When the call ended, both parties felt relieved. You promised to come visit when you finished school and both of you vowed to stay in touch. The vow was never broken. Everyday you hear new thrilling anecdotes of Evans' life. The trashing fire he put out, now that he was a firefighter, or the crazy new fling of the week. Though every time he brings up a new girl you feel your heart pang, you stay happy for him and you're grateful to hear his voice.

After you received your diploma, you wasted no time. With your degree in hand and a mix of nerves and excitement in your chest, you booked the next flight to the City of Angels. Maddie, now living in Los Angeles herself, was the one who gave you Buck’s current address.

You’d thought about this moment for years, imagining how it would feel to see him again. The two of you had kept in touch, but phone calls and texts could only do so much. You wanted to be there in person, to see him in his element, living the life he’d always dreamed of.

When you arrived, standing outside his apartment door, you hesitated. What if things had changed too much? What if the years apart had built walls that even your bond couldn’t break? But before you could overthink it, the door swung open, and there he was—Buck, with his boyish grin and those familiar eyes that held both surprise and joy.

“Y/N?” he said, his voice laced with disbelief.

“Hi, Buck,” you replied, your heart pounding.

Without a second thought, he engulfed you in a bone-crushing hug, sweeping you off the ground and spinning you around like a rag doll. When your feet finally touched the floor, his hands cupped your face, his eyes searching yours.

“You look beautiful, Y/N. I missed you so much,” he confessed.

Before you could reply, his excitement took over. “Oh! You have to meet my team! They’re going to love you…” He rambled on about how great they were, how much he’d missed you, and how everyone already knew all about you.

Grabbing your hand, he led you out of the apartment and down to the parking lot. It was crazy—like no time had passed at all. Everything between you felt natural, just as it had before he left.

Buck opened the door of his Jeep, helping you into the passenger seat before rushing around to climb in himself.

“Wait… Are we really going to meet them?” you asked nervously. You’d heard so much about his team, but this was all so sudden.

“Well, I was already on my way to work. This is perfect! Don’t worry—they already know all about you,” he assured you with a grin.

The firehouse was bigger than you’d thought. Buck leads the way with you trailing closely behind him, almost hiding yourself from the fire fighters inside the house.

“HEYYY BUCKAROO!” Echoed through the house, originating from on top of one of the fire engines.

“Hey Chim! Look- I brought someone!” Buck chirped.

“You brought someone?” Spoke a man who had walked out of the locker room. From all the pictures that Buck sent of his new LA family, you were pretty sure this was Eddie. Now standing in the middle of the fire house, Buck tugged on your arm pulling you out in front of him. You are now face to face with three members of Evans team. Chim, who was on top of the Engine, climbs his way down standing next to Eddie.

“Guys, this is Y/N!” Buck exclaims, acting as if this was an elementary show and tell.

“Wait, the Y/N?” A woman you “knew” as Hen questioned.

“Like Pennsylvania Y/N?” Eddie followed up.

“That's me.” You reply sheepishly, giving them a small wave.

“It is very nice to meet you Y/N, I’m Bobby” The older of the four introduced himself, sticking out his hand for you to shake.

“Captain Nash, right?” You question, shaking his hand softly. In return, he nods with a sweet smile.

You shuffle back, finding your place next Buck, whose beaming smile never left his face. He loops an arm around your waist, giving you a reassuring nod. Buck announces he is gonna give you the “grand tour” of the fire house. He clasps your hand with his as he pulls you off upstairs.

Hen, Chim and Eddie lounged across the couch, subtling watching you and Buck. Your elbows rest on the kitchen counter sipping on a glass of water Buck poured for you. His mouth is talking a mile a minute, subconsciously always keeping a hand on you. The other firefighters watch Buck, noting his eyes gleaming with awe. Buck sweeps his large hand across your forehead sweeping a strand of hair out from your face.

“I missed you” He whispers as he pulls you in for a hug.

“I missed you too—” You began to respond before you got rudely interrupted by the piercing sound of the alarm.

“Hey, you can go back to my place or hangout here. Whatever you want, mkay? I gotta go, but I'll see you too.” He quickly explains releasing you from the hug, placing a soft kiss against the top of your head. You didn't even have time to respond before he ran away with a grin. He shoots down the firepole meeting the rest of the team for departure. Overlooking from the banister, you watch him in action. The engine pulls out, sirens blazing. Now you are left all alone.

After a minute, you decided to call an uber back to Buck’s place. Only one problem, you couldn't find your phone. You retraced all your steps and still couldn’t find it. Ten minutes later is when you realize your phone was left back at Buck's apartment. You didn't want to take Buck's car and overstep, so your only option left was to hang around until the 118 got back.

