#jack hughes imagines

[liljizzy86]

Mini sticks

Jack Hughes x girlfriend!reader Summary: Coaching a junior hockey team has always been her escape, a place where she could forget the doubts people had about her and simply do what she loved. But when a surprise visit from familiar faces shakes up practice, she finds herself questioning more than just drills and game strategies. With love that has lasted since childhood and a future that seems closer than ever, one conversation could change everything. As the ice melts beneath them, so does the certainty of their next step—are they ready for what comes next? Warnings: There is a slightly smutty part, nothing too explicit. English is not my first language, so I am sorry about any mistakes made. This is my first time writing about hockey. but really hope you enjoy, as much as I has writing this. And i didn't what to go on a full smut on my first story here hahaha, but maybe in the future i will write something a little more detailed. Word count: 1388

As she entered the ring finally felt like she could breathe, seeing her mini player already skating around. She looked around, excited to tell them all the news. 

“Hello kiddos, let’s gather up.” she raised her voice just enough so her kids and parents could hear her. 

That is her favourite part of the day, when she gets to relax from her classes and see her kid practicing. She was a journalism student in the university of New Jersey and at the end of the day she would coach a junior hockey team. Many doubted she could coach a hockey team, and even more she could control a group of kids, as she was only 19 years old. But she proved them wrong, now, 23 years of age, she has 2 champion seasons with her kids. 

When asked, she couldn’t tell when her passion for hockey started, maybe when she saw her first hockey game. Or maybe when her neighbours moved to the same street in Toronto, and the three brothers were hockey players and would invite her to play with them  in the local ring and in the streets. Or even when at 13 years old started dating one of those brothers. 

Maybe Jack was the one that made her love hocker as much as she loves nowadays. 

Soon the kids were around her, waiting for instructions on the drills they were supposed to do. 

“Before we start, I want to talk to you guys.” she began “Next week we are having some guests that want to train with you guys.”All their eyes were shining, in the expectation of new people to see them train. 

Small voices start to mutter and some scream, questioning who these visitors might be. 

“Bu…t” She gets their attention once again “You will only know in the end of the practice.” Some gasps erupt in the mini crowd in front of her “and only if you behave.” This time protests all around. “Let's start now.”

After 4 years of training kids between 6 and 8 years, she learned that the best way to get a calm practice, or at least the calmer a hockey practice with kids could be, is this way. 

The practice went smoothly, and as soon as the clock struck 6 p.m., marking the end of the practice, all of the kids gathered around her waiting for the news.

 “So, i will not be the one telling you who the visitors will be.” 

At this exact moment, a pair of skates started to slide across the ice, and soon she felt cold in her legs. 

“Was that necessary?” She said to the man beside her, as his arm curled around her waist giving her a side hug. A loud laugh tickled her ears, not from her boyfriend beside her, but from his brother just approaching both of you. 

Jack was in the tunnel watching his girl with her kids, seeing the love in her eyes. He knew she was the one before, but everytime he saw her with those kids with their little helmets and sticks, he couldn't help but imagine a future where one of those kids would be theirs. 

Recently his mind would often run at the thought of a small brown hair head skating around the ice, maybe on a lake, just like he did as a kid. 

He was awakened of his thoughts by all the kids screaming their names. 

It was not the first time he and Luke went to the practices with his girlfriend, the kids knew that Jack was their coach's special friend. But they always seem just as excited as the first time. 

“Silence, guys, silence.” she got their attention once again. 

“Are Jack and Luke playing with us again?” a little blond boy asks

“Yes we are.” Jack tells him “ but we are bringing some friends!”

After some playing with the kids, it was time to go. The three of them headed to the car, lefts Luke in their apartment and went to hers. 

The way was calm and silent, the humming of the low radio music, making it all even more peaceful. No pressure, no tension, no awkwardness, only comfortable silence between the couple. The thought of kids still lingers in Jack’s mind, wondering if he should bring it up to his girlfriend. 

They have been together for ten years. They have been talking about marriage for a time now. He even has bought the engagement ring, just hasn’t found the perfect time to make the proposal yet. He is head over heels for the girl beside him. Maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea bridging it up. 

Soon they were inside the apartments and changing into comfortable clothes. Jack was ready faster than the girl so he just sat in the bed admiring her. 

As soon as she notices the two eyes on her, she looks over her boyfriend, who has hearts in his eyes, while she puts her shorts on. 

“Stop.” She says blushing

“ ‘m not doing nothing.” he says, not taking his eyes off of her. 

She walks to him stopping in between his slightly open legs and Jack loses no time placing his hands on her hips. Her hand went to his cheeks, cupping his face and turning up to look at her. Hunching over him, just enough for her lips to reach his lips, uniting them in a loving kiss. 

Jack didn’t lose time in deepening the kiss, pushing her against his body, making her lay on top of him. Jack’s hands slide his hands from her hips to her butt, fondling them slightly, just enough to make her moan at the sensation. At that, her hips jerked slightly forward, against Jack’s crotch, provoking a moan to leave both of our mouths. 

The room got increasingly hotter as their clothes were thrown around, leaving their naked sweaty bodies to rub against each other. 

But all Jack could think was once again the goddamn kids. 

The knots in their stomachs got tighter and tighter, until it finally snapped. 

Their tired, sweaty and very bodies laid next to each other, cuddling. 

“Bunny, can we talk?” Jack speaks as soon as he notices his girlfriend coming back, but also using her nickname so she knew it wasn’t anything bad. She only hums, acknowledging him. “We have been together for almost 10 years now.” If she was not paying attention, Jack was sure now she was. 

“Is everything ok?” she said worried

“I want a baby.” Was better if he said it already, right?

She was perplexed for a second, but as soon as the shock wore off her expression softened. 

“Baby…” she starts “I also want one, but don’t you think we are a bit too young? I mean, you are in the peak of your career, and me i am graduating in a couple of months.” 

“I know, but watching you with the kids does something to me, not only today, but I have been thinking of this for months, maybe even years. If you don’t want it, i understand, you are the one carrying the baby and feeding. But i just couldn’t not tell it to you.”

“Jackie, baby.” she turns around and cups his face once again, jack can’t help but lean into his girl hands. “ I do want to have a baby with you, my problem is not having to carry them, but i just don’t know if it is the best moment to have a baby. But maybe i could stop taking the pill, you know.” All she could see was his eyes light up. “ And maybe we don’t need to be so careful. If it happens, it happens.” 

Honestly it was something that had already crossed her mind. Starting a family. 

She knew that Jack was in fact her person, she didn't want or need anyone else other than that man. 

He has known her since they were kids, and their families would gather up every time that he had a game.

She was ready to have that. 

To have a family with him.

“Really?” His eyes shined so much that the girl could help but giggle as Jack starts to kiss all over her face. “I love you so much, Bunny.”

“I love you too, baby.”

[kawhh]

quinn and jack convincing luke’s innocent girlfriend that she needs them to teach her how to make luke cum happy otherwise he’s going to leave her for someone more experienced…

I fear this is horrifically written. Warnings: Some non-con vibes. I'll say they're dark even though it's sort of stretching the definition— but they're being manipulative. Forcing your mouth against their cock, forcing your hand on them. Sex toy remote play. Fingering. Lying. Taglist

Thinking about how they’d force you to let them play with you— they persuade you that you need to be better prepared for him, coaxing you into wearing toys for them. But they have the remote. Turning them up to max when you’re around him or sleeping in bed with him.

Preying on every single one of your fears with him, your insecurities— they’d drag them out of you, even implanting new ones into your brain. Inventing things Luke’s said. Lying about him confessing about wanting to break up with you, wanting to cheat to cum.

Cooing at you, holding you, sympathising with you. Anything they can do to mark themselves as safe, as the answers to your ‘problems’. Cuddling you on the couch, sandwiched between them. A hand against your thigh, a hand holding your legs together. Slow touches, pushing the limits every time you come back to them— waiting for your permission in their twisted, manipulated way.

“You have to get used to being touched for Luke.”

“He’ll be so upset to break up with you if you’re so easily startled.”

“You can’t freak out from just our touches, how are you supposed to deal with Luke?”

Lies filling your system just like a toxin, corrupting your thoughts. Crying in their arms in worry, almost begging them to help you, to help you help Luke. They’d never lie about their baby brother, would they?

Sucking up their pride to falsely brag about his cock, driving terror into you with the idea of it being too massive for you, telling you that he’ll break up with you if you can’t take him. If you don’t know how to get him off while he waits and stretches you out at least.

Resting your head against them when you cuddle, claiming that you need to get used to having your mouth even close to a cock, otherwise you’re screwed.

Slipping your hands under their waistbands whenever you’re alone with them, getting you familiar with holding a cock, ridiculing you if you startle, guiding your hands with theirs if you aren’t fast enough for them, if you aren’t being brave enough.

They’d make you sleep in the same bed as them, grinding against you all night. Pulling you back towards them, using your body however they please— you need to get used to a body next to you, touching you. Luke’ll expect it from you if you want to keep him around.

Their fingers stretching you out on the couch, playing around with you between game rounds until they’re drenched from you, praising you for the stings of arousal joining their fingers. Pushing them against your tongue to make you clean them up before they’re playing again.

Pushing you further and further, excuses spilling from their lips. Threatening you if you protest, praising you if you take their abuse.

[nylqnder]

ALL'S FAIR IN LOVE AND WAR QUINN HUGHES

pairings: quinn hughes x fem!reader, (little bit of) jack hughes x fem!reader

summary: trevor invites you to a lakehouse for the summer, attempting to set him up with his friend. however, the summer doesn't go to plan when you meet his older brother who captures your eye and flips everything upside down.

warnings: very obviously angst, sort of a love triangle, jack and quinn kind of hating each other, slow burn, reader and trevor having a sibling type relationship, one singular kiss, brief appearances from trevor & luke

word count: 11.6k

notes: wooooo mama this is the absolute longest thing i've ever written. i really hope you guys enjoy it, i'm pretty happy with this.

The scene of the lake house standing tall in front of you was something straight out of your imagination. It was picturesque, the way the large house was nestled amongst the pine trees and the glimmering water sparkling behind it. It was just the way that Trevor had described it when he invited (or rather insisted) you to come to his buddy’s lake house this summer.

“You’ll love it! It’s so nice up there,” Trevor had urged, his enthusiasm infectious. You could still hear his voice, brimming with excitement. “It’s my friend Jack’s place. You guys would get along great! And his brothers are super chill too.”

At the time, you’d felt a mix of curiosity and skepticism. It’d been about three years you’d been friends with Trevor, long enough to know that when his tone got this excited and he was this insistent, he was up to something.

“Are you trying to set me up with him?” you’d asked, narrowing your eyes suspiciously at Trevor as the two of you sat in a coffee shop a few months ago. He had been uncharacteristically fidgety, bouncing his knee up and down while stirring his iced coffee with an unnecessary amount of focus.

Trevor had grinned at you in that annoyingly charming way he did when he was caught. “Nooo, I’m just saying you guys would vibe. He’s a cool guy. Super chill.”

You rolled your eyes, folding your arms across your chest. “Uh-huh. And his brothers?”

“Also cool!” Trevor leaned in, eyes sparkling with mischief. “But listen, Jack’s the one I think you’d really like. Just come for like, a week or two, see what happens. No pressure. I promise you’ll have fun.”

You’d hesitated, not entirely convinced. But Trevor knew exactly how to play on your curiosity, and a month later, you found yourself packing a bag for a summer getaway at some lake house owned by Trevor’s friend, Jack. Despite your reservations, a part of you was intrigued. What if Trevor was right?

The drive to the lake house had been a blur, punctuated by Trevor’s nonstop chatter and your own uncertain silence. You weren’t opposed to meeting Jack. Trevor had sung his praises for months, claiming you two had more in common than either of you realized. As far as setups went, this wasn’t terrible — you could trust Trevor to have good judgment. But still, you were unsure and slightly uneasy about the whole situation.

When you arrive, Jack is already waiting outside, leaning against the porch rail, hands shoved into the pockets of his shorts. He’s smiling — an easy, laid-back smile that makes you smile back automatically. The sun filters through the trees, casting warm, gold light on the porch, and for a moment, everything feels serene.

Trevor wasn’t lying when he commented about Jack’s appearance. “Some people call him a pretty boy but… I mean he is pretty, but he’s a good-looking dude, y’know?” He was definitely attractive, something anyone could admit you thought, but he wasn’t totally your type.

Trevor bounds up the steps of the porch, dapping up Jack and pulling him in for a hug. You followed, stopping at the bottom of the steps, watching as Trevor whispered something into Jack's ear, Jack’s eyes catching yours as a small smile appeared on his lips.

Jack steps forward, extending a hand. “Hey, you must be y/n. I’ve heard a lot about you,” he says, his voice warm with that relaxed confidence you’d expect from someone who’s used to being the center of attention.

You shake his hand, feeling the easy smile on your face widen a little. “All good things, I hope.”

Trevor laughs, throwing an arm around Jack’s shoulder. “Mostly good things.” He winks at you, and you can’t help but roll your eyes.

Jack offers to give you a quick tour of the place, and you agree, letting him guide you inside while Trevor stays back, grumbling to himself about having to bring in your bags. The inside of the house is as beautiful as the outside, with high ceilings, wooden beams, and floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the lake. Despite being a new build, it has a cozy, rustic feel to it. Jack pointed out each room as you went, keeping up a steady flow of conversation that put you at ease. He was friendly and thoughtful, making sure you felt welcomed, and it struck you as genuine. You could see why Trevor thought you’d get along with him.

“And this is the back deck,” Jack said as he pushed open a sliding door, revealing a sprawling view of the lake, with a dock stretching out in front of the property. The lake is glittering and relatively calm, aside from a figure disturbing the water. You squint, watching as the swimmer glides smoothly through the lake.

“Who’s that?” you ask Jack, eyes not leaving the figure as you watch him pull himself up onto the wooden dock, pushing dark wet hair from his face.

“That’s Quinn,” Jack says, following your gaze and glancing out toward the dock. “My older brother.”

The sun seems to linger on Quinn’s form, highlighting the toned muscles in his arms as he stretches briefly, rolling his shoulders to ease out any lingering tension from his swim. Droplets of water cling to his skin, catching the sunlight and tracing down his chest in slow, winding trails emphasizing the smooth contours of his muscles as they glisten.

“Q!” Jack shouts, whistling to get his brother’s attention. Quinn’s gaze snaps to the two of you, your pulse quickening as his eyes land on you. “Come up here!”

Quinn grabs his towel from the dock, throwing it over his shoulder as he makes his way up the lawn towards you. As he climbs the steps to the deck, you feel his eyes travel over you, not in a way that feels intimidating, but with a curiosity that mirrors your own. There’s something magnetic about him, something calm and steady that draws you in as he steps up onto the deck, his mouth curving into a small, barely-there smile.

“This is Trevor’s friend, y/n. She’s joining us for the summer” Jack introduces.

As Quinn’s gaze flickers back to you, you notice there’s something about the way he looks at you — subtle, assessing. His gaze has a certain depth, a look you can’t quite decipher. It lingers just a second longer than what feels typical, enough to make your heartbeat skip, to leave you questioning the flicker of interest in his expression.

“Nice to meet you,” Quinn says, his voice low and smooth, a perfect complement to the quiet confidence he exudes. He reaches out to shake your hand, and as your fingers meet, you notice how warm his touch feels, even with the cool water droplets still lingering on his skin.

Up close, he’s even more striking. There’s a sort of ruggedness to him, outlined by the sharpness of his jaw and the intensity of his gaze. His eyes, a greenish shade of blue, hold yours with a calm intensity that makes it hard to look away.

“Nice to meet you too,” you manage, your voice coming out softer than you intended, and you feel heat rise to your cheeks. You mentally kick yourself, hoping he doesn’t notice, but the glimmer in his eyes suggests otherwise.

Jack, oblivious to the undercurrent, clapped his hands, breaking the moment. “Alright, well, there’s more to see, and if we don’t get back, Trevor’s going to start whining about being abandoned,” he joked.

You chuckle, your eyes pulling away from Quinns’ for the first time since he joined you on the porch. But as you turned to follow Jack back inside, you couldn’t help but glance back at Quinn. He was still watching you, his expression softened just slightly, and you felt a quiet thrill at the way he watched you.

The first week at the lakehouse passes in a flurry of days that blur together in laughter and lakeside relaxation. You fall into an easy routine of swimming, grilling, and long talks on the deck. Jack and Trevor keep things lively, always organizing something, whether it’s an impromptu game of cornhole, a daring cliff dive, or a spontaneous trip into town.

With Jack, the connection forms fast. He’s lighthearted, quick with a joke, and endlessly charming. He keeps you laughing and keeps the vibe lighthearted. His energy is infectious, and he keeps you roped into every activity, whether it’s cliff-jumping or getting you to help him with dinner when it’s his turn. You can tell that Trevor’s plan to get the two of you set up is working for Jack, as he lingers closer, laughs harder at your jokes, and you begin to feel his gaze linger on you just a little too long.

But it’s Quinn who holds your attention in a way you hadn’t anticipated.

Quinn is different from Jack in nearly every way. Where Jack is open and quick to draw you into his orbit, Quinn lingers on the edges, observing and listening. When he speaks, it’s with a low, steady voice that commands attention without trying. And unlike Jack’s energy, which feels like the buzz of the sun overhead, Quinn’s is deep and mysterious like the lake.

You find yourself gravitating toward him at every opportunity, captivated by the way he moves through the days with an unruffled calm. The nights at the lake house slip into an easy rhythm, with Quinn and you inevitably being the last ones awake as the both of you are night owls. Most nights, you find yourselves lingering on the porch, wrapped in the gentle hum of crickets and the low whisper of the lake. With the others upstairs, fast asleep, you and Quinn fall into intimate conversations, shared only between the two of you.

One night, you find yourselves tucked away on the porch, the air a little cooler than the other nights. You are curled up on a rocking chair, bundled up in a hoodie you’d borrowed from Jack. Quinn sat across from you, the beer he’d started during dinner going warm in his hand.

Quinn studies you, his eyes catching the faint glow of the porch light as he swirls his bottle absentmindedly. “So,” he begins, breaking the comfortable silence, “What’s California like?” He leans forward, genuinely interested, his voice carrying a warmth that makes you want to spill everything about life on the West Coast.

A soft smile creeps onto your face. “It’s… different from here,” you admit, glancing out at the lake where the moon dances on the still water. “It’s a bit fast-paced. And warm. Lots of sun, lots of people. But sometimes, it feels like everyone’s moving so quickly that you get lost in the crowd.”

Quinn nods, his eyes steady on you. “I get it. I feel the same way about Vancouver sometimes. Coming back here… it just reminds me that there's more than the noise and rush. There’s… balance out here.” He gestures out toward the lake, his voice contemplative. “Like all of this has a way of pulling you back to what matters.”

His words resonate deeply, and you find yourself nodding. “Exactly,” you murmur. “It’s like there’s space to breathe. And you notice things that usually get lost in all the… chaos.”

Quinn’s gaze lingers on you a moment longer, a small smile forming at the corner of his mouth. “I’m glad you came. It’s been… good to have you here,” he says quietly, his eyes soft. “We don’t have other people up here often.”

Your heart pounds a little faster at the sincerity in his voice, and for a second, the rest of the world disappears. There’s only Quinn and the quiet lake, and the feeling that he understands you in a way you hadn't expected anyone to. You hold his gaze, feeling the electricity between you grow, filling the silence with something you can’t quite name.

But then, as if drawn back to reality, Quinn’s eyes shift, his expression subtly changing. “And Jack,” he says, almost as an afterthought. “He… really likes you, you know? He doesn’t say it, but I can tell.”

It feels like a splash of cold water. You break eye contact, pulling your hoodie closer around you, the warmth you felt moments ago dissipating. The weight of Jack’s interest hangs heavily between you and Quinn now, an undeniable reminder of the complicated line you’re toeing.

“Right, yeah…” you reply softly, looking down, your voice tinged with a mix of guilt and frustration. You hadn’t meant for this to get complicated, yet here you are, caught between two brothers who couldn’t be more different.

An uncomfortable silence settles over you both, thick and heavy. Quinn’s eyes linger on you, as if he’s about to say something more, but he holds back. His lips press into a thin line, and you wonder if he’s feeling the same conflict, the same confusion that’s twisting knots inside you.

You force yourself to look away, swallowing hard. “I think… I should probably head to bed,” you murmur, avoiding his gaze. You stand up, offering him a small, tight-lipped smile that doesn’t quite reach your eyes. “Goodnight, Quinn.”

Quinn nods, his expression unreadable as he watches you ebb towards the door. “Goodnight, y/n,” he murmurs, his voice low and steady, though there’s a flicker of something in his gaze — disappointment, perhaps, or longing. You slip inside, leaving him on the porch, the weight of his gaze heavy on your back as you close the door.

In bed, you toss and turn, Quinn’s words and the feel of his gaze lingering with you. Your mind is a whirlwind, caught between the easy, carefree friendship that’s growing with Jack and the simmering tension you feel with Quinn. Jack is perfectly nice and, like Trevor told you, the two of you were getting along swimmingly.

But no matter how much you try, your thoughts always drift back to Quinn. There’s something undeniably different about him, something that makes it impossible to feel the same way about Jack, no matter how hard you try. Jack’s presence is light and friendly but with Quinn… it’s like there’s a hidden gravity pulling you toward him, a quiet understanding that lingers beneath the surface of every conversation. Every night on that porch, he’s become your anchor, drawing you into a world that feels more honest, more intimate.

You lie there, staring up at the ceiling, your mind replaying the way he looked at you tonight — that almost undetectable spark that you’re sure you didn’t imagine. The way he listens to you, like every word matters, as he sees past the small talk and into the parts of you you rarely share. There’s no pretending with Quinn. And even though he’d mentioned Jack, it only made you realize how much more you’re drawn to Quinn. Jack might be developing feelings for you, but it’s Quinn who fills your thoughts, who leaves you breathless in a way you can’t ignore.

You pull the covers tighter around you, willing sleep to take you, but every thought seems to lead back to Quinn, to the way he made you feel seen, understood — even in silence.

The next morning, you do your best to shake off the lingering tension from the night before, determined to keep things light and normal. Under Jack’s enthusiastic suggestion, the group decides to spend the day out on the lake, hoping the sun and water will wash away any unease. It’s a sunny day, warm with a light breeze, and the water sparkles invitingly under the sunlight, making you think that everything might just go smoothly.

The boat is anchored in a calm spot on the lake and, despite the wonderful weather, there doesn’t seem to be another boat around. Trevor and Luke sit up in the bow, arguing about which mascot would win in a fight between Mr. Clean and Tony the Tiger.

Jack is quick to pull you into the action, handing you a beer from the cooler as he grins. “Alright,” he says, his smile as wide as the lake. “Are you ready for the full lake house experience? Because to really do that, you’ve got to jump off the boat at least once today.”

You laugh, shaking your head as you crack open the can. “I’m pretty sure you’re just making up rules to mess with me.”

He shrugs, a playful glint in his eye. “Maybe, but you have to do it anyway,” he shrugs.

Trevor chimes in, chuckling from his spot. “Jack’s right, y/n. First-time lake visitors have to jump. It’s tradition!”

You chuckle, your gaze drifting up to Jack as he stands in front of you. The sun shines directly behind him, casting him in a golden halo, the bright rays spilling around his frame in a way that makes him look almost ethereal. For a moment, you can see why anyone would fall for that charm. But even with this picture-perfect moment, you feel a pang of regret that you can’t feel more for him, because, somehow, your thoughts are pulled elsewhere and on someone else.

Jack’s laughter brings you back to the moment, and he leans a little closer. “Come on, we can make it a team effort. I mean, if you’re too nervous, I can just hold your hand.” His voice is playful, but there’s a hint of sincerity in his words, a hope that you’ll let him bridge the gap he’s trying so hard to close.

Your smile is genuine, but before you can respond, you hear Quinn's low chuckle from behind you. It’s soft, barely audible over the hum of the boat’s motor, but enough to pull your focus completely away from Jack. You glance back at Quinn who’s sat on the back bench, leaned forward with his elbows on his knees, a flicker of something in his gaze as it bears down on the two of you.

Your attention is pulled back to Jack as he reaches for your hand in a gesture that feels both playful and pointed. “Come on, y/n, it’ll be an official initiation. We’ll jump together, yeah?”

Your gaze flickers between Jack’s outstretched hand and Quinn, who’s watching with an inscrutable expression, his eyes narrowed slightly as he leans back, crossing his arms. You can’t deny there’s an awkward tension here, a silent push-and-pull between the two brothers that seems to amplify whenever Quinn is nearby.

Swallowing the strange, charged feeling building between you all, you look back at Jack and nod, forcing a lighthearted smile as you stand up, pulling off the oversized t-shirt you wore as a coverup. You see Jack’s eyes scan your figure, hearing him gasp quietly. You blush, brushing a strand of hair behind your ear, taking his hand. He grins in triumph, his fingers warm against yours as he helps you stand at the edge of the boat. He holds on a little tighter than necessary, and the flicker of anticipation in his eyes doesn’t go unnoticed.

“Ready?” Jack asks, his voice softer now, his gaze lingering a bit too long as he watches your expression. There’s a hopeful vulnerability in his face, a look that makes you hesitate for a moment. You don’t want to hurt him, but there’s a part of you that wishes he’d pull back, that he’d realize you’re not as invested in this connection as he is.

You manage a nod, hoping he doesn’t notice the small sigh you let slip. “Ready as I’ll ever be.”

He beams, counting down with a quiet “three… two… one!” before the two of you leap into the lake together, the cool water rushing up to meet you. When you surface, you’re greeted by Jack’s laughter as he splashes you, pulling you into a playful water fight. You laugh along, though your eyes instinctively drift toward the boat, where Quinn looks over the edge, watching you both with an unreadable expression.

Jack’s laughter fades slightly as he notices your attention elsewhere, his face falling for a fraction of a second. But he quickly masks it, pulling you back with a light splash. “Hey, stay with me here,” he says, his tone half-joking, half-pleading. And you want to, you really do, but Quinn’s gaze is magnetic, and you can’t help but feel pulled toward him, as if there’s an invisible thread between the two of you.

Eventually, Jack climbs back onto the boat, reaching out to help you up. But the moment you step back on board, the charged silence returns, thick and stifling, as Quinn hands you a towel, his fingers brushing against yours just long enough to send a spark up your arm. You catch his gaze for a brief second, and you’re struck by the quiet intensity in his eyes, a longing that mirrors your own.

Jack clears his throat, his shoulders tensing slightly as he glances between you and Quinn. He lets out a forced laugh, trying to dispel the tension. “Alright, what’s next? We could always do another round of jumps, or maybe a swim to the dock?” He says it with an almost desperate cheerfulness, trying to regain your attention, trying to keep the moment light.

Trevor and Luke, sensing the tension, start bantering about who would be the fastest swimmer, their playful arguments distracting you all for a moment, lightening the mood just enough.

────୨ৎ────

The night air was crisp as laughter and the crackling of the fire filled the space around the lake house. The lake is quiet behind you, a dark, glassy surface reflecting only starlight. You were settled in a lawn chair, leaning back, watching as Trevor dramatically recounted a story about when you nearly crashed his car.

You could feel his eyes on you, searching for a shared smile, hoping to catch your gaze even as he chuckled at Trevor’s theatrics. Every so often, he'd lean in, commenting with a low murmur meant only for you. He’d even offered you his hoodie earlier, though the night wasn’t nearly cold enough to need it. It was endearing, if not a bit overeager. Yet, despite the obvious attention from him, your focus kept drifting across the fire.

Quinn sat across the flames from you, leaning back in an Adirondack chair. His attention was barely on the story, barely laughing with the others as you had been. Every now and then you’d catch his eyes flicker your way, lingering on you just long enough to send a thrill through your chest. Your stomach tightened with a quiet anticipation each time, though as quickly as the moment arrived, it vanished. Quinn’s gaze would shift, his attention lost somewhere in the darkness beyond the flames, leaving you wondering if you’d only imagined it.

As Trevor finally wrapped up his tale with an exaggerated flourish, the group’s laughter rang out again, filling the quiet night. You shifted in your chair, stealing a glance across the fire to see Quinn looking your way again, his expression unreadable in the dancing light. The firelight cast soft shadows over his face, illuminating his quiet intensity—a contrast to Jack’s open interest. And just as quickly as his eyes met yours, he looked away, his focus deliberately elsewhere, leaving you feeling a subtle ache of frustration.

Jack nudged your arm gently, his voice breaking the spell. “Hey, want to grab a drink or something? I think I saw some ciders in the cooler on the porch.”

“Oh, yeah, sure,” you replied, a small smile curving your lips as you pushed yourself up to join him.

You could feel the weight of Quinn’s gaze on you, or maybe it was just wishful thinking. As you walked toward the porch with Jack, a pang of prickling guilt settled over you, leaving a heavy shadow with every step. Jack was wonderful — funny, kind-hearted, and clearly eager to spend time with you. And yet, there was an emptiness in each smile you returned to him, a hollowness you couldn’t ignore. You tried to shake it off, reminding yourself to appreciate his warmth and interest. But you couldn’t deny it. There was no spark, no unspoken gravity that pulled you toward him.

The two of you reached the porch, Jack handing you a cold can from the cooler, his fingers brushing yours briefly. He shot you a quick grin, the kind that seemed to hold a hundred different things he wanted to say. But the look in his eyes—the hopefulness, the eagerness—only tightened the knot in your chest.

Jack took a sip of his drink, leaning casually against the porch railing, his gaze still on you. “It’s nice here at night, isn’t it?” His tone was light, but there was an unmistakable softness to his voice, as though he wanted nothing more than to keep this moment between just the two of you.

“Yeah, it really is,” you agreed, looking out at the lake rather than meeting his eyes. “It’s peaceful.”

Jack’s voice was quieter when he spoke this time like he was mulling something over. “You know, it’s been great having you up here. I mean…I’m glad Z brought you here.” he said softly, though his smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. There was a vulnerability there, one that made you want to reassure him, to ease the sting of your own uncertainty.

You wanted to tell him you felt the same, that you were excited, that his attention filled you with butterflies. But it didn’t. Not the way Quinn’s lingering gaze did, not in the way his silence could reach across the fire and wrap around you more tightly than any words Jack could offer.

And Jack could sense it. You could see it in the way his gaze fell just a bit, in the way he seemed to retreat into himself, trying to figure out where he’d lost you. A soft, sinking guilt bubbled up, but before you could say anything, he cleared his throat and looked at you, trying to keep the mood light.

“Should we head back?” he asked, giving you a small smile that tried to mask the disappointment behind his eyes.

You nodded, and as you followed him back toward the fire, your eyes drifted back to Quinn. Why did he have to make it so complicated? Jack was there, warm and steady, giving you his full attention, yet your heart kept tugging you toward Quinn — Quinn, who never gave you more than half-glances and unspoken hints. It was as though he knew the effect he had on you but chose to keep you guessing, leaving you in this restless, uncertain state. And every time he looked away, your chest would ache with a longing that you couldn’t shake, no matter how hard you tried.

You felt like you were making it up in your head. You felt like all of this was just concocted by your brain, a made-up situation. But then you’d think back to the nights when it was just the two of you, sitting across from one another on the porch, finding bits of commonality, causing you to talk for hours.

It was during those quiet nights, with only the soft hum of the lake and the occasional call of night birds, that the two of you would sit just a little closer, voices lowered as if sharing secrets with the stars. He’d be calm, reserved, but there’d always be a hint of a smile when you teased him about his stoic nature, a glint in his eyes when he’d challenge you back. It was in these moments that your doubts faded, that all the confusion seemed worth it.

But then the sun would rise again, and Quinn’s indifference would come back like the morning mist, blanketing any closeness you thought you’d found. The spark that seemed so real under the cover of night would dim, replaced by his guarded demeanor and quiet aloofness. It was maddening, this cycle of near-closeness followed by a cool retreat. He’d show you just enough to make you wonder, to keep you holding onto the memory of his quiet smile and that soft look in his eyes.

As you and Jack rejoined the group, you settled back into your chair, glancing across the fire toward Quinn once more. He was looking down, a hand idly fiddling with the edge of his sweater. There was something vulnerable about him in that moment, something that made you wonder if maybe—just maybe—he felt the same hesitation and uncertainty. You wanted to bridge that gap, to ask him if he ever felt the same tug, the same strange pull that made every shared glance linger in your mind.

But before you could even entertain the idea, Jack’s hand brushed your shoulder, pulling your attention back to him. He was smiling, his gaze as steady and warm as ever, making you wish you could return it with the same openness.

“Hey, you okay?” Jack asked, concern lacing his voice. You hadn’t realized the way you were chewing on your lip, or the way your brow was furrowed ever so slightly.

You nodded, giving him a soft smile that you hoped looked genuine. “Yeah, just…lost in thought, I guess.”

But as you said it, your gaze slipped across the fire once more, finding Quinn’s eyes fixed on you with that familiar, unreadable intensity. And for a fleeting second, you thought you saw a softness there, a hint of something deeper. It vanished just as quickly, but that one look was enough. It was enough to make you cast away the doubt that lingered in your mind, to dismiss the thought that this was all in your head.

The night dragged on, punctuated by laughter and more ridiculous storytelling from Trevor. Gradually, one by one, everyone began to call it a night. Luke was the first to slip away, yawning as he muttered something about wanting to have an early workout, clapping Trevor on the shoulder before heading inside. Trevor followed soon after, stretching with exaggerated laziness before flashing a grin and winking at you. “Don’t get into too much trouble out here,” he teased, earning a playful eye-roll from you.

Finally, it was just you, Jack, and Quinn. Jack was lingering, his eyes occasionally drifting to you with a look that hinted at something he wanted to say but couldn’t quite bring himself to voice. He shifted in his seat, clearing his throat as he looked at you, then glanced over at Quinn.

"Alright, I guess I’ll head in, too," Jack finally said, his tone reluctant. His gaze lingered on you for just a beat too long, as though he wanted you to ask him to stay or tell him that you would head up with him. But you didn’t, and after a quiet sigh, he nodded, gave Quinn a brief glance, then turned and headed inside, the screen door shutting softly behind him.

And then it was just the two of you.

The quiet stretched between you and Quinn, thick and tense, as the night air settled into a stillness that seemed to wrap around you both. The only sounds were the crackling of the fire and the soft rustle of the trees, and it was painfully quiet, each unspoken word between you two heavy with meaning. You could feel his presence, magnetic and steady, even across the fire. Finally, after a moment that felt like an eternity, you drew a deep breath and decided to speak.

“Quinn, can we talk?” Your voice was steady, but just barely. Quinn’s eyes finally locked with yours for the first time since before everyone began to filter to bed. Quinn nodded after a couple of seconds, giving you the silence to continue.

“I don’t know what’s going on between us,” you said softly. “But… fuck, I can’t stop thinking about you, and it’s driving me crazy. I need to know if it’s all just in my head or if you feel it too. Because if there’s a reason I feel this way… I need to know.”

You trailed off, heart hammering against your ribcage as the words hung in the air between you. For a moment, he didn’t respond, his expression unreadable, his face softened by the glow of the firelight. Then, with a sigh, he leaned forward, resting his forearms on his knees as he stared into the flames. His silence was torture, each passing second pulling you deeper into a pit of anxiety and frustration.

When he finally spoke, his voice was low and steady, as if he’d rehearsed this response in his mind countless times. “It’s not in your head,” he admitted, his gaze flickering up to meet yours. “There’s something here, between us. I feel it too.”

The words sent a rush of relief and hope through you, a spark that reignited all those moments spent wondering and waiting for some kind of sign. A soft smile spread across your face, the edges of your doubt finally beginning to soften. But then, his expression shifted, the corners of his mouth tightening as he looked away, eyes fixed on the shadows just beyond the firelight.

“But…” His voice was barely a whisper, rough around the edges. “It can’t go anywhere. Not with Jack. He’s…he’s into you.” He looked back at you, the regret in his eyes evident, a pain mirrored in your own chest. “I can’t do that to him.”

His words were like a punch to the gut, and the warmth of the fire suddenly felt distant, fading into a cold, empty ache spreading through your chest. You hadn’t expected it to hurt this much, hadn’t realized how much you’d been hoping he’d say the opposite, that he’d fight for whatever was happening between you.

You dropped your gaze, feeling foolish, vulnerable, exposed. “So that’s it? We just… pretend this doesn’t exist?” you asked, your voice barely above a whisper. “Like nothing’s been happening all this time?”

Quinn’s jaw tightened, and he looked away, his expression pained. “I don’t want to pretend. But I can’t… I won’t hurt him, not like that. He’s my brother.” He hesitated, his voice cracking slightly. “And he really cares about you.”

