Behind The Limelight 35: Outbursts

“You better come back soon, you hear me?” Helena ordered, hugging Ashton tight. Ashton relaxed in her embrace as he nodded. “I’m not going to wait years to see you again. If you’re not here for Thanksgiving and Christmas then I’m coming to L.A. and dragging you home by your ear.”

“I’ll be here, I swear,” Ashton said, and he meant every word. All of his holidays in the last few years were spent at clubs and parties, and he’d much rather celebrate the festivities at home surrounded by people that he actually cared about.

“Good, good, honey you’re going to squeeze the life out of him if you don’t let go now,” Jim said with a chuckle.

“Mind your own business, you old man,” Helena huffed, but eventually let go. She then proceeded to threaten Ryker just the same.

It took a while to say all the goodbyes. Ashton exchanged numbers with Parker, he had a feeling they would end up being close friends someday. Abi made Ashton promise that he’d come to the wedding, and Ashton agreed in a heartbeat. Overall, it was an emotional morning, and by the time Ryker and Ashton left, he was a little drained.

Ashton was sad. When he came back to the town it was like stepping into a picture book. Full of memories, and now that he was leaving…it was just a sombre affair. He wished he could’ve stayed longer. But life didn’t work like that.

On the other hand, as Ashton glanced at Ryker, it reminded him of what had changed during this trip. A change that he was taking back to L.A. He was content with that.

Ryker looked at Ashton, noticing that the other actor had been staring at him. Ryker passed him a small smile, before keeping his hand on Ashton’s thigh, squeezing it reassuringly.

Ashton gulped as he looked down at Ryker’s hand, which apparently the man had no intention of moving. Ashton was wearing jeans, yet it felt like the warmth of Ryker’s touch was burning through the cloth and traveling inside his body.

“If you have other plans for Thanksgiving then you don’t have to—”

“Are you kidding me? There’s no way in hell that I’m missing out on the turkey that Jim makes,” Ashton scoffed. “I don’t care whether you’re going to go or not, but I definitely will.”

“Of course I’m going to be there too, who else would make the mashed potatoes?” Ryker said.

“I’ll learn,” Ashton shrugged nonchalantly.

“Sure you will,” Ryker smirked. “You almost burnt the house down trying to make instant noodles.”

“That was one time!” Ashton exclaimed. “And seven years back! When will you let it go?”

“Never,” Ryker teased.

“Keep annoying me and the pillow is going to be back between us on the bed tonight,” Ashton muttered, folding his arms in front of his chest.

Ryker furrowed his brows in confusion as he glanced at Ashton, who clearly hadn’t realized what he had just implied. When Ryker didn’t say anything for a solid minute, it finally hit Ashton. He turned to face Ryker, his cheeks a light shade of pink due to the embarassment.

“Not that I’m inviting myself over to your place,” Ashton spoke. “Or calling you to mine. I mean, it’s cool if you want to come over. I’m not— I’m not asking you to come to my bed. I’m not saying no either, but like, you know what? Just forget that I—”

“Ash,” Ryker cut him off. “I’ll need to take a detour if I have to drop you home first. So you should might as well just stay the night at mine.”

“Oh,” Ashton nodded. “Okay. Cool.”

Ashton knew Ryker wouldn’t have minded the detour. Or he could’ve simply asked his driver to pick him up from Ryker’s house. It was just an excuse. A white lie. Both of them knew, but they still kept up the façade. It was easier that way.

“How about some tacos for dinner? I can—”

Ryker was interrupted by Ashton’s phone ringing. Ashton looked at his screen, it was an unknown number. He accepted the call without thinking too much, regretting it almost immediately as he heard the voice on the other end.

“Ashton Alexander Archer,” Rebecca, Ash’s mother, spoke. “Do you have any idea how many times I’ve called you? How many messages and voicemails I’ve left? You weren’t even at home last night!”

“I do know, and to think that you would get the hint that I have absolutely no interest in talking to you,” Ashton snapped. He was gritting his teeth in frustration, his mood took a one eighty degree turn in mere seconds.

Ryker glanced at Ashton, frowning again as he didn’t know who Ashton was talking to, but his agitation was crystal clear.

“I am your mother, Ashton!” Rebecca exclaimed, her voice loud and sharp. “I did not raise you, give you every single thing that you have ever wanted for you to ignore me when your family needs you!”

“I told you once and I’m telling you again for the last time,” Ashton paused for a brief second. “I am not going to help you. I am not going to help you convince Cora to do anything that she doesn’t want to. If there’s ever a media or public backlash, then I will deal with it. But I’m not taking your side on this.”

“I’m not taking no for an answer, Ashton,” Rebecca said, and Ashton couldn’t help but exhale deeply.

