#Luke Hughes story

[hockeylovee12]

Just A Pawn-Luke Hughes

Chapter Three

Summary: Once again Luke’s roommates express worry over his behavior, Luke shuts them down it isn’t until Luke gets a surprised visit that things start to turn around.

Warnings: mention of drug use, overprotective brothers, mentions of being used, implied sexual content

—————————————————

Luke sat on the couch in the living room of his shared house, his roommates and teammates surrounding him. Dylan Duke, Mackie Samoskevich, Ethan Edwards, and Mark Estapa exchanged concerned looks as they glanced at Luke. 

A few weeks had passed since they expressed concern over him and Remi, and instead of listening to them Luke had only continued seeing Remi, and they continued growing increasingly worried about his reckless behavior. 

Dylan cleared his throat, breaking the tense silence in the room. "Luke," he began cautiously, "we need to talk." Luke looked up from his phone, annoyance etched on his face.

“What now? Can't you guys just leave me alone?"

Mackie let out a sigh and took a seat next to Luke. "Look, man, we're your friends. We're just worried about you."

Ethan chimed in, his voice laced with concern. "We know you came home high last night, Luke. That's not like you."

Luke's eyes narrowed as he crossed his arms defensively. "So what? What's it to you guys?"

Mark spoke up softly. "We care about you, Luke. We don't want to see you go down a destructive path." Luke just rolled his eyes.

Knowing this conversation was going nowhere productive Dylan pulled out his phone and dialed Quinn's number.

After a brief conversation with Quinn over the phone, he hung up and looked at Luke. "I just called Quinn," Dylan said. "He wants to talk to you."

Luke scoffed and rolled his eyes. "Oh great! More of Quinn's infamous lectures! How exciting!" Just then, Luke's phone buzzed with a new text message from Quinn: 'We gotta talk, pick up the phone.' Luke clenched his jaw tightly as he read the text message aloud mockingly to his friends.

Dylan shook his head disapprovingly. "You can't keep avoiding this conversation with Quinn forever, Luke. He's just trying to help."

Luke's frustration boiled over as he stood up abruptly. "You guys are just a bunch of tattletales! I don't need any help, not from you and especially not from Quinn!" Luke lashed out, before storming upstairs.

———————————————————————

Over the next few days Luke's attitude had not changed. Luke still refused to listen to his friends, which resulted in him doing the exact same things he had done before.

One night, Luke found himself in his room, with Remi lounged on his bed, blowing smoke rings into the air. They laughed, talked and kissed, getting lost in their own little world.

Meanwhile, outside Luke's room, Dylan Duke noticed Quinn's arrival. Quinn, being in town for a game against the Detroit Red Wings, had taken this opportunity to confront Luke face-to-face.

Dylan opened the front door for Quinn and quietly gestured towards the staircase which led to Luke's room.

Quinn walked up the staircase and pushed open Luke's door without hesitation. His eyes widened as he took in the sight before him - Luke and Remi, tangled together on the bed in various stages of undress.

“Quinn!" Luke jumped up, scrambling to grab his shirt from the floor. Remi flushed red and attempted to cover herself with a blanket. Quinn's face turned a shade darker as he tried to process what he had just witnessed.

“What is going on here?" he finally managed to say through gritted teeth.

Luke stammered for an explanation. "I...uh...we were just..."

“I can see what you were doing," Quinn interrupted with a mix of anger and disappointment.

Quinn shook his head and turned to the door, “Get dressed and get out of here. Luke we gotta talk” Quinn said, walking out the door to give the two teenagers some privacy.

A few moments later, Luke and Remi were fully dressed and appeared in the hallway. Quinn stood there with his arms crossed, looking at the two of them with a scowl on his face. Remi said a quick goodbye to Luke and walked down the stairs. 

“So Luke, how you been?” Quinn asked sarcasm and anger mixed into his voice.

Luke flushed as he looked at Quinn, not sure what to say, instead staying silent.

“Don’t you have a game or something tonight?” Luke finally said.

Quinn shook his head, “It’s tomorrow night.”

Luke let out a sigh and an eye roll before walking back into his room, leaving the door open expecting Quinn to follow him. Quinn did, but stood at the door for a while before walking in, he noticed the bong sitting on Luke’s desk and a small baggie with a substance in it.

Quinn let a little smirk of disbelief come across his face, “You stop getting drug tested is that it? Or did you just think you could get away with it?” Luke looked down at the floor, before making eye contact again with Quinn.

“Come on I know you’ve smoked before” Luke accuses

“Once or twice and never during a season.” Quinn rebutled. Quinn stepped in the room, and closed the door behind him, before pulling out Luke’s desk chair and taking a seat.

“So let’s talk,” Quinn says. Luke lets out a loud dramatic groan causing Quinn to chuckle.

“you’ve been avoiding it for a while now. You’re dodging both me and Jack's calls and you haven't texted me in a while. Lukey you’re my little brother and I care about you alright” Quinn begins anger no longer lingering in his voice but rather genuine concern.

“I understand you’re growing up and Jack and I we’re overprotective of you, but please don’t go wrecking your life just to prove a point. We’ll work on the overprotective stuff if you quit this crap. No more weed, no more skipping class, get back on track Luke. Otherwise we can just keep going round and round until you get it through your thick head and who knows how bad things would have to get first” Quinn continues.

Luke looks at his brother, and for the first time in a month he doesn't feel angry, instead he starts to feel a pang of guilt washing over him, the weed, skipping class, slacking off in practice all of it made him feel embarrassed.

He knows that’s not who he is and if he’s being honest he didn’t even like the weed that much.

The only thing he didn’t feel a sense of regret for was meeting Remi, despite all of the bad things that came with it, a lot of good things came with it as well.

Remi didn’t see Luke as Jack and Quinn Hughes' brother, or a 4th overall pick with so much to prove, Remi saw Luke as Luke, even without the drugs and the sneaking around the moments they had together, showed Luke a sense of adventure he never experienced before, she showed him a new kind of freedom.

Luke takes a deep breath and looks at Quinn. “You’re right, Quinn I fucked up and bad I gotta get myself back on track, and I will no more weed, no more skipping class, I’m gonna talk to my coach, I gotta apologize to my friends and and you and Jack. I’m sorry,” Luke says sincerely.

A feeling of relief washes over Quinn. Quinn stands up and walks over to Luke, putting his arms around him and gives Luke a hug, and says “About time,” Luke let out a slight laugh.

Before needing to head back to his hotel Quinn offered to take Luke out to lunch, Luke happily accepted. For the first time in a month Luke felt like he was back in control of his life. 

———————————————————————

Over the next week Luke began to do damage control. He had stopped smoking completely, starting getting back into a routine, going to every one of his classes, apologized to his teammates, and coaches and made up with Jack and Quinn.

The only habit Luke has not yet managed to kick was his relationship with Remi. He still hung out with her a lot, although Luke was trying to be more cautious about when and how they spend time together.

Luke was not smoking with her anymore nor skipping class to see her.

It was almost like a healthy relationship.

Until later in the week after a long day of classes, when Luke was relaxing and got a facetime request from Jack and Quinn. Luke happily answered the call on his laptop propping it up on a pillow so his brothers could see him. 

“Hey guys!” Luke greeted his brothers 

"Hey little bro," Jack said with a grin. 

Jack and Quinn talked to Luke about how proud they were of him for getting his life back on track.

Luke offered a small smile, grateful for their support. "Thanks guys. It means a lot coming from both of you."

Jack's grin turned into a frown as he continued, more serious this time. "But we still have one question: what are you doing with Remi? Why are you still with her?"

Luke's smile faltered as he tried to find words that wouldn't betray too much about his true feelings for Remi. "I mean...at first...yeah, I was just using her to piss you guys off," Luke admitted hesitantly.

Unknown to him, Remi had quietly made her way up the stairs and stood just outside his room, listening intently to every word.

Hearing what Luke said she couldn’t help but feel used.

Without a second thought, Remi hastily turned around and rushed down the stairs and out the front door.

Luke heard the sound of a slamming door echoing through the house.

He furrowed his brows in confusion and excused himself, thinking he was alone in the house.

He rushed downstairs, hoping to find out what had caused the commotion.

As he reached the bottom of the stairs, his eyes met Mackie Samoskevich's concerned gaze.

“Hey Mackie," Luke said quickly. "What was that noise?"

Mackie looked up from his phone and shrugged. "Remi came to surprise you, man. She looked pretty upset when she ran out."

Luke's heart sank as realization dawned on him. Remi must have heard everything he said about her.

Without hesitation, Luke bolted out of the house and onto the porch, scanning the surroundings for any sign of Remi.

His heart pounded in anticipation as he spotted her about to cross the street in a hurry. "Remi!" he called out desperately, running after her with determination in his eyes.

She turned slightly but didn't stop walking. 

“Remi! Stop please!” Luke begged rushing towards her

Luke caught up with her just before she made it across the street and grabbed her arm gently to make her face him.

"Remi, please listen to me," Luke pleaded, his voice filled with regret.

Tears welled up in Remi's eyes as she looked at him with hurt and anger cutting through her voice. “You used me!”

“Remi-” Luke started in an attempt to apologize, but she cut him off.

“You used me as a decoy to piss off your brothers! Well, Congratulations. You succeeded,” Remi snapped, 

"No...it wasn't like that," Luke insisted urgently, his grip tightening slightly on her arm.

But Remi jerked her arm away and backed up, shaking her head. "No, I’m done. I can’t believe you used me as some sorta fucking pawn. Don’t ever speak to me again"

A/N- I hope you enjoyed this series! I promise not all of my stories have overprotective brothers and sad endings even if my last two did lol. Feel free to reach out and give me some feedback please be nice though or ask me any questions! <3

All images are from Pinterest

[those-who-stay]

mark estapa instagram story, frozen four 2022

[puckinghischier]

angry luke brings something out of me i'm not gonna lie

i feel like we don’t see him show emotion like that often, so when he does it’s like we all just stop and go “oooooo”

[itsjusthockey]

45 Days Later - Jack Hughes

Summer Series Open Now

Here is the official beginning of the Summer Lakehouse Series.