A couple hours later, the truck pulls back into the bay. You watch the team file off the truck, shedding their heavy gear and recapping about the recent call. After a minute you spot Buck and his group.

“So, what's with you and Y/N?” Hen asks.

“What do you mean?” He hums, tossing his jacket over his shoulder.

“You’re like attached by the hip!” Chim jokes.

“You guys together?” Eddie pesters nudging Bucks shoulder.

“Huh? What? Nonono, she has been my best friend since forever! Like a second sister!” He defends himself. That felt like a kick to your gut. Suddenly, your stomach swirled with lost hope. A gloss film spread across your eyes, but you tilted your head up to rid the tears.

After the team put all their stuff away, Buck spots you in a similar spot to where he left you. He gestures you to make your way down to him. You sluggishly trot down the stairs, approaching him.

“I thought you woulda left.”

“I forgot my phone back at your place, I wanted to call an uber.”

“You could have taken my car! But m’sorry, I hope you were able to entertain yourself.”

“It was no problem.” You shrugged.

“You good “Y/NN?” He questioned, voice laced with concern.

In return, you nod offering your best smile. “Just jetlagged.” You lied.

“Here i'll get you an uber. I'm on call for a few more hours and I'll be home ASAP.” He smiled, opening the app on his phone.

You sprawled out against Bucks couch, flicking through the channels on tv. But you are too lost in your head to decide on a show. Not only did you realize your feelings for Buck but how could you have been so foolish to think he thought of you that day? He is a jacked firefighter with all the gorgeous LA girls at his disposal. You were just next door neighbor Y/N.

Buck arrives back at the apartment a few hours later, exhausted but grinning when he sees you sprawled on the couch.

“Y/N, you here?” he calls out, dropping his bag by the door.

“Yeah, on the couch.,” you reply, sitting up, though your voice lacks its usual spark.

He notices. “Hey, what’s wrong?”

You hesitate, but the events of the day are still fresh. He tosses a pillow off the couch, making room for himself, plopping down next to you. Finally, you blurt out, “Why did you say that to them?”

Buck freezes, confused. “Say what?”

“That I’m like a second sister to you,” you snap, the words spilling out before you can stop them.

Buck’s brows knit together. “Because that’s what you are! What’s wrong with that?”

The emotional dam breaks. “Because I’m not your sister, Buck! I flew across the country to be here—to be with you. Do you even realize how much you mean to me? And to hear you say that…” You trail off, your voice cracking.

He steps closer, his voice softening. “Y/N, I didn’t mean it like that. I just—”

“You just don’t see me the way I see you,” you cut him off, tears threatening to spill. “And that’s fine, Buck. But I can’t keep pretending this is enough.”

Buck’s jaw tightens, and his frustration rises. “You think I don’t care about you? I care about you more than anything—maybe too much. That’s why I said it, okay? Because if I lose you, I don’t know what I’d do!”

His words hit you like a freight train, and the room goes silent except for your uneven breathing.

“Then stop saying things like that,” you whisper.

Buck stares at you, his chest heaving. “You have no idea how hard it was to be that far away from you. And now to be this close to you and not—”

“Not what?” you challenge, stepping closer.

His restraint snaps. “This,” he whispers, and in one fluid motion, he cups your face and crashes his lips against yours.

The kiss is searing, all pent-up frustration and years of unspoken feelings spilling over. Your hands tangle in his hair as you pull him closer, melting into him as though the world outside doesn’t exist.

When you finally break apart, both of you are breathless, his forehead resting against yours, the only sound being you struggling to catch your breath.

“I’ve loved you for so long, Y/N. It killed me to leave you.” he admits, his voice hoarse.

Your heart swells, and a small smile tugs at your lips. “Took you long enough to say it Buckley.”

He pulls you into another hug, his strong arms wrapping around you tightly like he’s afraid to let go. “So…does this mean you’re not leaving anytime soon?”

“Not unless you want me to,” you tease, your voice lighter now.

Buck leans back, his eyes meeting yours. “I don’t want you to go. Ever.”

“You’re stuck with me, Buck,” you murmur, a soft smile playing on your lips.

Will’s apartment buzzed with activity. His family, who had flown in from Boston, filled every corner, and engaged in excited conversations. Today was the culmination of everything he had worked for—his NHL debut. But despite the excitement, I could sense the pressure weighing heavily on him.

Slipping away from the lively chatter, I gently pushed open the door to his bedroom. "Will?" I called softly, peeking through the crack. "It's me, Y/N."

"Come in," he responded quietly.