His nails were digging into his thigh as he tried to control himself from yelling at his own mother. Ryker noticed, intertwining their fingers together, making Ashton sigh.

“Then you’re just delusional. Get help,” Ashton retorted, calming down slightly.

“I’m sending you her number. Call her. You know what to—”

“If you contact me again then I’m filing for a restraining order against you,” Ashton threatened, shutting up his mother in an instant. “Won’t that make for some fantastic front page news? Ashton Archer gets a restraining order against his own mother, superstar Rebecca Archer!”

“You wouldn’t dare…”

“Try me.”

With that, Ashton hung up, not waiting to hear what more his mom had to say.

“Easy tiger,” Ryker said softly. Ashton looked at him, before looking down at their hands. He didn’t even realize that he was gripping Ryker’s hand that tightly.

“Sorry,” Ashton muttered, loosening his hold, but not letting go.

“It’s fine,” Ryker paused. “I take it that was your mom? Are you okay?”

“Yeah, yeah I’m fine. Just really annoyed,” Ashton answered. “That woman has no sense of boundaries. I’ve told her so many times but…fuck it. I don’t care. Fuck it.”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

Ashton tilted his head, his eyes on Ryker as he thought about the entire ordeal with his father and Cora. It was…sensitive information. And Ashton previously hadn’t been open about sharing it with Ryker. But now he did have confidence in the other man, he did trust him.

So Ashton told him. 

“You remember Cora?” Ashton asked, Ryker furrowed his brows, before shaking his head. “Her mom used to be one of the housekeepers. Cora…blonde hair? Green eyes? Used to play hide and seek with us?”

“Oh yeah! She left when we were like fifteen though, right?” Ryker finally recalled.

“Yep,” Ashton nodded, not knowing how to say the next part without burning in shame. “Turns out she came back recently and she and my dad…they were sleeping together, and now she’s pregnant.”

“Wait what? She’s half his age!” Ryker exclaimed.

“That’s what I said,” Ashton sighed. “Anyway. She’s not signing an NDA and my mom’s worried she might go to the press and ruin the family name. So she’s been behind me to talk to her.”

“How would that even help? You haven’t spoken to her in like ten years.”

“I know! But my mother believes I can get her to do this because we used to be friends. But I told her no. I’m not going to talk Cora into doing anything that she doesn’t want to. If she wants to tell the world, then it’s her choice. My dad fucked up and if we all have to suffer for it then so be it.”

“Maybe you should talk to her, you know,” Ryker added. “Not on behalf of your mom, obviously. But… I’m sure she must be feeling pretty lonely right now. However fucked up the situation is, the baby is related to you so maybe you can let her know that you’ve got her back?”

“I didn’t even think about that,” Ashton mumbled. “You might be right.”

“I always am,” Ryker replied smugly, making Ashton roll his eyes.

“Shut up,” Ashton said, though he knew that Ryker was only joking. “Hey Ryker, I have a question.”

“What is it?”

“I’ve been super mean to you,” Ashton began. “I’ve insulted you. I’ve told you I hated you. But you still took me home with you. I’ll never say this again but you’ve been nice to me. And kind. You help me out even when I don’t ask for it. And you’ve been saying all this…puzzling stuff for months now. I don’t get it. Why?”

“Ash, are you a fucking idiot?”

“Huh?” Ashton blinked.

Ryker sighed, not saying anything as he focused on driving, before parking the car at the side of the road where it was safe to do so. Ashton’s confusion grew even more as Ryker unbuckled his seat beat, leaning towards Ashton and pulling him in for a deep kiss. It wasn’t soft like the ones they shared at Ryker’s home, but rough and demanding.

As if Ryker was trying to prove something.

“Actually you know what? I’m the bigger idiot here. Not you. I’ve fucked up so much,” Ryker said. “But you wouldn’t even look at me, Ash. And I was so desperate, so fucking desperate to be seen by you that I went after girls that you liked just so I could have a little bit of your attention. Even if it was a hate filled stare.”

“What? Ry—”

“I wanted to see what they had that I didn’t. Apart from different genitalia, of course,” Ryker let out a dry chuckle. “I know it was childish and stupid, I’m not making excuses for my behavior. I am sorry for my actions, I know how much I hurt you. I was a downright asshole. Once I realized what I had done…I left. I couldn’t stay here anymore knowing how much pain I caused you. But I knew I had to make it right, and that’s why I came back.”

“Where’s all this coming from?” Ashton hadn’t asked this.

“What I’m trying to tell you, Ash,” Ryker spoke softly, keeping his palm on Ashton’s cheek as he looked at him. “Is that I’m head over heels crazy for you. I have been for years.”

***

and there it is! finally! enjoy the cliffhanger <3