Send in requests

I’m ready to rumble.

w.c: 1,571 (dont steal my work)(credit to gif maker)

Part 1

You slightly want to kill someone when you awake to your iPhone ringing incessantly. It's early. Way too early. Too early even for your very specific set of alarms.

Groggily, you sigh, accepting defeat and fumbling around for the device on your bedside table, cursing under your breath when you see who has woken you up much earlier than needed.

“What?” You groan, rubbing your eyes to chase away some sleep as you answer the FaceTime call.

“Hello to you too, sunshine,” Jack smirks at your screen, obviously incredibly pleased with himself.

You let out an exasperated sigh, looking at the time. "It’s 4:30, Jack. What do you want?”

Jack is practically beaming as you continue to squint at your phone's brightness.

“I couldn’t sleep, so I decided that if I’m awake, you’re awake.”

“Well, mission accomplished," you hiss at him, sitting up in bed, stretching your arms. "I'm awake now. Happy?"

“Ecstatic," Jack retorts, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "How are you even able to sleep? I’ve been up since Tuesday counting down every second.”

You roll your eyes playfully, knowing exactly how Jack gets when he's excited. "Well, some of us need our beauty sleep before we have to face the public.”

Jacks snorts. "Oh, believe me, baby, you don't need any more beauty sleep. You're already perfect."

You roll your eyes as far back as possible.

“Flattery will get you nowhere, Hughes.”

He lets out another laugh as you crack a few muscles.

“Well, now you’re already awake-“

“Thanks to you.”

“You can get up and get ready because you have a very important flight to catch in 2 hours.”

You glance at the clock again, realizing that trying to sleep again is pointless, and now, despite the early hour, a surge of excitement fills your veins as the reality of the day ahead sinks in.

“You’re so annoying,” you say, sliding out of bed. “But I suppose it would be tragic if I did miss this flight“

You see Jacks's face drop a bit. “Don’t even joke. I think I’d die.”

You can't help but smile at his eagerness.

“J, it’s been forty-five days. You can wait a few more hours.”

He rapidly shakes his head. “Really don’t think I can“

The words melt your heart, and you can't help but feel another surge of excitement. "I miss you too, loser. Five hours, give or take.”

With a little more back and forth, you finally hang up the phone, the grogginess finally leaving you, and start your morning routine. Though you’re a little upset about the early wake-up, now you don’t have to rush, which is slightly lovely.

You shower, get dressed in comfortable travel attire, and double-check your bags to ensure you haven't forgotten anything important. As you go through the motions, your mind can't help but wander to the fact that in just a few hours, you’ll be at the lake house. The thought of surfing on the water, laughter-filled late bonfires, and being with your boyfriend again makes you giddy.

Time moves quickly, and soon enough, you're ready. You grab your suitcase and head out the door, heading to the airport and praying the day runs smoothly.

The airport is busy, but you navigate through check-in and security easily, and the excitement in the air is contagious. You find yourself grinning as you walk to your gate, and the many hours of separation are dwindling. Soon, you'll be reunited with the idiot you’ve missed so dearly.

You get coffee, and some snacks, find a comfortable spot, and less than an hour later, you board the plane. You find your seat, shoot off a text to Jack and turn on your shared playlist.

Minutes later, you’re in the clouds, and you feel yourself at peace for the first time in a while, so with a slight smile, you close your eyes and try to sleep just a little more.

————————————-

A shortish flight later, you barely step ten feet in the Delta terminal baggage claim when you get a text that immediately sends you into panic mode.

-I see u-

You snap your head to survey your surroundings and try your best to prepare yourself for the attack, but you know it’s futile. You’re proven correct when, within five seconds of seeing the text, you’re thrown to the ground, a hand coming to cover your mouth to silence your scream.

To onlookers, this may seem like a kidnapping attempt but not one single person even bats an eye as you’re wrestled to the dirty airport floor.

Jack makes quick work of laying his entire body weight on you and crushing you between his body and the floor. You struggle to breathe between your laughter and all the extra weight that is being dramatically laid out on your chest.

You both stay this way for a second and finally, you smack him in an attempt to push him off of you. He does, jumping up quickly and pulling you into a hug that crushes every bone in your body.

When he lets you pull back a little bit, you finally take in his face for the first time in over a month. His eyes are filled with happiness, and he smiles so hard you’re afraid his face might break open. You notice he hasn’t shaved; growing slightly along his jaw and upper lip is a little hair that has you immediately wanting to pull out the razor you know is somewhere in your checked bag.

“God, you hate it, don’t you?”

You realize you must have been staring a bit too long at his face, and laughter bursts from your lips.

“No, it’s um,” you pause, a teasing smile crossing your face. “It’s fine.”

Jack lets out a groan, pulling you into him and dropping his head into your neck.

“It’s coming off immediately,” he mutters, the light vibrations sending a chill down your spine.

After several seconds of sulking, Jack pulls back, looking deeply into your eyes. He doesn’t say anything, but his soft smile somehow grows even more, and he leans back to kiss your forehead.

You try your best not to melt, pulling him back for another hug. His grip is so tight, as if he thinks you might slip away.

You stay there for another few moments before he pulls back slightly, and both of his hands remove themselves from your waist and go to cup your face. He stares hard for a second, his beautiful green eyes scanning over every inch of your face until they stop at your lips, and after a moment, he connects yours together, and fireworks explode in your entire body.

You kiss him for a few seconds, then remember you’re in the middle of a crowded airport and pull back from his firm embrace. When you part, you see he’s got a slight smirk on his face that makes your heart stutter. He always is a little cocky and a whole lot clingy when you first see each other after a long time apart, but you love the combination. 

With a playful grin, you nudge Jack's side and motion toward the exit. "Come on, Romeo. Let's get out of here, and let's save the rest of this reunion for the privacy of the Lakehouse, shall we?"

Jack chuckles and nods, intertwining his fingers with yours. Together, you find your checked bag and make your way through the bustling airport. You let him lead you to his parked car, and he opens the door for you, and you slide into the passenger seat of the Range Rover.

As Jack pulls out of the airport parking lot, you lean back in your seat, taking in the familiar sights of the city passing by. His hand rests on your thigh, and the drive to the lake house is filled with laughter, catching up on missed stories and stealing stolen glances at each other whenever the traffic allows.

You drive for a while, but you soon turn onto the familiar road leading to the Lakehouse. You’re practically bouncing in your seat when Jack pulls into the driveway, and before the car has even come to a complete stop, you're unbuckling your seatbelt when Jack quickly grabs you before you can rush out.

“Wait, (Y/N).”

You meet his eyes, and you can see all the love and longing in the world in his gaze. Without a word, he captures your lips in a tender, passionate kiss, sealing the moment and igniting a fire that had been smoldering within both of you during the time apart.

As you break the kiss, you can't help but smile, knowing that this is just the beginning of an epic summer. You feel yourself leaning back in, and your lips barely brush when what you assume is a ball hits the windshield in front of you. You both are a little shocked, but a smile breaks on your face when you see Luke standing about ten feet away, with his arms crossed, looking less than impressed.

“You guys wanna stop making out and come see everyone who’s been waiting just as long as Jack to see you?”

You laugh at his annoyed tone and move to get out of the car when Jack grabs you once more, stealing a quick peck and whispering in your ear.

“We’ll finish this later.”

[slaymiedrysdale]

The other day I was grounded (yes at my big age) and I decided to clean my closet and I found this picture on the floor of my closet.

[violetswritingg]

Why is Am I okay? By Megan Moroney so Luke coded?

[wqxianvents]

bingo!

// might be spoilerish! mentions scenes from chapter 2 (02-04)

finally playing luke’s personal story today since i caught up to main yesterday! thought it’d be nice to do luke’s since he’s the ML in the next main story update and i’ve been meaning to get to his anyway.

i absolutely love his story so far 😭 he has taken marius’s crown of having the funniest PS. (episode 4 of artem’s will always be superior tho LMAO)

i adore Aaron. if they made the escape room for reasons that i think, that is the funniest shit ever. the clocks took me out and luke’s face 😭 also “future” being on the envelope, like it probably is bc it’s supposed to be a “futuristic” (or something) type of escape room but luke in a room abt time and the word future just made me ugly cry & laugh the most 💀🤭

also seeing bits and pieces of the past has me in shambles. one thing i LOVE abt his PS is it bringing out my angsty loving self. if you put fluff or angst/no comfort in front of me, i’d pick fluff in a heartbeat but if you put fluff or luke pearce angst/fluff/slow burn/open ending/possible happy ending infront of me, guess what i’m grabbing?

that’s right, the fluf- i’m kidding. it’s just so good like angst be making me giggle thru my tears 😭 like i’m really eating his suffering up and i’m sorry but ily 🥹

he’s so cute tho, like playing his story is reminding me why i loved him in the beginning and how my heart will always have a safe space for him 🫂

short anniversary talk under ->

OH! how is saving for second anniversary going? 🤭 i’m debating if i should pull for 1st anni cards (artem & luke! sorry vyn) or just keep saving… might do the latter. i think depending on how 3rd anni cards are looking, next year i’ll try and pull for the first cards but i wanna try and get all the second cards. IF NOT ALL I NEED MARIUS, LUKE AND VYN 😭😭 first and second anniversary wanters will be havers!! (third too!!) my saving is getting there…

make sure you play personal stories and cards to get extra s-chips! do your dailies and weeklies too :) good luck everyone 💜

[hockeylovee12]

Crossing Enemy Lines

Chapter Two

Luke Hughes x Original Character

Warnings: Cussing

A/N This chapter was updated on 04/11 to replace the photo and then improve the text. The story line remains there's just a few minor adds.

