Ashton’s POV

Hearing Ruth say the word ‘brother,’ calms the shit storm of jealousy raging inside me and replaces it with panic. As far as Luke knows, there are two strangers standing in his sister’s apartment and the motives for us being here can range from asking for a cup of sugar to exploring sexual fantasies. Both of which aren’t relatively close as to why we’re here.

The height comparison between Luke and Ruth is drastic and she looks like a child as she stands next to him. They hardly look alike and if she hadn’t told us that they were related, I would have never guessed it. However, as I take a closer look at the two, they do have the same nose shape which is literally the only thing that is similar between the two.

Luke stares and at me and Michael from the doorway and to end this awkward tension, I clear my throat and hold my hand out. “Ashton Irwin,” I introduce myself. “I’m Ruth’s neighbor and her best friend’s wedding cake decorator.”

He firmly shakes my hand and keeps his icy blue eyes locked on mine. “Luke Hemmings. Ruth’s brother and her best friend’s fiancé’s best man. You don’t look like the baker type,” he says and everyone else takes it as a joke, but I take it more as an insult. I take pride in what I do and I don’t need him belittling me. “I’m kidding. It’s nice to meet you.” Like hell you’re joking.

“Likewise.”

Michael comes up next to me and introduces himself as well. “I didn’t know you had a brother, Ruth,” he says, surprised. “And why do you guys have different last names?”

“Not very many people do,” she informs and closes the front door after letting Luke inside. “And our parents divorced before we went to high school and our mom took custody of him and my dad took me. Luke never really liked the name Powell, so when he turned 18, he legally changed it to our mom’s maiden name. We didn’t really have a choice in the matter when it came to the custody issue, so Luke left with our mom to Nevada and now we only get to see each other via Skype. The last time we saw each other was three years ago at a family reunion and even then it wasn’t for long.”

“But that changes now,” Luke announces and all heads turn to him.

“What are you talking about?” Ruth crosses her arms over her chest and gazes up at her sibling expectantly.

“I got a job here in town. I was able to get an internship with a local magazine company as their photographer. They got me a studio apartment downtown so I’ll only be half an hour away from you now.”

The excitement radiating off of Ruth is enough to put a smile across my face as she throws her arms around her brother and envelops him into a bear hug. As happy as I am for her to be reunited with her brother, this seriously makes things difficult for me. By the way Luke is glaring at me and Michael, I know he’s not happy that we’re in her apartment or that she’s friends with guys in general. It’s not the first time I’ve seen that look from an older brother and I know it won’t be the last. Protective brothers are the quintessential form of a cock-block and despite Ruth being an adult he’s going to make getting close to her a devil of a job.

“Hey, Ruth? Do you still want that pie?” I ask and she pulls away from Luke.

“Hell yeah,” she exclaims and I chuckle at her enthusiasm.  

Luke flickers his eyes between me and Ruth before settling on his sister. “I almost forgot that I got you a little gift,” he cheerfully announces.

Well great. He gets her a gift while I only have a fucking pie to offer her.   

“You didn’t have to get me anything.”

“No, but I wanted to. Think of it as a housewarming gift.” He smiles down at her and then looks over to Michael. “Michael, do you mind helping me bring it up here?”

“Uh, sure,” Michael answers hesitantly.

“How big is this gift?” Ruth questions and Luke smirks.

“You’ll see,” he says and heads out the front door with Michael.

I make my way over to the front door as well until Ruth calls my name and stops me in my tracks. “Where are you going?” She actually sounds upset that I was about to leave.

I turn around and look at the petite girl who is picking at her fingernails. “I was just going to get the pie from my apartment.”

“Do you need some help?”

“Not really, but if you’d like to come with me you can.” That may have been a bit too blunt.

She nods and heads out the door which I hold open for her. We take the short walk down the hall and head to my apartment and go inside the kitchen where the banana cream pie is chilling in the refrigerator. I take it out and place it on the island and Ruth’s eyes brighten when she sees it.

“So you’re really close with your brother?” I ask, pulling out a couple of plates from the cabinet as well as some silverware and set them next to the pie.

“Yeah, we’ve always gotten along well since we were kids,” she says with a smile. “After he left with my mom it was really difficult for the both of us because we didn’t want to be separated. We always found a way to keep in contact though—we would call each other all the time and Skype which helped, but it was still hard.”