You swallowed hard. It felt ridiculous—being here, feeling so foolishly hopeful, only to be left with a hollow ache and a fractured connection that couldn’t ever be more. Part of you wanted to yell at him for leading you on, for those late-night conversations and stolen glances, for every unspoken word that now felt like a cruel joke.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I wish it could be different.”

The words left you hollow. Part of you wanted to fight, to tell him that what you felt couldn’t just be ignored, but another part — the part that knew him and understood his loyalty — couldn’t bring yourself to ask him to choose you over his brother. Not when you saw the conflict in his eyes, the pain that mirrored your own.

“Fine,” you whispered, barely able to meet his gaze. You stood up, the cool night air prickling your skin as you walked away from the fire, leaving him there in silence. You didn’t look back. It felt like your chest was filled with broken glass, each breath painful, as you made your way back to the house.

Inside, the stillness was almost suffocating. The others had already gone to bed, and the darkened living room felt cold and empty, mirroring the ache in your heart. You climbed the stairs to your room, shutting the door softly behind you as you sank onto the edge of the bed, staring blankly at the wall. A mix of anger and sadness filled you. You were mad at Quinn, for drawing you in only to push you away; mad at Jack, for being in the way even if he hadn’t meant to be; mad at Trevor, for ever convincing you to come here; and, perhaps most of all, mad at yourself, for letting your heart hope for something that could never be.

The next morning, a heavy quiet blanketed the lake house. You moved through the motions of breakfast with the others, but your thoughts felt distant, lost somewhere between the memories of last night and the weight of Quinn’s words. The morning was made slightly easier by the absence of Quinn who you were told went into the town early that morning to run errands and hit the gym. The guys bantered and talked about heading out on the boat, planning an afternoon on the lake, but you could only muster half-hearted nods and polite smiles. It was hard to focus, every small sound—the clinking of mugs, the soft scrape of a chair—only intensifying the ache you couldn’t shake.

Excusing yourself, you slipped away before anyone could ask questions, making your way down to the dock. The air was cool, a gentle breeze rippling across the lake's surface, and you sat at the edge, feet dangling above the water. You were still in your sleep outfit, not exactly pyjamas, but rather a comfy oversized hoodie and a pair of mens boxers. The familiar scent of pine and fresh earth surrounded you, but even the peaceful view couldn’t ease the storm of emotions inside.

The quiet was soon broken by the sound of footsteps approaching, and you didn’t need to look to know it was Jack. You felt him sit beside you, his presence warm and grounding. For a moment, he didn’t say anything — just let the silence settle between you both, as though he was waiting for you to be ready.

Finally, he cleared his throat, glancing sideways at you. “You okay this morning? You’ve been… quiet,” he said softly, his voice tentative, as if he were stepping carefully around broken glass. “Distant.”

You swallowed, bracing yourself as you met his gaze. His eyes were filled with genuine concern, a softness that only made this harder. “Yeah,” you murmured, looking back out at the lake. “Guess I just needed some space.”

Jack nodded, though he didn’t seem convinced. His fingers drummed nervously on the edge of the dock, and after a beat, he spoke again, his tone thoughtful, almost nostalgic.

“You know,” he began, eyes cast down at the water, “when Trevor told me he was bringing a friend this summer, he was so sure we’d hit it off. He kept going on about how you and I would be perfect for each other, that we’d get along great.” A small smile pulled at the corner of his mouth. “I remember feeling this weird, excited energy like… maybe he was right, you know? Maybe I was going to meet someone special.”

You felt a lump forming in your throat as he continued, his voice carrying a warmth that was both comforting and deeply bittersweet.

“And when you got here…” He hesitated, his eyes meeting yours, as if to gauge your reaction. “I don’t know, it just… felt easy, from the start. Like we’d known each other forever. I started to feel like maybe Trevor had been onto something.” He gave a soft laugh, but there was no humor in it, just the weight of unspoken feelings.

“Things felt really good between us, and I thought you felt it too,” he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. “So I started to get my hopes up—thinking maybe this was the start of something real.”

You winced, guilt gnawing at you. “Jack… I’m so sorry,” you said, your voice shaky. “I didn’t mean to lead you on, truly. I think you’re amazing. From the bottom of my heart, I just… I mean there’s gotta be some sort of spell this fucking house puts me under because I would be insane otherwise to not like you! You… you’re so perfect that any other girl would be scremaing at me, trying to claw my eyes out for not appreciating you. But… I just can’t. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

Jack’s eyes softened, a mix of sadness and resignation settling in them. He looked down, his fingers still drumming but more slowly now, as if grounding himself. After a moment, he took a deep breath and let it out, his shoulders sagging slightly.

“I get it,” he murmured, though his voice had an unmistakable crack in it. “I mean… I think I get it. You can’t force something that isn’t there, right?” He gave a sad smile, one that tried to mask the hurt but didn’t quite succeed.

He stared out at the water, his expression distant, like he was trying to piece together what had gone wrong, or maybe just what he’d missed. A tense silence settled between you, the weight of everything unsaid pressing down on the air around you. Jack cleared his throat, seeming to steel himself, his gaze searching your face as if looking for an answer to a question he hadn’t yet asked.

“Can I… can I just ask you one thing?” he said, voice barely above a whisper. His vulnerability in that moment was palpable, and you could feel your heart pounding, bracing yourself for what was coming.

You nodded, feeling your throat tighten.

“Do you… have feelings for Quinn?”

The words hung in the air, heavy and painful, and a part of you wished he hadn’t asked. But the look in his eyes told you he needed to know, that the uncertainty was gnawing at him just as much as the truth might.

Slowly, you nodded, a tear slipping down your cheek as you whispered, “Yes.”

A heavy silence fell between you, and Jack seemed to shrink a little, his shoulders slumping as he took it in. Jack’s gaze fixed on the lake, and for a long moment, he said nothing. You could see the effort it took for him to keep his expression neutral, to keep his emotions tightly bound. His voice was quiet when he finally spoke.

“So, you… you and Quinn. Is there… anything actually happening between you two?” He glanced at you, a flicker of something raw in his eyes ��� hope, maybe, or just the need to understand.

You shook your head, offering a small, bittersweet smile. “No, Jack. We’re… we’re not together. We won’t be.”

He looked at you, brow furrowed. “Why not?” he asked softly, his confusion obvious. “If you feel that way about him, why wouldn’t you try?”

You took a shaky breath, the words catching in your throat. “Because Quinn… Quinn’s too good of a brother. He’d never go for me because of you… and because of what he knows you feel.”

Jack blinked, his brow furrowing as he took in your words. “Wait—what does that mean? Because of me?” he asked, his voice laced with confusion. His gaze softened, and you could see he was fighting to keep his tone steady, like he was trying not to hope.

You sighed, feeling a bittersweet ache settle in your chest. “Quinn told me he could never be with me because he knows how you feel. He doesn’t want to hurt you, Jack.”

Jack’s jaw clenched, a flicker of frustration flashing across his face. “So… let me get this straight,” he muttered, almost incredulously. “He’s not doing anything about how he feels—because of me?”

You nodded, and Jack fell silent, staring down at his hands, which had stopped drumming and were now clenched tightly in his lap. He seemed deep in thought, his brows furrowed as he processed what you’d just told him. The lake was quiet around you, the stillness broken only by the occasional ripple of water.

For a long time, Jack didn't say anything, just stared down at the water, his brows drawn together. You could almost feel the weight of his thoughts, the way he was wrestling with everything that had just been laid out. When he finally spoke, his voice was quiet, raw.

“So he… he cares enough to stay away,” Jack said slowly, the words laced with a sadness that felt almost like admiration. “That's… just like him.” He took a deep breath, forcing a small, sad smile. “I wish things were different. I wish we could just rewind, go back to the start of summer and… and pretend this never happened.”

You swallowed hard, his words striking a chord deep within you. “Me too,” you whispered, eyes burning with unshed tears. “I never wanted any of this to happen, Jack. The last thing I wanted was to hurt you.”

Jack looked over at you, his expression softening, and for a moment, you saw a flicker of the easy, unburdened friendship you’d had in the beginning. “I know,” he murmured. “You’re not the kind of person who’d do this on purpose. It’s just… life, I guess. It’s complicated, ‘n messy as hell. And… maybe Trevor was right. We do get along. Just… maybe not in the way he thought we would.”

He smiled, a genuine one this time, though tinged with a sadness he couldn’t hide. “Maybe someday… I won’t feel this way,” he said quietly, his voice barely audible above the soft lapping of the lake against the dock. “But for now… I think I just need a little space. Time, maybe.”

You nodded, understanding that this was what he needed, even if it hurt to hear. “I get it, Jack. I do.”

Jack gave a nod, his gaze returning to the water, the weight of unspoken words settling over the two of you. In the next moment, he reached over and gave your hand a small squeeze—a quiet truce, an understanding. Then he stood, brushing off his shorts and glancing back at the house.

“I’ll be up at the house for a bit,” he murmured, the distance in his tone unmistakable. With that, he turned and walked back up the dock, his footsteps slow and heavy.

In the following days, there was a noticeable shift in the air; everyone felt it, though no one dared to name it. Conversations were stilted, laughter felt forced, and even the once-lively dinners had become quiet affairs, each of you treading carefully as if one wrong word might shatter the fragile peace that held you all together. Jack avoided you and Quinn as much as he could, lingering at the edge of group activities, his usual easygoing energy replaced by something more closed off, guarded.

Quinn, for his part, kept his distance too, his usual calm presence clouded by an unspoken tension. It was as if he knew that the delicate line he was walking might snap at any moment, sending everything spiraling out of control.

You couldn't ignore the heaviness that had settled over the house, a tangible sense of tension that made everything feel off-kilter. As much as you'd wanted this summer to be an escape, it had become the very opposite — a painful reminder of all the ways things could go wrong.

That evening, after everyone had gone to bed, you found yourself wide awake, thoughts racing. The decision took shape slowly, a reluctant resolve that you couldn’t shake. You needed to leave. Staying here, caught between the fractured pieces of what had been and what could never be, was too much to bear. The thought of facing both brothers day after day, watching Jack’s guarded smiles and Quinn’s restrained distance—it was too much. They deserved space, and, you realized, so did you.

With a deep breath, you grabbed your phone and booked a flight out for two days later, the earliest you could manage. You barely slept, running through potential conversations in your mind, eventually deciding you were only going to tell Trevor and slip out quietly, not wanting to cause anymore issues.

You forced yourself to push through the pain and awkwardness during the two remaining days until you would be returning back to California. As the days inched closer to your departure, the weight of unspoken words grew heavier, settling into every corner of the lake house. You caught glimpses of Jack, his face turning away when he thought no one was watching as if even looking at you and Quinn felt like reopening an unhealed wound. Quinn’s glances were no less fraught, though his were filled with a wistful restraint, as if he was already mourning the loss of something that had barely even begun.

The dinners, once filled with laughter, now passed in subdued tones, each person more focused on their plate than the conversation. You found yourself counting down the days and hours, conflicted between the need to escape the tension and the ache of leaving it all behind. In those last two days, you kept reminding yourself that soon, you’d be on a plane back to California, back to your own life — away from Jack’s pained looks and Quinn’s longing stares.

Your final day there, you packed your belongs up quickly, hoping Trevor would buy your excuse of not wanting to miss your flight as a good reason for him to take you to the airport early, and not because you couldn’t bear to spend one more hour in this suffocating oasis. Everyone else was lounging by the water, with the exception of Jack who lingered in the kitchen, opting to do the dishes rather than be around the others. He was lost in thought when he heard the patio door slide open and shut, the sound of bare feet padding against the hardwood. He turned to the entrance of the kitchen, seeing Quinn wearing his boardshorts and a slightly guarded look.

Quinn stopped at the threshold, eyes flicking briefly to Jack’s hands as he scrubbed the dishes. They were tense, knuckles white around the plate he held, and the silence between them was palpable and heavy. Jack set down the dish with a clatter, bracing himself on the edge of the sink, not looking at Quinn. Jack didn’t give Quinn time to speak. The words erupted from him, fueled by everything he’d been holding back.

“Do you even understand what you’re doing?” Jack’s voice was low and seething, barely contained. He didn’t wait for an answer, didn’t dare let Quinn get a word in. “You’re hurting her, Quinn. A perfectly nice girl, who came here not looking for this mess but got dragged into it anyway. And the worst part is, you know it. You know it, and you’re still just… sitting back like a damn martyr, thinking that by staying distant, you’re somehow making it easier for everyone. That by holding back, you’re sparing her, sparing me.”

Jack’s words cut through the quiet, sharper than the silence that had settled in the house over the past days. The vulnerability in his tone was raw, scraping against Quinn’s stoic expression. Quinn shifted uncomfortably but didn’t interrupt; he only looked at Jack, his gaze unwavering.

“And you know what? I kind of hate you for it,” Jack continued, voice unsteady. He turned his head just enough for Quinn to catch the anger, the hurt in his eyes. “I hate that you waltzed in and just took her from me without even trying. And, yeah, maybe that’s selfish. Maybe I never really had a chance, but she was still there, and I was trying. I was there, damn it!”

Quinn finally took a step forward, but Jack cut him off again, his hands clenching at the counter. “And I hate you for pretending like you’re doing the right thing by telling her nothing will happen. You act like you’re some noble saint by ‘staying away,’ but it’s a lie, Quinn. It’s a lie, and we both know it. You’re holding back because you’re scared — scared to go after what you really want, and in the end, you’re just making it worse for everyone. For her. For me.”

Jack’s voice wavered, then cracked, as he finally fell silent, chest heaving from the force of his confession. The words had cost him, as if each syllable had drawn blood. The only sound in the room was the dripping of the faucet, each drop amplifying the tension between them.

Quinn stayed quiet for a long moment, his gaze steady as he absorbed every word. He studied Jack, weighing something unspoken. “Would you hate me if I went for her, then?” His tone was gentle, almost hesitant, a softness that Jack hadn’t been prepared for.

Jack’s jaw tightened. “Yeah,” he admitted. “I probably would.” He ran a hand through his hair, a bitter laugh escaping him. “I mean I hate you right now for making her feel the way she does. But it shouldn’t matter, Quinn. Not if you two… if you actually care about each other.” Jack’s voice faltered, breaking under the weight of his own honesty. “Look, I’ll get over it. In time. But don’t waste what could be something good just because you’re trying to spare everyone. It’s pointless, and it’s selfish. You need to get to her before it’s too late.”

Quinn could feel Jack’s anger and pain, an emotion so raw and tangled it clawed at the air between them. For a second, Quinn thought of how different things could have been if he had stayed on the sidelines, if he hadn’t let himself get close to you. But as Jack’s gaze softened, an odd understanding settled between them. Jack wasn’t letting go easily, but he was letting go.

Jack’s shoulders slumped, exhausted, as he ran a hand over his face. “She’s leaving today, you know?” he said to Quinn, a look of surprise appearing on his face. “Trev told me last night she booked her flight out for this afternoon.”

Quinn’s face fell, and the guarded look faded, replaced with something dangerously close to panic. He hadn’t known—hadn’t expected that this was it. That today was the end.

“She’s leaving?” Quinn asked, Jack nodding. “Why didn’t she say anything? W-why is she leaving?”

“Because why would she stay?” Jack said. “She’s going to protect herself. She’s not gonna stay here, hoping for something that won’t happen. She’s too smart for that.”

The realization struck Quinn like a punch to the gut, leaving him breathless. Jack's words echoed in his mind, each one sharper than the last. She’s leaving. Of course, she would. She wasn’t the type to hang around hoping for some half-hearted promise or for Quinn to finally decide what he wanted. She deserved so much more than waiting for him to get his act together.

Jack's voice softened, pulling him back to the present. "Quinn, it’s not too late. She hasn’t left yet. If you really care about her, don’t let her go like this."

Quinn’s gaze faltered, a flicker of something vulnerable crossing his expression. Could he really undo the damage he’d done by staying away? Could he find the words to convince her that, despite his silence, he’d felt everything just as deeply as she had?

A heavy silence followed before Quinn found his voice. “What… what should I say to her?”

Jack shook his head, a bitter laugh escaping him. “You really think I’m giving you advice on how to get the girl I wanted?”

Quinn’s face softened in a rare, grateful smile. “Fair enough.” He hesitated, then turned, steeling himself as he left the kitchen, leaving Jack to his own fractured thoughts.

Quinn climbed the stairs two at a time, his pulse racing with every step, anticipation and fear warring within him. As he reached the top, he saw Trevor just exiting your room. Trevor paused, giving Quinn a look that held no small amount of concern.

“I don’t know what went down between you three,” Trevor said, his voice uncharacteristically serious. “But I care about her, and I don’t like seeing her like this. You going to fix whatever mess this is?”

Quinn’s chest tightened. He knew Trevor had been close to you, learning this summer just how much of a big brother figure he was to you. He couldn’t fault him for looking out for you.

“I’m going to fix it,” Quinn said, his voice quiet but firm. He met Trevor’s gaze, hoping to communicate the sincerity in his words. “I have to.”

Trevor didn’t say anything else, but he gave Quinn a long, steady look, as though weighing whether to believe him. Then he gave a nod and shifted your duffle bag, stepping aside to let Quinn pass. With a final glance at Trevor, Quinn walked to your door, his heart racing. Quinn stood outside your door for a moment, his hand hovering above the doorknob. He knew what he needed to say, but a part of him feared that the damage was already done. Bracing himself, he knocked gently before pushing the door open.

You were standing by the window, your zipped duffle bag sitting on your bed. Your back was to the door when Quinn entered, and for a moment, he almost turned around, the words caught in his throat. But then you turned, your eyes meeting his.

“Are you really going?” Quinn asked, his voice quiet and strained.

You nodded, stepping away from the window and closer to Quinn. “I think it’s best. This whole summer has just… it’s too much, Quinn. I didn’t come here expecting any of this, and now I just feel… caught. And I can’t keep feeling this way.”

Quinn swallowed, his gaze never leaving yours. He looked as though he was battling something heavy, words lingering on his lips, waiting to escape. He stepped forward, close enough that you could see the faint circles under his eyes, the fatigue that seemed to pull at his features.

“I didn’t expect any of this either,” he said, his voice barely more than a whisper. “And I get it — you’re right. I hurt you. I know that. I thought… I thought if I kept my distance, it would somehow make it easier for everyone. That maybe you'd move on from this — move on from me, and be with Jack. I thought it would hurt less.”

You held his gaze, your voice low but unwavering. “Do you have any idea what that did to me, Quinn? All summer, feeling this… this connection between us, and thinking that I had to be imagining it because you couldn’t even look at me. And you’re saying you did that on purpose? To protect me?” Your voice trembled. “That’s not protecting me. That’s running away.”

Quinn took a shaky breath, stepping closer, his expression taut with regret. “I know I messed up. I was spineless and I should have told you the truth sooner.” Quinn said, bowing his head briefly before forcing himself to look up at your hurt eyes. “I told myself that it was better this way, but all I was doing was lying to myself. Because every time I saw you… every time I heard your laugh, or watched you talk to Jack, or caught you looking at me — I couldn’t breathe.”

Quinn took one last step forward, less than a foot away from you. He raised his hand to reach you, fingertips grazing your arm gently, as if he feared you might pull away. “But I care about you, more than I thought possible. And I was afraid of that. Afraid of hurting Jack, afraid of hurting you… and afraid of wanting you this much.” He swallowed, his voice growing rough. “But I can’t let you leave without knowing how I feel. I want to be with you I — I need to be with you.”

Your breath hitched, the confession settling over you like a warm, crushing weight. This was what you’d wanted, but it also brought a whirlwind of conflicting emotions crashing down. You took a small step back, just enough to put some distance between you, needing space to gather your thoughts.

Quinn was saying everything you wanted to hear from the beginning. Laying his feelings bare, and exposing his heart in a way you hadn't expected from someone as reserved as him. It was like seeing a hidden part of him, one he’d kept carefully guarded. The vulnerability in his eyes made it clear that this was as terrifying for him as it was thrilling for you.

But in the back of your mind, Jack lingered, his hurt and disappointment woven into every stolen glance and quiet moment of the summer. The image of his face as he realized how you felt about Quinn was something you couldn’t shake. The memory clawed at you, guilt mixing with the longing Quinn’s words evoked.

“You have no idea how much I’ve wanted to hear that,” you said, voice catching. “But Quinn… Jack — he tried so hard with me this summer, and I couldn’t give him what he wanted because of… well, because of you.” You hesitated, torn between the longing in Quinn’s eyes and the memory of Jack’s earnest, hopeful glances. “The last thing I wanted was to hurt him. And I feel like I’ve done enough damage by just… being here.”

Quinn’s gaze softened, his hand lingering just above your arm, hovering close as if he wasn’t ready to let you go. “I know,” he murmured. “I know it’s complicated. But I talked to Jack this morning. He told me… he told me to come up here and talk to you. To tell you how I felt. He wants you to be happy, and he knows that’s not with him. He’ll get over it.”

“Jack said that?” you whispered, barely able to believe it.

Quinn nodded, a slight smile tugging at his lips, though there was sadness in his eyes. “He might hate me for a while, and I can live with that. But he said I’d regret it if I let you go. And… he was right.”

His hand, warm and steady, traced down your arm, his fingers slipping around yours with a gentle firmness. The touch, gentle but insistent, sent a jolt through you. “I know I’ve messed up,” he murmured, voice barely a whisper. “But if you’ll let me, I’ll make it right. I want this, us… if you do too.”

You nodded, words escaping you as Quinn stepped even closer, his free hand lifting to gently cup your face. His thumb brushed against your cheek, and you could feel the slight tremor in his touch. He leaned in slowly, giving you every chance to pull away, but you didn’t.

His lips barely brushed yours, soft and tentative. Your breath mingled together briefly before your lips locked together. He lingered for a heartbeat, savoring the closeness as if he, too, couldn’t believe this was real. Then, with a surge of emotion, the kiss deepened, all the restraint and hesitation of the summer dissolving as his hand rose to cradle your cheek, holding you to him as though afraid you might disappear.

His stubble that had grown out over the last couple weeks of summer scraped along your jaw and chin, leaving a faint burn that only added to the rush of sensation.

When you pulled back, both of you breathless, he rested his forehead against yours, a soft smile playing at the corners of his lips. “I’ve wanted to do that since the day you got here,” he murmured, a hint of relief in his voice.

You giggled, staying close and feeling his heartbeat echoing against yours. The silence that followed was thick, but it was different now — no longer tense or uncertain like it had been for most of the summer. It felt as though the weight had been lifted from both of your shoulders.

But even in that moment, you knew the reality of what this would mean—for Jack, for Quinn, and for yourself. There was a part of you that still ached, remembering Jack’s quiet disappointment and knowing it would take time to heal the wounds this summer had left behind.

You swallowed hard, raising a hand to Quinns face and brushing aside his dark locks that fell over his eyes. “I still think I need to go,” you said softly, your voice barely above a whisper. “Not because I don’t want this. I do. But I think both of you need time, and maybe I do too. To let everything settle.”

Quinn nodded, understanding settling over his expression. “I get it,” he replied, taking your hand in his and giving your palm a soft kiss. “I’ll be here when you’re ready. Take all the time you need.”

Quinn let you slip from his arms, his heart squeezing as he watched you grab your bag and exit the room. As you descended the stairs with your duffle bag slung over your shoulder, you saw Jack waiting near the door. His expression softened as you approached, a bittersweet smile crossing his face.

“So, this is it?” he asked, his voice gentle but with an undercurrent of acceptance.

You nodded. “Yeah, I think it’s best. Thank you, Jack. For understanding. And… for everything.”

Jack gave a short nod, his gaze momentarily flickering towards the stairs where Quinn had stopped to watch from a distance. He returned his gaze to you and managed a small, sincere smile. “Go live your life. I wish you and Quinn all the best.”

You hugged him, both of you holding on just a second longer than necessary. When you pulled back, you could see the mix of emotions in his eyes, but there was a sense of peace there too. He’d let go, not because it didn’t hurt, but because he genuinely wanted you to be happy. You felt your heart swell, gratitude mixing with the faint sting of regret for the friendship that would never quite be the same. But Jack’s words lifted the weight off your shoulders, letting you and Quinn move forward.

With a final look, you stepped outside, Trevor waiting to drive you to the airport, his brow furrowed in confusion at the way you suddenly had pep in your step, a small smile present on your lips that had been missing for weeks. As the car pulled away, you stole one last glance at the lake house, catching a glimpse of Quinn watching you from the porch. He raised a hand in a small wave, and you returned it, a soft smile on your lips.

This summer hadn’t turned out anything like you’d expected.

[bbrissonn]

𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐲 𝟒 𝐮 - 𝐣𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐡𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐬

𝄞⨾𓍢ִ໋ synopsis: in which you'll always be jack's only love, even if he might not be yours

𝄞⨾𓍢ִ໋ warning: angst, unrequited love, happy ending !! swearing, underage drinking, slight nsfw but no direct scene, read at your own risk NOT PROOF READ

𝄞⨾𓍢ִ໋ pairing: jack hughes x luke!bestfriend!reader

𝄞⨾𓍢ִ໋ disclaimer: two idiots in love is probably my new favourite thing to write cause why are you so stupid??? also the end is kinda wack, but i'd totally be down to make a part 2!!

𝄞⨾𓍢ִ໋ wc: 13.3k

𝄞⨾𓍢ִ໋ reader is born in summer !!

𝄞⨾𓍢ִ໋ inspiered by way too many songs that i can't even remember anymore. i'd say the main ones are party for u (obvi), it ain't me babe, cool about it, back to friends,fresh out the slammer, and ordinary. struggled so hard to pick one for the title but yeah

════ ⋆summer 2017⋆ ════

➻❥ detroit, mich

you remember the first day you ever met the hughes family like it was yesterday. you were a month away from starting high school, and freshly fourteen. you were sitting on the ground of the living room with your friends, all of the attention on grace as she read her text messages out loud. the boy she had crush on for almost a year now finally had the guts to speak to her, and you were all freaking out.

you all gave your input about what she should answer him. it was pure chaos, and if your brother - Jeremy - was home, he would've stormed down the stairs from his bedroom and tell you to keep quiet. but he was out with his friends, and your parents were outside doing whatever.

all of the windows in the house were open, meaning you could hear all of the birds singing, cars driving near your house, people walking in the street. but it was pretty peaceful on your street, you lived in a cul-de-sac after all, so not many people actually came on your street.

that was until you heard a car drive by, and suddenly loud voices could be heard from across the street. you could hear two people laughing, someone whining and who you guessed was their parents scolding them. and a minute later you and all of the girls were kneeling in front of your living room window, trying not to be caught staring by the people outside.

your eyes landed on the 'sold' sign on their yard. they must be the new family. all six of you watched as the parents started taking stuff out of the trunk of their car, when a u-haul truck arrived by their house. then, you spotted the three boys. the oldest one, you guessed since he was the tallest and wore umich gear, shook his head laughing as his mom handed him a couple of boxs. then you spotted the smallest one of them, he was pouting as his father ruffled his hairs slightly before he walked over to also grabbed a box from his mom.

and then your eyes landed on him. his skin was tan, more than his brothers, and his sun bleached dirty blond hair caught your attention. he was wearing a compression shirt, making his muscles even more defined as he also grabbed boxes from the back of the car.

"who the hell is that?" alyssa asked, and you all knew who she was talking about.

"no clue." you answered, your eyes still looking at him. then all of the sudden, the boy looked over at your house, almost like he could feel all your eyes on him. you all quickly ducked out, letting out giggles as grace exclaimed that her boy had responded.

everyone all rushed over to her phone, excited to see what he had said. but you said still, coming back up to take another peek at the family. the boys were now shoving each other as they made their way to the front door, their laughs echoing through the neighbourhood.

"looks like your house is gonna be new hangout spot, huh?" maddy blushed from besides you, she hadn't gone with the rest of the group either. you looked over with a blushing smile, as the two of you let out giggles.

── ⟢ ・⸝⸝

the next day, you were helping your parents bring in the groceries into the house, you were still wearing your baggy sleeping shirt and shorts. your hair was still up in a messy bun, and you had no idea what you looked like. you had gotten woken up by your brother banging at your door, and pretty much got dragged out of bed to come help.

"hi!" you heard a voice say as you brought a bag inside, you didn't bother to turn around at the voice, guessing it was probably one the neighbours coming to talk to your mom. but when you went back outside, your parents were talking with who you recognized as the family who had moved in yesterday. their boys were playing hockey in their driveway, pushing and slashing each other.

"oh, this is our daughter, y/n! sweetie, come say hi." your mom said as you made your way outside. you went and stood next your brother, smiling shyly at the two adults in front of you. "this is ellen and jim, they moved in across the street yesterday."

"hi." you said politely to the two adults, who returned your greeting with one of their own and warming smile.

"y/n/n's starting high school next months, just like your youngest." your dad announced, and their faces light up.

"how fun is that! at least he'll have a familiar face besides his brother at school."

"luke!" the dad, jim, called out, making the three boys stop their play. they all looked across the street, and the little one dropped his stick before making his way across the street to your driveway.

"luke, this is y/n, she's starting high school next month too!" ellen said nodding over at you. there was no way this kid was the same age as you. he looked 12 at max.

"hi." the boy said, flashing you an awkward smile.

"hello."

three days later, you and luke became attached by the hips. and that's how you became an honorary hughes sister. jim and ellen had welcomed you as their own, and their door was always opened for you.

════ ⋆fall 2017⋆ ════

➻❥ detroit, mich

"this is so complicated for no reason!" luke groaned as he let his head fall on the table, making you let out a giggle. the two of you were sitting at the hughes' dinning table, your math homework opened on the table. the house was currently empty, his parents had gone to grocery store, quinn was at university and jack and alex were still at the arena.

"it's really not that hard, lu, you're the one making it too complicated." you laughed, making the boy next to you look at you like a deer in headlights.

"easy for you to say, you're like the smartest person in our grade." he mumbled.

"that's not true."

"it totally is!" he said again, making you roll your eyes. you were both to say something else, when the front door opened and suddenly loud yelling filled your ears. jack was home.

you had never really talked with the middle hughes, always too flustered to say any sentence longer than two words. you also sucked at holding eye contact with the boy. just the thought of his eyes on you made you blush.

"lukey!" jack yelled as he made his way into the house. a couple of his friends were following behind, laughing and hitting each other. "i see your girlfriend's over again."

"i'm not his girlfriend."

"she's not my girlfriend." the two of you said at the same as alex walked over to you and gave you a small side hug. you had gotten close with the billet boy, he always listened to your drama whenever luke simply just did not care, and honestly alex was quite interested in the 9th grade drama.

"yet." jack smirked as he walked over to the fridge. a couple of the boys greeted the two of you before they all disappeared into the basement.

"i'm really sorry about him. he's an idiot." luke apologized, slightly embarrassed.

"it's okay, lu."

"it's just weird, 'cause you have like the hots for him or whatever and then he keeps saying shit like that." the boy grumbled, his words making your eyes grow wide.

"i-i don't have the hots for your brother." you stuttered, making luke look at you like a crazy person.

"right, and i'm good at maths." he said, his tone filled with sarcasm.

"i don't!"

"it's fine, y/n/n. like all of the girls at school are like in love with him, i know all your friends are. and you get all blushy and shy around him, i don't need to be sherlock holmes to figure out you think he's pretty too."

and it was never brought again between the two of you. as the weeks went by, you slowly started becoming more and more comfortable around jack, forming almost full sentences. it was embarrassing really, how flustered you got around him. and what made it worse is that he knew. he never said anything about it, but that same smirk always appeared on his face whenever he talked to you, like he was getting off on seeing you a complete mush.

until christmas came around. you had spent most your winter break over at the hughe's house since most of your friends were on vacation or out of town visiting family. not to mention the huge drama going on at the moment. which is how you ended up sitting with luke at their kitchen island. ellen had made you all some pancakes before she and jim left to go run some errands. quinn was at world juniors, and alex had gone home for a bit, meaning it was just you two and jack in the house.

"wait, so let me get this straight." luke started, placing his fork down as you looked over at him. "anna's had this crush on kaiden since like 5th grade. but he likes alyssa, and she likes him too, but she knew anna like him first." he continued, waiting for your nod of approval. "so now anna and alyssa aren't talking. and everyone's picking sides? that's so stupid."

"that's what i'm saying! like yeah, whatever, anna's liked him forever, but he literally never paid any attention to her. like i love her to death, but she seriously needs to move on. plus, kaiden and alyssa are so cute together."

"you need to find someone to distract her from..." luke started, but you quickly stopped listening to his words as jack made his way down the stairs. luke's back was facing the stairs, so he had no idea you weren't looking directly at him anymore.

jack was wearing nothing but plaid pj pants loosely around his hips, his calvin klein boxers peeking slightly above his pants. his hair was a complete mess, but you didn't care. he looked amazing. he was scrolling on his phone as he made his way over to the kitchen.

"morning." he smiled as he walked over to his little brother and ruffled his hair. luke was quick to push him away. jack then grabbed a plate of his own and sat on the stool next to his brother. "y/n/n." he nodded as he passed you. everyone called you that, you weren't y/n, you were y/n/n, but the way jack said it, the way each letter rolled off his tongue made your stomach turn.

your eyes were still glued to him, and that's when luke realized what was going on. his knee collied with yours under the island, making you wince slightly.

"ow! you idiot!" you exclaimed loudly as he hit your funny bone. you smacked his arm as jack let out a small chuckle.

"lukey, what'd you do to the poor girl?"

"nothing!"

"liar. keep your legs in your space you giant." you grumbled, making luke roll his eyes slightly.

"so, what's going on with anna and alyssa?" jack said after a slight moment of silence. you and luke locked eyes for a slight second, you were silently asking him if he was okay with his brother intruding on your alone time.

"stupid shit is what's going on." luke laughed when the two of you silently agreed on sharing your gossip session with his brother. that's always what you called, just luke's brother. you didn't like using the term 'older brother' because there was something about it that just made him even more attractive to you. so he was just luke's brother.

you and luke spent the next hour debriefing jack on all the drama in your friend group that had taken place since the beginning of high school. you hated to admit it, but things had changed a lot between all of you, and it made you sad. you then realized that maybe all the issues were why you always spent so much with luke. you were never apart of the drama, and you hated always having to pick sides between your friends.

being friends with luke and his friends was easy. they all got along, sure they argued every now and then, but it never lasted more than a couple of hours. you always had a good time with them, and there was never any tension between anyone. sure most of them were guys, but there were always 2 or 3 other girls there, which made you a little more comfortable around them. and there was luke.

he was your soulmate, you were sure of it. platonic soulmate. you never really had to talk to understand what was going on in the other's head. you both just always knew. he always listened to you, gave advice, and you always did the same for him. he was your person.

after that day, you didn't find yourself stuttering so much anymore around jack, and there was no more awkward silence whenever you'd be over watching a movie and luke would go to the bathroom. jack was surprisingly quite interested in your 9th grade drama, and you quickly found out a lot of his teammates too. so, you always updated him whenever the two of you were alone for a slight moment, and he always gave his input.

════ ⋆winter 2018⋆ ════

➻❥ detroit, mich

as the months went by, you started spending less and less time with your friends. your group had officially split into two after winter break, alyssa and kaiden making their relationship official, and everyone found themselves picking sides. not you. you couldn't. you had been friends with some of them since elementary school, and you just couldn't remove any of them from your life.

and it was fine at first. you'd hang out with some of them one day, and then the others the next time. until it became a complete mess. they were all pity towards each other and the fact that you had remained neutral in the breakup annoyed them.

so you got dumped. twice. grace and maddy still talked to you every once in a while, you had known them since kindergarten. you were the og trio. and through the years you added more girls. and now you had no one. it hurt a lot. especially when the superbowl came around. you always went over to lily's house, all of you, while your parents would go out with their friends. but now you were alone.

but the second luke found out about it, he invited you without a second thought. which is how you ended him squished between him and trevor on one of their couches in the basement. you knew a couple of them from school and going to jack's games with luke, or whenever they would come around. and it surprised you how much they enjoyed gossiping.

so, commercial breaks were filled with you dropping all of the gossip you knew about everyone in your town. and this is where the benefit of having an older brother came in. you two were complete opposite really, but you both loved gossiping.

the night was going amazingly, until one of brought up your old friends. they didn't know. it wasn't their fault. you knew they didn't ask you to hurt your feelings or anything. they didn't know. but they all quickly understood when a heavy silent fell in the basement, alex and jack eyeing each other while luke froze besides you. the two older boys didn't know exactly what had happened. but when you had shown up at the hughes' household almost a whole week ago crying your eyes out with luke by your side, they knew it had to be bad.