November 11th, 2023

The mid-morning sun filters through the curtains in Luke’s room, casting a gentle glow across his face, as he slowly stirs awake. 

His eyes flutter open and he immediately feels the dull throb of a slight headache. 

With a groan, Luke rolls over and buries his face into the soft pillow. He silently thanks the hockey gods that his coach-even if it was done reluctantly-gave the team the day off, allowing him to nurse his minor hangover in peace. 

Fumbling around on the nightstand, his long fingers finally find his phone. He squints at the screen, taking a moment to adjust to the brightness as he swipes through his notifications. 

A text from his brother Quinn catches his eye: Tough game last night bud. 

Luke sighs, remembering the bitter taste of defeat, his team suffered last night at the hands of their fucking rivals the Rangers. 

He makes a mental note to call Quinn later, and check in on how his game went, knowing the Vancouver Canucks played the reigning cup champs last night, but having no clue how it went. 

The next message is from his mom: Hi sweetie, Dad and I are so excited to see you and Jacky this weekend! How’s everything going? 

A small smile tugs at the corner of his mouth, as he types out a response to his mom indicating his excitement to see her too, before hitting send and returning to check the rest of his notifications. 

As he scrolls a text from an unknown number appears on his screen: Hey it’s Jordan. I had a great time tonight, let’s do it again :) 

Luke’s heart skips a beat as he reads through the message, and a flutter of excitement courses through his veins. Memories of the previous night flood his mind-the laughter, the easy conversation and the undeniable spark he felt between him and Jordan. His smile widens as he types out the response: I’d like that. 

Just as he hits the send button, the door to his room swings open and Jack strolls in, uninvited of course-a habit Luke has had to become reacquainted with since joining the Devils, and moving in with Jack. 

“What’s got you smiling so early in the morning?” Jack asks, his voice equal parts teasing and curious. 

Luke quickly locks his phone, trying to play it cool “Don’t worry about it,” he mumbles

But Jack, ever the perceptive older brother, narrows his eyes and in one swift motion snatches the phone from Luke’s grasp, ignoring his younger brother’s protests, as he types in his password. 

“Lets see what we have here” he says, a mischievous glint in his eye as he reads the text from Jordan “Ah is this the girl from last night?” 

Luke swiftly stands up and lunges towards Jack trying to grab his phone, but Jack holds him at arm's length. 

“Fine, yes, now give me back my phone” Luke grumbles, his cheeks flushing with a mixture of embarrassment and annoyance. 

“Not so fast,” Jack grins, his eyes still glued to the screen “You like her, don’t you?” 

Luke hesitates, his mind racing. He likes Jordan, he likes Jordan a lot. There’s something about her-about her laugh, about her smile, about her energy, the way she carries herself. As he ponders for a response, his phone beeps, signaling a new message. 

“She’s asking when you’re free” Jack informs him, his eyes scanning the screen. 

“Today?” Jack says, his fingers flying across the keyboard, to type out the very question he said aloud. 

“Wait. Jack don’t-” Luke tries to warn, but it’s too late. Jack hits send, a triumphant grin on his face. 

Luke finally manages to snatch his phone back, his heart pounding as he stares at the screen. 

Three little dots appear, then disappear, and for a moment Luke forgets how to breathe. 

Then, a white bubble pops up, with a single word that sends his pulse racing: Sure.

Jack leans over Luke’s shoulder, a smirk playing on his lips “You’re welcome” he says his tone equal parts smug and supportive. 

Luke playfully shoves Jack away, a genuine smile spreading across his face “Get out” he laughs, guiding his brother towards the door. 

As the door clicks shut behind Jack, Luke leans against it, his eyes fixated on his phone, as his smile widens. 

He quickly types out a message, asking where they should meet, and Jordan’s response comes almost immediately suggesting a cafe in New York City. 

Luke responds: Sounds good. How’s 1pm? 

Jordan replies: Works for me! I’ll send you the address. See you soon. 

With a grin Luke types out Looking forward to it, and sets his phone down, a flutter of anticipation rises in his chest as he thinks about seeing her again. 

He takes a deep breath, then pushes off the door, making his way to the bathroom, to start getting ready. 

 *****

Luke’s breath forms a cloud in the crisp New York air as he pushes open the door to the quaint cafe nestled on the corner of a bustling street. 

His heart races with anticipation as he scans the room for Jordan. 

He spots her at a table, her face lighting up with a smile, as she waves him over. 

“Hey” Luke greets her sliding into the seat across from her 

“Hi,” Jordan replies, her eyes sparkling. 

They order their drinks- an ice tea for Luke and a matcha latte for Jordan, before easily falling into a conversation.

“Oh before I forget,” Jordan says, reaching into her bag. She pulls out a well-worn paperback and hands it to Luke. “You asked me to recommend something for you and uh this is one of my all time favorites” She explains

Luke smiles, turning the book over in his hand, and looks at the title The Great Gatsby

“Thank you Jordan, that was really kind” Luke expresses 

“Well, you did promise me you’d actually read it” Jordan teases her eyes twinkling with mirth. 

Luke chuckles setting the book down on the table, “I’ll dive into it as soon as I can”

 They continue chatting, swapping stories and laughing at each other's jokes. They delve into various topics from their favorite movies, to their most embarrassing childhood memories.

"...and then I tripped, face-first into the cake," Jordan recounts, laughing at the memory. "My mom was horrified, but my brother couldn't stop laughing."

Luke chuckles, imagining a young Jordan covered in frosting. "Siblings, they never let you live anything down, do they?"

“Definitely not, do you have siblings?” 

“Ya I uh, I got two older brothers” Luke tells 

“Baby of the family?” Jordan teases. 

“Something like that” He jokes

“Don’t worry I’m the baby of mine too” She says, eliciting a laugh from Luke. 

They continue their conversation, shifting the topic to their favorite places. 

At one point their hands brush against one anothers on the table sending a jolt of electricity through both their bodies. Luke looks up, his eyes meeting Jordan’s, and for a moment the rest of the world fades away. 

They lean in, drawn to each other like magnets. Luke’s heart races as he inches closer, his gaze dropping to Jordan’s lips. 

And just as they're on the brink of sharing what would most likely be a magical kiss, the loud buzzing sound of a notification on Luke’s phone startles them both. 

Instinctively, he turns the phone face up, his brightness fully illuminated, and as he clears the random alert, his lock screen comes into view-a picture of him in his New Jersey Devils uniform, standing proudly on the ice. 

Jordan’s eyes widen as she catches a glimpse of the image, and her heart skips a beat. 

Luke notices her reaction and realizes his mistake. 

"Alright, um, I guess you kinda caught me," he admits sheepishly. "I'm not a student. I, uh, I play in the NHL."

Jordan is silent for a moment, processing this newfound information. Luke laughs nervously, trying to lighten the mood. "You know, most girls think it's pretty cool. Did you have a terrible experience with a hockey player or something? Promise not all of us are the same."

Jordan hesitates before speaking. "You play for the Devils?"

"Yeah," Luke confirms, studying her reaction.

"Don't tell me you hate hockey?" He somewhat jokes, hoping to god and beyond her answer isn't yes cus that's the biggest deal breaker in the world. 

Jordan hesitates, her expression unreadable. "No I um, I don't hate. My, uh, my brother plays," she reveals, her voice soft.

Luke's brows furrowed in confusion. "Oh, cool. In the NHL?"

"Yeah," Jordan sighs.

"Who's your brother?" Luke asks, curiosity getting the better of him.

"Jacob Trouba."

Luke's jaw drops, his eyes widening in shock. "Your brother is Jacob Trouba?!" he exclaims, a hint of anger creeping into his voice.

"Guilty," Jordan half-jokes, trying to diffuse the tension.

Luke runs his hands through his hair, muttering under his breath, "What the fuck."

Jordan bristles at his reaction. "Hey, it doesn't really change anything."

"Are you kidding me?" Luke scoffs, his frustration mounting.

"What?" Jordan challenges, her own irritation rising to the surface.

"Your brother is the captain of the Rangers, and I'm a Devil," Luke points out, as if it should be obvious.

Jordan laughs, but there's an edge to it. "So?"

"So? What do you mean, 'so'?" Luke asks incredulously.

"What does it change?" Jordan counters, her eyes narrowing.

"Wh-what? Everything!" Luke sputters. "Why didn't you mention this?"

Jordan's face hardens. "Are you kidding me? I didn't mention my last name because I had no fucking clue you gave a shit about hockey. In case you forgot, you told me you were a college student. Failed to mention you're actually in the fucking NHL."

Luke tries to defend himself. "Yeah, but that's different. I didn't tell you cus I figured you be some kinda fan girl, which by the way would be a hell of a lot better than you being the sister to the captain of my biggest rival" 

Jordan lets out a harsh laugh, "Rival? Oh My God! Are you serious? Do you hear how ridiculous you sound?" 

"It's not ridiculous" Luke claims

Jordan scoffs "You're right it's not ridiculous, it's just fucking comical" She stands abruptly, grabbing her purse "Grow the fuck up, Luke" 

With that, she turns on her heel and storms out of the cafe, leaving Luke sitting there, stunned. 

The copy of The Great Gatsby still lies on the table, a painful reminder of the moment that had slipped away.

With a heavy sigh, Luke stands, tossing a few bills on the table to cover their drinks and picks up the book, scoffing at the irony of it all, as he walks towards the exit of the cafe, and steps back out onto the bustling streets of New York, a scowl plastered across his face, at the unfortunate turn of events. 

 *****

Luke returns to his and Jack’s apartment, his mood sour and his thoughts consumed by the disastrous end to his date with Jordan.

As he enters the living room, he finds Jack sitting on the couch, his phone propped up in front of him. The familiar voice of Quinn filters through the speaker, indicating that they're in the middle of a FaceTime call.

Jack looks up, a smirk playing on his lips. "Hey, Lukey! How'd the date go?"

