fair question based on the behavior I've seen, but--"

"Megan!"

"Sorry." She squeaked, almost regretting the words that tumble out of her mouth next. But she knew if she doesn't ask, then things would continue to be horrible. This is the first step, she thinks, to repairing their relationship. "Do you have a...thing for Ashton, maybe?"

Luke opened his mouth, but for once he's speechless.

He was not expecting that question from her. He'd expected her to ask him to stop hanging out as much, even though she said that wasn't what she was about. He'd expected her to want to try out couples counselling, or even initiate like specific nights a week they have to spend together or something.

But to ask if he has a crush on Ashton?

"I...Ashton's my best friend, Megan."

"Yeah," she shrugs. "But sometimes feelings can develop between best friends, it's not uncommon. And you two are just so close."

"We're not--"

"You're always hanging out together,"

"That's what friends do--"

"And you cuddle all the time,"

"But we--"

"And you literally always know what he's thinking. Someone who's 'just friends' with someone doesn't have that kind of connection."

Luke felt his face heating up. How dare she say stuff like that.

"I don't like Ashton."

Megan frowned, resting her hand on Luke's arm as he thought about his friendship with his best friend.

"Lukey, it's okay if you do. You two are close, there's nothing wrong with having feelings for him--"

"I'm straight!" he insists, and Megan raises an eyebrow which angers him even more. "I am straight, you can't define my sexuality for me!"

"I'm not trying to, Luke." She shakes her head. "I'm just asking you to please take a look at that relationship, because I'm not going to be always coming in second behind your "best friend" while the two of you do...whatever it is you do when you're alone."

She knew that was a low blow, but she was frustrated and couldn't help it.

Luke's face exploded red and he stood up, rushing out of the living room and into their bedroom. Megan slumped back on the couch, thinking about the things she'd just said. It was horrible, but if he was just going to pretend, there's only so much she could do. She didn't want to be a second choice, she was in love with him. No matter who he was, she loved him. She loved their connection, she loved his wit and humor, she loved the way she felt when he actually paid attention to her. It made her feel like the only person in the world. She knew that was part of his charm, how he was able to be so close to and connect with people. But she wasn't going to live off scraps of his affection while he denied his obvious feelings for someone else, boy or girl, it didn't matter. She didn't deserve that.

She heard banging noises coming from the bedroom so she got up and found him opening and slamming closet doors and dresser drawers.

"What are you doing?"

"I need to go somewhere else right now. I'm really upset and I don't want to be here right now."

"Luke, you don't have to--"

"I do. Please stop." He brushed past her and into the ensuite, and rummaged around in there for a minute before coming back with a toothbrush and washcloth.

"Let's just talk this through, Luke, I didn't mean to upset you so much, I didn't think..."

"I don't want to talk about it."

He didn't sound like himself at the moment, he sounded hollow, and empty. Like he didn't even want to try. He wouldn't even look at her.

"If you keep ignoring this, we won't come to a resolution."

"I can't talk about this right now, Megan, please." He set his stuff down in the bag and laid his hands on the bed, taking a couple deep breaths.

"Well, we have to eventually."

"Not right now!" He yelled, storming out of the room. Megan sighed. Nothing she said was going to make it better. He needed to leave and cool off.

"Fine, Luke, just go then. Leave and calm down before you come back here and decide to act like a mature adult."

"All right, great. Have a great night!" He grabbed his car keys and slammed the front door shut without the bag he'd packed, leaving Megan alone in the kitchen.

***

I thought I posted this chapter yesterday morning but I didn't and ngl I was a little sad that there were no votes/comments 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️😂 what a dummy lol

Anyway, how do you like the ✨drama✨? I'm excited for things to get intenseeee hope you are too ☺️

~ashtonfortherwin