"we uhm... i'm not their friend anymore." was all you said. and thankfully the break was over and everyone's attention went back to the tv. but there was this weird feeling in the basement. you excused yourself after a couple of minutes, claiming you need to refill your cup.

it was a lie. they all knew it. you didn't even have a cup you had a water bottle which was still half full and that you had left behind. but you didn't care, you needed to get out of there. the air upstairs was cold and fresh. you stood in the kitchen, you hands on the cold countertop as you tried your best to hold back your tears. you weren't their friend anymore, not their not your friends anymore. it pretty much meant the same thing, but the two held different meanings behind them. you still considered them your friends, but they didn't.

"hey, you okay?" you head jack asked. his voice was softer and quieter than usual. it felt odd. you looked over to see him standing a couple of feet away, his eyes filled with something you couldn't quite figure out.

"yeah, i'm fine." you quickly said, wiping away your tears that had barely started falling.

"you're a shit liar, y/n/n." he mumbled quietly, making his way over to you. "you want me to go get luke?"

"no, no, it's fine. i'm fine." you lied, trying your best to put on your best smile. jack was now standing next to you, way too close to you, one of his hands resting on the countertop as his body face you. "he's having a good time, i don't wanna ruin it." you mumbled, shyly turning away from him. the last thing you needed right now was for jack to see you ugly crying. but your heartbeat quickened when one of jack's hands softly grabbed your chin and tilted you head towards him. holy shit. he was close, so fucking close you could feel the hotness of his body radiating onto yours.

"you can talk to me, you know?" he whispered, and you could've sworn you saw him lean in a little closer. his forehead was almost touching yours, your lips only inches apart. "they're childish idiots, y/n/n. don't let them get the best of you like this. you're better than them." he added, referring to your old friends. luke had told you the same thing about a hundred time in the last week, but jack saying it felt so much more different. they were childish, you were mature to him.

"jack..." you trailed off as you saw his eyes look down at your lips before looking back into your eyes.

"y/n." he mumbled, his forehead now leaning on yours. your heart was beating out of your chest, you could feel his breath on your lips. there was no way this was happening. there was no way you were about to kiss jack hughes in the middle of his kitchen.

"jack! dude!" trevor fucking zegras. his voice had barely reached your ears that jack had slipped away, stepping away from you as his friend appear in the kitchen. "holy shit, it's cold up here." the boy said, clueless about the tension between you and the hughes boy at that moment.

you didn't say anything, instead, you just went back to the basement, your heart still beating out of your chest. you almost kissed jack. jack almost kissed you. and there was no one you could tell about it. luke would freak out, and so would alex, and they were the two people you felt you could really talk to right now, besides jack, but you couldn't talk to jack about jack.

when you arrived back downstairs, luke was quick to check on you, but all you could do was nod, not trusting yourself to speak at that moment. trevor and jack eventually came back. you stayed quiet for the rest of the night, your arm wrapped around luke's as you leaned your head on his shoulder.

you and jack never talked about the moment in the kitchen. matter of fact, you and jack didn't really talk point. he never approached you, and you didn't feel like being rejected, having already been through enough lately with your old friend group.

════ ⋆summer 2018⋆ ════

➻❥ detroit, mich

it had now been a full year since the hughe's had moved to michigan. you and luke had somehow managed to become even closer over the summer, and when the boy went away to texas for his brother's draft, and then away to his family's lake house for a while, you found yourself getting closer to his friends. they became your friends. a few of them had girl friends, or close friends that were girls, so you had new girlfriends in your life. and it felt so good. your life was completely different than it was a year ago, but you were happy.

your new friends never argued or fought over anything. it was perfect. well, besides the fact you couldn't bare to be in the same room alone with jack, but thankfully you were barely ever put in that position. luke had noticed that something was different between you two, but he never asked about it. he figured you'd tell him eventually if you wanted him to know.

now here you were, starting your sophomore year of high school. which is when you met travis. he was on the school's football and was committed to columbia university. you two had a couple of classes together, and when you had to pair up for a project in science, where you didn't have luke by your side, he took his chance to approach you. a month later, he was your boyfriend.

him and luke got along a little too well for your liking, the two sometimes accidentally leaving you out of conversations, but deep down it warmed your heart. you knew finding a boyfriend who would be okay with how close luke and you were wouldn't be the easiest thing in the world, but travis understood.

and he finally got your mind off of jack. you didn't think about him anymore, at least not in the way you used to. he was now really just luke's older brother. and you were luke's best friend. the three of you quickly became a little trio. they had lots of things in common. they were both committed to d1 schools, both had older brothers who were also in university, and you.

everything was perfect. jack's teammates loved to tease you and travis whenever the two of you would be over to watch whatever sports game was on that night and you would be all cuddled up on the couch. the hughes' house was the main hangout spot for all of kids, quinn even bringing some of his friends from university on the weekends. the house was always packed, and the family loved it.

"where's luke?" jack asked one afternoon as he came back from practice. you and travis were cuddled on the couch, a movie the two boys had been dying to watch playing on the tv.

"bathroom." you answered simply as jack made his way over and threw himself on the opposite end of the couch. "you good?"

"tired." he said, his face stuffed into the cushion of the couch. you and travis looked at each other briefly before you shrugged, deciding to just leave the older boy alone.

jack was enjoying this small moment of silence. he loved his friends, but they could get quite chaotic at times, especially around trevor. and he loved always having them over, but sometimes it was nice to have a little peace and quiet. but his moment soon got ruined when the sound of lips kissing and your giggle echoed in his ears.

he didn't mind your giggle, if anything he loved it. but the kissing noises, that he just couldn't. his head snapped towards the two of you, travis' arm around your shoulder, one of his hands cupping your face while both of yours held his neck, your lips locked together.

"do you not have your own homes where you can kiss?" the hockey player asked brutally. you quickly parted from travis and looked over your shoulder to jack. you had never heard him speak like this around you, he did around his friends, but never around you. his eyes were filled something you couldn't quite describe. but the look on his face said everything. he was pissed.

"sorry." you mumbled before leaning your head onto travis' shoulder. jack's eyes remained on the two of you as he watched your boyfriend press a quiet kiss to your head and pulling you closer into his chest. but he didn't care about travis, he only cared about you, and the fact you weren't snuggled into his chest. he was jealous. he was going to be the first overall pick in the draft next summer, his dream was going to come true. yet he was jealous of a sophomore who would probably never make it to the NFL.

that night back in february constantly played in his mind. you were so close, so fucking close to him. you were right there. and trevor had to mess all that up. sometimes when he couldn't fall asleep he thought about what it would've been like to kiss you. how your small hands would feel on his skin, how your soft skin would feel under his touch. it haunted him. and then he'd started thinking about what would've had happened after the kiss. would you still have distanced yourself from him? or would the two of you maybe be together by now? the second you had disappeared from the kitchen, he hated himself for not telling trevor to fuck off and go back to the basement. you were right there.

"what did i miss?" luke almost yelled, running back into the living room from the bathroom. the boy was obvious to the small tension that had formed in the air, instead jumping on the couch between you and his brother.

a couple of minutes later, jack got up from the couch and made his way to the kitchen. you waited a bit before following him, claiming you were thirsty. when you get to the kitchen, jack was leaning on the counter, phone in his hands as something heated in the microwave.

you observed him for a small instant. his hair was getting longer, it fit him well. and he was starting to grow into his body more and more. he could feel your eyes on him. he knew you were there, he always knew. he tried his best not to look over to you, instead pretending he didn't know.

"are you okay?" you asked quietly, taking small steps towards him. his eyes looked up from his phone and over to you. you were wearing sweatpants but your hoodie, he could recognize it anywhere. you had gotten it from luke's closet, but it was his. luke had borrowed it a while ago and had been insisting that he had returned it to his brother. jack knew he was lying.

"yeah. just... tough practice. i shouldn't have snapped like before, sorry." he mumbled before looking back over at his phone. he couldn't keep looking at you, his hoodie fitting your frame so perfectly drove him insane.

"you sure? luke says you've been on edge for a while." you said softly as you now stood next to him. the last time the two of you had been this close was when you almost kissed.

"just the draft, i guess. big year, you know." he lied, he wasn't stressed about the draft. who else could they possibly pick? but he wasn't about to stand there and admit to you that he's been feeling like shit ever since you got boyfriend. you scoffed lightly at his words, making his head snap towards you.

"be so for real right now, you're gonna go first, everyone knows you will. they'd be stupid not to." you whispered, as jack's eyes starred into yours. the boy of the microwave ending rang through the kitchen, making jack snap back to reality. you had a boyfriend.

"thanks, y/n. but it's still stressful, everyone's watching you know." he said casually as he walked over and grabbed the plate of food he had heated up.

"don't act like you don't love the fact that everyone's only focused on you." you said, making jack smirk slightly as he grabbed a fork from the drawer.

"i do." he smiled as he started making his way back towards you. "also, if you don't mind, before you leave, put my hoodie back in my room not luke's. i've been looking for it for a while." he added as he walked past you and out of the kitchen.

holy shit.

════ ⋆spring 2019⋆ ════

➻❥ detroit, mich

"so, when are you guys leaving again?" you asked luke as you laid on his bed, the boy standing a couple of feet away going through his closet.

"about a month, i'm not sure the exact day." he answered. the NHL draft was coming up, which the whole hughes family was going to be gone for a while. this also meant the boys were constantly in the gym or at the rink, giving that finals push to trying and get picked as high as possible.

"gosh, i can't believe it's almost here, feels like you guys just got here." you sighed, fully resting on your back as luke let out a small frustrated groan. the two of you were gonna go get some ice cream, travis had gone out of the town for the weekend to visit family, so it was just the two of you. and you weren't exactly sure what the boy was doing right now.

"yeah, it's crazy."

"and in two years it's gonna be your turn!" you said with excitement as you pushed yourself up and walked over to the boy.

"well see about that."

"please, you're for sure gonna get picked, it's in your blood, lu." you smiled as he let out another groan, making you a little concerned. "what're you doing?"

"my hoodie's gone. did you give it back?"

"what hoodie?"

"the one i let you borrow when you and trav came over in the fall. the white one." he said as he kept going through his hoodies. oh. that hoodie. jack's hoodie.

"i gave it back to jack, he said it was is..." you responded quietly, making luke's jaw drop.

"nooooooo. y/n/n!"

"i'm sorry! i didn't know you cared that much."

"i've been hiding that hoodie from him since we were in toronto, it was so nice." he said, putting a hand on his heart as he looked down at the ground. you laughed slightly at how dramatic he was.

"idiot! it's just a hoodie, wear another one."

"jack's never gonna let me borrow it again."

── ⟢ ・⸝⸝

you were sitting on the couch in the living room with your family and travis, the draft was about the start. you had texted a couple of the guys who you were pretty close with good luck and had been texting luke almost all the time since he left. you were so happy for them, especially for jack, even if the two of you were still a little weird, you still cared about him.

so when his name was the first to get called that night, you were the first to jump up from the couch, fists in the air as you jumped around. your family was quick to follow, they had taken the hughes siblings as their own, just like jim and ellen had done for you and jeremy. travis stayed on the couch the whole night, his eyes stuck on you as you jumped up every time one of the guys got their name called, and how a bright smile was plastered on your face as you sent each of them a text shortly after their pick.

the second after hearing jack got off of the stage, he had been surrounded by pure chaos. media, photographs, players, staff members, there was just so much going on. but he was living his dream, so who was he to complain. he constantly felt his phone buzz in the pocket of his dress pants, before eventually putting it on do not disturb, not even bothering to check any of the messages.

it wasn't until he was back with his family that he really got the time to go through all of his messages. family who couldn't attend, old teammates, friends from toronto, friends from michigan, future teammates, and more. but there was only one notification he cared about. it was the first one he looked for, not even bothering to acknowledge the fact that crosby had sent him a message, no all he care was finding yours.

CONGRATS JACKY !!!!

SO SO PROUD OF YOUUUUUU

KNEW YOU HAD NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT

his smile quickly grew as he opened the messages. it was late in vancouver, meaning you were probably already asleep back in michigan. he knew you wouldn't see his message until the morning, but he didn't care. his response was short and simple.

thank you y/n/n ❤️

── ⟢ ・⸝⸝

when the hughes family got back from vancouver, you were in their driveway before they had even gotten out of the car. and you were quick to throw yourself into jack's arms. your arms were wrapped around his neck as his went around your waist, pulling you close.

"you're amazing, holy shit!" you gasped, pulling away from the boy and you shook him slightly before pulling him back in. the boy let out a laughter as he squeeze tight in his arms. gosh he was gone for barely and week and he had missed you so much. he started to wonder what it would've been like to have you right by his side as his name echoed in the arena.

"dude! congrats!" stupid travis always running his picture perfect thoughts. jack looked over at the voice, seeing your boyfriend walking over towards him with a smile. you then disappeared from his grasp, and going over to luke.

"thanks man." jack said awkwardly as the boys shared a hand shake, he looked over at the rest of his family, you were now quickly hugging quinn before moving over to ellen and jim.

"sweatheart, we were going to have a barbecue tonight, are your parents busy?" ellen asked as you parted from jim.

"i don't think so."

"i'll go ask them." travis said before walking back towards your house. the hughes family then started taking their luggages out of their car and making their way into their house, but jack stayed in place. and so did you. it was just the two of you now, standing about a foot away from each other. jack's eyes locked into yours.

"'m really happy for you, j." you mumbled after a small moment of silence.

"thank you, y/n/n." he whispered, his eyes still staring into yours. "you'd love vancouver."

"i wish i could've been there."

"me too." he admitted. you hadn't even realized how close the two of you had gotten. one of his hands was now resting on your forearm, inches away from your hand. she has a boyfriend. he kept repeating to himself, but you were right there. your lips parted slightly as you now looked up to him.

"your parents said they were coming in a couple minutes, babe." of fucking course. travis was obvious to the situation the two of you were currently in. the thoughts that ran through both your heads. how you still felt the hotness on your skin from jack's touch. this was so wrong. you had a boyfriend, a boyfriend you loved, and all you could think about was your best friend's brother.

summer and came and went in the blink of an eye. the hughes' had taken their annual trip to their lakehouse for a couple of weeks, so it was just you and travis for a bit. no luke, no jack, just you two. and it felt like a much needed break from the older boy. and when fall rolled away, jack and quinn were gone. sure quinn didn't live in the hughes' house, but he was around enough with school only being about 30 minutes away. but now it was always just you, luke, and travis.

you and jack barely ever spoke, only when he'd call his little brother and you were around, nothing else. and then quarantine happened, jack and quinn were home a lot sooner than they normally would've. you and travis couldn't see each other, but thankfully both your parents and the hughes' were okay with you and luke hanging out on one of your front porches or backyards a couple of times a week, keeping a safe distance of course.

it felt weird spending so little time at the hughes' and it felt ever weirder to see all three brothers there in the middle of april. as restrictions slowly started being lifted, you started spending your afternoons at the side of the hughes' pool. and then you'd help "ref" whatever small tournament of games they had going on with your brothers, making two equal teams. of course, they let you join whenever you wanted, but you weren't exactly wanting to play basketball or hockey with them. so you stayed on the side most of the time, but you didn't mind.

travis' parents had gone a little crazy at the pandemic. they barely let the two of you see each other, and always made sure the two of you kept a safe distance. it was awful but you understood. you never really complained though because you two still facetimed everyday, or texted all the time.

but you had finally landed yourself an invite to the hughe's lakehouse in august, along with travis of course. your parents had no problem letting you go, after all you had spent of your time with the brother's already, but travis' parents were quick to say no. luke had tried his hardest to convince them to let him come, but it was no use.

it was just going to be you, luke, jack, and all of his friends. great.

════ ⋆summer 2020⋆ ════

➻❥ wolfeboro, nh

you were officially 17. one more year until you were an adult, and it honestly felt crazy. you were about to start your senior year, and although luke wouldn't be at school anymore because of the ntdp choosing to make their players do online school, you were still so excited. it was insane to you that you had met the family freshman year and you were already a senior.

you had celebrated your birthday out on the lake with all of jack's friends and the two brothers. you had a blast listening to them bickering and arguing the whole day while you just sat back and watched. it was great.

you had been at the lakehouse for a couple of days now, and somehow jack and luke had convinced their parents to go to the lakehouse alone, meaning it was only teenagers in the house. that of course came with jack and his friends drinking every night and acting like a bunch of idiots the whole time, but you found it entertaining.

jack had made it quiet clear that neither you or luke were allowed to have any alcohol. his parents weren't here, so he was the one in charge. but after begging the whole day, you were finally allowed to drink with them since you were now 17. that of course earned a long string of whines from luke, who was only a couple of weeks shy of being 17 as well, but jack simply ignored him.

so here you were, the early hours of the morning approaching as you sat on the edge of the dock. the boy's were starting to calm down a bit, meaning it was almost time for bed. you had snuck away a couple of minutes ago, needing a small break from the guys. you were sure luke would be the first to join you or maybe cole, but to your surprise it was jack.

"you okay?" jack asked as he sat down next to you, drink in hand.

"yeah, why?"

"you've been out here a while, trevor was starting to think you fell in the lake." he said, making you scoff a bit.

"you guys do realize me and luke have drank before. we're not little freshmen anymore."

"i know." he said, and you looked over at him for the first time since he sat down. you could see in his eyes that he was drunk, but not fully, just enough to feel it. you sent him a small smile before looking back over at the lake. the two of you then sat in a comfortable silence before jack spoke again. "do you ever think about getting married?"

"i'm 17." gosh, that still felt weird to say.

"i know, but like the guys were saying chicks always think about that kind of stuff. got a whole pinterest boards for wedding inspo, and shit." he explained, making you roll your eyes slightly.

"stop calling us chicks."

"sorry."

"i guess i do sometimes."

"yeah?"

"yeah." you affirmed, and jack looked over at you with his brows raised, waiting for you to elaborate. "i want something small, no new girlfriends and boyfriends that i've never met, no kids under 5 because that's just chaos. if anyone even thinks of announcing a pregnancy or proposing to someone at my wedding, out of life for good. outside, maybe on a beach or in the forest, during summer time obviously. has to be during the sunset to get those nice pictures. lots of flowers around. each table with a vase of falling lilies. round tables, not squared or rectangles-"

"you really thought about everything, huh?" jack joked, making you blush slightly before looking down at his lap.

"not everything, but most of it."

"more than me. i just know i want good vibes, good music, good food, all my friends there." he said, making you laugh slightly.

"so what everyone else wants when they first think about their wedding?"

"i guess so." he shrugged, making you chuckle. your eyes were now locked together. and the heat of his body was radiating onto you. not this again.

"dude! luke stole a beer!"

jack hughes was going to hit trevor zegras. it's like the new york native had a gift for ruining every moment jack got to spend with you.

"fucking luke." jack cursed as he stood up from the dock and made his way back to everyone, his feet slightly thumping.

the rest of your trip to the lake house had gone smoothly, you and jack kept your distance a little after that weird moment out on the dock. the boy had eventually agreed to let his little brother drink, but he was limited to a certain amount of drinks.

and when it came time to go home, you were excited. no more sharing a house with jack, he'd be going to new jersey soon and you'd go back to how life was. but of course, the odds were not in favour, and the nhl season was not starting until january. great.

thankfully, jack spent most of his time working out with quinn and out on the ice with his brothers, so you didn't see him all that much. but none of his close friends were in michigan, and the ones who went to umich couldn't leave campus, meaning his brothers were his only friends right now.

so whenever you'd come around, quinn and jack would always be there as well. eventually, travis' parents started letting him come over more and more, and when he'd be around, jack was never there. you found it a bit weird at first, how the middle hughes would always disappear when travis would get there, but you ignored it, told yourself it was just a coincidence.

it wasn't. jack hughes could not stand the sight of you and travis together anymore, not after that night out on the dock. nothing happened, you just talked, but everything hit him that night. he was in love with you, so fucking in love with you. and sometimes when your eyes would linger on him a little longer than they should, or when he'd catch you staring at him during movie nights, he'd tell himself you felt the same way. but then the arms that were wrapped around your body would bring him back down to earth.

it hurt him, it hurt him so much, because deep down he knew that if trevor had never came upstairs back at the superbolw night, your lips would've locked together in the middle of the kitchen. his hands would've been all over your body, his body close to yours. and the second your lips parted he would've been rambling about how long he'd be wanting to do that for, how long he'd been thinking about what it feel like. and how he knew he wanted you in his life forever.

but that didn't happen. instead you slipped away from him, and then you were gone. you were still there physically, but you were gone. he had his chance, his moment, it would've been perfect. but stupid trevor had to ruin it all. and so every time his eyes caught you and travis being all loved up, all he could think about was how that could be him, that should be him. but it wasn't.

════ ⋆spring 2021⋆ ════

➻❥ detroit, mich

"i'm so proud of you, y/n/n!" luke exclaimed as he picked you up, spinning you around slightly. your laugh echoed through his ears as your tried your best to keep your hat on the top of your head.

"thank you, lukey." you mumbled as the boy placed you down, but his arms stayed around you.

"congratulations, sweetie!" it was ellen's turn to embrace you in her arms. you did it. you had graduated high school. it was truly a surreal feeling, you were starting college in a couple of months.

you had your mind set on michigan at first, luke would be there, it was close to home but travis was going to columbia. you had jokingly applied, you didn't think you'd get in, but what was the worse that could happen? but you weren't prepared to see the word 'accepted' when you opened the email. luke was sitting next to you when you opened it, and he was so happy for you. sure, it stung that you two would be apart, but you had gotten into an ivy league school. he could get over not seeing you for a couple of months.

you hadn't told travis, acting like you were going to go to michigan until decision day came around. you showed up to school that day proudly wearing your purple columbia hoodie, and travis swore he almost fainted when he saw you appear in the hallway. you were coming with him.

── ⟢ ・⸝⸝

the moment jack hughes he was a complete goner for you came at his little brother's draft. you and travis had been standing on the side of the living room with alex and josh as you waited to hear luke's name get called. and when you hard the new jersey devils call his name, the room erupted. jack was so excited, already looking forward to having his brother with him.

your smile was wide as you watched luke slipped jack's jersey on along with a new jersey devils hat. you knew he'd make it one day. once luke was done with all of his interview, the party was in full swing, people congratulating him every second.

at a point, the jersey slipped off of his back and onto yours, a wide grin on your face as you smiled for the photo. jack had been on the side with his brother, alex, quinn and a couple of family friends. he hadn't been paying any attention to what was happening anymore, until he heard your laugh echo through the backyard.

his eyes quickly found you, and his heart sped up at the sight of his jersey on your body. he was brought back to that time you were wearing his hoodie without even knowing, and how you had kindly returned it to him before leaving. only his jersey looked so much better than any hoodie could. his number on your back along with his last name.

butterflies flew around his stomach at the sight, your smile wide as you shifted away from luke and started talking to some of their cousins. gosh how he wished he could see like this at his game, standing in the crowd cheering him on.

the day he found out you were coming to new york for school, he was thrilled. part of him hoped this would finally be the moment where you two would finally push past this weird tension between you two. sure he lived across the bridge, but you were moving to new city, and you would have no friends. he'd be the only one you knew for a while. but when he opened his phone one morning and the only thing he could see was travis sitting at a table signing a contract with a small sign that said 'columbia univerisity' in front of him and his parents decked out in purple, his heart shattered.

how could he forget. how could he forget the only reason you had applied to columbia in the first place was because of travis. not him. travis. so, even though you'd only be about 20 minutes away from him in the fall, and no matter how good you looked in red with the number 86 on your back, he knew that wasn't the jersey you'd be wearing in a couple of months.

and the day jack hughes truly got his heart broken came only a couple of months later. it was the devils' home opened, and jack had texted randomly saying he'd love for you to attend, and he was sure you'd love it. so you agreed. and when jack walked out of the locker room after their win, he was over the moon. he hadn't seen you in so long, and he couldn't wait to see you. he was quick to get undressed and get done with the media to rush out of the locker room and make his way to the friends and family area where you had texted him you were waiting.

but his body froze as his eyes landed on you, or more specifically the arm that was around you. he should've known, he should've known travis would be here, why wouldn't he? but jack had asked you to come, not you and your boyfriend. and to make it worse, you were wearing a devils jersey, 'subban' was written on your back. ouch.

"jack!" you said once you spotted him, walking over towards him, and throwing your arms around his neck. "you were great!"

"thanks, y/n."

"you okay?" you asked concerned when you noticed the small smile on his face.

"yeah, just tired a guess, it's been a while." he lied as travis joined the two of you. the boy boys dabbed each other up, exchanging small greetings before jack was already trying to leave.

"i forgot, coach wanted to talk to me-"

"oh, no worries, we'll wait."

"nah, you don't need to. it might take a while and i really wanna go home." he said, rubbing the back of his neck. you were a little hurt by this. he had been texting you all day about how excited he was to see you and for the game, yet here he was already trying to leave.

"oh. i get it, yeah, go rest."

"i'll see you guys soon."

you didn't. you had texted him the next day asking if he was feeling better and he never answered. you were starting to get a little worried, so you had asked luke to check up on him, and luke was quick to answer you saying that jack was okay. that really hurt, you had figured out after a while that jack was simply ignoring you, travis had also reached out after a while, but still no answer.

jack had gone home that night and for what felt like the first time of his life, he was heartbroken, and he cried, he cried hard. he was so stupid to think you'd show up alone, you had travis had been together for almost three years now, why would you show up alone. three years, it had been three long painful years of jack trying to convince himself that one day you'd realize he was the one you wanted, not travis. but that day never came, and it probably never will. he needed to move on.

but he couldn't do that with you around, so he ignored you. he needed a break, a long long break to focus on himself and finally get over this stupid crush he's had for years. you never went to another devils game after that.

and when summer came around, you were a little hesitant to join luke and his family. jack and quinn had bought a lake house about an hour away from your homes, and their parents sold the lake house in wolfeboro. thankfully, jack and quinn had decided they would only stay at their own house now, no more staying with their parents, so you didn't have to see jack.

but when quinn had reached out and invited both you and travis to come over, you didn't know what to do. travis had been out of town with his family to visit his grandparents in minnesota, so it was just you. you were going to decline his invitation at first, but when luke showed up early in the morning pounding on your bedroom, you knew you had no choice.

their house was huge, the backyard was huge, everything was just so big and fancy. of course that the fancy part didn't last long as the boys all settled into the house, it quickly became chaotic. but that's what made it comforting in a way.

"what's up with you and jack?" luke asked one evening as the two of you laid on the dock, staring up at the sky. your brows furred as you looked over to the boy, he was already looking at you.

"what're you talking about?"

"you haven't said a single thing to hime since you got here, you barely even said hi."

"nothing's going on between me and jack." you said. it was a lie. and you hated lying to your best friend. but how were you supposed to explain to him all of it, how complicated and stupid everything between you and jack was. you weren't stupid, you had a small guess as to why he disappeared. all the stolen glances, the awkward moments when he was so close yet so far, and the fact that you had a boyfriend, a boyfriend you loved more than anything in the world. you knew.

"y/n/n... i'm not stupid, come on. did he do something? say something?" luke urged, pushing himself up on his hands. you were quick to follow his movement, shuffling slightly closer to him so your shoulders were touching.

"it's stupid."

"try me."

"he invited me to the home opener, so obviously me and trav went. and then after the game he was all weird and he rushed to leave. and i haven't heard him since." you explained, choosing to start your story to the last time you saw the middle hughes instead of year ago when you almost kissed him in their kitchen.

"he's such a bitch. i don't get why he'd do that."

"it's fine, lu, really. school was crazy busy anyways it's not like i had that much free time to see him or whatever. i don't care." another lie. gosh you hated yourself for how the words slipped so easily from your mouth. how you uttered them with full confidence knowing deep down the absence of jack was killing you.

"he's such an idiot."

════ ⋆spring 2023⋆ ════

➻❥ newark, nj

a large smile was plastered on your face as luke appeared in the family and friends room, his hair wet and messy while his classic lopsided grin was on his face.

"lukey!" you called out, handing travis your bag as you ran towards your best friend, throwing yourself into his arms. he had just played his first nhl game, and of course you and travis had found the time to come watch.

"dude!" travis said as he followed behind you, hitting the boy on the shoulder a couple of times.

"thanks for coming guys."

"of course! i'm so happy and proud of you, lu! and the trio's back together!" you said with excitement as you brought the tall boy into another hug. luke was here. he was 20 minutes away from school and you couldn't wait for the next year already. you were almost done with your sophomore year, meaning you were already almost done with college.

luke and travis just let out laughs at your excitement. the trio was back together. but the only downside to luke moving to new jersey was the fact that he lived with jack. jack you still hadn't spoken to besides small greetings since the home opened a season ago. travis didn't talk to him either, they were never really that close and your boyfriend always had a feeling that jack just did not like him.

when the devils made the playoffs, you made sure to attend every game you could. quinn was also in town during that time, and it felt so weird for all of you to be together in new york instead of michigan, but you loved it. quinn, jim and travis spent most of the games talking about sports, while you and ellen stressed over the games. it was amazing.

and life got even better when you went back to michigan, this time travis joining you whenever you'd go to quinn and jack's lakehouse. jack was very different that summer, he stayed away from almost everyone, and he was glued to the wheel of the boat. you had mentioned it to luke slightly, but even he didn't know what had gotten into his brother.

even though things were still weird between you, travis and jack, you had the best summer of your life. and by the time you went back to new york, you had a ring on your finger. you had travis had agreed to wait until you both graduated to get married, but he had been keeping the ring hidden away in his room for too long now. luke was over the moon for you, quinn, ellen and jim as well. but jack only retreaded back to his room when you showed up to the lakehouse a little after sunset showing off your ring.

but you didn't care, you were happy. and nothing was going to ruin that for you.

going back to new york, you fell back into the same routine as before, only now whenever you had free time you'd spend most of it with luke. either going out for food, chilling in your dorms or even going over to his apartment when jack would be out.

luke quickly became aware that the problem behind jack's behaviour wasn't something to do with hockey, and he only acted this way whenever he was around you and travis, so he tried to limit your interactions.

as for jack, he had been miserable ever since he left the arena after the home opener. the distance to try and move on did nothing. if anything, it hurt even more than having you around. but what was he supposed to do? go back to how it was before and pretend he never fell into this flunk, explain to you why he had done it, tell the truth only to get his heart broken once again? yeah, that wasn't gonna happen. so he stuck to staying away.

but the moment he saw that ring on your finger, his heart shattered completely. you were getting married, married to someone who wasn't him. ever since your conversation about weddings on the dock back in 2020, he had started thinking about his. he imagined different version every times, but there was one constant thing that was identical. you were wearing white, you and only you.

but that's all it was, thoughts and dream that he knew who never come to life. thankfully, he could only guess that he wouldn't be invited to the wedding, so that would at least save him the pain of hearing you say 'i do' to someone that isn't him. he knew he should be happy for you, that's all he really wanted, for you to be happy. but he had his limits, and seeing you be happy with someone else, that he just couldn't handled. so he stayed away.

he couldn't help the little gasp that slipped out of my mouth when his eye landed on the wedding invitation. his wedding invitation. was this some sort of joke? had mistakenly addressed it to him instead of luke? but luke had already received his. this was no mistake. jack hughes was invited to your wedding.

it took him a full week to decide whether he was going to come or not, and he eventually decided he will after luke practically corned him asking why he hadn't answered yet. he wanted to be at your wedding, he really did, but he wanted it to be your wedding. but he wanted you to be happy. your happiness was the most important thing to him, and if marrying travis would make you happy, then he was happy, sorta. at least it wasn't with luke.

════ ⋆summer 2024⋆ ════

➻❥ michigan

"you excited?" your mom asked, standing behind you in front of the large mirror in the room. your hair was done already, so was your makeup, all was left was the dress. in less than an hour, you'd be married.

after lots of conversation, you and travis eventually settled on having your wedding in a venue, and he had ended up choosing most of the decorations after you insisted he add his own touch to the wedding, and that you didn't really mind how it was set up besides a few thing.

"yeah. just nervous." you answered, taking a deep breath. your mom laughed slightly as she wrapped her arms around you.

"that's a good thing, honey. we all are right before." she soothed, but it didn't help. you were nervous, you were scared. of what? you weren't sure, but you knew you were.

you eventually slipped on your dress and took a couple of minutes to yourself before you were swarmed by people for the whole night. all you did was stare into the mirror, looking over yourself. this wasn't what you had imagined.

a knock eventually came, you answered with a small 'come in' but no one moved. the door stayed closed and you figured maybe it was just your mom making sure you were still alive. you took a deep breath, closing your eyes as you enjoyed your final moment of peace for the night.

and when you opened them again, jack was standing behind you. you hadn't even heard him come in. his eyes were starring into yours through the mirror. your breath caught in your throat as you observed him. it had been forever since the two of you had been alone in a room, yet alone this close to each other.

"this isn't what you talked about." he stated after a couple of minutes, taking a small step towards you.

"what?"

"this isn't the wedding you talked about." he said, referring to that night out on the dock where you had shared your imagination with him. you bit your bottom lips, trying to find the right words to say.

"guess it just changed overtime." you shrugged, finally looking away from his eyes. jack took another steps towards you, and you could feel the heat of his body onto your back. he was so close.

"bullshit."

"jack-"

"nothing about this wedding screams you. the decorations were all travis, weren't they? there's barely any flowers, the main colours are blue and yellow. you hate yellow. this is really the wedding you want to have?"

"jack i- it's complicated." you sighed.

"your boyfriend of 6 years not knowing you hate the colour yellow and not knowing what your dream wedding is isn't complicated, y/n. you wanted follows everywhere, falling lilies, have it outside. nothing about this is you, it's all him. why are you allowing it to be all about him?"

"because he wants this, jack! this is for him, not me, all of this is for him!" you said, your voice raising. your words sunk into jack and you saw his shoulder sag a bit.

"what do you mean?"

"this is what he wants, jack. he wants this wedding."

"you don't?"

"i hate yellow." you admitted, trying your best to hold in your tears. you had never told jack about your hatred for the colour, so how he knew you had no idea. "i hate this dress, i hate venue, i hate the followers he picked."

"you hate the dress?" he asked, his voice low. "why?" he added once he saw you nod.

"it wasn't the one i wanted."

"why didn't you get it?"

"it was perfect. for my dream wedding, it was perfect. not for this one."

"then why not have the wedding you always wanted? you deserve it!"

"because that's all it is, jack, a dream!" you yelled, a tear slipping down your cheek. you squeezed your eyes shut, bitting your lips, when you felt one of jack's hand on your arm.

"tell me about it, the dream wedding."

"just our close friends and families. on the beach, too many bugs in the forest. the sunset in the back, flowers everywhere, falling lilies on the table. taking a walk on the shore after, just us. and when i'd get to aisle..." you trailed off, feeling jack's other hand land on your waist, your back against his chest, his breath on your shoulder. "you'd be waiting for me. our eyes lock, and you'd smile, and i'd try my best not to cry. i can't have my dream wedding today, because the man is not the one waiting for me today." you admitted, your eyes still shut closed as tears slowly fell down your cheeks.

"i love falling lilies." jack whispered into your ear, his lips against the shell of it.

"i know, that's why i picked them. you love the water."

"i do." he whispered, his lips trailing over your the side of your neck. "you hate yellow."

"i hate yellow." you repeated, opening your eyes only to see jack already looking at you.

"leave with me."

"jack..."

"leave with me, y/n/n. i haven't stopped thinking about you since that night in the kitchen. and i've hated myself ever since for not telling trevor to fuck off and let you leave. it was the biggest mistake of my life. you're the only one i've ever wanted. and every time someone asks me where i see myself in 10 years, if i had broken any records, all i can think about is you, us. you're all i think about." he admitted, his words sending shivers down your spine. "i'm in love with you, y/n/n. i'm so fucking in love with you it hurts, but i love it."

"there's a back door down the hallway."

"there is." he confirmed. your eyes were locked together again.

"you drove?"

"i did."

"alone?"

"yes."

"go start the car." you mumbled, you felt his lips against your cheek and he was gone, a wide grin on his face. you quickly started getting this dress off, taking your hair out of its up do and into a messy bun. you were about to grab your bag when luke came into the room. his brows immediately furred when he saw you. the ceremony was starting in less than 20 minutes, what the hell were you doing?"

"y/n/n. what's going on?" his voice made you freeze. you slowly turned around, and luke was quick to noticed your smudged mascara. "are you okay?" he quickly asked, stepping towards you.

"i can't do this, luke."

"y/n/n, what're you talking about?"

"i can't get married."

"you're stressing yourself out, y/n. get the dress back on. everyone gets nervous, doesn't mean you don't want to get married." luke tried to reason, his hands on your shoulder.

"no, no, no! you don't get it, lu. i can't get to married to travis."