"Shut up," Luke grumbles, plopping down on the couch beside Jack.

Quinn's voice chimes in, concern evident in his tone. "What's wrong, Luke?"

Luke sighs, running a hand through his hair. "Just didn't go well," he says vaguely, not wanting to delve into the details.

Jack and Quinn exchange a glance through the screen, their brotherly instincts kicking in. "Come on, man," Jack prods gently. "Talk to us."

Luke shakes his head, his gaze fixed on the floor. "It's not gonna work out, that's all."

"Why not?" Quinn asks, his brow furrowed.

"Just... not going to," Luke responds, his tone indicating that he doesn't want to discuss it further.

Jack and Quinn sense Luke's reluctance and decide not to push the matter. "Alright, bud," Quinn says, his voice sympathetic. "I'm sorry, but maybe things will still work out?"

"Not gonna happen" Luke mumbles, anger creeping into his voice. 

Jack leans back on the couch, trying to lighten the mood. "It's probably for the best, come on, man. You don't gotta be hung up on some random girl when we're trying to win a Cup."

Luke nods, forcing a small smile. "Yeah." He stands up, stretching his arms above his head. "I'm gonna go lay down for a bit."

"Okay," Jack says, understanding in his eyes. "We'll be here if you need us."

Luke makes his way to his room, and decides to take a shower, hoping the hot water will help clear his head.

As the steam fills the bathroom, Luke's internal monologue takes over. He knows he doesn't need to be in a relationship, but the idea of having someone by his side isn't entirely unappealing.

His thoughts drift to his past relationships, or lack thereof. It seems like everyone around him has someone - Quinn with his girlfriend, Jack with his rotating roster of dates. But for Luke, finding a genuine connection has always been a struggle.

The last real relationship he had was back at Michigan, and even that ended in heartbreak when he discovered the girl was only using him for his family name. But now, with Jordan, he thought he'd finally found something real, something special and the fucking irony that for once it wasn’t his last name that ruined something, it’s stupid, it’s fucking stupid. 

As he steps out of the shower and changes into comfortable clothes, Luke can't shake the feeling of loneliness that settles in his chest. He lies in bed, scrolling aimlessly through his phone, trying to distract himself from the ache in his heart. 

It doesn’t work, he tosses his phone to the side, staring at the paperback book he threw on his nightstand. 

Suddenly, his phone buzzes with a notification. For a brief, hopeful moment, he thinks it might be Jordan, reaching out to apologize or explain. But instead, it's a message in the Devils' group chat,

Reminder practice tomorrow 9 AM. 

Luke groans, his disappointment palpable as he tosses his phone onto the nightstand and buries his head in his pillow.

A/N Part 3 coming soon

[those-who-stay]

luke hughes instagram story 10.14.22

[zebraszegras]

Introduction

Young Shelly Hennig as Allison 'Allie' Brannon

The girl on the team

"Put your hands on me again and next time I won't be so nice"

Matt Cornett as Levi Brannon

The twin brother

"My sister is a menace. Trust me I would know"

Mark Estapa as Himself

The new bestfriend

"She seems nice to me. I don't see the problem"

Ethan Edwards as Himself

The sassy one

"Sorry I wasn't aware I was required to give a fuck"

Luke Hughes as Himself

The hairless cat

"Oh leave me alone you piece of shit"

Dylan Duke as Himself

The happy guy

"I think she's very nice actually"

Evan Peters as Harvey Nelson

The bully

"Not my fault shes a weak little girl"

The rest of the Umich boys as Themselves

Somehow they're still alive

"She's about to beat his ass"

[itsjusthockey]

Nights Like These - Jack Hughes

Summer Series Open Now

And another one...enjoy

Send in your requests, I'm super excited

w.c: 1,266

“We’ll be ready in a minute,” you hear Jack yell from the bedroom as you frantically apply a thick layer of mascara. “(Y/N) is just taking forever.”

You can hear his smirk through the last part, and you’re really hoping that he can see you flick him off through the doorway.

“Sorry, I was informed we were going out thirty seconds ago.” You throw on some deodorant as Jack walks into the bathroom shirtless.

“Don’t be annoyed at me,” he moves behind you in the mirror, resting his chin on your shoulder. “I was planning on having an eventful night in. You’re the one who said you’d love to accompany my brothers to the bar.”

You roll your eyes because he’s right, but who could blame you? When Quinn had said it’d been a while since you’d had a drink together, you’d practically run up the stairs to get ready. It isn’t very often that the Hughes brothers express love, and that was Quinn’s way of telling you he’s missed you dearly.

“I know. I’m sorry I wrecked your evening plans; one of these nights, we’ll be alone.”

A smile tugs on Jack's face, and he plants a quick kiss on your shoulder and smacks your ass as he leaves the bathroom, presumably to find some clothing.

A few minutes later, with a final touch of lipgloss and some sprits of perfume, you deem yourself ready to face the Michigan Summer crowd. You step out of the bathroom, and Jack catches your attention and does a little spin.

“This fine?” He gestures to his outfit.

You nod, throwing on your sneakers and grabbing one of Jack's sweatshirts for later. Soon, the two of you make your way downstairs, where Quinn and Luke are sitting on the couch watching something.

Quinn is the first to notice your presence, and his eyes widen in mock surprise. "About time. I’m surprised Jack actually managed to find someone who takes longer than him to get ready.

You scoff at the comment. “Well, Q, not all of us can be as naturally adorable as you are.”

Quinn rolls his eyes at your response, and the banter continues as you all head out to your favorite summer bar. When you get there, it’s pretty busy, but the night is still young. You manage to find a booth in a cozy corner, the perfect vantage point to observe the bar's vibrant energy.

“Everyone wants the usual?” Quinn asks, pulling out his card.

A chorus of yeses is heard, and he makes his way away from the table toward the bar. A few minutes later, he returns, drinks in hand, and you dive into everything you all have missed about each other's lives.

Less than half an hour later, the night takes a busy turn. The decently lively bar has become ridiculously crowded, and you’re overlooking the crowd wondering how the hell you’re going to make it to the bar.

“We need refills,” you shake your empty glass, eyeing the crowd. “but I’m not sure if we can wade through the masses.”

You scoot up a little bit to get a better vantage point, and once you do, you see a small opening in the sea of people leading to the bar.

“I see a path. It’s go time.”

You’re quick to slide out of the booth, Jack following behind. As you navigate through the crowded bar, carefully maneuvering between people, Jack's hand remains securely in your belt loop, ensuring he doesn't lose sight of you. Finally reaching the bar, your favorite waitress spots you and approaches with a warm smile.

“Another round?" she asks, her voice barely audible over the music and the noise.

You nod eagerly, handing her Jack's shiny black card; you playfully remark, "I love paying with your card. Makes me feel not poor."

Jack chuckles, leaning in to give you a quick peck on your pout. "You're not poor. You're just in college. Besides, what's mine is yours."

You playfully jab his ribs in response, savoring the feeling of being with him. The pretty waitress swiftly returns with your drinks, and after signing the bill and leaving a generous tip, you lead Jack back toward your cozy corner booth.

As you return to the table with the freshly replenished drinks, the wild energy of the bar surrounds you once again. The music seems to have gotten louder, and the crowd has grown even more lively. You finally settle back into your booth, Jack's arm wrapped securely around your shoulder, when you suddenly realize you must pee.

You lean towards your boyfriend's ear, “Let me free. I have to pee.”

He drops his arm, but before you can fully move, he interjects.

“I’ll come with.”

You nod, tell the others where you’re off to, and return to navigating through the crowded bar. When you reach the bathrooms, you almost groan when you see the line for the women’s stretches far beyond what you anticipated.

“Fuck, I have to pee so bad.” You complain.

You sigh again, accepting defeat, and get in the line, watching as your boyfriend steps into the men’s bathroom and reappears in front of you a second later.

“Go.”

He nods his head toward the men’s bathroom, standing protectively in front of the door, creating a barrier between you and anyone else. You shoot him a grateful smile and a quick peck on the cheek before slipping inside the bathroom.

You’re done a minute later, and you emerge from the bathroom feeling better than ever. As you exit, you find Jack waiting patiently, a small grin on his face.

“Mission accomplished?" he asks, offering you his arm.

“Mission accomplished," you confirm, linking your arm with his.

Together, you make your way back to the table where Quinn and Luke are both talking about something related to hockey. You’re the first to notice that the night has taken its toll, and everyone is starting to wind down.

After a minute of sitting, you all decide it's time to call it a night, having had your fill of laughter and drinks. The bar has become even more crowded, and the air is thick with a mix of music and voices, and you’re honestly sick of people. So, you bid farewell to the vibrant atmosphere, weaving your way through the crowd, and step out into the cool night.

Arm in arm, you and Jack make your way to the car, the others trailing behind. The drive home is filled with comfortable silence and the soft hum of the radio. As you arrive home, Jack parks the car, and you make your way inside, hand in hand.

Once you step through the door, Jack is quick to snake his arm around your waist.

“How about we ditch these losers and head upstairs.”

A smile tugs at the corners of your lips, and you nod in agreement. You both make your way to the bedroom and have a quick shower, much to Jack's dismay and soon you’re slipping under the bed's covers.

Once you’re in, Jack pulls you into him, and you settle yourself into his warm embrace. You stay that way for a while, and pretty soon, you realize you’re losing the battle to the sleep demons.

Jack, of course, has already lost and is already knocked out. You smile at his serene state, knowing he always sleeps better when you’re with him. You gently peck his nose, watching as it scrunches up a bit, and settle deeper into his hold. It’s been a long day, and now, you’ll sleep.

[captain-huggy-bear]

The Missing Puck

Pairing: Quinn Hughes x Fem!Reader

Warnings: Little hurt/comfort because Quinn isn't perfect, but he has good intentions and it's a fluffy end

Summary: It's the Hughes Bowl...and you're missing your usual warmup puck from Quinn. You think he's forgotten, he most definitely has not, but he didn't think this through. Fuck.