I’m actually surprised that she’s willingly telling me this. We still don’t know each other that well and yet she’s letting me learn more about her. “I can’t imagine how rough that must have been—I wouldn’t know since I don’t have any siblings. At least he’s in town now so you two can see each other more often.”

“I know, I can’t believe it! I’m glad that his photography career is finally working out for him. He’s been working so hard to get an internship and all that work has finally paid off.”   

It’s weird seeing Ruth like this. Ever since her brother showed up, not once has she given me her sass or sarcasm. She has made a complete 180 and seeing this side of her is cute, though I’d rather see her feisty side any day. “So I guess your brother is the only exception in your view of all men being assholes?”

She snorts loudly and laughs. “Oh, not at all. He can be a total ass sometimes. He may not look like it, but I know that he’s holding back on making snide comments about you and Michael being in my apartment. Just because we’re blood-related doesn’t mean he’s excluded.”

Well, damn. Not even her brother can catch a break. Getting on her good side may prove to be a little more difficult than I had anticipated. “So Luke’s a little overprotective?”

“A little is an understatement.” She takes a swipe of whipped cream from the pie and slowly licks it clean from her finger. “When we were in elementary school he tackled a boy who was pushing me on the swing set because he thought he was touching me ‘inappropriately,’” she says, using air quotes.

When Ruth tries to steal another taste from the pie, I lightly smack her hand and earn a glare from her. “Stop eating it,” I scold. “Knowing you, you won’t save any for the rest of us. Grab the plates and help me out before you end up with whipped cream all over your face.”

“This is my reward for moving in. I should be able to eat it when I want to.”

“You mean your reward for sitting on your ass and trying to figure out where to put a lamp?” I tease and she chuckles lightly.

“I was wondering when your asshole comments would start coming out. I was starting to get worried.”

“Awe, you were worried about me,” I coo and Ruth rolls her eyes.

“I take it back,” she says and sneaks another swipe of the cream, but before she reaches her mouth, I lightly slap her hand to the side and the fluffy cream smears across jaw and partially up her cheek. She gasps and I try my hardest to stifle a laugh. “Not cool, Ash!” She should seriously consider calling me that more often.

“I warned you.” Being the semi-gentleman that I am, I grab a paper towel and let Ruth clean her face. “Now come on. I don’t need your brother to think I’m touching you inappropriately.”

She picks up the white plates on the counter and follows me out of the apartment. “I’m sure he’s thinking of far worse things than that.”

Great.

We interrupt Michael’s and Luke’s conversation in the entryway when we walk inside. By the way they were laughing together I’m assuming that they’re actually getting along.

Luke scurries over to his sister and locks his eyes on her face. “What the fuck is that?” He points to the small patch of whipped cream at the corner of lips that she failed to completely remove. “Were you off giving him a blow job?” he accuses and our eyes widen. The real Luke has finally revealed himself.

“What?” Ruth shouts and cleans off the excess cream with her thumb and shakes her head. “It’s whipped cream, Luke! I was just tasting the pie, chill out. Plus, does he look like the type of guy that I would do that to?”

Luke looks over to me and I divert my eyes away and look down to the pie in my hands, focusing on the small section lacking whipped cream. “Well you have dated your fair share of douche bags…” he says, not even attempting to sugar coat it.

Ouch. I know I’m not class A boyfriend material, but douche bag is a bit degrading.

“That’s not the point, Luke,” Ruth says, sighing. “He’s my neighbor for god sake. I have a bit more respect for myself than you think, so don’t go around assuming things. Now apologize to him.”

He huffs and drops his shoulders, letting them relax. “Sorry, Abel.”

“It’s Ashton,” I correct.

“That’s what I said.”

“No you di-”

“Okay, enough you two,” Ruth cuts me off and Michael covers his mouth to muffle his laugh. She gives Luke a warning look and then guides us over into the empty living room. “So where’s my gift?”

“Well, if you would actually look in front of you, you’d be able to see it,” Luke answers and places his hand on her shoulder and points to the space above the mantle of the fireplace. Hanging centered on the wall is a large flat-screen TV and from the way Ruth squeals and almost drops my plates, she loves it. “Michael and I already hooked up the cable so all you have to do is sit back and enjoy.”