"wha- why not? he loves you, y/n/n, and you love him. you guys have been together forever." luke said, getting slightly agitated. you were about to say something when jack walked in.

"y/n/n, you almost ready to go?" he asked before his hands landed on his younger brother, his jaw falling slightly. luke looked over at his brother, before looking over at you.

"y/n/n...?"

"i can't marry travis, luke. i can't, i don't want to." you said, and luke understood right away. he smiled down slightly at you. he knew.

he always knew. he always noticed how shy and blushed you would get around his brother, he wasn't stupid. and he always noticed how jack's eyes lingered on you a little too long. he knew.

"trav's mom said she was going to come see you soon, so you need to go, now." luke mumbled, a grateful smile forming on your face.

"i'll see you tonight, okay? i love you."

"i love you more, y/n/n." luke answered, giving you a slight hug before you grabbed your bag and made your way towards jack. the boy was quick to grab your bag. "take care of her."

"i will."

── ⟢ ・⸝⸝

"she's gone!" travis' mom yelled out, walking back into the main area. everyone's head quickly turned towards her, her hands frantically waving in the air.

luke had managed to make it back to the rest of the group before travis' mom went to go see you. he was standing with quinn and their father, talking about sports.

"what?"

"y/n! she's gone!" she repeated, your family quickly made their way over to your room to confirm this claim by their own. and when they entered the room, they were met with your dress hanging and all of your stuff gone, with your ring left on the desk.

when your parents came back and confirmed that you were gone, chaos ensued. everyone tried calling your phone, trying to think about how you would have left and why? travis eventually came out of his own room and joined the panic.

"where's jack?" quinn whispered to his baby brother.

"where do you think." luke mumbled back, pretending to be on his phone trying to contact you. quinn knew too. essentially everyone knew besides you, jack, and travis about these unsaid feelings between you two.

"atta boy." quinn said under his breath, making luke snort.

"luke! where is she?" travis said loudly, walking up to his best friend.

"i don't know, man, i'm trying to call her." he answered, showing the boy his phone. luke felt bad for lying to his friend like this. but you were his best friend, you were his soulmate and he'd do anything for you. he knew the time would come where you and jack finally grew balls and admitted your love for each other.

"you were the last to see her!"

"she was fine when i went to see her. look man, i'm just as confused as you are." another lie. gosh, luke hated lying.

"where's jack?" travis asked with a low voice. his eyes looking around the room for the brunette boy.

"i-i don't know." technically, this wasn't a lie. he knew who jack was with, but he didn't know where.

"i knew it. i fucking knew it. she left with him, didn't she?" he said, pinching the bridge of his nose. when he saw the looks the two brothers gave each other, he broke. "get the hell out of here."

── ⟢ ・⸝⸝

"your lake house, really?" you said in disbelief as jack pulled into driveway.

"no one's home!" he answered, putting the car in park and climbing out. he quickly made his way around the car and opened the door for you. you stared at his hand that was reached out for you, still in disbelief that this was the place he chose to go to. "come one, y/n/n. we can go on the boat, swim in the pool, watch a movie. whatever you want to do, we can do it. just us."

"jack, the last time i was here-"

"was with travis, i know. but i own the place so who gives a shit." he said, making you laugh slightly, looking down at your lap. you felt jack's hand on your chin, tilting your head towards him. he had stepped closer, and he was barely inches away from you. "it's just us."

"kiss me." you blurted out. jack's eyes went wide before he quickly leaned in and finally, after years, his lips met yours. the hand that was on your chin cupped your face, while the other landed on your waist. your hands reached for the collor of his dress shirt, pulling him close.

"y/n/n..." he whispered when your lips parted, slightly out of the breath. the hand on your face slide down to your waist, holding you close.

"shut up." you said, wrapping your head around his neck and pulling him in again.

there was no way this was real. you were making out with jack hughes in the middle of his driveway. holy fuck.

your tongues met in the middle after a while, and a moan escaped your mouth when jack pulled you flush against him. he was still standing right outside of the door, and your legs were now hanging out of the door around his. when lips left yours and moved down to your neck, your hands went into his hair, tugging as small gasps slipped past your lips.

"jack." you whispered, his lips trailing down further and further.

"yeah, baby?" he responded, his lips leaving your skin for a slight second before they were back on you.

"i want you."

everything after that was a blur. jack had lifted you out of the door, kicking the door closed behind him as your lips met again. your arms around his neck, his hands on your waist, as he tried his best to guide the two of you into the house safely. jack struggled to get his keys figured out to unlock the door, partly because of all the adrenaline rushing through him, and because of the way your lips danced on his neck.

"fuck, y/n/n." he groaned, finally opening. he guided you in once again, and quickly pushed you up against the wall, the door closing between the two of you. his body was trapping yours against the wall, his hands roaming your body. meanwhile, yours attacked his button up, trying your best to undo the buttons as quickly as possible. jack helped you out a bit, getting the ones at the bottom. but he left the last one for you. and when you undid it, you were quick to push the shirt off of his shoulders, exposing his chest completely.

"you're so pretty, jack." you mumbled against his lips, your fingers roaming his chest, finger naisl grazing his abs. he let out a loud grunt, his head falling into your neck. "sound so fucking pretty, j." another grunt.

"fuck, love the way you talk to me, y/n/n. so fucking hot." he whispered against your neck. jack's hands trailed to the back of thighs, quickly lifting you over his shoulder. you let out a yelp at his movement before giggling as he started making his way to his bedroom, his shirt being left behind on the ground.

"stupid luke wanting the downstairs bedroom." he cursed under his breath as he made his way up the stairs, making you laugh a little.

"you own the place." you said, almost mocking his words from before. jack let out a small chuckle before softly slapping your butt. you eventually made it to his room, and jack carefully place you down on his bed, his body hovering over yours.

your legs were over his thighs as he kneeled on the bed, his hands right next to your head. his crotch hard against yours.

"you're wearing too much clothes."

"so are you." you answered, hands going down to fiddle with his belt.

"you have more than me!"

"you still have your shoes on, idiot." you smiled up with him, his finger slowly pushing your top over your head.

── ⟢ ・⸝⸝

"oh, hell no." luke grumbled as soon as he entered the lake house, quinn right behind him. the two boys had came straight after getting kicked out by travis, but when they saw jack's car in the driveway, they decided to spent the rest of the day with their parents.

luke eventually explained them the situation, and although ellen was over the moon that you two had finally confessed to each other, she scolded luke for not telling the truth and for not telling her as soon as it happened.

but it was almost the early hours of the morning now, and the two boys wanted to sleep in their own bed. but luke was not expecting to see jack's shirt on the ground as soon as he walked in.

quinn let out a chuckle as his eyes landed on the shirt, slapping luke on the back slightly. "what'd you think they were doing, bud? having a tea party?" quinn joked before he started making his way upstairs to his bedroom. "welcome to your new life, dude."

oh, absolutely not. for some reason, luke had totally forget the part where you would now be having sex with his brother, so when the two of you slowly made your way to the kitchen the next morning, both of your hairs a mess, dark purple spots along both your necks, and down jack's chest - luke could only guess there were some on yours too - he was quick to say something.

"i have rules." he said loudly, making quinn look up from his phone, as you and jack looked over at him, your eyes half closed. "keep the sex quiet, and don't talk to me about it. no kissing with your tongues like teenagers in front of me."

"like this?" you asked before grabbing jack's face and kissing him exactly how luke had described.

"ew! y/n!" luke gasped, his hands covering his eyes. quinn let out a laugh, getting a kick out of watching this. "none of that!"

"awh."

"and... y/n/n you're still my best friend, okay? and i don't want to third wheel all the time." luke said, getting slightly emotional. you smile softly before walking over to the boy and hugging him.

"don't worry, lukey, i won't talk to you about how good your brother fucks me." you joked, making jack and quinn let out a laugh as luke let out another gasp. this was going to be fun.

[m34tthews]

only you — j. hughes

an — inspired by this tweet. jack looked too good yesterday

masterlist

the hotel room door clicked shut behind you both, drowning out the noise of fanatics fest, leaving only the soft hum of the air conditioner and jack’s dramatic groan as he flopped onto the bed like he’d just lost a playoff series.

“i’m never trusting a barber in this city again,” he muttered, face buried in the duvet, hair sticking out in sad, uneven tufts.

you leaned back against the door, crossing your arms, the hem of your denim mini skirt brushing the tops of your thighs. the cropped top you wore shifted as you exhaled slowly, fighting the grin tugging at your lips.

“jack, it’s really not that—”

he turned his head just enough to glare at you with one eye. “don’t. lie.”

your grin slipped out before you could stop it. “okay. it’s… kinda tragic.”

“thank you. so supportive,” he groaned, rolling onto his back and staring at the ceiling like it held all of life’s answers. “i need a hat. i’m wearing a hat. no one can see this.”

you pushed off the door and sauntered over, dropping onto the edge of the bed. “you’re not wearing a hat, jack. you’re not hiding your gorgeous hair.”

he lifted his head just enough to eye you, gaze dragging down your legs, over the curve of your waist where your top revealed a sliver of skin. “you’re really gonna sit there looking like that and expect me to focus on my hair?”

you smirked. “stop deflecting. sit up.”

with a sigh, he did as told, leaning against the headboard. you knelt between his legs, fingers threading through his hair, trying to salvage what you could. his hands, as if on instinct, slid up your sides, thumbs brushing just under the hem of your top, before gliding down to rest on your bare thighs.

“you’re distracting me,” you said, trying to sound stern but your voice softened under his touch.

he grinned lazily. “not my fault you look this good while playing hairstylist.”

you rolled your eyes and focused on your task, parting his hair down the middle, smoothing it so it framed his face, soft and boyish — like your own personal ‘90s heartthrob.

“there,” you said, sitting back on your heels to admire your work. “better.”

he gave a mock serious nod. “so what you’re saying is, you want me looking hot for other women tonight?”

your hands froze. your breath hitched just barely, but he caught it, his smirk growing.

your eyes narrowed, and before he could react, you ruffled his hair. hard. the neat part was gone, replaced by a mess of soft waves sticking out in all directions.

“you wish, hughes,” you snapped, pushing off the bed and standing, brushing your hands down your skirt like you were wiping off the irritation. “find your hat. maybe i do want to cover that stupid hair.”

jack threw his head back and laughed — loud, genuine, the kind that always made your chest ache because you loved it so much, even when you wanted to strangle him.

“oh my god, you are mad!” he said, eyes bright, grin wide. “you’re actually mad! this is great. you’re so hot when you’re mad.”

that only made your scowl deepen as you turned your back on him, arms crossed, stomping toward the tiny table by the window.

“stop laughing at me, jack,” you said, voice dripping with petty indignation.

you stayed facing the window, arms crossed tight over your chest, pretending to admire the view when really your reflection in the glass betrayed you — lips pursed, brow furrowed, cheeks flushed with that mix of jealousy and affection you could never quite untangle when it came to jack.

behind you, he moved quietly at first, like he thought he could sneak up without you noticing. but you felt the shift in the room, the warmth of him as he stepped close.

“baby,” he said again, voice lower now, playful but careful, like he was treading the line between teasing and making it up to you. his hands found your waist, thumbs brushing soft circles against your sides. “i was joking.”

you didn’t respond, not right away, letting the silence stretch.

but then he dipped his head, nose brushing your hair aside so his lips could graze just below your ear, soft and deliberate, like he knew exactly how to break down your walls.

“you really think i care what anyone else thinks?” he murmured, voice warm enough to melt steel. “i’ve got you, my beautiful, jealous, possessive girlfriend that’s all i want.”

you swallowed hard, trying to hold on to your indignation. his arms tightened around you, pulling you back against his chest. the heat of him, the familiar weight of his chin resting on your shoulder — it was too easy to lean into it, too easy to forget you were supposed to be mad.

“you’re an idiot,” you muttered, but it came out softer than you intended.

he smiled against your skin. “but atleast i’m yours.”

you rolled your eyes even as your lips betrayed you, curving up at the corners. but you weren’t letting him off that easy.

“doesn’t mean you’re off the hook,” you grumbled, though you let your hands drop to rest over his where they were splayed on your stomach.

he hummed, kissing the spot below your jaw, then lower, trailing slow, apologetic kisses down your neck. “what if i said you’re the only one i want looking at me tonight?”

you didn’t answer. you couldn’t, not when he was doing that.

“what if i said i don’t care about my hair, or the attention, or anything else?” his lips curved into a grin against your skin. “just want you, mad or not.”

you sighed, your resolve slipping. “you’re so annoying.”

“and you love me anyway.”

his hands slid up, palms warm against your ribs, thumbs brushing just under your top again, this time slower, more tender. his nose nudged your temple, his breath soft on your cheek.

“come on, baby,” he whispered. “don’t be mad. you’re too pretty to pout.”

you turned in his arms finally, letting him see the stubborn glint still in your eyes, but also the affection that no amount of teasing could hide.

“fine,” you said, poking his chest. “but you owe me. big time.”

he grinned, leaning down to steal a quick kiss. “deal. whatever you want. just don’t stay mad. i can’t make it through the day— you’re too hot when you’re mad, it’s distracting.”

and just like that, your fake annoyance crumbled, replaced by a laugh you tried and failed to smother as he kissed you again, deeper this time, hands framing your face like he wanted to memorize the feel of you.

© 2025 M34TTHEWS

[withwritersblock]

More Hearts Than Mine-A Secret With Their Families Meeting

~More Hearts Than Mine by Ingrid Andress~

Author's Note: I wanted drama... here's some drama... maybe some more angst in the future for this fic series lol Summary: Y/N's period is late and her family and Luke's family meet for the first time Warnings: stress along the idea of pregnancy Word Count: 4,658 Luke Hughes x fm!reader

Tomorrow was the semi-annual Hughes Bowl. It was another one where Jack was unable to play, but was a good sport about everything. Luke’s parents were coming into town to watch them play against each other. Like every year. 

Except this year was extra important to Luke. Not because they were fighting to stay in a playoff spot but because his parents were meeting Y/N’s parents for lunch and then the game. 

Luke was nervous. His family and Y/N’s family were very opposite people. Luke was tense, afraid that something would go wrong. His family had difficulty admitting it but they have issues with being out of touch sometimes. While Y/N’s family have lived paycheck to paycheck for Y/N’s entire life. 

He paced back and forth, dropping his gaze towards his watch every few seconds as his family was supposed to be at the apartment first. 

Jack was picking up Quinn from the airport and was planning on meeting everyone at the restaurant. Y/N’s family were driving up and staying in a hotel for the night, that Luke paid for despite her father’s countless protests. 

This was Luke’s idea, an idea that he is now severely regretting as he doesn’t want to give her father any more reason not to like him. Even though she swears that her dad will never not like him. Luke still wants to say in his good graces. He doesn’t need his family messing with that.

“Uhm–Luke,” he heard her call out from their shared bathroom. Luke completely snapped out of his trance as he followed after her call.

He skipped through the bedroom before walking into their ensuite bathroom. “What’s wrong, baby?” he asked softly as he glanced down onto the bathroom counter before looking back towards her. 

“What’s today’s date?” she asked as she was fiddling with the promise ring he gave her on their two year anniversary. He nodded slowly as his lips parted and clamped shut again.

“The 24th,” he mumbled. She nodded slowly and sarcastically waiting for him to grasp onto the question. “Our families are meeting today?” he elaborated in hopes that is the answer she was hoping for.

“What happens on the 20th of every fucking month, Luke?” she asked, throwing her arms to the side frustratingly.

His mouth fell open as his eyes widened. His entire body ran cold. “You haven’t–?” he trailed off as she shook her head. “Four days can’t be that bad, that’s–that’s normal right?” he expressed as he reached towards her, nervously taking a hold of her waist. Luke needed to hold her, she was like a security blanket to him. Feeling her skin calmed him in every way possible. 

“I’ve been like clock work since I was thirteen years old, Luke. Something’s not right,” she muttered while avoiding his gaze. “This cannot happen right now,” she said as she rested her hands onto his arms. Slowly, she glided her thumb along his skin; feeling his bicep tense under her delicate touch.

“Well, it’s only four days. It’s–We can’t freak out yet,” he tried to be reassuring but the stutter in his voice was hard to ignore. Slowly, she wrapped her arms around the center of him. She rested her head against his chest as he pulled her tighter to his chest. 

“What if I’m already freaking out? This is not how I wanted this to happen,” she mumbled against his chest, a small sob leaving her throat. Luke dragged his hand up and down her back soothingly. 

“We don’t know anything yet, okay? I know that’s not reassuring at all but we’ll figure it out? We’ll figure it out no matter what this means, okay?” he mumbled as he raised his hand up and ran his fingers through her hair slowly. She simply hummed against his chest as she sniffled another sob.

She took a deep breath, taking in the perfect smell of his cologne that made her heart race. Except, her heart was racing for other reasons. She was on the verge of finishing her degree and Luke’s role on the Devils was getting more and more important. 

They were barely adults, hell, some people may still see them as kids. She couldn’t have a kid right now. She thought that her and Luke were careful, very careful. At least she thought so.

“Hey,” he mumbled as he took a hold of her cheek, pulling her head away from his chest. He needed to look her in the eyes, maybe so she would hear him. Delicately, he glided his thumb across her cheek. He wiped a tear off of her cheek. “We’ll figure it out, okay?” he whispered while looking deeply into her eyes.

She nodded slowly. He nodded with her as the corner of his lips curled upward. A nervous laugh left her lips as he leaned towards her and pressed his lips against her forehead for a few seconds.

The doorbell echoed throughout their apartment and he slowly pulled back. “I’ll go grab them,” he said quietly as he rested both hands onto her cheeks, wiping the leftover tears on her cheek.

“Stall them for me,” she let out barely above a whisper. He smiled softly before he pressed his lips against her forehead once more.

“Of course, my love,” he slipped out of the bathroom, carefully closing the door. He pressed his back against it for a second as he took a deep breath. He bit his bottom lip as he continued to walk out of the bedroom. He rubbed his eyes as he walked through the living room. He walked towards the door and pulled it open. His parents were waiting outside the door. 

“Hi,” he forced a wide smile on his lips, hoping to hide the conversation that he just had with Y/N. They smiled widely as they made their way into the apartment. Ellen instantly wrapped her arms around Luke. He returned the hug as he looked towards his dad. His dad smiled softly towards him, letting his mom have the moment longer. 

Ellen pulled back, stepping aside to allow her husband to have a moment with their youngest son. Jim stepped over and gave Luke a quick hug before he stepped back. 

“Where’s my future daughter-in-law?” Ellen asked teasingly. Luke rested his hands onto his hips as he pressed his lips together. He took in a shaky breath. He couldn’t form words. There was a long beat before he answered. “Is she alright?” his mom let out suddenly.

“Oh! Oh yeah. She’s fine. Just we uh–we got into an argument so we’re just–” he trailed off as he took a deep breath. It was probably the worst lie or either the best cover for their current situation. It would explain any tension or awkward silences between them. Now he has to tell his beautiful girlfriend, whom he’s never argued with, the lie he just told.

“Was it bad?” her mom asked, “Are you okay?” she asked urgently. 

Luke took a deep breath as he nodded, “Just a lot of stress in the air, I’m just giving her some space,” Luke explained as he walked backwards. He pulled his phone from his pocket. “Do you guys know when Quinn and Jack are going to the restaurant?”

“They’re leaving after Y/N’s family gets here,” Jim said while looking around the apartment. Almost as if he was checking for evidence of an argument. 

Luke was pretending to text Quinn about their plans but in reality he was texting Y/N their new cover story.

Luke: Hey lover, I may have told my parents that we got into an argument… So cover story?

Y/N: sure but I don’t even know how to pretend to have an argument with you

Luke: just claim I said something stupid, seems realistic enough

He heard her stifle a laugh from behind him. He spun his head around to see her making her way out of the hallway. Their eyes connected and a smirk formed on her lips as she rolled her eyes playfully. 

“Hi Ellen, Jim. How are you guys?” she asked as she awkwardly crossed her arms over her chest. Luke rounded the corner towards the kitchen, needing water and to make it seem like they were not talking. But all he wanted was to wrap his arms around her, hold her tightly against his chest.

The impending situation waiting to be decided is still circling his mind. Their families did not need to be aware of what was happening. That would be a huge mistake.

“We’re doing good, how are you my dear?” the question was stated loudly, perhaps hinting to her son that he was the cause of the argument. 

Ellen and Jim worshipped Y/N and that is exactly how he wanted his girlfriend to be seen by his parents. He was okay with his parents thinking that he was in the wrong. 

He opened the fridge and pulled out a bottle of water. He took a long sip of the water before he began walking back into the living room. He could overhear his mom and Y/N engage in a conversation. 

Luke walked beside his dad, bringing the water back towards his lips. “Are you two okay?” his dad asked quietly. Luke nodded as he added the lid to the water. 

“We’re fine, just not good timing on our part,” Luke joked and Y/N overheard. She gave him a look before she replied to what his mom was saying.

“When does her family get here?” Jim asked quietly. 

“Few minutes or so.” Luke mumbled as he kept his gaze on Y/N. He watched how her jaw remained tightly clenched until she was saying something. Her breathing was shallow, she was trying not to cry. 

“I thought the whole in-laws' meetings happened at weddings,” Jim whispered jokingly. Luke rolled his eyes playfully. 

“Yeah, well, it’ll be good for you guys to interact,” Luke mumbled nervously, “Get to know each other a little bit,”

Jim simply nodded along as almost on queue, the doorbell rang. Y/N's entire body straightened as she smiled politely towards Ellen before she squeezed her way towards the door. Luke guided his parents back away from the door. Luke muttered a small joke to his parents, practically telling them to behave.

Y/N took a deep breath as she pulled the door open. It didn’t take much as her younger brother barged his way into the apartment with a wide smile on his lips. “I made the program!” he cheered excitedly, his eyes were only on his older sister. She stared back towards him with confusion. 

“You made the what?” she replied back.

“You got on the US program team?” Luke chimed from the back of the living room, wearing the same wide smile EJ was wearing. EJ nodded encouragingly. “That’s incredible, dude!” Luke charged towards him, giving him a huge hug. 

“I don’t know what that is but I’m assuming–”

“Your brother is one of four goalies that made the USA National Team Development Program,” her mother bragged as she excitedly tapped his shoulders. 

Ellen and Jim smiled widely. “Oh wow! That’s amazing!” Ellen prompted, knowing this exact motherly feeling on multiple different levels. Without hesitation she made her way across the small space to give Y/N’s mother a huge embrace.

This gesture made the introductions between the families much easier. Y/N’s mom and Ellen instantly started chatting while Jim and her father were already sitting on the couch talking to one another. EJ was sitting between his father and Jim, the three of them talking about the Development Program.

Jazmine and Luke were talking together near the front door. “I mean not that I’m nervous to find a new guy–Is she okay?” Jazmine stopped mid sentence once she noticed Y/N in the kitchen.

She was alone in the kitchen. It was overwhelming. All of it. The fact that her little brother was moving to the midwest for an elite hockey program was hard to handle. Also the fact that she may be pregnant and cannot talk to anyone about it. She leaned forward and gripped the counter, her head was hanging low. She was squeezing the ends of the counter, her shoulders rising and falling at a rapid rate. 

“I’ll go check on her,” Luke offered as he slid past Jazmine and made his way towards the kitchen. He stepped into the small, barely secretive area. 

He walked directly beside her, he gently rested his hand onto the center of her back. “Goregous,” he whispered. She straightened her frame and leaned away from the counter. She faced away from him, mainly away from their families potential wandering gazes. 

“Honey,” he whispered as he wrapped his arms around her waist. She shook her head as she stepped away from him.

“I don’t know how to pretend that this is all fine,” she whispered as Luke’s hands remained in the air. “I’m trying not to freak out but–”

“We don’t know anything yet,” he tried to reassure her.

She spun quickly on her heel, looking up towards him. She furrowed her eyebrows harshly, “That’s the problem, Luke! We don’t know anything, our life could be very different and we have no idea,” she was yelling at him yet she was barely audible.

Luke took a hold of her waist, spinning her around to face him. He reached towards her, taking a soft hold of her cheeks. He glided his thumbs across the apples of her cheeks slowly. 

“We’ll be okay if our life together changes in an instance tonight or if it doesn’t. What we know right now, is that our families are getting along great. Your brother is on track to get drafted to the league. Your sister is finally moving on from that asshole. And you and I are going to be okay. We are going to be okay,” he whispered towards her as he continued to look deeply into her eyes.

She couldn’t form any words as she simply nodded. “Okay?” he asked softly, a small smile on his lips.

“Okay,” she whispered as she slipped closer to him. He released the old of her cheeks as he wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly to his chest. Slowly, he ran his hand through her hair as he swayed their bodies back and forth for a few seconds.

Ellen nudged Y/N’s mother and whispered, “Looks like they solved their argument,” Ellen offered.

“Were they in a spat?” she asked quietly. 

“Luke said he was giving her space because they got into an argument right before we got here,” Ellen said while shaking her head. Y/N’s mother’s eyes widened as she looked back towards the kitchen. The pair were still embraced as Luke was whispering into Y/N’s ear. 

“I cannot picture those two raising each other’s voices at one another.” she said to Ellen as she admired the way Luke slowly pulled back and the smile on her daughter’s face. It was small, maybe not fully genuine but it was a real smile towards Luke. 

“He’s so in love with your daughter. I’ve never seen one of my boys like these before.” she offered as the pair exited the kitchen together, emerging in a conversation with Jazmine right away.

Ellen turned her gaze and looked into Y/N’s mother’s eyes, “When my husband and I pictured someone for our daughter, Luke is better than anything we could’ve imagined,” she explained softly as she watched Y/N rest her head against Luke’s arm. 

Ellen dropped her gaze towards the floor with a small grin on her lips, “I must say as a mother to only sons, that is the greatest thing I could hear about one of them. I’ve always said Luke is the first to get married,” she offered teasingly. 

“Let’s hope not soon,” Y/N’s mother said in a giggle. Ellen let out a small gasp as her phone started vibrating in her pocket. Pulling it out, she saw that Quinn was calling her.

“Hi Quinny,” Ellen said quietly. 

“I thought we were meeting you guys at the restaurant? Jack and I are sitting alone at a giant table. We look like freaks,” Quinn said half-jokingly.

“Alright, we are leaving their place now. You’ve got a table for ten right?” Ellen questioned as the entire group started making their way out of the house.

“Yes, Jack and I look ridiculous by the way,” he continued.

Luke wrapped his arm around Y/N’s waist as he led the charge of their families out of the apartment. “Food should help,” He teasingly poked her side. 

“Luke Hughes,” she scolded through a small fit of laughter. She took slow steps away from Luke to walk side by side with her mother and Ellen. Luke did the same with her dad and his dad.

Once they reached the restaurant, it was evident where they were sitting as Quinn and Jack did look incredibly ridicous sitting alone. Luke took a small hold of EJ and Jazmine’s arms and guided them over to where his brothers were sitting.

“Boys, this is EJ and Jazmine, Y/N’s younger siblings. EJ, Jaz, this is Jack and Quinn,” Luke said as he introduced the siblings. They shook each other’s hands as they sat beside one another. Luke sat down beside Quinn while Y/N sat down beside Jazmine as their parents were already sitting beside one another and chatting.

“What’s up guys?” Quinn asked as he brought his glass of water to his lips. EJ and Jazmine smiled shyly towards one another as they tried engaging in conversation. EJ was trying not to freak out. He was a huge fan of Quinn, it was a lot at once. Jazmine simply finds the whole thing awkward. 

“Oh, Jack, EJ got on the developmental team,” Luke said as he pointed towards EJ. EJ’s eyes widened as he dropped his gaze shyly, he tried to hide the grin on his lips. Jack’s eyes widened as an instant grin formed to his lips.

“Aw, that’s fucking awesome kid–here, let me give you my number if you have any questions about the whole process–the team, anything!” Jack said excitedly as he quickly handed his phone over to EJ. “Serious offer man,” Jack said happily as EJ started adding his phone number into the phone.

Y/N and Luke’s eyes met again while Y/N’s plastered a small smile on her lips as they forced their gazes back down to the menu that was rested in front of them. EJ, Jack, and Quinn were all engaged in a conversation about hockey; the program while Luke and Y/N sat silently listening along. 

Jazmine leaned into Y/N whispering, “Are you okay? You’ve been too quiet.”

Y/N turned her head to the side, meeting her little sister’s gaze before looking back towards Luke. He was focused on the menu in front of him. A small scowl on his lips as he was probably upset with the limited game day options he had to eat. 

“Just a lot going on in my mind,” Y/N mumbled before she decided on her soup and sandwich combination before closing her menu. 

“Do you want to talk about it?” she asked her. Y/N shook her head slowly before looking back towards Luke who was still staring down at the menu. “Are you sure?”

“I’ll be alright, Jaz,” Y/N said quietly. Her voice grasped Luke’s attention. His gaze instantly landed on Y/N as he shut the menu and rested it onto the table. Luke and Y/N’s eyes met and he gave her a small reassuring smile.

“Of course, you have Lukey,” she muttered teasingly. Y/N nudged Jazmine but she was right. 

~~~

The third period was about to start for the game and it was still tied. The parents were sitting in a row of the suite watching the game. Y/N was standing in the back, watching the game on the TV screen. EJ and Jazmine were enjoying the snacks as they wandered towards where the parents were to watch the game again.

Y/N was stirring her drink with her straw as she forced her gaze up towards the TV screen every few seconds before she looked back down towards the mocktail in front of her. 

“Hey,” Jack whispered as he walked up towards her, adjusting the sling on his arm. Y/N hummed as she kept her gaze low. He furrowed his eyebrows. “My mom said you and Luke got into an argument today, are you doing alright?”

Y/N scoffed as she raised her head to meet his gaze, “I’m fine and we didn’t actually get into an argument at all. Just some stuff is going on and I–we cannot–we agreed to not talk about it until tonight,” she expressed as she looked into Jack’s eyes.

Jack stared suspiciously, “I’m not a gossip like everyone else in our families, if you want to talk about it with me. I’ll keep my mouth shut,” Jack expressed quietly as he leaned towards her. He looked up towards the screen to see the game going.

She took a hesitant breath before glancing towards their families loudly chatting at the edge of the suite that led to the perfect view of the game. 

“I’m late, Jack,” she whispered as she looked into his eyes. His eyes widened as he leaned towards her. 

“Holy shit, do you really think–?” he asked barely above a whisper. 

“I don’t know, it may be too early to even tell–I don’t know,” she said while shaking her head slightly. “We’re barely twenty-one, this isn’t–this is not how this shouldn’t–”

“What does my brother think?” he asked quietly as he rested a reassuring hand onto her shoulder. 

“He says that we’ll be okay either way. We’ll figure it out whatever that means,” she said while rolling her eyes. “He’s trying to make me feel better but nothing that he says is helping which isn’t his fault,” 

Jack took another step towards her, he leaned closer, “How careful were you–”

She let out a sudden giggle, “Are you asking how often your brother wears–”

“Uh–withdrawn, nothing further,” he let out jokingly as he leaned back. They both giggled as he tapped his hand against the table.

“We’re very careful, probably too careful for being together for two years. Well maybe not–it turns out,”

“Well if it’s any constallation, Luke would be an incredible father,” his voice was barely above a whisper. 

Y/N smiled softly as she tilted her head to the side to look towards the TV screen. “I know,” she whispered softly, “I was hoping there would be a ring and a wedding before this was even an idea,” she offered with a dry laugh. 

“Well, Lukey is lucky to have a girl like you, you know that right? I give you two a lot of shit but if he doesn’t marry you then that kid is not going to marry anyone,” Jack said as he awkwardly leaned towards her and gave her a hug with the best of his abilities with his arm in a sling.

“Thank you Jack,” she mumbled while she accepted the hug. “Luke’s freaking out but I think he’s letting me freak out more since he’s–”

“He’s trying to be strong for you. Yeah I can tell,” Jack offered while laughing. “His eyes darted towards you like every single second to see if you were okay. Everyone can tell something isn’t right with you guys. You guys barely spoke at dinner, that’s weird. Our moms are over there talking about what you two could be arguing about,” 

“Yeah? What are their theories?” she asked jokingly. 

“Uhm, my mother seems to believe that Luke said something stupid because us ‘Hughes boys’ apparently have no filters. Whatever that means,” Jack said sarcastically. “Your mother believes you took something too personally and it spiraled from there,”

“Sounds about right,” she muttered while rolling her eyes playfully.

“You’ll be alright,” Jack muttered as he shifted his gaze towards the TV just as Timo scored to take the lead. “I know that’s right!” he cheered. 

“Thanks for listening, Jack, seriously,” she offered. He smiled towards her with a dry laugh leaving his lips.

“Yeah, that’s what future brother-in-laws are for?” he asked jokingly. She rolled her eyes playfully.

~~~

Their families were back in their hotels and Quinn was on a plane back to Vancouver. Luke and Y/N were alone in their apartment sitting on the bathroom floor with the three pregnancy tests resting on the bathroom counter. Y/N couldn’t stand going in public to buy the tests, especially right after a Devils game.

She’s been stopped in public before for dating Luke after a game. She did not need to be seen in public buying a pregnancy test. She did not need to see the potential media surrounding it. 

Their backs were pressed against the walls, for the first thirty seconds they remained silent. “It’s probably too early for it to be accurate,” she let out.

“Well, we’ve got two paths right? So path one is that it’s negative and life goes back to normal. Maybe double wrap it from now on–”

“Luke!” she scolded while smacking her hand against his chest, a small giggle left her lips. He let out a small laugh.

“Okay, okay but then we have path two right. The test is positive and we have to change course right? Okay, you’re pregnant and we are going to be parents. We’ll get a bigger place and we’ll be able to have a room for the nursery. You’re about to finish school and look into possibly a job and then we’ll have a little boy or girl–it could be great,” 

“I mean we’re young but we’ll make it work, right?” he offered as he shifted his gaze towards her. She didn’t respond, she simply nodded. “I mean your family is only a few hours away, Jack is only a couple blocks away–not that Jack would be a fantastic babysitter–well maybe he would be, I don’t know. I’m sure my parents would be willing to fly in and help whenever we would need it–”

“Luke, please stop talking–your babbling is making me more nervous,” she said with an awkward laugh. 

“Sorry, gorgeous,” he said while awkwardly laughing. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her towards his side. “It’ll be alright,” he whispered as he kissed the top of her head. 

“I talked to Jack about it, I didn’t mean to it sorta spilled out in the suite,” she explained.

Luke nodded slowly, “That explains the long awkward hug he gave me after the game. I thought he was making fun of my shootout attempt,” 

Before she could reply, the timer they had went off. She lifted her head up and their eyes connected. She nodded allowing him to reach up and take a hold of the three tests. His hand covered the tiny screen that says if she was pregnant. He leaned back against the wall holding them in his hand. 

“Are you ready?” he asked quietly.

All she could muster up was a nod. He moved his hand, holding all three of the tests in his hand flatly. All three of them clearly stated Not Pregnant, Luke dropped them on the floor and pulled her tightly to his chest.

“Guess we’re double wrapping it–”

“Luke Hughes! Take something serious for once,” she said while laughing. 

“We’ll be okay, my love,” he mumbled as he pressed his lips against the side of her head. She smiled to herself as she ran her fingers through his curls. 

“Eventually we’ll think about it, right?” she whispered. He hummed as he ran his hand down her back. 

[brainddeadd]

we haven’t talked much about baby devils family besides her mom… so maybe she’s an only child also why she’s love the boys so much because she has never had siblings and what if she lost her dad a few years ago to cancer and it’s not something she really talks about only person on the devils that knows is luke so maybe when it was the cancer game it was really important to her and everyone found out about her dad

The Cancer Game

warnings: parental death

ok so.. my dad died and this is how i'd want my friends to react and how some of them did react..

if you've lost someone close to you, i am so sorry for your loss

The New Jersey Devils locker room was filled with the usual celebration buzz. They’d just pulled off a big win, and everyone was riding high on the thrill of it, the energy bouncing off the walls as teammates shouted and laughed. Normally, Y/N would have been in the thick of it, cracking jokes and soaking up the post-game excitement with her team. But tonight, she’d been different. She’d put on a brave face, even cheered a little in the locker room, but her heart wasn’t in it. Only Luke noticed the way her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes, the way she slipped out of the room as soon as she could without saying a word to anyone.

He’d seen her like this before, knew the kind of weight that could press down on her after certain games. The annual Cancer Awareness game, something that meant so much to the Devils organization and their fans, had an especially painful significance for her. A few years back, her dad had passed away after a long battle with cancer. It wasn’t something she talked about; she kept her emotions tucked away and rarely let them out, but this game always hit her hard. Luke was the only one who knew, and though she never said anything, he’d learned to recognize the signs.