Notes: Sequel to The Collection

Totally happy to take requests/ideas/prompts at the moment in my ask box :)

Writing Masterlist

Another home game for Vancouver meant another puck ready and waiting for you fresh from the ice. Or it should have.

You were waiting glass side for the teams to come out for warmups, today the Canucks would go face to face with the Devils and like always you are both excited for Quinn to get to see his entire family and sad that at least one of the Hughes brothers has to lose tonight's game. You expect to see Quinn make a beeline for you like he always does with a puck to throw over the glass for you. When it doesn't come and he skates past you with a smile to go warm up you just assume he'll pick one up for you nearer the end of warm ups, not too bothered at first by the missing puck that should have already been in your hands. Even fans around you gave you a look, so familiar with the ritual that was Quinn Hughes giving his girl a puck.

When the puck fails to come at the end of warm ups, when you watch him skate off the ice at the end of warmups without passing you your puck, the puck he's given you every single day since the very first game you attended, you try to justify it as he's distracted. The Hughes' Bowl, as people called it, was a high stress time for Quinn, the desire to win competing with the desire for his brothers' to win, mixed with concern that either of his brothers might get hurt by his own teammates. It was natural for him to be a bit distracted, for him to forget. It was just a puck.

You try not to let it ruin your night, to not distract you from the game, but you can't help it. You just feel...sad, forgotten. Quinn has never forgotten to get you a puck. In the 135 games that you've watched, he has never forgotten to get you a puck. Even when it's an away game you can't come to he's always come back with a puck from each, a thought about you that he's had written on each, sometimes arriving back to the apartment with 6 or 7 pucks in tow.

You try your best to watch the game, cheering when either the Canucks and Quinn score or Jack or Luke do, you can't really help but support your boyfriend's brothers, even if you want Quinn to ultimately win the game. Still, your cheers are definitely lack lustre and there's a heavy feeling in your chest that just won't disappear.

Even the Canucks' win doesn't make the feeling disappear and you berate yourself all the way to locker rooms about it. it's so silly to be worked up over a puck of all things, you've got over a hundred of them, what's one less? It's not like he forgot your birthday or left you at an event, forgetting to take you home. It's silly that you feel so upset about something so...so unimportant, or that's what you tell yourself anyway.

Deep down you know it's not silly to be upset about it. This was a ritual, a special thing that the two of you had been doing long before you were official. He'd never forgotten to give you a puck before and the idea that there would be a gap, a game missing from your collection? A day missing from the story you'd been cataloguing in bits of vulcanised rubber? It wasn't silly to feel forgotten. It wasn't silly to be happy for Quinn's win while deep down feeling like he'd let you down.

He actually hates it. Watching the way your face falls when he simply skates past you with a smile during warmups, he hates the way you stay right up at the glass the entire time, biting your lip, like he might remember in a minute...As if he ever even forgot.

It's hard for him to focus on the game, to be perfectly honest, for the first time in a while he can't keep from searching for you in the crowd. He can't help but hate the glimpses he gets, the way you cheer half-heartedly after his goal, the way your shoulders are slumped. He feels like an asshole and maybe he could have planned this whole thing better? Maybe he should have given you two pucks rather than waiting, waiting, waiting to give you the one...he just hopes that you forgive him for the torture he's put you through and forgive him for being a complete and utter idiot about it.

He really didn't consider that by planning to give you the puck after the game you'd feel forgotten, he didn't consider that he'd always given you a puck at the start of warmups, never at the end, never after and certainly not after an entire game. Yeah, he was an asshole and he thinks he'll be lucky if you give him the answer he wants tonight. It makes anxiety buzz so hard in his stomach that he feels sick for most of the 2nd and 3rd periods.

He doesn't waste time getting off the ice once the game is through and he doesn't even get out of most of his gear in the locker room, just his skates, gloves and bucket. He's rushing as he picks up the puck he scored with that night, but tries to calm his shaking hands when their rookie, Sasson, passes him a metallic gold pen to write across the puck's surface. There's both a deep need to be quick, to find you as soon as possible, and a deep need to do this correctly, to take his time. Not write a scrawling mess across it that you won't even be able to read.

He almost walks out the locker room without the final piece to the whole thing, but it's Kiefer that tosses him the little black box from his things before he embarrasses himself even more than he already has that night. He barely hears the good lucks from the rest of the guys, so focused on what he needs to do and trying to salvage this whole situation.

You look so small in the hallway outside, arms crossed over your chest as if you're trying to protect yourself from the world, eyes downcast to the ground. You feel small, a heavy weight of disappointment on your shoulders that doesn't ease much when you hear footsteps across the carpet and look up to see Quinn rushing towards you.

He's still in most of his gear, hair tousled and messy, moistened from sweat. His cheeks are flushed red and he's practically stumbling over his words the moment you're in ear shot, rushing towards you like a runaway train.

"I'm so sorry, this is not how this was supposed to go and I completely didn't think about how you'd feel an-" He's talking so fast that you're simply filling in the blanks, of course he's apologising for forgetting the puck and the one in his hand is clearly one from after the game. It shouldn't disappoint you more, it should make you feel better, that he's remembered now, even if later on in the day.

"It's okay, Quinn...it's just a puck..." You try to reassuring him, but he's shaking his head. Quinn's eyes go wide at the realisation that you think he forgot when he most certainly did not and he is not having you think he forgot when this was all part of the plan, a fucking stupid plan, but a plan nonetheless.

"That's not...I didn't forget the puck, I promise, I didn't forget the puck, baby." He sounds so absolutely desperate, so horrified that you believe him. Even, if it confuses you even more.

"But...but you always give me the puck at the start of warm ups?"

"I know...I...I thought if I did this after the game it would be better and I could have it all prepared, but I didn't really think about the fact you'd be expecting it at warms ups and I'm fucking inconsiderate asshole..." Half of what he has to say is a rambling mess that you can't really comprehend, so you latch onto the last thing he says that rockets your anxiety through the roof because giving you a puck later in the day is certainly not something which makes him an asshole even if it set your anxiety off and made you sad.

"Quinn, you're not an asshole, it's okay!"

"No, not it's not! Because...because I've messed this up so bad and if you don't want to say yes I completely get it..." Quinn almost looks ready to cry and he feels like it, in his head he's catastrophising. You're going to say no because he was too big of an idiot to think about the routine he'd made with you, the expectation you would have, the anxiety he would be putting you through for 3 hours.

You stop for a minute, processing his words as he stares at you horrified, scared, worried, all of the above and every synonym for them under the sun. The silence is so dreadfully loud and broken by the softest whisper of your voice, "Say yes?"

Quinn's scared, certain he's going to have a heart attack in that moment but still he forces his hands to move, toss the puck in his hands lightly to you and watch as you twist it right side up.

He has to stop himself from rambling further as he gets down on one knee in front of you, shaking hands opening up the little black box Kiefer had given him. The ring inside is perfect for you, the right gem, the perfect colour, the correct metal and shape. The epitome of someone knowing exactly what you'd find most desirable in a ring, but you're not looking at it, your eyes are fixed on the puck in your hands.

It's the usual beat up puck, although not a warmup puck this time but an official game puck, a goal scoring puck. Across the surface in gold lettering Quinn's handwriting stands out. The date is scrawled across the surface and underneath? Oh, underneath might be the most beautiful sentence you've ever read in your life and you can't help but feel tears well up in your eyes as you read them.

'Will you marry me?'

It all makes sense now. His rambling on about you not saying yes, his insistence that he'd messed up. He's scared, you can understand it now. That this absolutely amazing, wonderful man, thinks that something as simple as not giving a puck to you earlier is going to make you say no. When in reality very few things could ever stop you from saying yes, saying yes felt as natural as breathing.

"Give me a pen..." Your voice is wobbly and quiet as you request a pen, puck shaking in your hands as you look up at him and he's certain you're going to say no to him, so certain he takes a moment to process what you've asked for. Blinking at you blankly.

"Pen?"

"Give me a pen, Quinn." You reiterate until he seems to process your words and then he is scrambling, fumbling around as if he even has pockets in his gear which he doesn't. He almost drops the ring in the process and it is so utterly endearing to see how absolutely he wants to make this right and please you, as endearing as it is heart wrenching that he seems to think you'd ever say no.

He stumbles around, forgetting he's left the pen in the locker room, cursing this whole mess until Jack is leaning over his shoulder dangling it between two fingers with a soft smile. Luke just stood off to the side behind him. He supposes it would be par for the course for his brothers to be present for his imminent rejection and humiliation. Better them than anyone else.

He passes you the pen with shaking hands and can't take his eyes off you as you write something underneath his own words.

When you toss it back to him he's so certain that he's going to see a big no underneath that it takes him a minute of staring to actually comprehend what he's seeing, the puck shaking in his hands. Your handwriting lays so neatly underneath his, but its the unfathomable word that hits him with warmth and a bright spark of happiness straight to the chest.

'Yes -`♡´-'

Quinn's eyes pan up to you slowly, wide and bright as his lips part in shock. Glancing back down and up again as if he has to read the word a few more times to just make sure.

"Of course I'll marry you, you absolute idiot...why would I not?" You're smiling at him through the tears that slip down your cheeks, happy tears this time, not the disappointed ones you had supressed earlier in the evening. These tears are a combination of every feeling of affection and love you have for Quinn and the hopes you have too.

"Be..because I...I mess it all up..." He looks so utterly startled, so taken off guard and it hurts that he can't understand why one mistake wasn't really the end of it all. He's overthought the whole thing, just like you did. Two peas in a proverbial stressed out pod.

"Quinn," You close the remaining distance between the two of you, hands reaching up to cup his cheeks softly. Palms pressing against scratchy stubble as he looks down at you so softly, "I love you...messing up a little bit isn't going to change that, not when your intentions were so so sweet, baby..."

"So...you'll marry me?"