Ruth hands Michael the plates before hugging Luke tightly and giving her thanks repeatedly while I stand and watch with my lips pursed and eyes flickering from the pie to the TV. There is absolutely no competition between the two and I regret not getting her a different gift so that I can one up her brother. I break up their embrace again and have them all follow me into the barren kitchen where I begin slicing up the pie and placing each individual piece on a plate. I give Ruth the biggest piece and Luke the smallest because I want to push his buttons and from the unamused expression he gives me, I accomplished just that.  

I never get tired of watching Ruth enjoy what I make. Her facial expressions are priceless and every noise that comes out of her mouth is music to my ears.

“Is this store bought?” Luke asks and I drift my gaze away from Ruth and look to the blonde boy with a fork shoved in his mouth.

I run my tongue over my teeth, irritated that he would have the nerve to even ask that; like he would know the difference between store bough and homemade pie. “I made it actually,” I answer monotonously.

His mouth forms an ‘O’ and he returns to eating. After finishing about a third of the pie and letting Ruth save the rest for whenever, Luke announces that he has to leave. “I wish I could stay, but I have a meeting with the editors in the morning.”

“That’s okay,” she says. “Maybe afterwards you can come with me to go furniture shopping?” Her eyes are hopeful, but the creases in Luke’s forehead break that hope.

“I can’t. I’ll be on the job all day.” His tone is full of guilt and if he didn’t insult my baking maybe I would feel sorry for him.

“I can go with you,” I pipe, gaining everyone’s attention and a direct glare from Luke. I ignore him and say, “I’m off for the weekend and I don’t have any plans, so I can come if you’d like.”  

Ruth’s eyebrows rise and for a split second I thought I saw her lips curve up. “You sure? I don’t want to bore you with that.”  

“It’s fine. Maybe you can help me pick out some things for my place as well since the only thing that I seem to be able to decorate is cakes.”

“Okay then. Michael, do you want to come too?”

The lilac-haired boy shakes his head. “Sorry, can’t. Unlike Ash, I have to work.”

She nods and goes to give Luke a hug goodbye. How many times are they going to hug? I want a hug. Hug me. “Let me know when you’re free so that we can hang out,” she says and pulls away from him.

He ruffles her hair and agrees. After giving Michael and I a subtle nod, he finally leaves the apartment. It’s about goddamn time.

Ruth tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. “I’m sorry about my brother. He can be a little…”

“Crazy?” Michael finishes her sentence. “Over-fucking-protective, like holy shit, seriously?”

She chuckles hesitantly. “Yeah…”

“It’s fine,” I say. As long as he doesn’t insult me again, it’s fine. “We should probably head out. It’s already late and I’m sure you don’t want us here longer than necessary.”

“Not really,” she bluntly replies and then giggles. “Thank you guys for helping me move in. I really appreciate it.”

“That’s what neighbors slash friends are for,” Michael says, earning a smile from Ruth. Now if you’ll excuse me, my bed is waiting for me.” He lets out a long yawn and I struggle to stop myself from yawning as well.

She laughs lightly and waves him goodbye as he walks out through the threshold. I wouldn’t mind staying here longer, but Ruth’s tired eyes keep me from doing so.

“I guess I’ll see you tomorrow?” I wait for her to reject me and say that she only said okay to my request to annoy her brother, but she doesn’t.

She nods and smiles happily. “See you tomorrow.”

With that I give her a small wave and close her front door behind me. I wait outside for a few seconds until I hear her lock the door from the inside before heading back to my place. Once inside, I head straight over to my room and crawl into my bed.

She’s finally within walking distance from me and I couldn’t be happier. She may still think I’m an ass, but she’ll come around soon enough as long as her brother stays the hell away, although, from the way he acted towards me, even I know that it’s too much to ask for.  

________

A/N:

I finally updated after like 3 months. I am so sorry. Thank you all for waiting for me though! I had a difficult time writing this and it took longer than I anticipated because I forgot what I was doing with the plot, but I remembered and hopefully I can update faster.   

Please don’t forget to vote, comment, and share! Thank you guys so much for reading :)

-Rebecca xoxoxoxoxo

P.S. I'd like to give a shout-out to @hopelessinside for making the awesome new book cover for me! :)