The other guys hadn’t quite pieced it together yet, but they were noticing the change in her. Jack frowned as he watched her leave. “Did you guys see Y/N? She just left so quickly. I don’t think she even said goodbye.”

“Yeah, and she was barely talking all night,” Nico added, crossing his arms with a worried look. “She seemed…off. You think something’s wrong?”

Dawson, still buzzing from the win, looked back toward the door, his excitement dimming. “She didn’t even celebrate like usual. You think we should check on her?”

Luke glanced at them, a little torn. Y/N was private, and he didn’t want to betray her trust, but he also didn’t want her to be alone with this. With a slight nod, he said, “Yeah. I think we should.” He didn’t offer an explanation yet, but his face was serious, and the others picked up on it right away.

The group left together, the energy in the car shifting to something quieter and more solemn as they drove to Y/N’s place. They entered her apartment, hoping she’d be alright, but the scene they found tugged at their hearts.

Y/N was curled up on her couch, her face hidden in her hands, her shoulders shaking with silent sobs. Luke stepped forward first, his heart heavy as he saw his friend so vulnerable. He gently placed a hand on her shoulder before sitting next to her, pulling her into his side. She leaned into him, not saying anything, but letting him be there.

The others stood back, exchanging looks of uncertainty and sadness. They hadn’t seen her like this before and didn’t want to intrude, but they also couldn’t bear the idea of leaving her alone.

After a quiet moment, Jack finally spoke up. “Is…is she okay? What’s going on?” he asked softly, his voice filled with worry.

Luke took a breath, deciding to share what he knew in the hopes that they’d understand. “Her dad…he passed away from cancer a few years back. This game…this night…it’s a lot for her to handle. It brings back memories.”

There was a stunned silence as the reality of her pain sank in. Dawson looked down, feeling a pang of guilt for not realizing sooner. Nico’s expression softened, his eyes full of empathy as he took a step closer to her.

Jack’s face fell. He crouched down beside her, reaching out to place a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Y/N, I’m so sorry. You should’ve said something. You don’t have to go through this by yourself.”

Nico nodded, his voice gentle. “We’re family, Y/N. Whatever you need, we’re here. Always.” His words were soft, filled with the warmth of someone who understood what it meant to be part of a team that cared deeply for each other beyond just hockey.

Dawson gave her a supportive smile, his voice as warm as he could make it. “Yeah, we’re here for you. If you ever need to talk or even just want someone around to keep you company, don’t hesitate. We’ve got your back.”

Y/N looked up through red, tear-streaked eyes, managing a small, appreciative smile as she took in the scene. There they were—her teammates, her friends, her family—standing around her with faces full of concern and love. She hadn’t planned to let them see her like this, hadn’t planned to share the part of herself that was still so raw and aching. But here they were, offering her every bit of their support, not backing away from her sadness.

Luke’s arm tightened around her shoulders as he whispered, “You’re not alone. I’m here. We’re all here.”

Y/N felt her heart swell as Jack, Nico, and Dawson each moved closer, surrounding her with a warmth and presence that filled the room. They didn’t try to fix her pain or rush her through it; they simply sat with her, letting her know that she didn’t have to bear this alone. The weight of her grief felt a little lighter with them there, their quiet strength helping to carry her forward, reminding her that no matter how heavy the burden, she would never have to shoulder it by herself again.

[honeyslibrary]

Rookie Card | Jack Hughes

Pairing; Jack Hughes x Fem!Reader

Warning(s); Fluff, established relationship, little to no knowledge of Costco (I've never been lol), edited once, that's it I think!

Summary; Jack finds out that reader keeps a certain card in her wallet

Word Count; 3.1k

Authors Note: I feel like if this happened IRL he'd be such a little shit about it and would not stop teasing 😭 Also I don't have a Costco membership idk what they sell there and I did not look it up to be accurate 🥴 -Honey

You knew this Costco trip was a mistake the moment Jack grabbed the cart.

"I'm driving," he'd announced with that lopsided grin that still made your stomach flutter after eight months together. That grin had gotten you into this relationship in the first place. The same one he'd flashed at you across the bar the night you met, when your friend had elbowed you and whispered, "Holy shit, that's Jack Hughes," and you'd pretended not to know exactly who he was.

Now that same grin was steering an overloaded shopping cart through the warehouse chaos of Costco on a Sunday afternoon, which felt considerably less charming.

"Slow down," you call out as he narrowly avoids clipping an elderly woman examining a stack of discounted bestsellers. "This isn't the ice, Hughes."

Jack shoots you a look over his shoulder. "I'm being careful! Besides, we need to beat the sample rush. Those little pizza bagel things go fast."

You roll your eyes but can't help cracking a smile. For a professional hockey player who regularly gets body-checked into boards, Jack has an almost childlike enthusiasm for the free samples at Costco. It's endearing, even if his cart navigation skills leave much to be desired.

Two hours later, the cart is piled dangerously high with everything from the mundane essentials you actually came for (paper towels, coffee beans, that specific brand of Greek yogurt Jack insists is the only acceptable post-workout snack) to the impulse purchases that somehow found their way in when you weren't looking (a 2.5lb bag of dried mango slices, a folding camp chair, and what appears to be an industrial-sized container of protein powder).

"Do we really need all this?" you ask, eyeing the mountain of products as you approach the checkout area.

Jack looks genuinely confused. "Which part don't we need?"

"I don't know, maybe the trashcan sized candle?"

"You said your apartment always smells like hockey gear!"

"I meant you should do laundry more often, not turn the place into a Yankee Candle outlet."

He shrugs, unrepentant. "Trust me, I'm doing us both a favor."

As you approach the front of the store, Jack steers the cart toward the self-checkout area.

"The regular lines aren't that long." you comment, glancing at the regular checkout lanes where actual employees could help with the small mountain of purchases you've accumulated.

Jack scoffs. "Self-checkout is way faster. Plus, I'm basically a professional at scanning."

"Since when?"

"I did a grocery store commercial last season, remember? Spent like three hours scanning the same box of cereal from different angles."

You bite back a smile. "I'm pretty sure that doesn't translate to actual scanning skills."

"I forgot you were the expert," he rolls his eyes, smiling as he maneuvers the cart into the self-checkout lane.

The Costco self-checkout is already chaos. The cart is overloaded, the scanner next to yours keeps yelling "place item in the bagging area," and Jack is too busy pretending the jumbo box of Goldfish is a dumbbell to be remotely helpful.

"Four pounds of pure cracker power," he announces, curling the box in perfect form. "Could be a new workout trend. Snackercise."

An exasperated mother with twin toddlers shoots him a look that's half annoyance, half recognition. You've gotten used to the double takes, the whispers, the occasional autograph requests. Jack handles them with ease, always friendly, always gracious, never making it weird. It's one of the things you admire about him, even if you're still adjusting to dating someone whose face is plastered around the city.

Today, thankfully, the mother is too focused on keeping her children from dismantling the candy display to approach. Jack sets down the Goldfish box with a mock grunt of exertion and turns his attention back to you.

"Want me to scan stuff?" he offers, reaching for the box of protein bars you're holding.

"I've got it," you say quickly, having witnessed his "scanning skills" on previous shopping trips. The last time you let him take over at Target, you'd ended up with three accidental duplicates and one item that never made it into the system at all.

You're juggling a case of sparkling water and trying to scan your membership barcode from the app when you groan.

"It's not loading," you mutter, tapping frantically at your phone screen where the Costco app has frozen on a loading icon. "Can you just get my wallet? It's in the pink one, middle pocket of my bag."

Jack perks up like you just asked him to defuse a bomb. "On it," he says, already elbow deep in your tote. "Why do you carry so much stuff in here? Are you secretly a suburban mom?"

"Just grab the wallet," you sigh, shifting the sparkling water to your other arm. The self-checkout machine beeps impatiently, its screen flashing a demand for your membership ID.

"I'm exploring uncharted territory here," Jack narrates, rummaging dramatically. "I may need supplies. Possibly a headlamp."

The employee monitoring the area, a tall guy appearing about your age, wearing a faded Yankees cap, glances over with amusement. You feel a flash of self-consciousness, aware of how you and Jack must look: bickering over a shopping cart like you've been married for decades rather than dating for months. It's comfortable, though. That's what surprised you most about being with Jack, how quickly the comfort came, how easily you fell into each other's rhythms.

Jack pulls out a crushed receipt, a Tide pen, and a tampon like he's on Let's Make a Deal. "Is this a snack bar? Why do you have a Canadian penny in here? What year even is this?"

"Jack." Your patience is wearing thin. The case of water is getting heavier by the second, and the lady behind you is starting to make pointed throat-clearing noises.

"Okay, okay," he says, finally fishing out your wallet and flipping it open. "Looking for the ol' Costco membership—" He hands you the card, "wait a sec."

You pause mid-scan, turning slowly at the change in his tone. "What?"

He's gone still. Smirking.

"No way." His voice cracks slightly as he pulls out a small, glossy rectangle. "Is this? Babe, is this my rookie card?"

Your stomach drops. "Oh my God, Jack. Give me that."

The blood rushes to your face so quickly you feel light-headed. Of all the things he could have found: the ancient gum wrapper you keep forgetting to throw away, the fortune cookie paper with the embarrassingly accurate prediction about meeting a handsome stranger, even the crumpled CVS receipt from when you panic bought three different pregnancy tests after a condom mishap last month (all negative, thankfully), he had to find THAT.

"You carry this around?" he laughs, holding it up like he's found hidden treasure. "In your wallet. Next to your license. And your credit card. I’m literally next to your driver’s license.”

You lunge for it, nearly dropping the sparkling water. "I forgot it was even in there!"

It's a lie and you both know it. The card is in pristine condition, carefully tucked into one of the clear plastic sleeves in your wallet where most people would keep photos of loved ones or emergency contact information. You'd bought it four years ago, back when Jack was just starting to make headlines, back when you would never have dreamed you'd one day be sharing takeout on his couch while he complained about his coach's defensive strategy.

He dodges you like a child on a sugar high, rookie card still in hand. "You've been walking around with literal 18-year-old me in your purse this whole time?" He holds it toward you, pointing at his face. "Look at this haircut! I look like I was just let out of a Boy Scout meeting."

"Stop talking," you hiss, your face fully on fire as the self-checkout voice robotically reminds you to please place item in the bagging area.

The employee at the front is now openly watching your exchange, a slow smile of recognition spreading across his face as he realizes exactly who Jack is, and exactly which card Jack is holding. Great. Just what you need: a witness to your humiliation.

"Oh, this is rich," Jack says, shaking his head. "You, giving me crap about being cocky, but meanwhile? You've got a personal Jack Hughes shrine in your wallet."

You glare at him, wishing desperately for a sinkhole to open beneath your feet. "Do you want me to put that card in the trash right now?"

He snorts, finally slipping it back into its slot with fake reverence. "Absolutely not. That thing's probably worth, like, eight bucks."

"Try a couple hundred," the employee chimes in helpfully, then immediately holds up his hands in surrender when you shoot him a death glare. "Sorry. Just saying."

"See?" Jack grins. "You're carrying around, what, Nathaniel's monthly rent in your wallet? That's dedication." He gestures to the Rangers fan, who apparently is named Nathaniel and who apparently needs to mind his own business.

You snatch the wallet out of Jack's hands, cheeks still burning, and you return to scanning items with aggressive efficiency.

"So," Jack says, leaning against the bagging area with his arms crossed, watching you work with infuriating amusement. "When exactly were you planning to tell me you were a fan?"

"I wasn't hiding it," you mutter, scanning a jar of almond butter with unnecessary force. "I told you I watched hockey."

"Yeah, but you never mentioned having a collection of hockey cards. Of me, specifically."

"It's not a collection. It's one card."

Jack raises an eyebrow. "Mm-hmm. And are there others at home? Like, do you have a special album or something? Holy shit, do you have posters?"

"No," you say, a beat too quickly.

The truth, which you would rather die than admit right now, is that you do own exactly one poster. It's from a sports magazine spread three years ago, and it's been carefully rolled up and stashed in the back of your closet since your third date with Jack, when things started to feel serious enough that you realized having his face on your wall would be deeply weird.

"You hesitated," Jack says triumphantly. "There are posters."

"There are no posters," you insist, though your traitorous complexion is probably giving you away. You've always been a terrible liar, a fact Jack discovered during your first attempt at playing poker together, when he cleaned you out of chocolate-covered almonds (your chosen betting currency) within twenty minutes.

"You know," he says, taking pity on you and beginning to bag some of the scanned items, "it's kind of cute."

"It's embarrassing," you correct him, focusing intently on scanning a pack of chicken breasts.

"Why? You're a hockey fan who happened to start dating a hockey player. That's not weird."

"It's weird if I was specifically a fan of you before we met."

"Were you?" he asks, and there's a note of genuine curiosity beneath the teasing now.

You sigh, pausing your scanning marathon. "I watched your games sometimes. I thought you were good." You look up at him, considering how much to reveal. "I liked how you played, like you were actually having fun, not just doing a job. It was... I don't know. It made the game more exciting."

Jack's expression softens, the teasing glint fading into something warmer. "That's... actually really nice."

"Don't let it go to your head," you warn, but you're smiling despite yourself.

"Too late," he says, tapping his temple. "Already filed under 'Evidence My Girlfriend Thinks I'm Amazing.'"

The self-checkout machine beeps demandingly, reminding you that you've paused too long between scans. You return to the task at hand, but the tension has dissipated, replaced by a comfortable rhythm as Jack bags while you scan.

"You know," he says after a moment, carefully arranging a tub of laundry detergent next to the candles, "I have some of your work saved on my phone."

You look up, surprised. "What?"

"Those illustrations you did for that children's book about the penguin? I downloaded them. They're in a special album." He shrugs like it's no big deal, but there's a hint of vulnerability in the admission. "I show them to the guys sometimes. Demko's kid loves the one with the penguin on the skateboard."

"You... show my work to your teammates?" The thought of Jack's hockey buddies, men whose names appear on jerseys and in ESPN headlines, looking at your penguin drawings is surreal.

"Yeah. I'm a fan." He says it simply, without the teasing edge from before.

You don't know what to say to that, so you just keep scanning, but something warm unfurls in your chest. It's been like this since the beginning, moments of revelation that catch you off guard. Reminders that beneath the public persona and the franchise player status, Jack is just... Jack. A guy who gets excited about Costco samples and saves your artwork on his phone.

Jack leans in, way too pleased with himself, as you scan the last few items. "I'm starting to think you were a fan before you were my girlfriend."

"I hate you," you say, but there's no heat in it.

"No you don't."

You glance at him. He's grinning like an idiot, casually bagging your industrial-size trail mix like this isn't the most embarrassing moment of your life.

"Okay, maybe I don't," you mutter, swiping your credit card.

He bumps your shoulder. "It's okay, babe. I'd carry your rookie card around too. If you had one."

"What would a children's book illustrator's rookie card even look like?" you wonder, punching in your PIN.

"First professional doodle," Jack says thoughtfully. "Maybe that red panda you showed me, the one you drew for your niece's birthday card."

"That was awful. I gave him six toes."

"It had character," Jack insists. "Very avant-garde."

You roll your eyes so hard it's a miracle they stay in your head. "Let's go before you start reciting your career stats to the family behind us."

"Oh, I would never—" He pauses, then turns to the man waiting in line. "Did you know she keeps my rookie card in her wallet?"

"JACK."

He laughs, loud and unrestrained, as you grab his arm and drag him away from the checkout area, your face flaming all over again.

"You're the worst," you inform him as you navigate toward the exit, receipt clutched in your hand.

"And yet, you keep my rookie card with you at all times," he counters, skillfully steering the cart around a display of seasonal patio furniture. "Makes a guy wonder what else you might be hiding."

"My deep regret about agreeing to date you?"

"Nah, that's written all over your face." He grins. "I'm thinking more like, do you have a scrapbook? Did you write my name with hearts around it in your diary? Ooh, did you have one of those fathead wall decals?"

You stop walking, fixing him with your most serious expression. "Jack. If you ever want me to sleep over at your place again, you will drop this immediately."

He considers this for a moment, then mimes zipping his lips. "Dropped."

"Thank you."

You resume walking, pushing through the exit doors into the parking lot. The late afternoon sun hits your face, warm against the crisp autumn air. Jack moves ahead to guide the cart, his shoulders relaxed under his faded blue henley, hair slightly mussed from where he ran his hands through it while deliberating between two different coffee brands for twenty minutes.

"I forgot to ask," he says as you reach the car, "are you coming to the game on Thursday?"

"I have that deadline for the fox book illustrations," you remind him, helping to load bags into the trunk of his SUV. "But I could come to Saturday's game maybe?"

Jack nods, lifting the case of water with ease. "Saturday works. Oh, don't forget, there's that charity thing on Sunday."

"Gala thingy?"

"Yeah." He slams the trunk closed. "Bring your wallet though."

You narrow your eyes, pausing with the shopping cart halfway to the return corral. "Why?"

"In case anyone asks for your autograph," he says with exaggerated seriousness. "After, you can show them my rookie card, tell them you knew me when."

You groan, abandoning the cart to march back to him. "I swear to God, Hughes—"

But before you can finish your threat, he catches you around the waist, pulling you against him. "You're cute when you're mortified," he murmurs, and then he's kissing you, right there in the Costco parking lot, with the orange glow of sunset painting everything gold.

When he pulls back, you keep your hands on his chest, feeling the steady thump of his heart beneath your palm. "I'm never taking you shopping again," you inform him.

"Yes you are," he says confidently. "You need someone to reach the top shelves."

"I can bring a stepladder."

"A stepladder won't tell you interesting facts about protein powder or help you pick out deli meat."

"Those are selling points?"

He kisses you again, quickly this time. "Admit it. Shopping with me is an adventure."

"A nightmare," you correct him, but you're smiling. "A recurring nightmare where I'm trapped in Costco forever with a hockey player who thinks jumbo sized everything is a personality trait."

Jack laughs, releasing you to retrieve the abandoned shopping cart. "Come on, nightmare's over for today. Let's go home and figure out where we're going to put that giant candle in your apartment."

"Your apartment," you counter. "You bought it, you store it."

"Fine, but you have to remind me to burn it. And not burn the apartment down."

You watch him return the cart, the easy grace in his movements, the way he nods politely to an older couple walking past. When he returns, he slides into the driver's seat beside you, immediately reaching for your hand across the console.

"So," he says as he starts the engine, "should I be concerned about any other professional athletes you might have rookie cards of? Am I competing with, like, the entire NHL draft class of 2019?"

You squeeze his hand, letting out an exaggerated sigh. "And here I thought you'd dropped it."

"I'm just saying, I should know if I'm in an open relationship with you and a wallet full of hockey cards."

"Just drive, Hughes."

My Patreon, where you can find exclusive fics not posted anywhere else: HERE

[sc0tters]

Best | Jack Hughes

summary: the time has come for you to return to New Jersey, does seeing Jack make you fall into old ways or do you finally stay strong?

request: yes/no

warnings: swearing, mentions of alcohol, mentions of sexual relationships but nothing overly explicit.

word count: 3.69k

authors note: first off happy 2025! this is our first fic of the year and we have waited way to long for this part to come out but I seriously think the wait was worth it all in the end. I was going to give us a good ending but then I heard Best by Gracie Abrams and you guys said we could do the angst soo… if it’s not clear, this is a sequel (that I throughly enjoyed writing) but you don’t have to ready part one, it’s just that this one will make a lot more sense if you did first.

part one

This was meant to be a trip you were excited for.

Christmas and New Years in Jersey with Luke at your side. It had been planned since you missed your annual trip to the lake house after your parents surprised you with a much needed summer in Europe.

Just as you should have predicted things ran cold with Jack the moment you the garden state last time round. So now as you stood in Newark airport waiting for Luke to show up you had to force a smile on your face, as the pit in your stomach grew.

Nerves coursed through your veins as you hated that Jack still got to have an effect of you.

This was meant to be a trip that you could use to just catch up with your best friend, but still you stood there forced to have his older brother be the one who was on your mind.

All you were left with was the memories, that you couldn’t seem to part with “guess who?” Your thought was broken as hands covered your eyes “are you that one devils defender?” You grinned knowing that it was Luke who stood behind you.

His shitty attempt of a British accent made you laugh “that one devils defender?” Luke scoffed as he dropped his hands allowing you to turn to face him “Lukey!” You squealed pulling him into a hug.

The boy smiled as he wrapped his arms around you, feeling happy that you were back there with him. Luke had seen you in Detroit over the last two months but this was the first time you both got to spend actual time together since February.

Luke’s eyes scanned your face to see how much you had changed recently, your eyes didn’t seem to shine as bright as they once did. He knew that something was up with you, it would have taken a fool to not.

As the man who knew you like the back of his hand Luke knew that you’d also only tell him once you were ready. He just really hoped that what ever seemed to drag you down, would be set free before it was too late “I’ve missed you.” Your voice was soft as you ran your fingers through the curls you used to help him take care of in your dorm.

He was quick to grab your suitcase from you “we’ve got so much to talk about!” He confessed motioning to you to follow him to his car.

The ride was long but felt short in time as the two of you didn’t shut up, catching up on all things school, hockey, and life itself.

Jack had come back from a workout as the two of you arrived, and you swore that the universe was out to get you. The elevator doors opened on the gym floor and that’s where you were met with the middle Hughes brother.

He was sweaty as he had a towel that sat in his shoulders “didn’t think you were gonna be here yet.” Jack stepped into the elevator as you shrugged “flight got in early.” You tried to pay no mind to the fact that your body felt on fire as his eyes practically burnt into your soul.

Luke sucked at his teeth “it’s good because Jacky here got us into hosting a party tomorrow.” He mumbled sending his brother a glare “Jack eh?” You teased wanting to let out a laugh.

Jack smirked as he looked at you “you want to go on a booze run with me or get snacks?” You didn’t even need to answer as Luke cut you off “you want to get a partner for this prep then you find your own best friend.” He pointed out wrapping his arm around you.

The middle Hughes boy let his lips form a pout “and here I was thinking we’d share her.” The words made you cough as the elevator doors opened to their apartment floor.

Jack laughed “good to see ya Blossom.” The nickname rolled off of his tongue as he walked out first.

The next twenty four hours you were able to avoid Jack for the most part as Luke wanted to show you all the parts of the city that he had grown to love since you had last been. And the fact that he still shopped like a teenage boy helped, as you were having to explain to Luke what a party really needed.

Your luck ran out as Luke got drunk whilst the continued on. Jack clearly knew what he was doing when he bough Luke’s favourite shooter, as the youngest Hughes boy currently stood practically jumping off the walls.

Some of their teammates knew of you from your last time being there and how Luke never seemed to shut up about you. Nico had already been over to say hello again as you had gotten yourself a drink “Y’know I’ve got to get back to my sister but I think you should go see what Jack wants.” Nico motioned in the direction of his teammate.

Jack looked at you as you nodded “thanks for the heads up.” you mumbled seeing the American a confused look as he watched you see if there was someone behind you.

You tried to avoid him but you felt as if you were trapped as Jack seemed to be where ever you turned after that. Every time you went to a different part of the apartment he was talking to a different person. But of course his eyes never seemed to leave yours.

So as you watched this blonde girl run her fingers over his shirt you finally felt sick, rather than watching the scene continue on. You instead opted to chug the remainder of the whiskey in your cup, before you headed to the bathroom hoping that a slash of cold water would do the trick.

Your face felt warm as the sound of water running in the faucet trickled in your ears “pull yourself together.” You sighed resting over the counter as the door opened “can’t you see this is busy-” you grumbled cutting yourself off as you locked eyes with Jack.

He sent you a glare “you know you’ve got a funny way of getting all mad at me when I go talk to someone.” Jack let out a cruel laugh “ain’t like you’re fucking that Canadian or somethin’.” He added making you scoff.

You had started a solid relationship with Ethan right as the summer started as you both seemed to bond over heartbreak. His girlfriend had dumped him and as everyone celebrated the end of the school year, you both found each other in bed needing the company and the release.

Before you knew it, those meet-ups became weekly things. You needed a break from Jack and that seemed to be the one thing that really did calm your mind, even if it was only for that night.

But as Jack stood in front of you, you couldn’t believe that he got mad “you keeping tabs on me or some shit?” you laughed almost wondering if someone was playing some sick prank on you.

He still stood tall as he rolled his eyes “don’t play dumb with me.” He muttered letting a loose strand of your hair get caught between his fingers.

His touch made your body feel on fire “and it’s hard to not know when Luke won’t seem to shut up about it.” Jack added making you smirk “you jealous that he ain’t heard about you?” You asked tilting your head up to face him.

Jack stood there for a moment as he thought about it “you think I’m gonna be jealous of a little college fuck toy?” He laughed almost taunting you “know only I fuck you the best.” The middle Hughes boy knew he was right as you pushed your thighs together trying to dispose of the heat that built up in them.

You shook your head “not anymore.” Your lips pursed together as you shook your head.

Jack noticed how you were still wearing that same perfume of yours that drove him wild “got a long time here.” You still had four days left there and if your trip was going to end like the last one, he knew you’d end up in his bed at least once.

But in that bathroom you tried to remain strong “you wanna act like you don’t fuck me and leave me?” You scoffed wanting to honestly hit him in that moment.

You pressed your pointer finger against his chest “like I’m not just the same as every other girl that you fuck and forget about as if I’m nothing.” Your voice broke as you almost felt your emotions making you feel nauseous.

He could read the pain in your face “don’t say that.” He clicked his tongue as he reached for your arm “know you’re my special girl.” The title was meant to fill you with joy and praise, and it would have if this was February.

You couldn’t help but laugh as you shook your head “fool me once shame on you, fool me twice and I’m the fucking idiot.” You sucked at your teeth watching him remain silent.

There was so much anger in your body “I can’t believe I actually let you fuck me.” You spat turning around to finally leave.

The door to the bathroom whipped as you were faced with Luke “you fucked my best friend?” He scoffed as he looked over you and towards his brother.

His eyes traveled down to yours as he frowned “I’ve got to go.” You mumbled pushing past him as your cheeks turned red, flushed with embarrassment as the boy’s teammates and their partners eyes stuck on you.

You went through the crowed as you grabbed your scarf “I can’t believe you!” Was the last thing you heard before you let the door shut behind you, desperate to be as far away from there as possible.

But the first thing you needed was a drink and a strong one.

It had been hours since what you called your catastrophic meltdown in the Hughes apartment, and Luke still refused to listen to a word that Jack said “she’ll be okay Luke.” His voice broke the silence as the younger Hughes snapped his head in his brother’s direction.

Luke chewed at the inside of his cheek “she’s a smart kid.” Jack added finally breaking his younger brother “you don’t think I already know that?” The defenseman scoffed as he threw his cloth onto the table.

It was rare that he got this angry, but tonight Jack pushed his past his limits “she’s my best friend and you just had to go and fuck her?” Luke felt tears form in his eyes as the betrayal stood in front of him “and for what? To make her life hell and make me think that I did something to make her hate me?” Your avoidance of being in the same place as Jack finally all made sense. You weren’t avoiding Luke but rather the pain his brother managed to so easily inflict on you without a second thought.

The middle Hughes boy shook his head as he let out a sigh “you think I wanted to walk away from her?” Jack sucked at his teeth as he let his eyes squint into a harsh line “you don’t think that I spend most nights fucking wishing she wasn’t your best friend so that this wouldn’t have been so complicated.” Those words made Luke ball his hand into a fist.

He felt his heart pound in his ears as he grew irritated “how is you screwing her and leaving complicated?” Luke’s voice raised as both boys did little to care about what their neighbours would think.

Jack knew he couldn’t really say it, even if there was a truth that made him feel trapped “she deserves so much better than you.” Luke spat letting his words hit his brother like bullets.

The room felt claustrophobic as the middle Hughes boy tried to ignore that he agreed “you’re right.” Jack sighed making Luke freeze as his eyebrows raised.

He chewed at the inside of his cheek “I love her but I couldn’t be the reason you two stopped being friends.” His confession lingered in the air as Luke realised that his brother was being truthful, even if it was as ironic as it seemed.

But Luke didn’t get a chance to offer some form of a rebuttal as the echo of something falling onto the wooden floor of the living room. There you stood with now tear stained cheeks “I forgot my wallet.” You announced holding the red purse in your hand with your eyes widened.

Jack felt his throat go dry, as it was clear that you had been there to hear what he had said. He wanted to reach out for you but instead Luke beat him to it “we should talk.” Luke didn’t give either of you a chance to respond as he pulled you out of the apartment.

Snow sat on the windowsill of the hotel room as Luke joined you on the bed after what felt like the quietest uber ride of your life.

You hadn’t stopped fidgeting as never really thought that you’d have to tell Luke about this part of your life “I’m so sorry Luke.” Your voice was barely above a whisper as you expected him to yell, scream, even just be disappointed in you.

But instead the boy clicked his tongue to break his silence “do you love him?” Luke knew that you had always had some degree of a crush on his older brother. Yet he never assumed it would have been something reciprocated or even acted upon.

The question lingered in your mind as you couldn’t find the right words to explain yourself to him “I did but I don’t know how I could like him when he has hurt me twice now.” You fiddled with the rings on your fingers as you let your eyes stare at your knee.

Your answer made Luke frown as you too were processing what Jack had confessed “and it’s for the best that nothing does happen.” You added, not sure if you were telling yourself that too or just the boy in front of you.

Luke placed his hand on yours “you know that it’s okay to still want him.” He sighed knowing how his brother could be and the love you held for him “I just wish you had told me.” His words made you let out a soft laugh.

A tear slid down your cheek as you cocked your head “that I was fucking your brother or that I liked him?” The words made him erupt into laughter that made yours follow shortly after.

He shook his head as he pulled you into an awkward hug as you still sat cross legged “I just missed you is all.” Luke had stayed up more nights than he could count over the last year as he tried to figure out what had happened to you.

You wanted to believe that everything would be fine between the two of you, that it’d all go back to some sense of normal. But you knew deep down that it would never be the case. Because as you lay there talking yourself to sleep as Luke refused to let you go, part of you wished that it was Jack that held you.

Sure you got your best friend back to the greed you held caused you to want the middle Hughes boy now more than ever. Luke had seen you through your highs and lows so you almost guessed that there was now a silent expectation that he’d always show up for you. And that was it, Luke was always going to show up for you.

It should have been enough, and you really did want it to be that way.

Luke let out a quiet ‘mhm’ as he squeezed your side nestling against you “I just wish things never had to change.” You sighed letting your head rest on his chest as the sound of his heart beat soothed you to sleep.

On the other side of the city, Jack lay there as he struggled to sleep. Thoughts of you plagued his mind, as he too wanted to be selfish. You being in his life as merely Luke’s best friend should have been enough.

The boundary that the title drew should never have been broken. But Jack was so desperate to have you in more of his life than just during the summer or when you’d visit Luke.

It seemed that up until tonight Jack didn’t know how to put what he felt into words and now that he had told Luke the truth, Jack had opened the faucet of emotions that couldn’t be turned off.

So as he lay staring at the alarm clock that sat on to his bedside table, Jack couldn’t help but think about what it was like to have you beside him. The thought of your imprint in his bed was like a drug as his hand gripped the empty side of his bed.

Silence consumed him as he shut his eyes, praying that he hadn’t waited until it was too late.

You and Luke had managed to avoid Jack and the apartment for the rest of your trip “you sure you want to do this?” Luke’s question lingered on your mind as you stared at the front door “if I don’t then I’m worse than him.” You wouldn’t have assumed that the pain you experienced would ever have been felt by Jack.

But still that didn’t help your hands from clamming up as the door opened. Jack paused the tv as he heard the noise, making his head whip around.

His eyes landed on you and it was clear he hadn’t properly slept in days “hey.” His voice was soft as his gaze fell onto his younger brother “I’ll go get the car ready.” Luke offered taking your suitcase with him as he left the two of you alone.

You fiddled with the ring on your finger as the middle Hughes brother walked up to you “I’m sorry.” Jack cleared his throat as he stopped in front of you.

He ran his fingers through his hair hoping you knew what to say back “I’m leaving.” You admitted as your mouth felt dry.

Nerves rocked your body as he shook his head “can we talk about what happened?” He pleaded as he felt as if his throat constricted. The boy reached for you as you pulled away, shaking your head no.

It took all of you to not break “we just hurt each other.” You pointed out knowing that your heart couldn’t take one more time of Jack walking out on you.

His words meant nothing if his actions didn’t fulfil them and right now, you weren’t ready to just take that chance “I love you.” If you didn’t know any better you would have sworn it sounded as if he was begging you to just say it back to him.

Your voice broke as you saw how his eyes were full of pain “you hurt me Jack, you don’t love me.” Jack never knew of your nights in your dorm as you sat there in tears wishing that Jack could hold even an ounce of the love you held for him.

He shook his head wanting to wipe away the tears from your cheeks “I never meant to do that.” Of course Jack never did mean to but it seemed as if he just couldn’t help it. It now seemed as if it was easier to hurt you than call you his.

The two of you cried as Jack gripped your hands in his not wanting to hear you say what he thought was coming “if you love me Jack.” You cut yourself off as you sniffled.

It made his heart break as he squeezed your hand “I’m so in love with you.” He confessed making you shake your head “you need to let me go.” Your voice was barely a whisper as you nodded.

Time felt as it is slowed as the boy dropped your hands whilst he froze “and if things are different down the line maybe we can try again.” The offer almost felt like a shitty taunt, that if Jack hadn’t fucked up you could have been his now.

He wanted to fight you on this, he really did “I’ll see you in the summer.” You knew you were going to be there and that was your personal wound. Memories would have to be made that would try to cover those of Jack and that night that started this all.

Your thumb felt rough against his cheek as you wiped away a tear of his “don’t do this.” He pleaded with you wanted to do anything to make you change your mind “goodbye Jack.” You gave him a soft nod as you saw Luke stood by the door with his keys in his hand.

It took all your strength to not go turn around and run into Jacks arms as you walked out of the door.

Because the truth was that, you were still convincing yourself that you had done the best thing for yourself.

Even if you were convinced that in that moment you lost the love of your life.

So as you forced yourself back into work and school when you got back to Michigan, it seemed that life for Jack continued on too. Yet as you trying to forget about him, rumours spread about there being a lucky lady in Jacks life.

This was struck your heart as you truthfully believed that you had really made the right choice, and that you were so stupid to believe he could have ever wanted you. So with Jack you hadn’t really lost him.

Because after all, you can’t lose something you never really had.

[camficdiner]

Idk if you’re still taking requests but if you are I would love a little Jack comfort fic. I’ve had such a horrendously bad day

Could I get 1.1, 2.12, 3.1, 4.3

☕️Cam’s Fic Dined — order 146

🍒 thank you: to the sweet soul who said “give me comfort, give me Jack being the one who falls harder.” this one’s for you — the fans who never thought they’d be someone’s favorite.

💬 “The Softest Thing He’s Ever Held.”

✨ description & prompts:

character: Jack Hughes

prompt: you’re a fan — but he’s acting like you’re his entire world

type: comfort fic, fluff only,

🛼🍒🧁✨

You met Jack Hughes in the most ridiculous way imaginable: by accident.

You weren’t trying to meet him. You weren’t in line for autographs or stalking hotel lobbies or tagging your location in some tweet hoping he’d see it. You were just… living.

Your friend dragged you to a charity skate in Jersey. She knew a guy who knew a guy. She made you wear that Devils hoodie you swore you’d only wear around the house. You sat in the bleachers, trying not to die from secondhand embarrassment.

And then he showed up.

Sat next to you like it was nothing. Like you weren’t the one with a Twitter account full of soft reblogs and a saved photo folder labeled “Jack 🧊.”

“You’re not even watching,” he said, nodding toward the ice.

You glanced up. “I’m watching.”

“No you’re not.”

You tried to make a sarcastic comeback. But your throat had dried up.

Because Jack Hughes was talking to you like you were the main event.

And that’s exactly how it stayed.

⸻

You don’t know what you expected — maybe a selfie, a laugh, some forgettable moment he’d move past in five minutes.

What you didn’t expect?

For him to follow you back on Instagram.

For him to DM you, “you were cooler than anyone else at that whole event, tbh.”

For him to ask, “want to grab food sometime?”

For any of this.

But he did. And you did. And somehow, you — regular, trying-your-best, wildly-anxious you — ended up in Jack Hughes’ contact list.

⸻

It’s been four months now.

You’ve seen him post-practice and post-game, hoodie-swamped and sweat-drenched. He’s seen you ugly-cry over your thesis draft and spiral over a Spotify Wrapped reveal. You’re not dating, exactly — not in a label way. But he’s kissed your forehead enough times that people are asking questions. And he hasn’t tried to hide you once.