"I'll marry you." You confirm, grinning up at him as his mind works so hard behind green eyes. Little by little the doubt, confusion, starts to fade away to joy, to love, the way it should be after a proposal.

"You're going to marry me." You nod your head in confirmation, thumbs brushing across his cheeks in soothing circles, "We're getting married."

"Just put the ring on her, you idiot!" Luke calls from behind Quinn's shoulder and your gaze shifts to see the younger man grinning at the two of you, hands in his pockets and shaking his head. Jack is grinning equally as hard, the two brothers watching their older brother lose that calm, capable edge he always seems have. Both knowing they're never going to let him live this down. Ever.

"Shit!" He fumbles for the box, passing you the puck as his hands shake as he takes your left hand in his and slips the ring on your finger. It fits perfectly and it's beautiful, truly, what you imagined your engagement ring would one day look like.

He can't really comprehend it, that it's the ring he's given you on your finger, that he hasn't completely fucked this up. That you're going to be his wife.

It's you that pulls him close, leaning up to press a gentle kiss to his lips. It's so soft and sweet that he isn't really sure what to do with himself for a moment and just stares down into your eyes.

"I love you, Quinn Hughes." You mumble against his lips, you're still grasping the puck in your right hand, even now. If anything your grip on the physical memory of this moment has grown tighter, scared it might fly away if you don't grasp it tightly.

"I love you too...thanks for saying yes." He sounds a little dumb, endearingly dumb.

"Quinn!" You lean back with a laugh, but don't get vary far before Quinn's arms are wrapping tight around your waist and pulling you back into his body. The closeness is appreciated not just because of the giddy high you're riding but because of how much distance there had been in the confusion of the day and Quinn's proposal.

"Am I not supposed to say that?" He grins down at you for the first time that night and it's the first moment where it feels real. He just asked you to marry him and you said yes. You're going to be Mrs Hughes.

"You generally don't thank your fiancé for agreeing to marry you, no. But you're welcome." You smile into the kiss he presses to your lips, losing yourself in the scratch of his stubble across your cheeks and the soft but firm press of his lips against yours. You let yourself just enjoy the feel of Quinn's hands gripping your hips and forget for a moment that you're in a corridor, a public space with your fiancé's brothers stood nearby.

"So drinks?" You're pulled away from the moment by the sound of Jack's voice chipping in. You pull back from the kiss, forehead pressing into Quinn's chest with a groan as he snaps at his brother lightly.

"Jack!"

"What we've got to celebrate right? Quinny can go get all cleaned up and then we'll go to a bar and celebrate this one becoming our new sister!" When you look up Jack and Luke have matching grins on their faces, cheeks pulled so high you're certain their faces must be hurting. Jack's grin is the more mischievous of the two, no doubting wondering how drunk he can get Quinn tonight, no doubt planning on using the special occasion to get Quinn to break from his health kick this season.

"Ugh, I forgot I'd be getting you two in this deal...can I change my mind?" You pretend to be put out, pouting at the two boys who you'll end up calling your brothers in short order.

You and Quinn turn to face them, Quinn tucking you under his arm and close to his side. He smiles down at you with what can only be called loving stubbornness.

"Not on my life, baby, you're stuck with me and stuck with Tweedledee and Tweedledum, sorry!"

"Hey!" "We're great!" The two protest and in that moment it all feels like the first day of the rest of your life. The man you love giving you his name in the sweetest and most chaotic way possible. The two men in front of you becoming your brothers in name not just actions. The moment when it is cemented firmly that you're not going anywhere and neither is Quinn. That you're stuck with each other.

You wouldn't have it any other way.

When you get back to the apartment that night, after a few drinks, Quinn avoiding being drawn into unruly behaviour by Jack, Quinn watches from the bed as you pull the familiar and now incredibly full box of hockey pucks out of the closet and place the new entry right on top. He smiles as you pat it gently before putting the box back away where you'll reach for it when he's away on his next roadie.

Watching you in that moment Quinn thinks he's the luckiest guy in the world to get the girl who still said yes even as he stumbled through a proposal that should have been perfect, but was far from it.

A girl that forgave him for a missing puck.

[fiastomatocheek]

MOMMY, DID YOU LOVE SNOOPY AT FIRST SIGHT?

pair: dad!luke hughes x f!reader

genre: family, fluff, soft, domestic.

warnings: none. just pure fluff, soft parenting, and a talkative five-year-old who thinks ‘blink-blink eyes’ are the ultimate form of romance.

summary: now at five years old, lucy is curious about everything and especially how her favorite people in the world fell in love. one morning, she climbs into bed with you and luke and starts asking all the important questions about how you met, who fell in love first, and what love really means.

fia’s note: a dad!luke idea, i thought it’d be really cute if luce got super interested in her parents’ love story, like how they first met and everything. luke and the reader would definitely tell her the whole thing, and she’d be so proud of it, always talking about their love story in front of everyone.

tagging team fia ! — @iloveyoutodeathbutimdrowning @dancerbailey3 @mashmashi @hopefulsuitcasemoneyzonk @kell9rs @alwaysclassyeagle @nokiaholland @macka @silvenyy

fia’s masterlist | join fia’s taglist | yap & fic

Lucy came padding into your bedroom, her bunny-ear socks slapping the hardwood as she tugged her pink stuffed bunny along the floor behind her.

She peeked her head up over the edge of the bed and whispered.

“Mommy? Snoopy?”

Luke groaned beside you, still half-asleep.

“Mm. Morning, Luce…”

You smiled and opened one eye just in time to see her climb into the middle of the bed and drop dramatically between you, her little limbs sprawling out like she owned the place, which, frankly, she kinda did.

“I have a very important question,” she declared.

Luke propped himself up on one elbow, rubbing his eyes.

“This early?”

“It can’t wait,” Lucy said, serious.

“Snoopy… how did you and Mommy meet?”

You blinked at Luke.

Luke blinked back at you.

And then he smirked. “Ohhh. This is gonna be fun.”

Lucy sat up straighter. “Tell me the whole long story!”

Luke stretched, then sat up against the headboard with Lucy curled against his side.

“Well… once upon a time, before you were even a little peanut in Mommy’s belly, I saw her at a hockey game.”

“At a hockey game??” Lucy repeated, wide-eyed.

“Yup and after warmups, I looked up into the crowd… and there Mommy was. Sitting with a hot chocolate in both hands, big scarf, way-too-big coat, and—” he paused dramatically,

“Mommy’s in Hughes 86 jersey.”

Lucy’s eyes went wide and she gasp loudly. “Uncle Rowdy’s number?!”

You laughed out loud as she gasped.

Luke nodded solemnly. “Number 86. Betrayal.”

“It’s not betrayal,” you giggled. “I was a fan!”

“She was wearing Uncle Rowdy jersey,” Luke said, mock-offended.

Lucy looked between you both like she couldn’t believe her parents had survived such a scandal.

“Mommy… you liked Uncle Rowdy first?”

You held up your hands in defense.

“No, I liked the jersey. But then I saw Snoopy skate by and boom. Game over.”

Luke raised his eyebrows at you playfully. “Game over, huh?”

“I mean, look at you,” you said, teasing.

“I saw that floppy hair and bad-boy baby face and I knew.”

Lucy, still reeling, whispered, “So Mommy didn’t love Snoopy at first sight?!”

“No, no,”

You said, smiling as you tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear.

“I loved Snoopy before he even knew who I was.”

Lucy grinned so wide she buried her face into Luke’s chest.

“This is so romantic!”

Luke leaned his head back, laughing. “I can’t believe my love story includes me losing to Jack.”

You pressed a kiss to his arm.

“You won in the end.”

Lucy wriggled her way up so she could look at both of you.

“Mommy, Snoopy, I have another question.”

“Here we go,” Luke mumbled, smiling.

“What does love mean?” she asked, totally serious.

Luke nudged her gently. “That’s a big one. What do you think it means, Luce?”

She tapped her chin dramatically like she was a professor.

“Love is like… Mommy and Snoopy.”

You and Luke both quieted.

“Love is when Snoopy and Mommy gets mad at eachother but they still talk before bed.”

Luke blinked and glanced at you. “She’s been spying on us.”

Lucy kept going, counting on her little fingers.

“Love is when Mommy didn’t brush her teeth in the morning, but Snoopy still lets her kiss him.”

“Hey now,” Luke said, trying not to laugh.

“And love is when Snoopy knows what makes Mommy feel not good and he makes sure she always feels safe.”

Your throat tightened.

“And… and love is when Snoopy has a bad day, but he still looks at Mommy with his blink-blink eyes.”

You snorted. “Blink-blink eyes?!”

Luke was cracking up now.

“What even are those?”

“You know,” she said, rolling her eyes.

“Your sparkly, lovey eyes. You get them when you look at Mommy like she’s your favorite.”

Luke was quiet for a second, then smiled down at her.

“That’s because she is.”

Lucy melted into a giggle and tackled him with a hug, knocking over her stuffed dog in the process.

You curled beside them both, your hand resting on Luke’s arm and your eyes misty from the sweetness of it all.

“Okay,” Lucy said through a yawn, snuggling into the blankets.

“I think love is the best thing ever.”

Luke kissed the top of her head.

“Yeah, me too, Luce.”

“Even if Mommy wore Uncle Rowdy’s jersey?” she teased.

Luke groaned. “We’re never living that down, are we?”

The day is finally here, it was Lucy Kindergarten Closing Circle Celebration.

You were seated next to Luke in the second row, his long legs completely folded and awkward, your phone already in your hand and camera app open.

“She’s gonna be nervous,” you whispered, scanning the curtain.

Luke smiled softly. “She won’t be. She’s you with my stage presence.”

You rolled your eyes, elbowing his ribs.

The preschool teacher, Miss Haley, stepped up with a mic.

“Thank you, everyone, for coming to our Kindergarten Closing Circle Celebration! Today, our kids wanted to share what they learned this semester, especially our theme of ‘what love means to us.’”

