Broken

• Chapter 71 •

"So... Is that true?"

I shrug, "Partially. There's more to the story."

"Explain," Ashton says plainly.

"I—"

"Minty! Hottie! Dinner is ready!" mom calls out.

"... Seriously?" dad tells her.

Ashton laughs at this. Ashton laughs.

I give him a small smile and shrug, "I apologize in advance."

___________________

"So, Ashton. Where are you from?" mom asks him at the dinner table.

"Here in LA," he digs his fork into the salad.

"And do you like living here?" she continues.

"Um, I guess so. Yeah. I don't know anywhere else," he says, "But the warm weather's not really my thing."

Mom is just about to comment when dad cuts her off, "So. Ashton. Where do you live?" he deadpans.

Mom sighs and pinches the bridge of her nose. Ashton glances at me before answering him. Dad continues his hostile interrogation, before coming to an extremely inappropriate question.

"What do your parents do?"

Ashton pauses for a while, just staring at his food with an expressionless face. He finally shrugs. "My mom used to be a nurse. Father is a lawyer," he rushes through the second part bitterly.

Mom's eyes light up, "That's so great! I used to be a nurse at the shelter back in Ojai when I was younger, too! What does she do, now?"

My stomach plummets. My heart is going to split apart. I'm going to be sick.

I glare at my parents and try to signal to them to change the topic. That these questions are off-limits. Dad gets the hint and nudges mom, but she's oblivious to it.

"She's dead."

The room goes completely silent. Dad sucks in air and rubs his temples while mom gapes at Ashton, wide-eyed.

Ashton clears his throat. "Um. She died when I was twelve," he tells them.

"Oh... Ashton, I'm so sorry..." mom mumbles.

"It's fine. It was a long time ago," he shrugs uncomfortably.

"But at least you have your dad, right?" mom tries to lighten the mood, and I want to kill myself.

For fuck's sake, mom.

Ashton simply nods with a faint smile, probably to get her to fuck off with her stupid questions, "Sure."

Mom scrunches up her eyebrows, "Sure..? But you said you have a dad, don't you?"

Oh my fucking God, mom. LET IT GO.

Ashton taps his foot impatiently beside me and clears his throat.

"He said father, not dad... I see," Brandon nods understandingly. Mom seems confused, "Um? That's the same thing?"

I almost laugh.

Ashton's face falls, he scratches the back of his neck. "It's fine... Really. I'm not alone or anything. I've got two siblings," he says.

Mom collapses in relief, "Oh. Thank God. I honestly thought you didn't have anyone to look after you and I felt so terrible!" mom laughs to herself.

I press my lips into a thin line.

Kill me now. God, I am ready. Take me.

"Do they live with you?" she continues.

Please. Pleaseeee just take me.

"Um. Yeah. They're turning nine soon," Ashton awkwardly clears his throat.

Mom's face falls, "Someone duct tape my mouth. Please."

There's an awkward silence.

"This conversation has gone completely morbid," Ashton finally says, "I'm a huge fan, by the way."

I'm surprised at this, my eyebrows fly up into the air. He's a fan? Of my mom? Since when?

Mom seems so flattered that she blushes, "Aw. Thank you so much, Ashton!"

"Oh... I meant of Brandon's... But you're a great actress, too."

I blow out a laugh at this, dad's eyes widen in surprise and mom frowns.

"What? Why?" she's offended.

Ashton shrugs, "I think he produces amazing music. All of his artists are fantastic."

"Thank you! Someone with a functioning brain. This kid is growing on me," dad grins.

Ashton breaks into a small smile. "The latest single you dropped from The Dark Knights blew my mind," he continues. "The entire song was transcendental, how did you come up with that?"

I look at Ashton with curiosity, his eyes are lit up. I can tell he's genuinely interested in this shit. Aw. What a dork.

Now it's dad's turn to blush. Wow, Ashton. Getting my entire family to blush.

"I'm so glad to hear that. It's amazing that you noticed, that's really impressive. Come with me, I've got a studio in the house. I can show you the works," he tells Ashton as he stands from the table.

"No way," Ashton's eyes pop.

I grimace, "Um. Okay, guys. Enough with this weird dorky bromance bonding please, prank's over. You got me."

The last thing I want is for Brandon and Ashton to actually become friends. How strange would that be? It's scarier than when dad is interrogating him.

"I'm with her on that one," mom nods, still butt-hurt that Ashton prefers Brandon over her.

Dad frowns, "Come on, buddy. Let's leave these unappreciative women," he tells him as he starts walking off.

My jaw drops when Ashton actually follows him.

"What the fuck is happening?" I mumble to myself.

"I have no idea," mom's eyes are just as wide as mine.