You keep waiting for the moment he wakes up and goes:

“Oh. Never mind.”

But it never comes.

If anything, he gets more intense.

Sends good morning texts with photos of the sky because “you like clouds, right?”

Buys you a snack he saw you mention once.

Rests his head in your lap like it’s the only place he feels safe.

And now?

Now he’s in your apartment, in your kitchen, barefoot and hoodie-clad, flipping pancakes that are definitely a little burnt and talking to your cat like she’s a person.

“Do you think she knows how pretty she is?” he says.

The cat? Maybe.

You? Definitely not.

⸻

You sit at the table, wrapped in a blanket and sleep, watching him move around like he lives here. Like he belongs.

“Stop looking at me like that,” he says, glancing over his shoulder with a grin.

“Like what?”

“Like I’m gonna disappear.”

You blink. Hard.

He sets the plate down in front of you. Kneels a little so he’s eye-level. Reaches up, tucks a strand of hair behind your ear.

“I’m not a dream, you know.”

“I think you are.”

“I think you’ve got no idea how special you are.”

Your chest tightens.

Because the truth is… you don’t.

You’ve spent your whole life trying not to be “too much.” Not too loud. Not too needy. Not too emotional.

You were a fan — and somewhere along the line, you convinced yourself that being a fan meant being less than.

But Jack?

Jack is looking at you like you hung the moon and the stars and scored a hat trick while doing it.

“Why me?” you whisper. “You could have literally anyone.”

He tilts his head, smile dimming a little.

“That’s what you don’t get. I don’t want anyone. I want you. The girl who makes me laugh when I’m spiraling. The one who listens, really listens, when everyone else just waits to talk. The one who never asked for anything from me except honesty.”

You don’t know what to say.

So you let him keep talking.

“You think I don’t notice how hard you try to shrink yourself? Like you don’t deserve this? But I see you. I know you.”

He stands. Leans down. Kisses your temple.

“And I’m obsessed with you.”

⸻

Later, he washes the dishes.

You sit on the counter, sipping coffee from a Devils mug he definitely brought over on purpose.

“Jack?”

“Yeah?”

“What happens if I freak out again?”

He grins.

“Then I’ll be here again. And again. And again. As many times as it takes.”

You smile.

“You’re kind of clingy.”

“You like it.”

He’s right.

You really, really do.

[pedriache]

The Wall 𖦹 Jack Hughes !

summary. though you and jack had been together for a little over a year now, you still had your perfectly constructed walls up. your last relationship had been horrible and caused a rift within your self confidence. but jack, jack had been the light in the dark. even when you had your walls up, his presence had light seeping through the tiniest of cracks.

wc. 525+

disclaimers. light angst, mostly fluff, jack being a good listener!!

notes. i’ve never actually written for hockey players b4 since, well, i built this platform on football & f1 mostly but.. hey.. lmk if you’d like more and feel free to req for anyone !!!!!

The sound of water and the faint clicking of dishes filled the kitchen as you stood by the sink, sleeves rolled up, and hands busy. Jack sat on a stool on the other side of the island, chin resting on the butt oh his palms, watching you with the kid of attentiveness that should’ve made you self conscious. But, thankfully, you were too busy to notice.

You were in the midst of talking about a new interest of yours, The Library of Alexandria.

“And then I found this video that went into the details, like every little thing I didn’t even think to realize mattered! And, well, it just completely changed my perspective. I mean who knew that—“ You pause mid-sentence, the realization hitting you like a splash of cold water.

You were rambling, again.

Your ex would’ve rolled his eyes by now. Probably muttering a sarcastic, “are you done yet?” just to make you feel small.

A familiar sense of shame and self-doubt crept in, brushing against the walls you’d been so careful to construct over the past three years. Your hands stilled as you fumbled to regain your grip on the yellow sponge, heat rushing to your face.

Your gaze darted up to your boyfriend cautiously, expecting even the smallest hint of annoyance. All you were met with was a confused Jack. His eyes—the blue so beautiful sometimes you couldn’t stop looking at them—narrowed and face scrunched slightly like he couldn’t understand why you’d suddenly stopped. Then, before you could utter an apology, he slipped off the stool without uttering a word, moving around the island with quiet purpose.

You felt his warmth before you saw him. His arms slid around your waist, pulling you gently into his chest. The kiss he placed on your shoulder was soft but deliberate, the kind of gesture that made any worry you felt dissipate instantly.

And cause a slight fluttering of your heart.

Jack’s chin rested lightly on your shoulder his hair brushing your cheek faintly. “You stopped,” he said simply, voice low and warm on your skin.

You opened your mouth to explain, but Jack reached past you, grabbing his water bottle on the counter and popping the lid open. “You were getting to the best part,” he adds, with a small, reassuring smile as he took a sip. “Keep going.”

Mouth still parted, you watch as Jack just moved to lean against the counter like it was the most normal thing in the world. His blue eyes were still on you, silently encouraging you to continue.

It was so different—he was so different. Where you’d been expecting frustration, Jack offered patience. A whole year of you trying to keep your walls so neatly placed, and he’d been so easy going about the whole thing.

He understood even without in depth details. The cracks in your walls spread a little further, a little deeper—just enough for his light to seep through.

With a small, grateful smile, you picked up where you left off. And Jack’s head tipped to the side, listening to you like your voice was his favorite sound in the world.

likes, comments, and reblog’s are all appreciated. lmk if you’d like to be tagged in any jack or hockey related posts.

ᝰ.ᐟ tags @halfwayhearted @lechrts @sakashq @joaoflms @be11ingham @spidybaby @piastri-fvx

[heliads]

wouldn't you love to love her? - jack hughes

The New Jersey Devils have a new social media intern. Jack Hughes is determined not to care at all, except for the fact that he does.

masterlist

“We’re getting a new social media intern,” Luke remarks offhandedly.

Jack tries not to roll his eyes. He’s not sure he succeeds. For as long as he’s been at the Devils, there have been perhaps dozens of new social media interns, one after another in a chain of pretty girls shoving phones into his face. Every time, it’s always the same. Another girl, fresh from college or in between jobs, asking him and the others to learn dances or take part in trends. Luke will flirt with the intern. Dawson too, probably. Even Jack, when he gets bored. Then, the internship will be up in a month or two, and they’ll get another one. Prettier, maybe, or funnier. And the cycle will begin again.

It’s not like he can really blame them, either. The hockey industry is precious, even for people who aren’t playing. If these girls want in, an internship is a great way to start. Any entry post’s a good one if it gets you where you want. Only, social media’s a pain. Jack came here to play hockey, not be in a dozen new photos and videos a day. It drives him crazy sometimes, or all the time.

So, when his brother tells him they’re getting another intern, he really couldn’t care less. Luke, more prone to fits of passion over the latest girl in Devils red, is still staring at him wide eyed, waiting for a reaction, so Jack rolls his eyes and gives him one.

“Good,” he says dully. “It’s been too long since I saw a phone camera shoved in my face. Can’t wait.”

Luke groans. “Come on, man. They’re fun, don’t give me that bullshit again. Besides, I saw you trying to buy the last one drinks.”

Jack can’t argue with this. He had been trying. It was something to do. “Won’t do it this time. I’ll leave that for you.”

Luke heaves another dramatic sigh. Jack wants to do something to stop the oppressive judgment, so he does, snatching the hat off Luke’s head and shoving it towards his mouth. Luke, predictably, nearly falls out of his chair and starts squawking indignantly. Jack just chuckles and gets up from his seat, heading towards the door. They’ve been idling in one of the cafes in the massive arena where they practice, called there early for business stuff that ended up getting delayed. Meetings always run late, and now Jack has the rare feeling of tardiness not actually being his fault.

He heads down the hall towards the locker rooms, ready at last for practice. Luke follows a few paces behind him, still complaining, something about saving violence for the ice. Bullshit, obviously. Jack does what he wants, where he wants. Hasn’t Luke figured that out by now?

Jack steals a glance over his shoulder just to rub in the injury. Luke meets his gaze and glowers, still pissy from almost taking a nose dive off his chair, but all of a sudden his eyes widen at something in front of them. Jack whips around just in time to collide with someone exiting one of the offices.

It’s not an accidental almost-impact, either, this is a complete disaster. Papers go flying. Jack manages to keep his balance, but the victim of his distraction is worse off. He has to fling out both hands to steady them, catching at their arms at the elbow before they fall over. A dozen apologies rise to his lips, but Jack only gets through about half of them before he actually looks at the person he’s just bumped into– and look, indeed, he does.

Jack has just run into a girl his age, and a very pretty girl at that. He gets lost in her eyes without even meaning to, captivated by the way the light shines in them as she opens her mouth and says, “What the hell are you doing?”

Jack blinks in surprise, feeling like he’s just been abruptly pulled out of a dream. “Huh?”

The girl stares at him like he’s crazy. “Why are you holding onto me?”

Too late, Jack realizes he never actually let go of her when he was trying to steady her. He snatches his hands away, the sinking feeling settling in that he actually has no idea how long he was standing there, captivated. No wonder this girl thinks he’s insane. This random guy comes up, runs into her, then silently holds her in his arms for what’s probably more than just a second or two? Yeah, that’s crazy in anyone’s books.

“Sorry,” Jack says again. They look at each other warily for a moment longer, then collectively, both gazes drop to the papers spilled across the ground.

Immediately, Jack dives for them, trying to gather as many as he can. He springs up again, and, not trusting himself to say anything that isn’t stupid, just awkwardly holds out the papers until she takes them. The girl gives him one last disbelieving glance, then walks purposefully past him. Jack turns and watches her go, wondering why he feels vaguely disappointed that she hadn’t stopped to talk longer. He didn’t even get her name.

Raucous laughter breaks out the second the girl disappears around a corner. Belatedly, Jack remembers that Luke has witnessed the whole thing, which is just great. The last thing Luke needs is more ammunition for making fun of him.

“That was, like, the least smooth thing I’ve ever seen in my life,” Luke chokes out. “What the fuck was that?”

Heat flares into Jack’s cheeks. “Shut up,” he says, turning back to continue walking down the hallway.

Luke, however, is unwilling to let go of the horrific blunder. He trots up to walk by Jack’s side, regardless of how much Jack tries to pick up the pace. “I mean, Jesus. Way to make an entrance. Poor girl’s probably going to log that with HR.”

“Shut up,” Jack repeats through gritted teeth. “I’ve seen you do worse in front of fans.”

“We’re not talking about me right now, we’re talking about you,” Luke says happily. “I’m so telling Quinn about this.”

“You are not,” Jack warns, but even after many threats of serious violence, he’s not entirely convinced that his older brother won’t hear about this.

Jack almost manages to put the whole thing out of his mind until he and the others are hanging out in the locker room later that day. They’re all dressed, but their coach wanted a few words before they hit the ice, apparently something bureaucratic that Jack can’t wait to forget.

Instead of being introduced to a new friend of the owner or some wealthy donor, however, Coach announces that they’ll be meeting their new social media intern. Online presence is crucial for sponsors, apparently, and the Devils need to up their game. So they say. Jack thinks it’s a lot of nonsense, and is fully prepared to treat it as such until their coach beckons the new intern into the room and Jack realizes he knows her. This isn’t a stranger, someone he can ignore without another thought. This is the pretty girl Jack just ran into earlier today, and she’s the one in charge of most of his Internet footprint.

Great.

Across the room, Luke is grinning ear to ear. This is so not what Jack wanted. The coach is saying something about how they’ll all be pulled one by one today for introductions and a few quick videos that can be parceled out during the next week or so. Usually, they would ask Nico first, captain rights and all that, but they need him to advise on some drills, so they go for the next best– Jack himself.

They’ll be filming TikToks or whatever a few halls over so as to not distract anyone, so Jack makes his way over with no small amount of trepidation. She hadn’t seemed so excited to meet him earlier, but maybe she’ll have forgotten who he was. It was a fast exchange. Maybe this means nothing at all, and they will have a great meeting, and he could even get her number or something. Yeah, not a problem.

The girl is setting up a phone on a stand when Jack shows up. She glances once at him as he approaches, then nods. “Oh, we’re starting with Mr. Observant. Cool.”

Jack feels his face turn a bright scarlet. “I’m not– I’m sorry about that. Honestly. I just didn’t see you.”

“That’s fine,” the girl says with a listless wave of her hand. “It was funny. I just thought hockey players would have more reflexes or something, I don’t know. Anyway, what’s your name, again?”

This is a simple question. It really is. Yet for some reason, Jack finds himself bothered. He’s been with the team for a while now, had that A on his uniform for a while now, and maybe he shouldn’t, but he’s gotten comfortable with his reputation. People know who he is. He’s recognized on the street, asked for photos while he’s getting coffee, all of that. And now this girl– this intern– is pretending like she doesn’t know who he is, and insulting his reflexes to boot?

“Jack,” Jack replies tersely. “Are you going to tell me your name, or should I just guess?”

“Y/N,” the girl answers him. “What do you do on the ice except run into people?”

“I play hockey,” Jack deadpans. “What else do you want me to say?”

Y/N just smiles at him, the picture of innocence. “Your position? This is supposed to be an introduction, isn’t it? I have to make sure I have a good picture of the team.”

Fine. Fine. Jack can be civil. He’s going to play along and then he’s going to leave and make somebody else deal with her.

“Yeah, position. I'm an alternate captain, a center. Left wing. That matters.” He feels like he’s rambling. This is stupid. He’s stupid. He never does this.

“Sure it does,” Y/N says, one eyebrow raised. “Do you have to tell everyone you’re cool or just the interns?”

“Huh?” Jack asks. “I’m not– I’m just talking.”

Y/N nods. “I’m sure you do. Talking and hockey, that’s impressive. I can see why the Devils wanted you.”

“Your team spirit needs some work,” Jack notes. “Why’d they hire you, your winning personality?”

“That, and I’m wonderful at making infographics,” Y/N informs him breezily.

“I bet they’re terrible,” Jack says on instinct. “Clashing colors and all that. Can you even draw a straight line?”

Y/N cocks her head to the side. “I don’t know, can you shoot on goal without getting injured?”

Jack takes a step forward on instinct before he remembers that he cannot fight social media interns and backs down. Still, the anger simmers in his head so bad he’s not sure if the red all around him is for the Devils or just the film of rage clouding his eyes.

This isn’t good for him. His team needs him out there on the ice with a level head, even in practice. Jack forces a smile and says, “I guess you’ll see at our next game, won’t you?”

Y/N meets his gaze with a mirror smirk, which bothers Jack more than if she’d tried to one-up him again. He grabs his stick with more force than necessary, making himself step past her and onto the ice before he does something he’ll regret. Once he’s out there, skating broad loops to warm up, Jack can almost put the whole exchange out of his head.

Almost. 

Luke finds him after practice, because of course he does. Somedays, Luke swears that little brothers must be born with an innate knowledge of how to stick their heads into other people’s business. Fleetingly, he wonders what Quinn would think about that, then moves on before that lesson can settle in.

“I love our new intern,” Luke says happily on the drive back to their apartment.

Jack scoffs. “Sure you do. You love rubbing this in my face.”

Luke glances at him, surprised. “No, honestly. I think she’s great. Super funny, too.”

Jack turns to stare at him with disbelief so abruptly he almost swerves the car into a telephone pole. Veering to correct course, Jack spits out, “Y/N? You think Y/N is great?”

Once Luke stops pretending like they’ve almost died– which they didn’t, by the way, Jack had everything under control– he calms down enough to say, “Yeah, I do. She was super nice to me. I need to ask if she’s local so we can hang after the internship ends.”

Jack feels as if he’s been dropped into an alternate reality. “You’re serious. You really do like Y/N?”

Now Luke’s looking at him like he’s the crazy one. “Like I said, yeah. Why, what happened when you talked to her? Was she still mad about earlier?”

“You could say that,” Jack grits out, knuckles white around the steering wheel.

Luke chuckles. “That’s kind of funny, actually.”

“It is not,” Jack mutters, but Luke remains in high spirits the whole drive back anyway.

To the great amusement of his younger brother, Jack and Y/N continue to be at odds the next time the Devils have to film social media videos, and the next time, and the next. Even when they start off a meeting on relatively stable ground, something will happen to have them sniping again, and they’ll be at each other’s throats by the time they leave the building in the evening.

What makes it worse is that Jack is apparently the only one suffering from Y/N’s cold shoulder. Everyone from the captain to the rookies seems to have gotten along just fine with their newest social media intern, yet Jack feels like he walks around with a target on his back every time she’s in office. They’ve started to ignore each other instead of purposely tossing insults, but that’s as close as he’ll ever get to a truce.

Jack has started counting down the days until she leaves. He would love some peace and quiet. Maybe the next intern will be normal, or they’ll all be poisoned forever just because Y/N L/N showed up and changed Jack’s life for good.

God, he feels like she’s crept into every part of his world. He’ll be scrolling on his phone and the videos she filmed will appear on his For You page out of nowhere. Jack swears he can sense her in every quick cut, every box of text, every song selection. Walking through the arena, he sees her everywhere– ducking into a meeting room, discussing potential videos with some of the PR agents, tucked into the bleachers so she can watch them practice and snap some shots. Jack is starting to seriously wonder if there has ever been a time when she hasn’t been wound around him like a loose thread come undone from his favorite coat.

Even now, he can see her. Jack has finally left a late-night practice, breath fogging up in the cold evening air. He’s glad for the warmth of his car when he slides in. Luke went back with some friends, but Jack had wanted to hang around a while longer to practice some skills before the next game.

Y/N must have been working late too, because he can see her now, walking out of the parking lot and towards the sidewalk leading into town. Jack assumes she’s waiting for someone to pick her up, but Y/N’s steps don’t show any indication of slowing down. Is she actually walking on a night like this? Jack is cold just thinking about the weather outside. Y/N has a coat on, but it won’t be enough to discourage the bite of the wind.

Before he can even think about what he’s doing, he’s pulled his car alongside her. Y/N looks panicked when he comes to a stop, but relaxes somewhat when Jack rolls down the window and calls out to her. “Are you waiting for someone?”

Y/N shakes her head. “No, I’m walking back. Have a nice night.”

She turns back to the sidewalk, evidently expecting him to keep driving. Jack also expects himself to keep driving, but he doesn’t. “It’s awfully cold to be walking. How far is your apartment?”

“Not far,” Y/N says. “Twenty minutes, maybe?”

That settles it. “You’re not walking twenty minutes in the freezing cold,” Jack decides. “Besides, I thought you were dropped off. Isn’t someone coming to pick you up?”

Y/N pauses oddly, and it occurs to Jack that he probably shouldn’t be noticing how she gets to and from work each day. Still, when she speaks again, he’s pretty sure the annoyance in her voice isn’t directed at him, for once. “I was dropped off, but my friend canceled on me. Hence the walk.”

Jack’s mood immediately sours. That’s a shitty move for sure, and even if he doesn’t always see eye to eye with Y/N, he’d never leave her out here, shivering even after a few minutes of walking. And he won’t tonight, either.

“I can drive you, if you like,” Jack offers abruptly. He’s not sure why he does it. He never has before. They’ve never been in a position like this before, and maybe they won’t either. Still, he doesn’t take it back.

Y/N, apparently heedless of the gravity of this offer, just smiles and shakes her head. “That’s alright, I’ll just call an Uber. Thanks, though.’

Jack blinks and stares at her. It had taken such a rush to get the words out that it honestly didn’t occur to him that she would just say no. “Is this because you’re mad at me?”

“I’m not mad at you, Jack,” Y/N laughs. “I’m walking. You should get going soon, you’re going to disrupt traffic.”

“Fuck traffic, you’re cold,” Jack says disbelievingly. “Get in the car, Y/N. Please?”

She looks like she’s going to argue, but a particularly frigid gust of wind rips through that thin jacket and a moment later, Y/N is settling into his passenger seat. She turns to look at him, and Jack looks back at her, just a few spans apart. They’re close enough that he can see the flutter of her eyelashes as she blinks. Close enough that he could reach out and touch the slow bloom of cold on her cheek if he just tried.

“So?” Jack manages to pull himself together long enough to ask, “What’s your address?”

Y/N blinks, evidently startled out of some reverie, then pulls it up on her phone. Jack follows the directions, fingers drumming absentmindedly on the steering wheel. The car is quiet, and it weighs on him like a burden until he finally blurts out, “Why do you hate me, though?”

Y/N looks baffled. “I don’t hate you.”

Jack snorts. “Of course you do. You get along with every single member of this team but me, it’s a little hard not to take that personally. Come on, just tell me. Is it because I ran into you that first day?”

Y/N laughs again. It’s one of the few times it’s with him, not at him, and Jack lets the sound wash over him like sunlight. It’s a good sound. He wouldn’t mind hearing it again, maybe.

“That was funny. No, it wasn’t that. It’s just–” Her voice drops off, suddenly serious. “Do you remember Emma? She was your social media intern last summer. She’s the one who suggested I take this program, actually.”

Vague memories appear in Jack’s head. “Kind of? We’ve had a lot of interns.”

“Yeah, well, she’s one of my best friends, and the most important piece of advice she gave me before I started was to stay the hell away from you.”

Jack almost misses his turn. “What? Why?”

He risks a glance away from the road and towards her, but Y/N is keeping her head perfectly straight, not allowing herself to look at him in the slightest. “Something about you breaking her heart. She seems to remember you flirting a lot, buying her drinks, then dumping her for someone more interesting the second the internship ended.”

Jack winces. “That does sound familiar, actually. Sorry. I didn’t mean to–”

Y/N interrupts him with a wave of her hand. “Yeah, no, I get it. I love Emma, I really do, but she’s got a habit of moving quickly. Still, she was really hurt for a while. I figured anyone who could do that to my friend and not even remember was someone who didn’t need me to be nice to them.”

Guilt starts to pool in Jack’s stomach, icing him down to the core. “Still. I was a dick.”

“You still are, on occasion,” Y/N says, smiling slightly, “But I’ve been bad too, I think. I wanted to get revenge for my friend, but I’ve been more mean than needed. I’m sorry too.”

Jack comes to a slow stop in front of one of the notoriously long red lights of their shared city. As the scarlet of the traffic light washes over them, Jack takes advantage of the stopped traffic to hold out a hand to her. “How about a truce, then? If we’re both sorry?”

Y/N considers his outstretched hand, then nods at last and shakes it. “I’m good with that. Let’s start over.”

“Let’s start over,” Jack repeats. 

Her hand is still a little cold in his, even after the few minutes they’ve spent talking. It occurs to Jack that he could probably sit here for a while longer, warm her hands up with his, and then Y/N nudges him in the side and Jack realizes the light has turned green. He drops her hand hastily, turning back to the road in the hopes that she won’t notice the slow flush of heat to his cheeks.

The rest of the drive back is uneventful. Jack offers to walk Y/N to the door of her apartment complex, which Y/N jokingly calls creepy then smiles for real when he insists. They part with a promise to try harder next time, and Jack doesn’t think his feet have ever felt so light on the walk back from practice. He goes to bed that night like a little kid, practically giddy at the thought of the day ahead.

Looking back on it, Jack isn’t sure what he expected to happen with them after that. A celebration, maybe some fanfares? Or just a normal conversation in which she expressed how glad she was to see him and Jack could do the same? He doesn’t get any of that. In fact, they hardly see each other for most of the next few days. This isn’t too unexpected; although they love to complain, the players and media don’t see each other that often unless someone’s sworn on live TV or otherwise messed up their online presence.

Still, by the time Jack’s path finally crosses with Y/N’s, he’s really hoping for something special. He’s sort of crazy the whole time they’re filming videos, all raised eyebrows and hopeful glances, but instead of seizing the opportunity to make fun of him, Y/N just giggles a little and goes on with her life. It’s not bad, all things considered, but Jack– Jack wants more.

When hasn’t he, after all, wanted more? He wants to be better at skating. He wants to score more goals. He wants to stop getting brushed off by the commentators. He wants, more than anything, for some reason, for the pretty girl interning for their media department to do more than just look at him with a faint smile every now and then.

The sheer wanting starts to consume him. Jack goes out of his way to be exceptionally funny, astoundingly clever, practically fantastic in every way, yet nothing seems to wow Y/N. They’re just talking, which is certainly more than he had a few weeks ago, but Jack doesn’t want to just be talking to her, he wants to be back in his car again, with her leaning over and laughing at his jokes, her cold hands in his, telling him that maybe she’d misjudged him after all. Jack doesn’t just want more, he wants her, and that is making him insane.

Worse still is the fact that he doesn’t have her. Jack has spent his whole life, it feels like, hating the ‘pretty boy hockey player’ persona. He’s certain it’s cost him deals or trades or something over the years with the way people refuse to take him seriously. Yet now, Jack isn’t cursing its existence, but rather wondering why the hell it hasn’t worked. He’s still the same guy, same face. That stubborn acne patch on his chin has been clear for weeks now. He got a haircut, and people said it was good this time. Everything should be in his favor, looks-wise. So why doesn’t it seem to have a single effect?

It’s baffling, honestly. Jack cannot stand it. Worse still, the internship period is starting to slip away, and soon enough Y/N will be gone for good, leaving Jack to reel in her absence and wonder why he couldn’t make her like him enough to stay.

His mood sours whenever he thinks about it, which is often. Like now, even, in between Jack’s hours on the ice. They’re swapping out players in shifts, and Jack won’t be on for another five minutes or so. He’s sitting on one of the metal bleachers, hoping that watching the others will help keep his mind off things, but it’s not working too well.

Someone sits down right next to him, and Jack is about to start asking why they couldn’t pick anywhere fucking else to sit when he realizes it’s Y/N.

“Oh,” he says, trying desperately to sound cool and not bone-tired from practice, “Hey. D’you need another TikTok or something?”

“No TikToks,” Y/N says, smiling. “We can do a bonus one if you want, though, I know how much you love them.”

Jack chuckles. “They’ve been growing on me.” No reason why.

Y/N grins like she knows exactly what he’s thinking. “High praise. I hope you carry that spirit to the next social media intern, too.”

Jack sighs plaintively. “Do you really have to go? You fit in well, you know. You might as well stay a little longer.”

“That so?” Y/N asks, one eyebrow raised.

Jack looks away. “I don’t know. I heard some of the guys saying–”

Y/N cuts him off, lips twitching up into a smile. “I don’t care about the guys, Jack. What do you think?”

“I think you should stay,” Jack mumbles. He still can’t look her in the eyes. “With me.”

As soon as he says it, he knows it’s true. It doesn’t have to be through the Devils or not. He just wants Y/N with him for a while longer, to tease him when he’s being stupid and cheer for him during the games. He wants to hear her laugh longer than just the next few days. He wants to get coffee and buy flowers and match outfits and do a hundred things that would be special because he’d be doing them with her. That, more than anything, is what he wants.

A soft pressure on his hand; Jack looks up to realize Y/N has put her fingers over his, and squeezes slightly. He squeezes back by instinct.

“I want that too, Jack,” she tells him.

The smallest spark of luck is creeping back into his veins. “I thought you didn’t go for hotshot hockey players,” he says. “Especially not ones that flirted with the interns.”

Y/N rolls her eyes, but she’s laughing slightly, so they’re okay. “I wasn’t supposed to do that. The idea was that I would try to avoid it.”

Jack grins. “How’s that working out for you?”

“Surprisingly badly,” Y/N confesses. “I’m not too mad about it, though. Something tells me we’re going to make this work out.”

“It will,” Jack promises. He’s going to make sure of it. Looking at Y/N, the light in her eyes when she smiles, Jack knows that he’s going to do everything in his power to keep her. He rubs his thumb over her hand, still in his, and cannot help but think about how lucky he is.

Y/N looks like she’s going to start blushing. “Let’s talk about this when all of your teammates aren’t watching,” she says suddenly.

Jack glances up and realizes that he’s on the receiving end of quite a few curious looks from the Devils still on the ice. Luke, especially, looks like he has several questions he wants to ask. Jack groans, mentally preparing himself for the absolute nuisance his little brother will become on the drive home.

Still, it doesn’t faze him for long. “How about we talk about it this Saturday?” Jack asks. “I’ll pick you up at seven.”

Y/N is breathtaking when she smiles at him. Jack might have to keep looking forever, just so he remembers. “I think that sounds alright to me.”

Jack opens his mouth to say something stupid like how he can’t wait, but the coach blows a whistle to usher him and some of the others back onto the ice, and Jack is saved from himself. “I’ll see you then,” he repeats somewhat needlessly.

Y/N nods, and Jack turns to leave. He’s still got most of his senses intact, despite evidence to the contrary, and Jack does know better than to kiss Y/N in front of his whole team and coach in the middle of practice, but– well, there’s a difference between what Jack knows and what Jack does, and today, he kisses her anyway. It’s good. Really good. Good enough to deal with the teasing when he finally makes it down to the ice. Good enough to keep him hooked until their date, and the next, and the next. Good enough for forever.

hockey tag list: @locke-writes

all tags list: @wordsarelife

[kawhh]

you’ve done quinn but can we have jack baby trapping too? that would make my brain go 😵‍💫😵‍💫

I have an awful lot of baby trapping Jack thoughts. I'll admit.

Warnings: at this point there's a bit of non-con in everything I write. Manipulation. Forcing you to get pregnant. Jack off the rails again because apparently that's just a problem with me.

I don't think he'd try and even hide it. He'd just force it on you. He's just so desperate to bind you to him. It can't happen soon enough for him. It doesn't matter if you've just started dating. A few weeks in? Perfect.

He's not fully reckless though. For those weeks he'll focus on fucking you slowly, playing passive, making you believe he's innocent. He'll even swallow his ego and let you take control. Whining under you, going as far as fake crying when he cums - anything he can possibly do to make you think he's not a threat.

He uses condoms every single time. He's not rough. Missionary is his only move. He fakes little shakes in his hands when he touches you, acting hesitant. Like he doesn't actually want to just manhandle your tits until you scream.

You've started closing your eyes around him when you fuck. Fully relaxed, trusting him. You aren't checking that he's wearing a condom now. You aren't hesitant.. you trust him.

Perfect.

There's a gap in both of your schedules coming up. It's the perfect time for him to end the act. He'll have plenty of alone time with you to make you his.

He'll eat you out. Get you relaxed. Slowly fuck into you.. just until he's ready to cum.

Using the advantage of being on top of you - as soon as your eyes close, he's pulling out before you can even react. Off the bed, dragging you down off the bed by your ankles. He needs your ass off the bed for this. The way your eyes snap open, the way the confusion sets in. His little fucking naive girl.

He's jackhammering into you. You can't escape, can't get any grip on the bed. Any attempt to move will just give him more leverage, give him a better angle.

"Hey angel.. looking for this?"

The almost psychopathic grin on his face when he holds the condom up, making you realise how fucked you actually are. He's just laughing. The pain of him slamming into your cervix. Him reaching a hand up to slap your face.

"Better get used to this sweetheart, we aren't going anywhere until it fucking takes."

[fiastomatocheek]

ONLY IF IT’S YOU

pair: jack hughes x f!reader | part: 01 02 03 04 05

genre: angst, slow-burn romance, emotional reconciliation, domestic fluff.

warnings: mentions of past infidelity, emotional vulnerability, suggestive content, eventual smut (consensual), bittersweet moments, emotional crying, co-parenting themes, soft family dynamics.

summary: it’s mother’s day, and for once, you decide to let yourself feel like you deserve to be celebrated. jack invites you and lo to dinner, and though you’re hesitant, you agree if only because things have been… change lately. eversince that kiss. eversince you started to see how much jack has changed. tonight, jack brings back everything you once had, flowers, your favorite restaurant, and hope. by the end of the night, after lo is asleep and you and jack are alone, what started with a dinner ends with something more.

fia’s note: okay, so i’ve been thinking about the whole sammy situation and her presence like, the fact that she exists and the role she plays, even if it’s indirectly. i’m not totally sure how to feel about it yet, but i keep circling back to it in my head. her existence just adds this layer of emotional tension that’s hard to ignore, you know?. i guess i’m wondering what your thoughts are. like, do you think her being there whether physically or just in memory affects how things unfold between jack and reader? does it make the angst feel more real, or just more frustrating? i’m torn between appreciating the depth it brings and also wanting to pretend she doesn’t exist at all for the sake of peace. anyway, just curious what you think about her and how you process that part of the story. is she necessary? or just an added ache?

tagging team fia! — @iloveyoutodeathbutimdrowning @dancerbailey3 @hopefulsuitcasemoneyzonk @kell9rs

fia’s masterlist | join fia’s taglist | fic discussion

It’s been months since that dinner with Lukey.

Just a simple dinner, not even a date. But the way Jack looked at you that night when you dropped Lo off at his place, he didn’t even try to hide the jealousy. And when you returned later, he asked you to stay.

And then there was the kiss, like he knew he didn’t deserve it, but he also couldn’t live without it.

Since then, you hadn’t talked much about it. There were no dramatic declarations or official reconciliation. But the distance between you and Jack had changed. It was closer now. You didn’t flinch when he touched your hand. He made you tea when you came over and sometimes after she fell asleep you’d sit on his couch and talk for hours and hours.

Mother’s Day wasn’t something you ever celebrated. You never really had time, and honestly, you didn’t think you even deserved it. You were just doing what had to be done. Working hard, trying to keep your life steady for Lo. But eversince that dinner and eversince learning from Luke that Jack hadn’t even looked at another woman since the breakup you found yourself believing maybe, you were allowed to want something called ‘to be love’ again.

So when Jack texted that morning, inviting you to dinner, you hesitated. You weren’t sure if it was a date or just… Jack being Jack. But then you thought about the kiss, the way he still looked at you like you were everything in his life.

You said yes.

In the evening, you took your time getting ready. Not for Jack. Not even for the idea of romance. But for yourself.

You wore a long black bodycon dress, your makeup and hair done just the way you liked it. You needed to feel beautiful for yourself, for the mother you were, for the woman you were finally becoming again.

Lo was just as excited. She twirled in her soft pink dress, her high ponytail bouncing with every spin.

“Mommy, pwetty,”

She whispered when you helped her buckle her shoes.

You smiled. “You’re the prettiest, baby.”

Lo giggles. “You pwetti too.”

You kiss her forehead, feeling your heart tug. “You ready to see Daddy?”

Lo nods eagerly. “Daddy say he have fwowers!”

Just then, a knock sounds at the door. You scoop Lo into your arms and make your way over, heart already skipping.

Jack stood there in a sleek black suit, holding a bouquet of flowers and a small box wrapped in ribbon. He looked at you, then Lo, and the smile that stretched across his face made your knees wobble a little, just a little bit.

“Sorry I’m late,” he says, just a little breathless.

“I stopped to pick these up for you.”

You smile, taken aback. “Jack…”

He grins softly and hands them over. “Happy Mother’s Day.”

You swallow the lump in your throat and say thank you, even as Lo squeals,

“Fwowers! Mommy got fwowers!”

Jack remembered, it was one of your favorite place. It was the place he always took you when he came back from road trips, the place you once celebrated your anniversary, the place where you’d cried in a booth and he kissed away every tear.

Lo was seated between you and Jack in a little booster. Her legs swung back and forth, her mouth stuffed with breadsticks, occasionally pointing at random things on the menu and saying,

“Dis one! me wanna try dis, Mommy!”

And Jack, he kept sneaking glances at you.

“So,” you say, sipping from your wine glass,

“What happened with that Rangers game? Looked like it got heated.”

Jack shrugs. “Luke pissed them off. I mostly just backed him up.”

Lo hums with her juice. “Dada go boom!”

Jack chuckles. “Yea, Lo. Daddy went boom.”

Eventually, as the food quiets everyone, you ask him something that’s been sitting on your chest for months.

“Jack… why didn’t you date anyone all these years?”

He blinked. “Why haven’t you?”

He looked at you for a long moment. “Because I screwed everything up. Because I was stupid. Because after what I did, I knew I didn’t deserve someone like you. I didn’t want anyone else. Not then. Not now.”

He tilts his head. “Why didn’t you?”

You hesitate. “I told myself I was too busy with Lo.”

Jack gives you a look.

“That’s not true, though.”

“No,” you admitted, quietly. “It’s not.”

Lo, without any warning, looked up at the two of you with innocent eyes.

“Mommy, Daddy, can I has… brudder?”

You and Jack both in ‘kinda don’t know what to do next’ position.

“A brother?” you asked gently.

“Or… sisser,” she said, nodding.

“I want baby! Wanna share toys.”

“You do?” you ask softly.

Lo nods, swinging her legs. “A baby. Wike me.”

Jack smiles but looks over at you, his eyes soft and unreadable.

“Maybe someday, sweetheart.”

By the time Jack parks in front of your place, Lorelei is out cold in her car seat. You glance at her, then at him.