Luke raised an eyebrow at you.

“No way.”

You grinned. “Don’t say it.”

“I knew she was scheming,” he whispered.

“All those deep questions that day weren’t just curiosity, they were prep.”

And then she appeared.

Lucy, in her sunshine yellow dress with two pigtails and a sparkly clip shaped like a heart, walked onto stage holding a paper heart in her hands. She looked out at the sea of faces, squinted a little in the light, and when she spotted you and Luke, she beamed.

Miss Haley leaned down. “Lucy? You’re next, sweetie.”

Lucy nodded, marched up to the tiny podium with all the confidence of a TED Talk speaker, and cleared her throat.

“Hello, my name is Lucy Hughes. I am five. And I’m gonna tell you what love is.”

You felt your breath catch in your throat. Luke reached over, fingers wrapping around yours tightly.

“To me, love is when Mommy saw Daddy for the first time but he didn’t know she loved him yet.”

The audience chuckled. You covered your face. Luke was grinning like an idiot.

“Love is when Mommy wore Uncle Rowdy’s jersey number, but it was okay, because Daddy gave her the blink-blink eyes.”

Luke’s head dropped into your shoulder as he tried not to laugh too loudly.

“Oh my god.”

Lucy continued, dead serious.

“Love is when Daddy leaves for his hockey game, he kisses Mommy and me goodbye everytime. Even when he’s late.”

You felt your heart crack a little because her words was too soft, too good.

“And when Daddy comes home from his game, even if he’s stinky or sad, he hugs us really, really tight. Because love is hugging after everything. Even the bad days.”

There was a gentle aww from the crowd.

“Love is when Daddy still lets Mommy kiss him even if she forgot to brush her teeth in the morning.”

You gasped. Luke doubled over in his seat, howling silently.

“She only does that sometimes,” Lucy added helpfully.

“But Daddy doesn’t mind.”

You looked down at your lap. “I’m never showing my face again.”

Luke laughed. “Babe, this is gold.”

Lucy held up her paper heart.

“I think love is like what I see at home. It’s when you talk after some disagreement. It’s when you’re safe. It’s when Daddy always looks at Mommy like she’s sparkly.”

Luke had gone completely still beside you.

You reached up and gently rubbed his hand. He swallowed, eyes misting.

“And I think love is when you grow up and find your person. Like my Mommy and my Snoopy. The End.”

The room exploded with applause, full of proud laughs and tiny sniffles. Lucy beamed, bowed, actually bowed and skipped off the stage straight into the arms of Miss Haley.

Luke leaned over to whisper,

“We just got called out by a five-year-old on a mic in front of 60 people.”

You laughed into his shoulder. “And I wouldn’t change a thing.”

“You know she’s gonna make us retell that whole story again tonight, every single details, right?”

“Only if she doesn’t write it into her future wedding vows first.”

[hockeylovee12]

On The Bus With Cammi & AJ https://open.spotify.com/episode/11oHpUzyV89jjhs9e7pVPU

This interview is really cute

My favorite part is when Ellen tells a story of Quinn and Jack trying to break Luke out of his crib

[hockeyluvrr]

I know love || lh43

series masterlist main masterlist

summary: Luke Hughes has always been your best friend—until one summer at the lake house changes everything. One almost-kiss, one broken moment, and suddenly, there’s a distance between you that even time can’t fix. But when Luke starts his first NHL season, fate gives you one last chance to get it right. Will you finally close the space between you, or are some love stories meant to stay unfinished?

warnings: miscommunication, pining, feelings of regret and all that jazz, eventual fluff though but mostly angsty

author’s note: I actually love this one, it combines two of my fav versions of lukey…UMich lukey and summer lukey 😩 also I truly believe this song is so luke coded but it might just be because I’m in love with him or something idk 😭

word count: 2,422

There was something about Luke Hughes that made it impossible to stay away. Maybe it was the way he always found you in a crowded room, his eyes lighting up when they met yours. Or the way he’d throw an arm around your shoulders after a long day, acting like it was second nature. Whatever it was, it made it difficult to ignore the tiny ache in your chest whenever he smiled at you.

You met Luke your freshman year at UMich. The introduction had been casual—one of your friends dragged you to a party, and somehow, you ended up in the kitchen, laughing over how awful the beer tasted. Luke, dressed in his usual hoodie and backwards cap, leaned against the counter and smirked.

“Not a fan of cheap beer?”

“Not a fan of beer in general,” you admitted.

He handed you a bottle of water instead, and that was the first night he really looked at you—like he saw you, not just another face in a room full of people.

Over time, it became something more. Late-night study sessions in the library turned into coffee runs before morning classes. Game nights at his apartment turned into movie marathons where you both ended up asleep on opposite sides of the couch. He was one of your best friends, the person who could read you without you saying a word.

And maybe that’s why it hurt so much.

Because no matter how much time you spent with Luke, there was always space between you. Just enough to keep you at arm’s length.

Maybe it was nothing. Maybe it was everything.

———

The campus was buzzing with excitement—UMich was heading to the Frozen Four, and Luke was at the center of it all. He was always the last one off the ice at practice, the first one in the locker room watching film. You could see the exhaustion in his eyes, the weight of expectations pressing down on his shoulders.

“You should sleep,” you murmured one night as he sat beside you in his apartment, head resting on the back of the couch.

“Can’t,” he muttered. “Too much going on in my head.”

You hesitated before reaching out, fingers lightly brushing his wrist. “You’ll be okay, you know. No matter what happens.”

Luke turned his head to look at you, something unreadable flickering across his face. For a second, it felt like the space between you was closing, like he was seeing you in a way he hadn’t before.

But then his phone buzzed, and whatever moment that had been disappeared.

“Jack’s calling,” he said, sitting up and running a hand through his hair. “I should take this.”

You nodded, swallowing the disappointment curling in your chest. “Yeah. Of course.”

It wasn’t the first time. And it wouldn’t be the last.

———

Summer at the Hughes’ lake house was supposed to be easy. Sun-soaked days, late-night bonfires, early morning swims when the world still felt half-asleep. It was a tradition—Luke, his brothers, and a revolving door of friends who came and went, all drawn to the water like it was calling them home.

This year, you were part of it.

You had barely stepped out of the car when Luke pulled you into a hug, arms tight around you like it had been months instead of weeks since you last saw him. The feeling of him—warm and familiar—lingered even after he let go.

“Missed you,” he admitted, his voice soft enough that no one else would hear.

Your stomach flipped, but you forced a smile. “Missed you too, Hughes.”

For a while, it was easy to pretend nothing had changed. Mornings were spent on the dock, your feet dangling over the edge as Luke sat beside you, his shoulder brushing yours. Afternoons were filled with boat rides and half-hearted attempts at wakeboarding that usually ended with someone face-planting into the water. And at night, when the air was thick with the scent of bonfire smoke, you and Luke always ended up next to each other—knees bumping, fingers almost touching.

But that space between you? It was still there.

And then, one night, it wasn’t.

———

It started with a game of truth or dare.

The group was sprawled across the deck, a mix of empty bottles and half-eaten bags of chips between them. The game had been harmless at first—stupid questions, ridiculous dares. But then Jack’s girlfriend grinned and turned to you.

“Alright,” she said, eyes twinkling. “Truth or dare?”

You hesitated, feeling Luke’s gaze on you. “Dare.”

Her smile widened. “Kiss someone.”

The group erupted into cheers, and your stomach twisted. You could feel the heat creeping up your neck, your mind racing through your options. There were a dozen ways out of this—you could laugh it off, could kiss someone random and be done with it.

But then you looked at Luke.

And Luke looked at you.

The world narrowed to the space between you, to the way his lips parted slightly like he wanted to say something but couldn’t. Your heartbeat thundered in your ears as you leaned in, the air thick with something unspoken.

Your breath mingled with his. His hand twitched like he was going to reach for you.

But then—

“Look, a shooting star!” Jack announced, breaking the moment like a snapped thread. The group all turned to look up at the sky, and just like that, the moment was gone.

Luke pushed himself up, muttering something about getting another drink before disappearing into the house.

You exhaled sharply, your hands trembling as you curled them into fists.

It was almost something.

Almost.

And that was the worst part.

———

After that night, something shifted.

Luke wasn’t avoiding you, not exactly. He still sat next to you at breakfast, still threw you into the lake when you least expected it, still nudged your foot under the dinner table when Jack was telling some ridiculous story. But there was hesitation in the way he looked at you now, a flicker of something unsure that hadn’t been there before.

And you? You felt like you were walking a tightrope, balancing between pretending nothing had changed and wanting to grab him by the shoulders and demand to know what the hell that moment had meant to him.

But you didn’t. Because if Luke wasn’t saying anything, why should you?

That was the problem with the two of you. You were always waiting for the other person to make the first move.

And then, one night, you stopped waiting.

The bonfire was dying down, most of the group already slipping inside for the night. You lingered on the dock, the cool wood beneath you grounding you as you stared out at the dark water.

Luke found you like he always did.

“Couldn’t sleep?” he asked, sitting beside you.

You huffed out a laugh. “Something like that.”

Silence stretched between you. Not uncomfortable, but not easy either. The weight of everything unspoken sat between you, thick as the humid summer air.

“About that night—”

Luke started speaking at the same time you did, and you both broke off, staring at each other. He let out a quiet laugh, shaking his head.

“You first,” he said.

You swallowed, your pulse roaring in your ears. “Did it mean anything to you?”

The question hung between you, heavy and dangerous.

Luke inhaled sharply. “Of course it did.”

“Then why did you leave?”

His jaw tensed. “Because, I—” He exhaled harshly, running a hand through his hair. “Because I didn’t want to ruin anything.”

You blinked. “Ruin what?”

“This,” he said, gesturing between the two of you. “Us.”

Anger flared in your chest. “Luke, do you even hear yourself? You think avoiding how we feel is going to fix anything?”