“Wanna stay the night?” you ask softly.

Jack nods. “Yeah. If that’s okay.”

Inside, you tuck Lo into her bed, brushing the hair from her face. When you come out, you find Jack in the entryway, holding one of the framed photos on your hallway table.

It’s the one of you and Lo on her first birthday cake smeared everywhere, your smile wide, hers even wider.

“You look good,” he says, still staring at it.

“You look…like the mom I always imagined she’d have.”

You step closer. “What are you thinking?”

He exhales. “That you’re the best mother I’ve ever known. And the stupidest thing I ever did was not treat you like you were enough.”

He continues, voice quiet.

“There were nights after you left… I told Quinn I didn’t care if I died alone. I told Luke I’d never fall in love again if it wasn’t you. And I told my mom I didn’t deserve to be forgiven.”

Your chest at this moment already cracks open.

“I haven’t been with anyone,” he says, voice almost trembling.

“Because it’s always been you. Even when I couldn’t have you.”

You step into him slowly, your breath caught.

And this time, you… you are the one who kiss him first.

His hands come up to your waist, pulling you in carefully, so careful like he’s scared to ruin you. Your fingers slide into his hair, lips pressing again and again.

When you pull away, your forehead rests against his.

Then he kisses your temple.

You lead him to your room after that kiss with no words spoken, but everything said in the silence between your mouths and the hands that refuse to let go now. You and Jack stand in your doorway, your fingers still tremble a little when they reach for the zipper of your dress, but Jack catches your hand.

“Please let me,” he says gently.

He unzips you slowly, like it’s the first time all over again. Like he knows how delicate it is. The dress slips from your shoulders. He watches you like he’s afraid to breathe too loud and break whatever fragile thing is blooming between you.

When he leans in this time, it’s with more certainty. His lips find yours, long and aching. You can feel it the way he misses you. Still. Even standing this close. It’s like he’s trying to memorize your taste again.

“Are you sure?”

He asks between kisses, his forehead resting against yours, breath heavy but steady.

“Because if we do this, I don’t want it to be another memory I have to miss.”

You nod, eyes shining.

“I’m not ready to say I’m yours again,” you whisper honestly, your voice shaky.

“But I’m not scared to love you anymore.”

[m34tthews]

“man child — why you always come running to me?”

summary — sometimes it feels like jack would fall apart without you. from your constant nagging to your "excessive" organizing, you’re the one holding everything together. but one night, you reach your breaking point and finally take control, letting him know just how much you’ve been holding it all together.

word count — 9k

warnings — smut. minors dni. dom-sub. subby!jack

an — a short one-shot because i've had man child on repeat since it dropped.

masterlist

you didn't know jack hughes’ girlfriend meant you signed up to be a full-time project manager, therapist, and laundry fairy — but here you were, mid-april, deep in the throes of playoff season, perched in the wags' box at prudential center with the other girlfriends and wives. wrapped in a black-blue devils jacket two sizes too big (jack’s, obviously; it always was), she nursed a paper cup of tea that had long gone cold.

"if i have to explain to nico one more time where we keep the tupperware..." one of the girls groaned, laughter bubbling up like champagne on a short fuse.

"at least nico puts leftovers away," another shot back. "jesper acts like the fridge is a suggestion."

they all laughed — light and easy, the familiar rhythm of women who loved men that sometimes needed mothering.

y/n smiled, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. she tucked her hands into her sleeves, eyes tracking jack as he skated warm-up laps, mouthguard dangling half out of his mouth like a kid who’d never been taught better. all energy and ambition and brilliance — but still somehow the same boy who left socks everywhere and thought “i’ll do it later” was enough to suffice.

"you okay?" luke’s girlfriend, nudged her gently.

"yeah," y/n said, watching jack high-five a teammate. "just tired."

and she was. tired in that bone-deep way that didn’t go away with a nap. tired of being the one who refilled the shampoo, who folded his laundry when he left it crumpled in the dryer, who texted the handyman and kept oat milk stocked in the fridge.

they’d moved in together a few months ago, and somewhere between unpacking boxes and colour-coding the closet, she’d realized jack didn’t so much help build their home as simply live in it — comfortably, expectantly, like it would always be warm and waiting.

he wasn’t cruel. never that. he kissed her forehead on his way to morning skate and brought her favorite smoothie back from practice. he meant well. he always meant well.

but meaning well didn’t scrub the bathroom or remember anniversaries or stop him from asking, “baby, where’s my gear?” when she was already juggling six other things.

later, after the game — a win, jack grinning under all that sweat and adrenaline like a kid who’d just been told christmas was coming twice — they went home. he kicked off his sneakers at the door, shedding clothes like breadcrumbs. she trailed behind, picking them up, almost without thinking.

"that goal in the third was amazing," she said.

he beamed. "you saw that?"

"of course i saw that. i’m always watching."

and maybe it was that — the simple, offhand admission — that made something shift inside her chest. because she was always watching. always anticipating. always fixing.

"hey, did you move my charger?" he called from the bedroom, voice muffled.

"no. i haven’t touched it."

"are you sure? because i—"

"jack." she stopped in the hallway, pulse a little too quick. "can you just... look for it yourself this time?"

silence. then a sheepish, "uh… yeah. sure. sorry."

she let out a slow breath. not angry. not exactly. but something close, simmering under her ribs.

he didn’t say anything else.

maybe it wasn’t about the charger. maybe it never was. maybe it was about the slow, constant drip of being needed in ways that didn’t feel equal. the way she’d become his second brain. or how he always said “thanks baby” but never once paused to ask if she was okay.

that night, she crawled into bed and faced the wall. jack slipped in behind her, warm and blissfully unaware, curling around her like always. his hand landed on her hip, gentle and familiar.

"i love you," he mumbled into her hair.

she hesitated. "i love you too."

but it sounded different tonight. like maybe she was finally realizing that holding someone together wasn’t the same as being held.

and maybe — just maybe — tomorrow, she’d stop picking up the socks.

the apartment was quieter than usual. the hum of the dishwasher was the only sound in the kitchen as y/n unloaded the dishes, the ceramic plates clinking softly against each other. she didn’t realize how much she noticed the little things until now — the way jack had left his gym bag in the middle of the hallway again, as if the floor were his personal closet. or how his boots had been sitting by the front door for three days, still caked in salt and snow, because someone (her) had to keep them clean so they wouldn’t ruin the hardwood.

she sighed and rubbed her temple, trying to push the frustration down.

jack had left early for a morning skate, and she hadn’t said much to him. she didn’t want to, because right now, everything about their routine felt like one big, unspoken transaction — like she was the one keeping the scorecard while he just... played the game.

as she moved through the apartment, it became almost comical how many little things there were to pick up. the coffee table was littered with receipts, a half-empty water bottle, and—yup, there it was—his practice jersey, still draped over the arm of the couch, hanging like it had been discarded without a second thought.

jack didn’t mean to do it. jack always meant well.

but she was tired of meaning well. tired of being the one who caught everything that slipped through the cracks.

later that evening, after a post-game dinner with the team and their families, they walked in together through the door of their apartment. jack was laughing about something one of the guys said, his easy smile lighting up the room. but when he stepped inside, his expression shifted just slightly. he saw the boots by the door and winced.

“oh, sorry,” he mumbled, bending down to pick them up. "didn't mean to leave those there."

y/n didn’t say anything right away. she just watched him as he slid them neatly against the wall.

“it’s fine,” she replied, a little too flatly. "just... next time, try to remember them, okay?"

jack’s gaze flickered to hers, something like uncertainty flashing across his face. but then, like he always did, he brushed it off with a grin.

“you got it, baby. promise."

the cycle continued as usual. the next day, they woke up to another busy morning. she was running late for work, and jack had overslept after a late practice. when she came out of the bathroom, getting ready to leave, she found him still lounging in bed, his phone in hand, scrolling through social media.

"you’re gonna miss your skate," she said, already halfway to the door.

"nah, i’ve got time,” jack muttered without looking up, his thumb scrolling idly. “you’re always the early one between us. you go ahead to work. i love you.”

she stared at him, feeling the familiar weight settle in her chest. it was a small thing, maybe, but it was one of the thousand things she picked up on every day. he wasn’t lazy—not by a long shot. but the way he assumed everything would just be ready for him. how he never really worried about being on time, about managing his own routine.

"jack," she said, her tone soft but firm, “you’ve gotta take responsibility for your schedule too. i can’t always be the one to tell you what time it is.”

he paused, looking up at her finally. there was a flicker of irritation in his eyes, but it quickly faded into the usual guilt.

"yeah, you're right. sorry, baby." he sighed, sitting up, his hand running through his messy hair. “i’ll get better at it.”

but it wasn’t better.

the following evening, y/n was back from a client meeting when she walked into the kitchen and found that once again, jack had forgotten to put away the leftovers. not only that — he'd left them out all afternoon. the plate was cold now, the food congealed in a sad, half-eaten pile.

she closed her eyes for a second, counting to five. she didn’t know why she was getting so worked up. but there it was again, that same feeling — the creeping weight of being the one who always had to fix things. had to manage them. had to make everything right.

just once, she wanted him to take the initiative. to clean up the mess before she had to remind him.

jack walked in from the living room then, eyes wide. “you okay?” he asked, his voice tentative, like he could sense the shift in the air.

“yeah. i’m fine,” she said, her voice just a little too sharp.

but then she couldn’t help herself. the words were out before she could stop them.

“jack, why do i always have to clean up after you?” she bit her lip, trying to rein in the frustration that was bubbling over. "why can’t you just—"

he stepped forward, his hands raised in surrender, but his tone was defensive. “baby, i’m not trying to be an ass, okay? i’m not. i’m just... i get caught up in everything, and then i forget. it’s not like i’m doing it on purpose.”

she crossed her arms, her heart pounding in her chest. “but it is on purpose, jack. not in the way you think. it’s the way you just leave things for me. over and over. it’s like i’m the one holding everything together while you are just... here.”

his face softened, guilt creeping into his expression as he realized the weight of what she was saying.

“i didn’t know you felt that way,” he murmured, his voice small. “i really didn’t.”

she shook her head, the exhaustion settling over her like a cloud. “that’s the problem. you never do. i’m the one picking up the pieces every time. i’m the one who has to make sure things get done, that everything’s taken care of.” she paused, then added, quieter, “it’s not fair, jack.”

he stood there for a long moment, speechless, as if trying to figure out how to process her words.

finally, he took a step toward her, and this time, he didn’t brush it off. didn’t throw an apology out like a quick fix. instead, he reached for her hand, holding it gently.

“i’m sorry,” he said, and his voice was steady, the sincerity there in every word. “i’ll do better. i’ll take more responsibility. i didn’t realize you were carrying so much.”

she nodded, though the tension in her chest hadn’t quite loosened. maybe this was the start of something. maybe he could really change. but she wasn’t sure yet.

but she needed to believe that he could.

the apartment was quiet again. jack had been gone for most of the day, as usual, but she hadn’t been able to shake the feeling that things were... off. that conversation they had wasn’t just a one-off; it had been hanging in the air ever since, unresolved, lingering like smoke.

y/n sat at the kitchen table, staring at her phone, scrolling absentmindedly through social media. her mind kept drifting back to jack — how easy it had been to forgive him, even after everything. it was like a reflex now, to give him the benefit of the doubt. he didn’t mean to. he was just... jack.

and that’s what always got her. the way he grinned that stupid, perfect grin. the way his brown eyes sparkled when he was excited about something. or the way his voice dropped low when he murmured her name in that particular way that made her feel like she was the only thing in the world.

jack was beautiful, in every sense of the word. from the way his muscles flexed when he skated, to the way his curls always fell just a little too perfectly over his forehead. even when he left his sneakers in the middle of the floor or his dirty socks piled up on the couch, she could never stay mad at him for long.

it happened again the next morning.

jack was lounging in the living room, his legs stretched out in front of him, scrolling through his phone with an easy smile. when he looked up and saw her standing in the doorway, he gave her one of those grins — wide, disarming, playful.

"you still mad at me?" he asked, voice light, but there was a hint of uncertainty in his tone. his hands rested casually on the arm of the couch, as if he wasn’t really worried about her answer.

y/n crossed her arms, feeling the heat rise in her chest. she wanted to be annoyed, to remind him of all the things he still hadn’t done, all the ways he still wasn’t fully present.

but as she stood there, watching him — his broad shoulders, his chest stretching the fabric of his shirt, those eyes of his — she found herself faltering. god, why did he have to look so good? why did it feel like every time she was about to say something, he had a way of melting all of her frustration away?

"i’m not mad," she said, her voice softer than she meant. her arms fell to her sides, and she stepped closer to him, the pull of his presence too strong to resist.

jack’s eyes flickered with relief, his smile turning playful as he leaned back on the couch. “you sure? because you look a little mad.”

y/n sighed, fighting back a smile. “you’re impossible,” she muttered, but her words held no heat.

“nah, i’m just... charming,” he said, winking as he patted the seat beside him. “come sit.”

she rolled her eyes, but it was half-hearted. as she sat down next to him, he stretched an arm around her shoulders, pulling her into his side. his scent — woodsy and fresh — wrapped around her lap a blanket, and before she knew it, she was leaning into him, her frustration fading into the background once again.

and that’s when it happened. that moment. the way he tilted her chin up gently, eyes soft with an apology that never quite made it past his playful grin.

he kissed her. slowly at first, his lips pressing against hers with a tenderness that always had a way of disarming her. when he deepened the kiss, his hand slid to the back of her neck, tugging her closer.

everything inside of her screamed that this wasn’t fair — that they were avoiding the real conversation — but in the heat of his kiss, all her thoughts scattered like autumn leaves.

later that night, jack pulled her into their bedroom. she had been giving him the cold shoulder, since dinner, when he didn’t even flinch to clean up after. she continued to refuse to break her silence, but the moment he stepped into the room, something shifted.

“y/n…” he said, his voice soft but sure, his eyes studying her face with that familiar, unspoken apology.

before she could respond, he was already closing the distance between them, his hand cupping her cheek. his touch was warm, gentle, and when his lips met hers again, this time it wasn’t playful — it was raw, sincere. he was saying everything without words, and she could feel it in the way his hands roamed over her body, tracing the familiar paths he knew so well.

it wasn’t just about the sex. it never had been. it was the way he knew exactly what she needed without asking. the way he took control, even when he was the one who had messed up, in a way that made her forget her frustration and let herself be swept up in him.

his kisses moved to her neck, soft and languid, as he slowly undressed her, his movements almost reverent, like she was something precious.

y/n closed her eyes, feeling the pull between them, the way his touch made her heart race and her thoughts blur. it was hard to stay mad at him when he made her feel like the center of his universe.

his hands slid over her skin, and she melted into him, all the tension and frustration of the past few days evaporating as he whispered against her skin. "i’m sorry... i’ll do better, i promise."

there it was. the promises again. but she was too caught up in his orbit to reprimand him.

she nodded, not trusting herself to speak. his touch always made everything else fade away. and she hated herself a little for it, because she knew — he knew — that this was how he could win her back every time.

but tonight, as their bodies moved together, she realized something. he was sorry, in his own way. but was he ready to change? or was he just apologizing because he knew what she needed to hear to make the anger disappear?

the next morning, she woke up alone. jack had already gone to practice, but there was a note on the pillow next to her, written in his familiar scrawl: "i’ll make it up to you, baby."

she stared at it for a moment, wondering how long the cycle would continue. how many more mornings would she wake up to apologies and tender touches before the reality of it all — the real work — would start?

the charm and the kisses were enough to make her forget, for a while. but for how long?

y/n felt like she was dragging herself through the days. it started with a sore throat, then escalated quickly into a full-blown cold — the kind that made her body ache and her head feel like it was trapped in a fog. jack had been on the road for a couple of days, and she wasn’t about to bother him with her stupid little cold. he was busy with the team, doing his thing, living his dream. no need to pile her issues onto him.

but it was harder than she expected.

she spent the last couple of days in bed, barely able to get up. the apartment was silent except for the occasional sound of cars passing by outside. no one was there to bring her soup, no one to fluff her pillows or check on her when she got up to grab a glass of water. she was used to taking care of herself, but this time, it felt different. more exhausting.

by the time jack finally returned, she was still lying on the couch, wrapped in a blanket, tissues scattered on the coffee table in front of her. she barely had the energy to move when he walked in through the door, dropping his bag carelessly by the front door, his usual loud “i’m home!” echoing through the empty apartment.

y/n barely lifted her head from the pillow, feeling the wave of frustration already start to creep up her chest.

jack walked into the living room, his eyes scanning the space. he cocked his head. “you okay?”

"yeah,” she muttered, though her voice was hoarse and barely above a whisper. “i’ve come down with something.”

he stared at her for a moment, then looked around the apartment, his gaze flicking from the scattered tissues to the still-dirty dishes from last night. he made a face.

“you’ve been in bed all day?” he asked, his voice carrying a slight judgment she hadn’t expected. “the place looks like a mess.”

y/n blinked, confused for a moment. was he serious?

“i’m sick, jack,” she said, sitting up a little, her throat burning from the effort. she wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. “i haven’t been able to get out of bed for two days.”

jack didn’t seem to get it. he shrugged a little and gestured to the disarray around the apartment. “yeah, but you could’ve at least picked up a little. i mean... it’s not like you didn’t have time.”

her chest tightened. she could feel the frustration rising, the sharp edge of everything she’d been holding in for the past few days coming to a head.

“are you serious right now?” her voice was louder than she meant it to be, and the sound of it seemed to shock even her. jack froze in place, but she didn’t back down. “you’ve been gone for days, and i’m here sick as hell, and all you can do is complain about the house being a mess?”

he opened his mouth to respond, but she cut him off.

“you don’t get it, jack. i have to do everything. i’m the one keeping the apartment clean, making sure your stuff’s put away, taking care of you — and when you’re gone, i’m left to handle it all on my own. and when you come home, all you can do is complain about the things that don’t matter." she took a shaky breath, the tears welling up despite herself.

jack stood there, staring at her, caught off guard by her outburst. his mouth opened and closed like he was trying to process what she was saying.

“I didn’t mean it like that,” he said, his voice softening. “I’m sorry, okay? I didn’t think... I didn’t know you were feeling like this.”

“you never know,” she whispered, leaning back against the couch, exhausted from both the fever and the fight. “that’s the problem.” she wiped at her eyes, trying to get a hold of herself.

jack’s face softened immediately, his usual easy confidence slipping away. he took a tentative step closer to her, his voice filled with genuine concern now.

“y/n, i’m sorry. i really am,” he said, his tone different — quieter, more vulnerable. “i didn’t know you were sick all week. i wish you told me. i don’t want to be that guy who... makes everything harder for you.”

she could feel the familiar ache in her chest when he looked at her like that — his eyes wide, apologetic, like a puppy who knew it messed up. the charm was undeniable. and it always seemed to work on her.

“it’s not just about the house, jack. it’s about... everything. it’s about how i’m always the one holding it together while you... while you just get to go play hockey and leave me to manage everything else.” her voice cracked, and she hated how vulnerable she sounded, but it was the truth

he crouched down in front of her, looking up at her with those wide eyes, his hand gently cupping her knee. “you’re right,” he said quietly. “i’ve been selfish. i’ve been so caught up in my own stuff that i didn’t how i’m burdening you”

y/n felt a small, bitter laugh escape her. “you only see it when i yell at you and you pout like a kicked puppy,” she murmured, wiping her nose with the sleeve of her sweatshirt.

“i’m sorry,” he repeated, his voice so earnest now that she couldn’t stay mad at him. not really. “i’ll do better, i promise. just... please don’t stay mad at me.” he reached out, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

y/n stared at him for a long moment. the words were familiar. he’d apologized a million times, said the same things over and over. but this time felt different.

she sighed, letting the frustration melt away, if only for a moment. “you always say that,” she whispered, shaking her head. “but you never change.”

“i will change,” he said, his voice low, sincere. “just give me a chance.”

she stared at him for a beat, wondering if this time was actually the time he would do better. but even as the doubt lingered, she could feel the tension in her shoulders ease.

she couldn’t help it. she wanted to believe him. she always did.

“fine,” she said softly. “but next time, just... help out, jack. help out before i have to ask.”

he nodded, pulling her into his arms gently. “i will. i swear.”

the warmth of his body against hers as he pulled her close was like a balm to the tension she’d been carrying. he kissed the top of her head, his fingers threading through her hair as he cradled her against him.

“i’m sorry i wasn’t there when you needed me,” he murmured, voice thick with guilt. “i hate that you were sick and i wasn’t here to take care of you.”

y/n closed her eyes, the comfort of him too soothing to fight. maybe he would change. maybe this time, it would stick.

for now, though, she just let herself be held.

two nights later, they were all squeezed into a corner booth at a warm, bustling italian spot downtown. the kind with paper tablecloths, tiny candles, and waiters who greeted the hughes family like old friends. jack’s parents were in town for the playoffs, treating them all to dinner — luke already halfway through the breadbasket, jack grinning like he he had something up his sleeve.

ellen was fussing over the menu. “i still don’t understand why you won’t try the eggplant, jack. it’s good for you!”

“mom,” jack groaned, leaning back so dramatically he nearly knocked into the waiter. “if i’m not eating it now, i’m never eating it.”

“it’s actually good here,” y/n offered, just to tease, elbowing him lightly.

he gave her a betrayed look. “whose side are you on?”

“the side of expanding your child-like palate, apparently.”

luke snorted. “she’s right, bro.”

jack rolled his eyes, but under the table, his hand slipped onto her thigh, thumb tracing lazy circles.

they ordered — pasta for everyone, plus calamari and garlic bread “for the table,” which meant luke would demolish most of it. they were halfway through the appetizer when jack suddenly cleared his throat, announcing he has something to say (as always)

“so… i was thinking,” he started, glancing around like he was about to announce a business deal. “we should get a dog.”

y/n almost choked on her wine. “a what?”

“a dog!” he said, perking up. “like a little golden retriever or a lab. wouldn’t that be awesome?”

ellen lit up immediately. “oh, that would be so sweet! i’d come visit all the time.”

jack leaned back, smirking at y/n like he’d already won. “see? mom loves the idea.”

she fixed him with a look. “ellen, please tell your son he needs to learn how to put his socks in the hamper before he’s responsible for a living creature.”

ellen burst out laughing. “he still doesn’t pick up after himself?”

“ellen,” y/n said gravely, lowering her voice like she was sharing state secrets, “your son left a protein shake on the windowsill for two weeks. i walked in and thought something died.”

luke nearly spit out his water, coughing as he laughed. jim was shaking his head, trying to hide a grin behind his napkin.

jack’s ears went bright pink. “okay, one time—”

“one time too many,” she cut in, smirking. “besides, who’s going to walk it? or train it? i already do all the grocery shopping, call the maintenance man, keep track of your game schedule and your laundry.”

“hey!” jack sputtered. “i help.”

“like when you said you’d clean the bathroom and just sprayed windex everywhere because it ‘smelled clean’?”

“now that. that was innovative.”

luke wiped tears from his eyes. “you’re hopeless.”

ellen patted y/n’s hand, eyes sparkling. “thank you for keeping him in line. i tried for twenty three years, but some things never stick.”

jack scowled. “you’re all traitors.”

but even as he pouted, he squeezed y/n’s knee under the table, thumb pressing gently like he needed the reassurance. she rolled her eyes but laced her fingers with his, giving him a squeeze back.

“maybe in a year,” she relented softly, meeting his hopeful eyes. “when you prove you can keep track of your socks.”

he lit up instantly. “deal. i’m gonna get so good at chores you won’t even believe it.”

jim snorted. “i’ll believe it when i see it.”

ellen raised her glass. “to jack learning how to be functional adult”

everyone laughed, even jack, who lifted his own glass with a sigh. “yeah, yeah. ye of little faith .”

under the table, he leaned closer, whispering just for her, “thank you, baby. for everything”

she smiled, nudging his shoulder. “someone’s gotta make sure you survive. might as well be me.”

and he just looked at her, eyes soft, like even if he didn’t have the dog yet, he already had everything else he needed.

by the time they got home, the city was quiet and cool, the kind of april night that smelled like rain on pavement. jack unlocked the front door, pushed it open, and waited for her to step inside first — dramatic gentleman mode, as always.

“after you, traitor.”

y/n snorted, kicking off her shoes and heading straight for the kitchen to put away the leftover dessert ellen had forced them to take home. “still mad i told your mom about the protein shake?”

he shut the door and followed behind her like a shadow. “oh, i’m furious,” he said, dropping his keys on the counter. “you snitched. in front of my whole family.”

“well, quinn wasn't there and i've already told on you enough to him. and you brought up a dog. you knew exactly what you were doing.” she opened the fridge, placing the tiramisu inside. “and i told the truth. if you want a dog, start by not treating your sneakers like floor art.”

he wrapped his arms around her from behind, chest pressed to her back. “i’m still getting revenge,” he murmured, lips brushing just behind her ear.

she raised an eyebrow, amused. “oh yeah? what’re you gonna do? forget to rinse your dishes again?”

he smirked against her neck. “nah. i’m gonna make you pay for telling my mom i can’t clean.”

“jack—”

“maybe i’ll tease you until you’re the one begging,” he whispered, voice low and smug. “maybe i’ll make you say you’re sorry for making me look bad at dinner.”

she rolled her eyes, but her breath hitched — because of course it did. he always knew what buttons to push.

“you do a fine job of looking bad all on your own,” she said, trying to keep her voice steady.

he grinned. “true. but that's why i have you. we balance eachother out.”

“unfortunately.” she turned in his arms, tugging his hoodie by the collar. “you’re lucky i do.”

he tilted his head, lips hovering just over hers. “lucky you love me,” he corrected. “because otherwise, you’d be in big trouble for slander.”

she laughed against his mouth. “baby, if i really wanted to slander you, i’d tell them about the time you almost blew up our microwave because you microwaved aluminum in a plastic container.”

“that was one time!” he groaned, head dropping to her shoulder in embarrassment.

he groaned into her neck, “you’re here to humble me, aren’t you?,” his hands were already sliding under the hem of her shirt, thumbs brushing warm circles into her skin.

“mhm, says the boy plotting revenge.”

“not plotting anymore,” he murmured, voice husky. “your punishment is pretty much decided.”

“oh yeah?” she smirked, trying to hold her ground, but it faltered when he pressed her back against the counter, hips snug against hers. “what’re you gonna do—”

he cut her off with a kiss. greedy, all-consuming, the kind that made her knees weaken. she clutched at his shoulders, trying to remember why she was annoyed at all — the socks, the tupperware, the protein shake science experiment — but it all blurred under the heat of his mouth.

“come on,” he whispered against her lips. “come to bed with me.”

“jack—”

“please.” his forehead rested against hers, eyes blown wide, almost boyish again. “need you.”

that did her in.

he tugged her hand, leading her down the hall, their laughter tangled with breathless kisses. by the time they reached the bedroom, she was already fumbling with the hem of his hoodie, giggling when he yanked it over his head and nearly knocked her off balance.

“careful, idiot,” she whispered.

he just grinned, hands settling on her hips as he backed her toward the bed. “not my fault you make me clumsy.”

the playful edge faded the second she hit the mattress, his mouth trailing down her neck, hands everywhere at once — anchoring her, adoring her, worshiping her.

and just like that, all her quiet resentments melted. every sock on the floor, every forgotten chore — gone, irrelevant, lost under the press of his chest and the way he groaned her name like a prayer.

because in moments like these, she wasn’t the girl picking up his pieces. she was just his. wanted, cherished, needed so deeply it made her head spin.

later, tangled in sheets with his heartbeat thrumming under her palm, she whispered, almost shy, “still mad at me?”

jack smiled into his skin. “not even a little.”

because she’d remember all his shortcomings tomorrow. but tonight, in this bed, with him breathing her in like he couldn’t get enough — she only felt the good parts. and god, there were so many good parts.

it was early afternoon when she finished getting ready — slipping into a soft, silky dress for a charity fundraiser with the other wives and girlfriends. nothing over-the-top, but the colour made her skin glow, the neckline dipping just enough that she almost second-guessed it.

jack didn’t give her the chance.

“jesus,” he muttered when he walked into the bedroom, stopping dead in his tracks. his eyes raked over her like he was physically hungry. “baby, come here let me look at you.”

she rolled her eyes, heat prickling at the base of her neck. “jack, i’m already running late—”

he crowded her against the dresser anyway, hands sliding over her waist, thumbs stroking the fabric like he couldn’t decide if he wanted to hold her or peel it off. “you can’t just walk around looking like that. it’s illegal.”

“it’s literally a charity event,” she laughed, trying to twist away, but he only grinned and ducked his head, lips ghosting her throat.

“then it’s illegal to be that hot at a charity event without me”

she melted — for a second. then gently pushed at his chest. “jack, stop. i have to go.”

he pouted but didn’t let go, arms wrapping tighter. “fine, fine. where’s it at again?”

“the rooftop at the four seasons. you’d know if you checked your calendar.”

he just hummed, nosing along her collarbone.

she let out a little breath, trying not to lose focus. “what’re you doing today?”

“nothing, really. might play chel with luke and trevor later. why?”

her stomach tensed. she smoothed her hands over his shoulders, voice careful. “i just… remembered we’re behind on a few things. could you maybe run to the store? we’re out of oat milk and trash bags. and sunday cleaning — could you at least get started on the bathroom and vacuum the living room?”

jack pulled back just enough to grin down at her. “of course, baby. got it. don’t even worry. i’ll be so productive, you’ll come home and think a maid service broke in.”

she studied him, searching for something — maybe real commitment, or even a flicker of guilt that she had to ask at all. instead, he was just smiling at her like she was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen, hands still tracing little shapes on her hips.

she sighed. “i’m serious, jack. i don’t want to come back and have to do it all myself.”

“i know, i know.” he leaned in and kissed her, slow and sweet, like it was enough to solve everything. “trust me, okay? i got it. promise.”

she tried to relax into it, let herself believe him. because he looked so earnest, and god, it was so easy to fall for that soft-eyed smile.

but as she grabbed her purse and left, her chest was tight with something she couldn’t quite name — like maybe she already knew how this would end.

the rooftop was lit up with tiny golden bulbs strung overhead, the city skyline soft and blurred in the distance. waiters wove through with trays of prosecco and delicate hors d'oeuvres, and laughter floated on the warm evening breeze.

y/n stood with a cluster of the other wives and girlfriends, her glass cool in her hand, shoulders finally relaxing a little. it felt good to be out, dressed up, surrounded by people who understood the strange orbit their lives revolved around.

"so how’s jack? still leaving a trail of clothes from the door to the bedroom like bread crumbs?" megan asked, eyes sparkling with mischief.

y/n laughed, shaking her head. "honestly? he’s been… pretty good, actually. like, surprisingly. i think i scared him straight after i snitched to ellen at dinner last week."

they all cracked up, nearly in unison.

"my mother-in-law would never side with me," jenna groaned. "if she could, she’d still be cutting the crusts off his sandwiches and ironing his jeans. she looks at me like i’m a war criminal because i told him to pick up after himself."

"god, jack would love that," y/n said, giggling. she took a slow sip of her drink, letting the prosecco fizz sweetly on her tongue.

“although — he’s still working his angles. i have this theory he’s trying to butter me up for a dog. keeps dropping these not-so-subtle hints, like ‘baby, wouldn’t a puppy be so cute on the couch with us?’ meanwhile, i’d just like to not trip over his skates in the hallway.”

"that’s a lot of work," one of the girls said, sympathetic but amused. "but… also kinda nice. i’d go crazy in that house by myself all season if we didn’t have our dog. at least it’s company when they’re on the road."

y/n hummed, nodding. her mind wandered for a moment — to their apartment, to jack’s sneakers by the door, to the way he’d looked at her before she left, so unabashedly in awe like he still couldn’t believe she was his.

"yeah," she admitted softly, half to herself. "he is pretty sweet sometimes. and i think… i don’t know. maybe it wouldn’t be the worst thing to have something that’s ours, you know?"

the girls all smiled knowingly, a few squeezing her hand. the conversation moved on — trips they were planning, little updates on family back home, which players were secretly terrible cooks — but under it all was this soft, blooming warmth in her chest.

by the time she hugged them all goodbye and stepped into her waiting car, she felt light. maybe even a little giddy. she rested her head against the seat, smiling to herself, suddenly eager to be home.

to see jack, to tell him he’d been on her mind, to let him tug her into his chest and kiss her like she was still that girl from the first night they met.

because for all the socks on the floor and the ways he still had to grow up — he was hers. and tonight, that was enough to make her want to hurry back to him.

once the event wrapped up and she parked in their building garage, she couldn’t wait any longer to see him. she unlocked the door, expecting the usual quiet hum of an apartment halfway cleaned, maybe the faint scent of something cooking, the soft buzz of the vacuum in the living room.

instead, she stepped inside and froze. the place was exactly the way she’d left it. the kitchen counters still cluttered with empty milk cartons, the trash overflowing, the bathroom untouched.

then she heard it — the low murmur of voices from the living room.

peeking around the corner, she saw jack and luke sprawled on the couch, beer cans in hand, laughing like it was game night; the chores she had assigned long forgotten.

jack’s eyes caught hers and immediately went wide — frozen, caught like a kid who just got caught sneaking cookies before dinner.

she opened her mouth, but no words came out. the anger rooted her to the spot, leaving her utterly speechless.

luke cleared his throat awkwardly. “uh… hey, y/n.”

jack didn’t move, didn’t say a word. he was in trouble.

“guess the cleaning’s on hold?” she finally managed, voice tight but low.

jack swallowed hard. “i… i was gonna get to it. i swear. just… needed a minute.”

her jaw clenched. “a minute?"

he shifted uncomfortably, eyes flicking to luke, who gave an apologetic shrug.

“i gotta head out,” luke said quickly, standing and grabbing his coat. “don’t wanna get caught in the middle.”

“thanks, luke,” she said flatly as he hurried out.

jack stayed rooted, looking smaller than usual, but she still couldn’t find her voice.

he finally gestured helplessly toward the game console, where a controller rested. “was gonna play some chel… thought maybe after.”

she stalked over, unplugged the console, and looked at him dead on. “shut up.”

jack blinked. “shut up?”

“yes. just. shut. up.”

he did, really did, blinking in surprise. he’d never seen her like this before — silent, rigid, no warmth in her eyes. he slumped into the couch infront of her as she paced.

he stayed there on the couch, looking up at her like he didn’t know if he should stand or shrink into the cushions.

she crossed her arms, pacing once before she rounded on him again. her voice was ice. “so pathetic. you need me to do everything for you, hmm?”

his eyes widened, throat bobbing as he swallowed. “baby, i—”

“can’t do anything for yourself,” she snapped, stepping in closer. her hands went to his shoulders, pushing him back into the couch so she stood over him. “can’t clean. can’t run errands. can’t keep a single promise to me. i have to manage your whole life for you, like i’m your personal assistant.”

he reached for her hips, trying to pull her down onto his lap, but she smacked his hands away so hard the sound cracked in the air.

“you don’t get to touch me,” she hissed.

his mouth fell open. “baby, come on—”

“no. i’m the one in charge. like always. i decide if and when you get to touch me.” she snapped, her voice laced with venom

he swallowed again, hands fisting helplessly at his sides.

she leaned down, voice dropping to a mocking purr as her fingers traced along his jaw, her nails scraping lightly over the stubble.

“stupid boy. can’t do anything. don’t want to do anything but be inside me all day, huh? can’t get a single thought in that pretty head of yours if it isn’t me.”

his breath stuttered out of him in a low, wrecked groan. his eyes fluttered shut for a second, like he couldn’t even bear how much he wanted it. when they opened again, they were dark and blown wide with need, locked helplessly on her face.

“baby…” he breathed, voice hoarse, the word more a plea than anything else. his hands twitched on the couch cushions, like he didn’t dare reach for her again without permission.

she tilted her head, studying him, a cruel little smirk ghosting across her lips. her thumb swept over his bottom lip, dragging slow and deliberate, watching it bounce back when she let go. he sucked in a sharp breath at even that light touch, chest rising like he was struggling to keep himself from falling apart.

“so easy,” she whispered, her mouth brushing just against the corner of his. “you’d let me ruin you right here, wouldn’t you?”

he gave a tiny, desperate nod, throat bobbing as he swallowed hard. “yeah. fuck — please. whatever you want. i’ll do anything.”

“anything?” she echoed softly, letting her lips ghost along his cheek, down to his jaw, smiling when he shivered under her.

“anything,” he rasped, hands fisting tight again at his sides like he was using every ounce of control not to grab her. “just… please.”

she hovered over his mouth for a breathless beat, letting the anticipation stretch until his lips parted on a quiet, broken gasp.

then she finally kissed him.

hard. messy. her hands threading into his hair, pulling just enough to make him groan. he kissed her back with a desperate, hungry sort of relief, grabbing her waist like he couldn’t help himself even after being told not to.

and she let him — for now — because the way he melted under her, the way he clung to her like he’d fall apart otherwise, made it so painfully clear just how much he needed her to keep him together.

and god help her, she needed it too.

she pulled back just enough to look at him, breath coming fast, her lips swollen from the kiss. jack’s eyes were blown wide, pupils dark with want, mouth parted like he couldn’t quite catch his breath.

his hands hovered at her waist again, tentative now — like he wasn’t sure if he was allowed. she could feel him trembling under her, every muscle wound tight, waiting for permission.

“say it,” she whispered, her voice low and commanding. “say you need me.”

“i… fuck, i need you,” he breathed, so earnest it nearly broke her. “need you to tell me what to do. need you to… to take care of me. i’m so fucking lost without you.”

her thumb brushed over his cheek, almost gentle — almost. “yeah, i know. you’d fall apart if i left. don’t even know how to use the vacuum without me.”

he let out a shaky laugh, eyes fluttering closed like he was embarrassed, but he leaned into her touch anyway.

“look at me,” she ordered.

his eyes snapped open at her words. he melted at the heat radiating from her a mix of desire and anger that reached it's boiling point

“good boy,” she murmured, and then she kissed him again — slower this time, deep and possessive, like she was staking her claim. his hands finally settled on her hips again, squeezing like he might die if he couldn’t hold her.

she shifted in his lap, feeling how hard he already was beneath her, and smirked against his mouth. “so easy. so fucking easy for me.”

“only for you,” he groaned, voice raw, forehead dropping to rest against hers. “just… please. don’t stop. don’t—”

“shut up,” she repeated, cutting him off with another searing kiss.

and he did. god, he did — sinking into her, letting her take the lead, every broken promise and messy room forgotten for now under the weight of how desperately he wanted to be hers.

she slowed the kiss, just enough to savor it — to taste the apology he couldn’t quite say, to feel the way he shivered when she dragged her nails lightly up the back of his neck.

his hands were gripping her hips so tight it bordered on painful, trying to ground himself, to prove he still had something to hold onto. but she knew — they both knew — who was really in control here.

when she pulled back, her breath was ragged, her lips slick and swollen. jack’s eyes were dazed, his mouth parted like he was still chasing her even after she’d left it.

“god, look at you,” she whispered, brushing a thumb over his damp bottom lip. “i am the only one who gets to see you like this. completely ruined”

he let out a low, desperate sound. “yeah. fuck — yes. whatever you want. just… please, don’t stop touching me.”

“needy,” she murmured, almost fond, though there was still an edge in it. “pathetic little thing. can’t stand to be without me for a second.”

his hips jerked up under her, unthinking, chasing friction, and he whined when she pressed her palm to his chest to hold him still.

“stay,” she ordered, and he did — trembling under her like he was made of glass.

she leaned down, nipping his jaw, then licking over the sting until he gasped. “good boy. that’s it.”

his hands fluttered at her sides, wanting to roam, wanting to take, but waiting for her to give the word. it sent a sharp thrill through her, how he looked at her like this — totally undone, worshipful, lost.

she rolled her hips slowly against him, and his breath punched out of him in a shudder.

“you feel that?” she whispered against his ear. “that’s all you’re good for. all you want to be good for. just me. just this.”

“fuck,” he rasped, hands clutching at her thighs now like he might fall through the earth if he didn’t anchor himself to her. “yes baby, fuck yes… only you.”

she kissed him again, hard and filthy, swallowing the broken sounds he made. he kissed back with everything he had — teeth, tongue, the desperate flick of his hips — like he needed to prove his devotion in every breath.

when she finally broke away, they were both gasping, foreheads pressed together, sweat starting to bead at her temple.

“you’re mine,” she said low, so close he could feel her words vibrate through him.

“yours,” he promised instantly, eyes blown wide, voice shaking. “always yours.”

she smiled, dark and satisfied, before capturing his mouth again — and this time when he surged up into her, she let him, let them both get lost in it. because right now, in the heat of it, with all his faults and failures laid bare, he was exactly where he was supposed to be — beneath her, wanting nothing more than to give her everything.

she smiled, dark and satisfied, before capturing his mouth again — and this time when he surged up into her, she let him, let him grab at her hips and pull her flush against him like he was starving for it.

his hands roamed greedily now, no longer tentative, sliding up beneath her shirt to feel the heat of her skin. he moaned into her mouth when her nails scraped over his shoulders, bucking up helplessly beneath her.

“fuck, baby… please,” he gasped when they pulled apart for breath, his voice nothing but wrecked devotion.

“please what?” she taunted softly, pressing her forehead to his, their breaths tangling.

“please… just — let me come. let me be good for you,” he choked out. his eyes were wide and glassy, every ounce of cockiness stripped down to this raw, pleading honesty.

she felt her chest tighten, her own pulse thundering as she rocked her hips deliberately against him. he nearly sobbed, clutching her tighter, and when she kissed him again it was slower, deeper, like she was drinking in every shattered sound he made.

somewhere in the blur of it — of soft, filthy words whispered against lips, of his hands gripping her like lifelines, of her laughter breaking through when he cursed under his breath, half-crazed — the last of her anger slipped away.

because here he was, laid bare under her, all his faults and failures on full display, and still looking at her like she was the sun. like he’d do anything, be anything, if it meant keeping her.

and right now, in the heat of it, that was enough.

when the tension finally broke and they collapsed together, tangled and breathless on the couch. when the urgency had finally burned itself out and left them in a tangled, sweaty heap on the couch — she lay draped over him, her cheek pressed to his chest, listening to the frantic pound of his heart start to slow.

jack’s hands stroked aimlessly up and down her back, almost reverent, like he still couldn’t believe she was real, that she’d chosen to stay.

for a while, neither of them spoke. they just lay there tangled up on the couch, her head resting over his heart, feeling it race and then slowly steady beneath her cheek. his hands drifted over her back in slow, aimless patterns, like he couldn’t stand to stop touching her.

she closed her eyes, trying to memorize this — the warmth of him, the soft rise and fall of his chest, the way his breath still caught every so often like he was overwhelmed.

then, in a voice so quiet and rough it cracked straight through her, he whispered, “i’d do anything for you. you know that, right?”

her throat tightened. she lifted her head to look at him, taking in the flushed skin, damp hair curling at his temples, the way his lips were kiss-swollen and parted like he was still catching up to the moment.

his eyes found hers, wide and raw in the low light. “i mean it,” he went on, like he couldn’t keep it inside anymore. “i’ll do better. i promise. i’ll try harder. i’ll… fuck, i’ll grow up. i’ll be the man you need. the one you deserve. because i can’t — i can’t lose you.”

her chest squeezed so tight it almost hurt. because for all his mess, all the ways he made her want to scream and tear her hair out, there was never any doubt how deeply he loved her. it was written all over his face, in every touch, every broken, breathless promise. he loved her recklessly, wholly, with everything he was.

she leaned down and kissed him, slow and lingering, tasting the fear and the hope on his lips.

when she pulled back just enough to speak, her voice shook. “good. because i’m not doing this alone anymore. i swear to god, jack — if you don’t change, if you keep making me carry all of it by myself, i’ll leave.”

his hands came up to cradle her face, thumbs brushing tears she hadn’t even realized had fallen. “it won’t come to that,” he whispered, voice thick with emotion. “i swear. i swear on everything, i’ll be better. i’ll prove it to you. just… please don’t stop loving me.”

she closed her eyes, pressing her forehead to his, breathing him in like she was trying to fill her lungs with him.

“don’t give me a reason to,” she whispered back.

“i won’t,” he breathed immediately, pulling her down into him like he could keep her there forever. “i promise, baby. i promise.”

and for tonight — with his arms locked around her, his promises soft and desperate against her skin — she let herself believe it. because god, she needed to. and maybe, just maybe, that was enough to keep holding on.

BONUS

the morning light spilled gently through the window when y/n finally stirred, her body still heavy with sleep and the lingering warmth of the night before. she blinked groggily, expecting to find herself alone or maybe jack still tangled up in blankets somewhere on the couch.

instead, she heard the clatter of pans and the faint hiss of the coffee machine.

curious, she shuffled out of their bedroom in her oversized shirt and slippers, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

there he was — jack, standing at the stove, focused and a little awkward, flipping pancakes with the kind of careful concentration usually reserved for practice drills. the kitchen was filled with the rich smell of coffee and something sweet sizzling on the griddle.

“morning,” he said, glancing over his shoulder with that boyish grin that made her heart skip. “hope you’re hungry.”

y/n’s eyes widened when he handed her a plate piled high with golden pancakes, perfectly fluffy, topped with fresh berries and a drizzle of maple syrup. next to it was a steaming mug of coffee, just how she liked it — creamy, not too bitter.

“jack… this looks amazing,” she said, genuinely surprised. “did you make all this?”

he scratched the back of his neck, a little sheepish. “yeah, well… i had some help.”

“help?”

he grinned, eyes twinkling with mischief. “was on facetime with my mom and quinn until about thirty minutes ago. they gave me the play-by-play on how to not burn the kitchen down.”

she laughed, warmth spreading through her chest. “so you were taking cooking lessons from your mom?”

“yep,” he said, pouring himself a cup of coffee. “and maybe bragging a little about how amazing my girlfriend is.”

she smiled, taking a bite of the pancake. “okay, i’m impressed. you’re full of surprises.”

he smirked, his eyes darkening with a mix of mischief and something softer, more tender. “guess all it took was you fucking me like that yesterday to light a fire under me.”

he stepped closer, voice dropping low and thick with promise. “plus, if i want mornings like this—just you and me, no distractions—I’d better start pulling my weight.”

she smiled, feeling a rush of heat bloom inside her as she reached across the table to lace her fingers through his. “well, keep it up. i’m loving this side of you.”

he caught her hand, his thumb stroking gently, grounding them both. then, without breaking eye contact, he tugged her up from her chair and pulled her close until there was no space left between them.

“i love you,” he murmured against her lips, voice raw and full of longing.

she melted into the kiss, slow and deep, the kitchen fading away until there was only the press of his body, the warmth of his breath, the taste of him.

when they finally parted, breathless and tangled, jack pressed a soft kiss to her temple before stepping back with a grin.

“breakfast is served, baby. just for you.” he said, sliding the plate of pancakes onto the table, the steam curling between them like a promise of more mornings like this.

and in that simple, perfect moment—pancakes, coffee, and stolen kisses—everything felt like home.

© 2025 M34TTHEWS

[withwritersblock]

Teenage Dirtbag

~Teenage Dirtbag by Wheatus but the 1D cover~

Author's Note: requested! this started out as one thing and then it ended up be 5k words of idk! Summary: Jack falls for the quiet girl in the group Warnings: nothing too bad Word Count: 5,746 Jack Hughes x fm!reader

They were the definition of mutual friends. Her best friend was dating his brother’s best friend, so they only interacted in groups. As in, he was always the center of attention and she was observing quietly. They have been mutual friends for a few years now, only sharing a few conversations here and there.

It was the first summer that the boys were all free and so were the girls. It was Luke’s idea to have everyone come to the Hughes’ lakehouse. The entire groupchat was ecstatic and talking about their travel plans. But since Y/N was only really friends with Hanah and her boyfriend John. Y/N was always quiet during the group hangouts so she didn’t think anyone else would notice if she didn’t want to come to Michigan. 

She thought at least until Jack had texted in the chat asking if she was planning on coming. She told the chat that she was planning on it and everyone was ecstatic to have the whole group there for the entire summer.

Which is how she ended up in a plane flying to Michigan. She was sitting beside Hanah and John. John was on the isle seat with his rested on Hanah shoulder as he was dead asleep. They were landing in thirty minutes and he had slept the whole flight despite Hanah’s constant chatter. Y/N would mumble a few replies but she was in her own little world. 

She was not someone who enjoyed a lot of attention or even being social for a long time. Which is why this group was usually at a distance. She loved being around them but she also needed time away from them. 

Two whole months with them felt like a nightmare because she was the only one that didn’t thrive in social situations.

“We’ve got a summer of concerts and a summer on the lake, how are you not excited?” Hanah begged as she took a hold of Y/N’s hand. She rolled her eyes playfully.

“I am excited for relaxation,” Y/N offered as she glanced to the next row to see Jack and Luke chatting somewhat loudly.

Hanah rolled her eyes dramatically as she delicately took a hold his cheek. Y/N watched them intently, a sting of jealously coursing through her body.

“It’s going to be an amazing summer,” Hanah mumbled as she kept her gaze on John. Y/N nodded as she shifted her gaze down towards her phone for the remainder of the flight. 

Once they were off the flight the walk through the airport took forever since the boys kept getting stopped for photos and their Uber driver was all the way at the back of the Uber pick up line. The rest of the groupchat was flying in from all over North America and were planning on meeting at the house.

The Uber driver finally pulled up in front of them and Luke happily took the shotgun seat and forced everyone else to squeeze together in the back of the Kia. Because they were in need of an extra seat Hanah simply sat in John’s lap to create an extra seat. The Uber driver didn’t realize that when his car had five seats, it included himself. Jack jumped in and sat in the middle seat, leaving Y/N to sit against the window. 

She kept her gaze towards the window despite Jack and her own knee forced to be against one another. “Sorry, last time I cheap out on Ubers,” Jack mumbled as he leaned towards her. She forced a smile onto her lips as she met his gaze for a second. 

It’s fine,” she mumbled as she tilted her head towards the window.

Jack kept his gaze on her for a moment before he looked back down towards his lap. 

The drive to the Hughes’ lakehouse was only twenty minutes but it was definitely the longest twenty minutes of any of their lives, beside Luke. He was comfortable and eating the driver’s snacks he offered. Zero hesitation in the process. 

As soon as the car was put into park, Y/N instantly opened the door and slipped out. She kept it open as she walked towards the trunk and immediately pulling all of their suitcases out. Jack instantly followed in pursuit, keeping his distance. He pulled the last of the suitcases out and closed the trunk. Jack shifted his gaze towards her for a second before he started dragging two suitcases as once. 

Quinn, Trevor, and Cole all jogged out of the house, shirtless and excited to see everyone. This was only the third time she’s seen the three in person since the group chat was made. Which is another reason as to why she was unsure as to why she was invited. 

“Look at that the plans made it out of the chat!” Cole shouted as he instantly ran around to give each person a hug. Y/N hugged him back hesitantly but the hug last less than a second it seemed. 

“Everyone grab a suitcase, we gotta assign roommates,” Quinn let out excitedly. Everyone listened and didn’t seem to care about the situation except Y/N. She kept her own suitcases dragging behind her as she slowly walked towards the entrance of the house. The only person she truly knew in the house was Hanah, and she knew she was going to room with John. But who would that leave Y/N with?

Once they were inside it was obvious the house was huge and yet it still looked like a frat house. It was clean but the decor definitely gave boy. She stood awkwardly beside Hanah while she glanced towards Jack. His hair was covered with a backwards hat now and he had a wide grin on his lips. 

She’s always found him attractive, it’s hard not to but he was always so out there. She brought her gaze back towards the tile beneath her sandals. 

“Okay, we have five rooms. Which means some of us will have to get snuggly,” Quinn teased. His gaze was dancing around the room, meeting everyone’s eye for a moment. “Obviously John and Hanah will be sharing a room because-well,” he paused as he pointed towards them. The room giggled. “And Y/N you can have your own room.”

“Why does she get her own room?” Trevor whined jokingly.

“Because that would be weird to tell her that she had to share a bed with one of you assholes,” Quinn said while shaking his head, a chuckle falling from his lips.

Y/N let out a sigh of relief. She lifted her gaze to nod towards Quinn. He smiled towards her before he started his shpeel again. “Jack, you can either have your own room or pick between Trev and Cole because Lukey and I already decided to share,” 

“I’ll have my own room, thanks,” Jack let out with a wide grin on his lips. 

“I didn’t want to spoon with you anyway,” Cole let out, the entire room started to laugh, even Y/N.

“You guys can have my room,” Luke mumbled towards Trevor and Cole.

“Come on, Y/N, I’ll show you our private rooms,” he let out teasingly to the whole group. Everyone started to disperse towards their own bedrooms. Y/N stayed still for a second, her heart jumping into her throat. Alone with Jack. For the first time, ever.

She nodded as she reluctantly followed after him, dragging her two suitcases behind her. The two rooms that Jack and Y/N were in were on the main level while every other room was on the second floor. 

Jack opened one of the doors, tossing the door open. “That’ll be your room,” he let out before he spun around to face her. Shyly, she smiled towards him as she started walking into her room. He furrowed his eyebrows, leaving his suitcases in the hallway. She took a hold of one of the suitcases and tossed it onto the bed, a huff of air leaving her lips in the process.

He leaned against the doorway, his hands holding the top of the doorframe. She spun her head around, seeing him standing there. Her heart was beating out of her chest. Swallowing hard she turned her whole body around to face him. 

“How did you end up being friends with Hanah?” Jack asked as he slowly dropped his hands to the side, stepping into the room further. Furrowing her eyebrows, she awkwardly crossed her arms over her chest. “I-I mean you’re so quiet and she’s… so not,” 

Y/N stifled a laugh as she reached down and took a hold of her other suitcase. She placed it beside her other one and let out a huff of air before she turned her gaze towards Jack.

“We sat next to each other in second grade and I guess she took my silence as a yes to being friends,” she mumbled, he smiled softly. “Which it was at the time,” she continued meeting his eye.

He squinted his eyes sightly as he scanned her frame subtly before he swallowed hard. He stepped back while running his fingers through his hair. She turned around and opened the suitcase. “At the time?” he asked softly.

Taking in a deep breath, Y/N began to pull out her different clothes. Many of them were for dinner, clubs, or swimsuits. “Sometimes I get so tired of being social,” she mumbled, keeping her gaze away from him.

“I get that,” he mumbled, chuckling softly. “This group is all yappers except maybe John-but if you ever need a break don’t be afraid to just leave. We understand,” he explained softly.

Her lips fell into a pout as she turned around, meeting his eye and nodded. He smiled towards her before he slipped out of her room. She dropped her gaze towards the floor. A grin forming to her lips. 

~~~

It had been two days since they arrived and it was safe to say that Y/N was already exhausted from all of the group hanging out. She’s done at least for today. Which is why she hasn’t left her room yet She was laying on her bed, hugging a pillow tightly to her chest as she was watching Pretty Little Liars.

A few soft knocks hit her door. She shut her eyes harshly as she quietly forced out, “Come in.” she laid onto her back as the door was softly cracked open. Jack peeked his head inside holding a mug of coffee in his hand. 

“I brought you coffee,” he let out quietly as he slipped inside, he delicately shut the door. She pouted her lips as she slowly sat up slightly. “Splash of cream? Right?” he asked as he cautiously handed it over to her.

“Thank you,” she mumbled as she immediately brought the mug towards her lips. He winked towards her as he sat down beside her. She placed it onto the nightstand beside her. She met his eye for a moment before she dropped her gaze back towards her lap.

“We’re heading on the boat soon, do you want to join?” he asked. Subconsciously, her face scrunched up in disgust. He chuckled. “It’s okay, I’ll have my phone on me so text me if you want us to come pick you up,” he muttered, looking into her eyes. 

“Thank you,” she muttered as she shyly dropped her gaze towards her lap. He stood up and walked out of the room, not turning back to meet her eye. Shutting the door delicately, he walked down the hall towards the rest of the group and they were all in their swimsuits and walking around slightly stir crazy. 

“Is she coming?” Hanah asked hopeful. Jack shook his head as he shoved his hands into his swimtrunk’s pockets. “What, that’s bogus, I’ll grab her.”

“Leave her be, she wants to relax in bed,” Jack let out while chuckling.

“Well who am I supposed to hang with,” Hanah asked with a pout on her lips. John threw his hands to the side with his mouth falling open. “You don’t count,” she said delicately tapping her hand against his arm.

“She wants to be alone that’s all.” Jack continued as he walked backwards towards the door, “We have a boat to get drunk on, come on,” 

The whole group started to happily walk out of the house. Jack glanced down at his phone, somewhat expecting a text from her but there was nothing. He sighed as he followed the rest of them out into the heat. 

~~~

It was several hours later and everyone was quite drunk beside Jack and Y/N. They were slap happy, giggling and enjoying every drop of alcohol they were drinking. Jack didn’t want to take care of them anymore and decided to see if she would like some company. 

He walked up to the door, knocking softly and another echo of come in. He delicately pushed the door open, he peeked his head inside. She lifted her gaze up from her computer and smiled towards him. 

“What are you doing Jack?” she asked as he slowly slipped inside.

“Can I hang in here?” he asked quietly. She tried to stop the grin forming to her lips. She nodded as she closed her computer and placed it onto the nightstand. “Did you leave the room at all?” he asked teasingly as he jogged around the bed to sit on the other side. 

Furrowing her eyebrows, she met his gaze, “I did, I showered, thank you,” she let out sarcastically. He barked out a laugh as he tilted his head back against the headboard.

They sat together in silence for a few minutes, neither of them looking towards one another. Jack was not used to enjoying quiet, he usually hated anything that was quiet. In his life, quiet meant something bad was happening. But Y/N thrived in the quiet. Maybe even the happiest when it’s just her and silence. 

But she does look happy, maybe it was an act or maybe she was actually content with him sitting beside her.

“What are you doing?” she asked again, tilting her head to the side to meet his gaze. He pouted his lips, shaking his head slightly. “We barely interact for years, I think these past three days is the most we’ve interacted… ever,” she expressed.

He smirked as he continued to look into her eyes. “You’ve always caught my eye,” he let out quietly, subconsciously inching towards her.

“Really?” she asked shyly. He hummed as he continued to look into her eyes. “Okay,” she let out softly. He chuckled quietly as he tilted his head back, looking up towards the ceiling.

“What were you doing?” he asked, pointing towards her laptop. Her eyes lit up as her lips curled up into a grin.

“I was working on my manuscript,” she muttered. He grinned. “I started it years ago and now I’m just rewriting and editing it,” 

“Can I read it?” he asked. Instantly, she shook her head, “Oh come on!” he let out while laughing. 

“No,” she let out giggling, taking a hold of laptop and placing it on the floor, sliding it under the bed. 

“When it’s finished can I read it?” he questioned pursing his lips forward. She nodded as she leaned her head back against the headboard. “Good,” he let out. After a few seconds, he tilted his head to the side to admire her side profile. “What’s it about?” 

“Jack,” she scolded softly.

“Right,” he muttered as he fought a smile on his lips. He looked back down towards his lap. She giggled as she took a hold of the TV remote beside her and turned on the TV. “What are we watching?” he asked. She simply shrugged before she climbed under the covers. Jack watched her before he followed in pursuit. 

“Any preference?” she asked barely above a whisper. He shook his head while pouting his lips. Nodding, she pulled up Hulu and went to the episode of Law and Order SVU she was on. He furrowed his eyebrows harshly as he stared towards her. Shifting her gaze towards him, she fought a grin on her lips. 

“Who just puts on Law and Order?” he questioned. She shrugged as she shifted her gaze back towards the screen. “God, you are so weird,” he let out while laughing. She rolled her eyes playfully. 

~~~

“She lives!” Hanah teased as Y/N emerged from the hallway. Y/N rolled her eyes as she flipped her off. She wandered towards the empty seat beside Jack. 

She sat down and Jack trailed her frame as she sat down. Her frame was covered with loose shorts and a tight thing long sleeve pajama shirt. He pressed his lips together as he tilted his head back against the couch for only a moment. 

“Sorry,” Y/N muttered as she sunk into herself. Jack furrowed his eyebrows as he glanced towards Hanah for a second before he looked back towards Y/N. He could that the little joke Hanah said actually hurt her feelings. 

“We’re going to the shops, if you want to come with,” Jack asked softly. She met his gaze and nodded. He smiled widely before shifting his gaze towards the group. 

“Yes!” Hanah cheered loudly. Y/N forced a grin on her lips before she shifted her gaze back down towards her lap. 

The entire group started engaging in conversation, Jack was talking loudly with Trevor about something relating to videos they have to shoot in August. Y/N shifted her gaze towards him, watching him laugh loudly and be the center of attention. The way he laughed and smiled widely was different from how she saw him last night.

It was how she usually saw him. Cracking jokes and laughing loudly. He was always the center of attention, he was Jack Hughes afterall. 

She smiled softly as she continued to admire him, maybe secretively maybe not. She didn’t care, a lot of the time no one even noticed that she was there. He shifted his gaze briefly towards her, smiling once he met her eye before he went right back into his conversation.

It was an hour later and they were all at the shops that were full of pastel beach themed colors. The first shop they went to were stereotypical tourist gear but they stuck around to look at the tiny trinkets.

Y/N took a hold of a tiny racoon that was in a fishing boat. She stifled a small chuckle as she continued to look through each of the tiny things. Jack stumbled beside her, nearly knocking over a lamp. He steadied the lamp while meeting her gaze. She chuckled as she took a hold of a tiny frog sitting on a mushroom. She held it up towards him and he squinted his eyes while he fought off a laugh. 

“Are you planning on buying anything?” he asked, she shrugged as she continued to show him the weirder and the weirder desk decorations. “You sure you don’t need a dinosaur dressed as a--astronaut?” he asked holding it up towards her. She rolled her eyes playfully.

“That’s insane,” she let out as she took a step back away from the table. He smiled towards her as he pointed towards the exit, where majority of their friends were already heading. She smiled shyly as she followed after him. 

“Y/N, this next store has swimsuits, maybe you shouldn’t go in since you don’t like to go swimming,” Hanah said with a smirk on her lips, intending to make a joke. 

“Hardy har,” Y/N said while crossing her arms over her chest.

The next store was strictly clothing and everyone was actually pulling things to try on and potentially purchase. Y/N was looking at a handful of dresses. The dresses she had pulled out her skin tight and in many different shades of colors. One of them had long sleeves and she was excited to try it on. 

Jack was watching from the distance, he was in the men’s section looking at the random hoodies. He’s always kept an eye on her, something about her always intrigued him. Sure, it was how she would go hours without talking while hanging out or how she would be shyly hiding in the corner of any party or night club.

She was stunning, that was no question. So gorgeous and so comfortable with trying to make sure no one noticed. But he did and he was determined to become close to her. He needed to know more about her.

He pulled the hoodie from the clothing rack and rolled his eyes before he placed it back onto it. He lifted his gaze again to see her walking towards the dressing room. He followed towards her, he shoved through the small crowds of people to try and meet up with her.

There was a line waiting for the two rooms that were available. Jack walked up beside her, smiling towards her. She spun around slowly meeting his gaze, she rolled her eyes playfully. 

“Jack,” she mumbled.

“Tho-those are nice,” he let out awkwardly. She squinted her eyes as she furrowed her eyebrows.

“Yeah, I think so,” she expressed as she kept her gaze on his. He glanced down towards the dresses before he looked back up to meet her eye. “What are you thinking?” she asked as her lips curled upward in a small smile. 

“Oh nothing,” he muttered, “Just gonna try on some clothes, I think,” he pursed his lips froward. She glanced down to his empty hands. He held his hands up and fought off a chuckle.

“You don’t have-” she trailed off.

“Yeah, I realized that. I don’t honestly know what I’m doing,” he explained while laughing. They moved up the line as someone exited. 

She smirked as she tilted her head to the side. “Jack,” she let out. He hummed while shaking his head, “Did you just want to see me try these dresses on?” she questioned teasingly. His mouth fell open as he fought a grin on his lips.

“I was n-not-that is so, yeah I think so. I honestly don’t remember,” he said while avoiding her gaze. She pursed her lips forward as she tried to meet his eye, deliberately moving her head side to side.

“Jack,” she said.

“Yeah,” he let out as he finally met her gaze.

“Maybe later,” she whispered. He grinned as he nodded before he quickly stumbled away from her. She dropped her gaze towards the floor, smiling shyly.

~~~

Finally they all returned to the house, several bags of trinkets and clothes in all of their hands. Y/N delicately placed the bags onto her bed when she heart a small knock on her door. She rolled her eyes playfully as she muttered a come in. He peeked his head inside as he slipped inside. He shut the door behind him and locked the door behind him.

“I was promised a haul,” he mumbled quietly.

“I thought the word that left my lips was a maybe,” she uttered as she turned around to meet his gaze. 

“I think you want to give me a haul,” he teased. She rolled her eyes as she dropped her gaze towards the floor for a moment. Jack furrowed his eyebrows as he scanned her suddenly worried features. “You okay?” he asked softly.

“What are you doing?” she asked, keeping her gaze on the floor. 

“What?” he asked softly. 

“Why are you all of a sudden acting like we’re friends? I mean I was fine playing along but seriously, Jack, what are you doing?” she asked, her lips quivering as she spoke. His eyes scanned her features, watching her waterline fill with tears. “Because if you are just doing this because you feel bad for me-”

“Why would I do that?” he asked softly, he took a step towards her. She pressed her lips together shaking her head, “I have been dying to get to know you. When I told you you’ve always caught my eye, I meant that,” he expressed as he took another step towards her. 

“We are friends because I listen when you talk and I know you listen when I talk. We’re friends because I enjoy your company even when you don’t feel like talking. I know you enjoy my company because you keep letting me in. We’re friends because I see you,” he explained as he looked deeply into her eyes, something he hasn’t gotten to do. Her eyes were still teary.

“Okay,” she muttered. 

“Okay,” he let out as he nodded slightly. 

Her lips curled upward softly as she took a deep breath. “Sit,” she mumbed as she pointed towards her bed. He smiled softly as he listened. “Close your eyes.”

He smirked as he shut his eyes while shaking his head back and forth. She picked up her phone and started playing her playlist softly, she delicately rested it onto the dresser beside her before she started to slip her jean shorts off of her frame. She pulled the tanktop off of her body as she picked up the gold dress.

It barely covered her ass as it was tight against her curves. It was lose along her chest to show off her cleavage. She sighed as she her bra off and kept her underwear on. She slowly slipped the dress on, adjusting it to make sure it fit her perfectly. 

The soft hum of the music made this more intimate than what she was expecting but she didn’t mind it. “Jack,” she let out barely above a whisper. He opened his eyes excitedly as he scanned her frame. His cheeks instantly flushed red as he continued to scan her frame. She shyly crossed her arms over her chest.

He shook his head as he stood up. Delicately, he took a hold of her arms and put them on her side. “Let me see you,” he whispered. She looked up towards him, fighting a small smile on her lips as she looked into his eye. “Oh my god,” he said as he hovered his hands around her frame. 

“I’ve got like four more,” she mumbled as she continued to look into his gaze. He nodded as he bit his bottom lip, he slowly sat down.

“I don’t know how they’ll beat this one,” he mumbled as he watched her walked towards the plastic bag. She pointed towards him, he dragged his tongue across his bottom lip before he tilted his head back while shutting his eyes. 

She slowly started to slip the dress from her frame again.

~~~

For the next few weeks Jack and Y/N would disappear together towards the end of the night. Since their rooms were in the same hallway, it didn’t cross anyone’s minds that they were hanging out together. Because no one’s truly noticed. 

Jack was sprailed out on his bed as he waited for Y/N to join him. She was alone in her room, getting into comfortable clothing before she slipped away towards his room. 

His feelings for her were starting to come more and more up front. After her little fashion show a few weeks back, he hasn’t stopped imagining what she would look like without the skin tight dresses on her frame. Nothing happened between them that night but she definitely could tell that he had some sort of feelings towards her. At least he thought it was obvious.

He held his phone above his face as he scrolled through his TikTok feed. He was chuckling at a few of the videos. His door was creaked open and Y/N had peeked her head inside. He pulled his phone away to meet her gaze, he smirked before he rested his phone onto the side table. 

“Hi,” he let out as he watched her twist the lock on the door. She pressed her lips together as she watched Jack scan her frame. She was wearing a matching gray set of loose shorts and a tight tank top. He bit his bottom lip trying to prevent a wide grin forming to his lips. 

“It’s weirdly quiet, are you sure everyone’s still here?” she asked as she pointed behind her. Jack shrugged as he patted the empty side of the bed. She rolled her eyes playfully as she climbed under the comforter and rolled onto her side to face him. He smirked as he kept his gaze on her lips.

“We’ve got the second season of New Girl to start,” he mumbled. She nodded as she inched towards him slightly. Subconsciously, he reached his hand over and took a hold of the base of her neck. He brushed her hair away from her face in the process. Her eyes widened slightly as she met his eye. He was breathing almost heavily but she wasn’t sure.

There was a moment where she felt her body erupt in flames. He continued to stare towards her lips, craving the taste of them. She swallowed hard as she felt her breath stuck in her throat.

“Do you want me to stop?” he asked softly as he glided his thumb along her skin. He pressed his lips together as he scanned her features. She shook her head slightly almost instantly. He leaned towards her hovering his lips over hers. 

Slowly, she shut her eyes as her lips tingled with anticipation. He smirked before he leaned closer. His lips pressed against hers softly, almost as if asking for permission. His lips were soft and warm as he waited for her to part her lips; to grant him access. 

Parting her lips she took a hold of his shirt as he started to roll her onto her back. He adjusted the comforter on them, tossing it lower as a giggle fell from her lips. 

Every glide of his fingertips, created goosebumps all over her body as her chest felt heavy. Her breathing became more rapid as he rested both hands on either side of her. Her hands took a hold of his cheeks.

Slowly pulling his lips from hers, he started trailing his lips down her neck. He began to suck and bite the skin just below her ear. She stifled a sudden gasp of air as she tiled her head back as she ran her fingers through his hair. 

He pulled away, devouring her lips again. His hand started to toy with the hem of her tanktop.

“Oi, Jackaboy. You are needed in the basement, we’ve got a pool tourney starting!” Trevor shouted as he banged on the door. Jack instaly fell onto his back, staring towards the ceiling. His breathing heavy. “And can you find Y/N? She’s not in her room, we need another team,” he shouted as he banged his hand onto the door. 

“Yeah, yeah, I’ll find her. Just give me a second,” Jack shouted as he stood up from the bed. He shifted his gaze towards her, stifling a laugh. 

“Let’s go man,” Trevor shouted again.

“I’ll meet you down there, damn,” Jack said as me was looking into Y/N’s eye. She fought off a grin as she pulled her knees to her chest. Trevor banged on the door before he wandered away. 

Jack jogged around the bed to meet her on her side of the bed. Hovering over her, he took a hold of her cheek. “We got a few minutes of me searching for you, we could uh-” he trailed off as he scanned her features. She pursed her lips forward as she tilted her head back against the headboard. Leaning towards her, he delicately pressed his lips against hers. 

“Let’s go,” she mumbled against his lips. He pulled away, pouting before he stood up from the bed. Looking down towards her, he stepped back. 

“Lead the way,” he muttered pointing towards the door. She smiled as she slid off the bed. He bit his bottom lip as his eyes trailed her frame.

She peeked her head out of the bedroom to see no one in sight and they both started down the hallways towards the staircase towards the basement. Before they started down the steps, she turned around to meet his eye. “Don’t look at me,” she let out barely above a whisper.

“I can’t look at you?” he asked while meeting her gaze. 

“Don’t look at me like that,” she muttered. He smirked as she started walking down the steps. 

The rest of the evening ended with a tremendous victory for Luke and Quinn. They wouldn’t stop bragging at how much better they were than everyone else. It was obnoxious but regardless the evening was fun.

At first John and Hanah slipped away to their room. It was soon followed by Trevor and Cole. Quinn, Luke, Jack, and Y/N were the only ones left. Y/N was starting to fall asleep on the beanbag. Quinn chuckled as he rolled his eyes playfully. 

“Y/N, maybe you should head up to bed,” Quinn offered. Her eyes shot open as she shook her head slightly. The boys shared glances before Quinn and Luke shot up from their seats. “We’re gonna head up too,” Quinn muttered as he shifted his gaze to Jack, smirking slightly.

Jack waved the brothers off as he stood up from the beanbag. He stood above her, he glanced back towards his brothers who were already half up the stairs. He held out his hand towards her. She smiled towards him as she gladly took it.

He guided her towards the stairs, their hands still interlocked. They climbed up the stairs and Jack kept looking back and forth to check and see if any of their friends were around them.

He continued to guide her towards his bedroom, walking past her room. Delicately, he unlocked the door and guided her inside. She smiled towards him as she watched him locked the door behind them. He stood in front of her, meeting her gaze. 

“So where we we?” he asked as he delicately took a hold of her waist. She smirked as she rested her hands onto his chest. “Come ‘ere,” he mumbled as he pulled her towards him, kissing her softly. She giggled against his lips as she glided her hands from his chest towards the base of his neck.