His brows furrowed. “How we feel?”

And that was it. That was the breaking point.

You stood, your hands clenched into fists. “I like you, Luke. I’ve liked you for so long, and I’m so tired of pretending I don’t. But if you don’t feel the same way, just—just tell me. Stop leaving me in this space between nothing and everything.”

Luke looked stunned. Like he hadn’t realised it was that simple.

Like he hadn’t realised how much this had been breaking you.

You shook your head, turning away. “Forget it.”

You didn’t give him the chance to respond. You just walked away.

And for the first time since you met Luke Hughes, he didn’t follow you.

———

The rest of the summer passed in a blur. You and Luke barely spoke.

It wasn’t like he was ignoring you outright—he was still there in the periphery, still laughing at Jack’s jokes, still competing against Quinn and the guys in wakeboarding. But he wasn’t there with you. Not the way he used to be.

And you? You didn’t know how to fix it.

You thought maybe he’d pull you aside before you left, maybe say something—anything—to make sense of what happened that night on the dock. But when the time came to go, Luke just hugged you the way he did everyone else, murmured a soft ‘see you later’, and let you walk away.

No mention of the fight. No apology. No confession.

Just silence.

And maybe that was your answer.

———

Luke was officially in the NHL.

You saw the news everywhere—on social media, on sports channels, in the excited texts from your friends. He was doing it. Living his dream.

And you were proud of him. You really were.

But you hadn’t talked since that night at the lake. Not even once.

It wasn’t like you hadn’t thought about reaching out. You had typed out messages more times than you could count—‘Hey, congrats, Hope you’re doing well, I miss you’—but you never sent them.

If he wanted to talk to you, he would.

At least, that’s what you kept telling yourself.

———

It was Jack who invited you.

You weren’t sure why—maybe he missed having you around, maybe he just wanted you to stop looking like someone had ripped out a piece of your heart and run off with it. Either way, he sent a simple ‘Come to the game. No excuses.’ text, and somehow, you found yourself in the arena, watching Luke skate across the ice like he belonged there.

He looked good. Happy. Like he was exactly where he was meant to be.

And maybe that should have been enough for you.

But then, after the game, Jack pulled you through the halls of the arena, past reporters and players until he stopped in front of a door.

“He’s in there,” Jack said, giving you a pointed look. “Fix it.”

You barely had time to process what was happening before Jack knocked once and walked off, leaving you standing there as the door swung open.

And there he was.

Luke.

His hair was damp, his tie loose around his neck, his eyes widening the second he saw you.

For a moment, neither of you said anything.

Then, his voice came, quiet but certain.

“You came.”

You swallowed past the lump in your throat. “Yeah. Jack kind of forced me.”

His lips twitched, like he wanted to smile but didn’t know if he was allowed to. “Still. You’re here.”

You nodded, shifting on your feet. “Yeah.”

Silence. The same silence that had sat between you for months.

And then—

“I was scared.”

Your breath caught as Luke exhaled shakily, his hands clenching at his sides.

“I didn’t know what to say that night,” he admitted. “Didn’t know how to tell you that I—I felt the same way. That I have for so long.” His throat bobbed. “And then you walked away, and I let you, and I hated myself for it.”

Your heart pounded. “Luke…”

“I thought maybe it was too late,” he murmured. “That I lost you before I even got the chance to have you.”

You inhaled sharply. “It’s not too late.”

He looked at you then, really looked at you, like he was finally seeing what had been right in front of him all along.

And this time—this time—he closed the space between you.

Luke’s hands hovered uncertainly before settling on your waist, his touch warm even through the fabric of your coat. His eyes flickered across your face, searching, waiting—like he needed you to give him permission to finally, finally close the space between you.

So you did.

You surged forward, hands fisting in his jacket as his lips met yours.

And just like that, every unspoken word, every moment of hesitation, every aching second of being apart melted away.

Luke kissed you like he was making up for lost time—like he regretted every second he spent pretending he didn’t want this. His hands tightened on your waist, pulling you closer, and you sighed against his lips, letting yourself fall into him.

When you finally broke apart, he rested his forehead against yours, his breath warm against your skin.

“I should’ve done that a long time ago,” he murmured.

You huffed out a breathless laugh. “Yeah. You should have.”

His grip on you tightened slightly. “Let me fix it,” he whispered. “Let me be what you deserve.”

You pulled back just enough to look at him, really look at him. His eyes were so open, so full of everything he had been too afraid to say before. And for the first time, there was no hesitation, no uncertainty. Just Luke. Just you.

And this time, you weren’t letting him go.

———

Luke didn’t waste any more time.

He called you after games, sent you random texts about things that reminded him of you, FaceTimed you when he got back to his apartment just because he wanted to see your face.

And then, one day, he called you with a simple request:

“Come visit me.”

So you did.

New Jersey in the winter was cold, but Luke’s apartment was warm, and his arms around you were even warmer. The second you stepped inside, he pulled you into him, mumbling a soft, ‘missed you’ against your hair.

You smiled. “I was gone for like a month.”

“Too long.”

You rolled your eyes, but your heart swelled in your chest.

Luke had always been a constant in your life—your best friend, your safe place, your almost. But now?

Now, there was no more almost.

Just love. Real, undeniable, steady love.

And it was everything you had ever wanted.

[postgamevibes]

TikTok soft launch

Summary: When a casual TikTok study break video accidentally features Luke Hughes in the background, the internet goes wild trying to guess the identity of the mystery girl. As fan attention grows, Luke and the reader navigate the challenges of keeping their relationship low-key while savoring quiet moments together. A soft, sweet reveal that proves some love stories are worth sharing slowly and on their own terms.

*********************************************************

You never meant for it to happen like this.

It started innocently enough: a late-night study break, your phone balanced on a stack of textbooks, lighting just soft enough to make your cramped college dorm room look like a cozy little sanctuary. You were filming a TikTok, the kind you’d seen blown up lately the chill “study break routine,” the quiet moments between exams when all you wanted was a little peace. Your hands showed, arranging a steaming cup of coffee, pulling on a chunky sweater, flicking open a book. Your voice hummed softly narrating a few tips to stay sane during finals week.

Luke was there too, he was never far away anymore.

Tonight, he was leaning against the doorframe, wearing his Devils hoodie, scrolling on his phone, occasionally humming along to some song you couldn’t quite hear. You didn’t think much of it until he popped into the background of one clip, his deep voice answering a question you posed aloud: “Hey, Luke, think I should cram or sleep?”

“Sleep,” he said, voice low and teasing. “Trust me.”

You laughed quietly and glanced at him. “See? He agrees. Sleep wins.”

The video was nothing special to you. Just a quiet night. When you woke up the next morning, your phone was buzzing non-stop. Your TikTok notifications had exploded. Comments poured in from people tagging each other: “Is that Luke Hughes?!”, “OMG, girl, you’re dating Luke Hughes!!”, “Where’s the @???”.

You stared, blinking at the flood of messages. Somehow, your casual video had turned into a viral mystery: who was the voice behind the soft chuckle, the Devils hoodie? Fans were piecing it all together, piecing together your low-key “soft launch” into the public eye.

You hadn’t planned for this.

Luke, meanwhile, found it hilarious. The next day when you facetimed, his grin was impossibly wide. “So, apparently I’m the new TikTok star,” he teased, flicking his hair back.

You rolled your eyes, but your smile betrayed you. “Yeah, thanks for crashing my chill video.”

“It’s not my fault the guys kept asking if I was dating ‘TikTok girl’ or whatever.” He winked. “You’ve got a fan club.”

You groaned. “I’m a college student.”

He laughed.

Despite the teasing, you felt the familiar flutter of nerves. School, hockey, and suddenly the unwanted internet fame. You didn’t want the attention, not like this. You wanted privacy, a bubble where Luke was just Luke, not the Devils’ rising star.

That night, you curled up in your hoodie, scrolling through the comments. Some were sweet, some nosy, others downright creepy, you felt exposed.

Luke sensed it.

A few days later, after a long practice, he sent you a text: Come over? I wanna see you.

You arrived at his apartment, the familiar scent of pine and leather greeting you. He was sprawled on the couch, earbuds in, watching game footage. When he saw you, he pulled them out.

“Hey,” he said softly, patting the seat beside him.

You sat close, careful to avoid the lingering soreness in your legs from a long day of classes. Luke reached over and took your hand, his thumb tracing light circles on your skin.

“You okay?” he asked.

“Honestly?” You sighed. “I’m scared. Not of you, or us, but all this,” you gestured vaguely at your phone and the endless notifications, “the attention. I’m not ready for everyone to see this side of me.”

Luke nodded, his eyes gentle. “I get it, but you don’t have to be ready all at once. We can take this slow, however you want.”

His hand tightened around yours. “I’m proud to be with you. Doesn’t matter what anyone says or thinks.”

You smiled, feeling warmth bloom in your chest.

That night, Luke did something small but meaningful. He posted a blurry Polaroid on his Instagram story two coffee mugs, one with “His” written in shaky black marker, the other “Hers.” The background showed your backpack and textbooks stacked neatly.

It was subtle. The perfect “soft launch.”

You laughed when you saw it. “Really?”

He shrugged, grinning. “I’m terrible at subtle.”

You posted a TikTok the next evening, a study vlog with Luke’s hand resting lightly on your knee as you flipped through a notebook. No faces, just quiet closeness.

The comments exploded again, but this time you weren’t afraid. Luke was with you. You were together in this, online and off.

Later, curled up on his couch, watching fan edits and reaction videos with Luke dozing beside you, you felt a quiet peace settle over your heart.

“Soft launch complete,” you whispered, uploading one last video of Luke asleep, face turned away, your caption: Please be nice 🫶🏼

Luke stirred, mumbling sleepily, “Already nice. Especially to you.”

You smiled into the glow of your phone screen, knowing no matter what, you had him, and that was everything.