I stepped into the room and closed the door behind me. Will stood in front of the mirror, tugging at his tie for what seemed like the hundredth time. His reflection didn’t show the confident guy I knew—it showed someone overwhelmed by nerves. I moved behind him, wrapping my arms around his waist, resting my head between his shoulder blades. The faint scent of his cologne grounded me as I gazed at his reflection in the mirror.

"You look so handsome, Will," I whispered, trying to meet his eyes in the mirror. But his face remained serious, a mix of concentration and worry. His grip on the tie slackened as he turned to face me, searching my expression for reassurance.

"Thanks, baby," he murmured, though his smile barely touched his lips.

"Come here," I said softly, gently guiding his hands away from the tie and reworking it myself. His hands fell to my waist, his touch light, but his mind clearly elsewhere.

"You don’t look too bad yourself," he said, his voice brightening slightly as he noticed my jacket—his number two stitched proudly on the back. "I love seeing you in my number."

“I have to support my man.” I chuckled, hoping to ease the tension. After straightening his tie and smoothing his collar, I looked up at him with a smile. "There. Perfect."

Will turned back to the mirror, his expression softening. "How do you always manage to do that?" he asked, genuinely impressed.

I grinned. "Just needed a girlfriend’s touch."

He exhaled deeply, and the weight of the moment seemed to catch up with him. "Babe, what if I mess up?" he confessed, the vulnerability in his voice unmistakable. "What if I don’t live up to everything?"

I could see how much this debut meant to him—this wasn’t just a game; it was everything he had worked for.

Taking his hand in mine, I pulled him closer. “Will, listen to me. You’ve earned this. Every drop of sweat, every early morning, every setback—it’s all led to this. You’ve got the talent, and more importantly, you’ve got the heart. Today isn’t about being perfect; it’s about being yourself. And I believe in you more than anything.”

His shoulders relaxed slightly as the tension began to melt away. His gaze softened, a look of relief crossing his face.

“I love you so much, and no matter what happens out there today, I’m already so proud of you,” I continued, brushing my thumb over the back of his hand. “You’re going to be amazing.”

Will closed his eyes briefly, letting my words sink in, before opening them again, a newfound clarity in his expression. “I love you more than I can say. You have no idea how much it means to have you here, by my side.”

Letting go of my hand, he cupped my face, his touch gentle. Leaning down, he kissed me slowly, softly, lingering like he was drawing strength from it. When he pulled away, he rested his forehead against mine. “I love you, pretty.”

“I love you more. Now, rockstar, your fans are waiting for you in the living room!” I teased, alluding to the family gathered outside.

Will chuckled, his spirits visibly lifted. He started for the door when I called out, “Gyatt damn!”—playfully smacking his ass.

"Hey!" he yelped in surprise, reaching for the door handle.

“M’sorry, couldn’t help it,” I laughed, and he shook his head with a grin before opening the door. Together, we stepped out, ready to rejoin reality.

The "Shark Tank" was electric long before the puck even dropped. Fans flooded the SAP Center, eager for the home opener and to witness the debut of two rookies—the future of the Sharks franchise.

Will's family was watching from one of the suites, and I planned to join them there, but for his rookie lap, I wanted to be up close. I made my way down to the glass, securing a perfect view to watch my beautiful boyfriend take the ice for his first professional game. The energy around me was buzzing, and it was hard to stay still amidst the excitement.

Finally, the moment arrived. Out skated the two rookies, helmets off, their skates gliding smoothly over the ice. Will had the biggest smile on his face—the happiest I’d ever seen him. I quickly raised my phone to capture this monumental moment. This was something we’d cherish forever.

Will scooped the puck and, with a swift motion, wound up for a slap shot, sending the puck into the net. He circled behind the goal, scanning the crowd, and then our eyes met. His face lit up with surprise when he saw me at the glass. Grinning, he sped toward me, the fans around us pounding on the boards. He slammed into the glass playfully, shooting me a wink before skating off. Moments later, the rest of the team flooded the ice.

I sat surrounded by Will’s family for the rest of the game. Every time the Sharks scored, we erupted in celebration, hugging and cheering together. The energy was contagious, and it made for one of the most exhilarating experiences of my life.

When the game finally ended, Will’s parents and I made our way down to greet him alongside the other families. As the players wrapped up post-game interviews, Will finally emerged, heading straight for his parents’ arms. I captured the precious moment in pictures. After they shared a few words, Will spotted me. Without a second thought, he rushed over, scooping me into his arms and spinning me around. He set me down gently, his lips quickly finding mine for a deep, grateful kiss.

“You did it, baby,” I whispered.

“And I couldn’t have done it without you,” he replied, his smile never fading.

The morning sun filtered through the half-open blinds, casting soft stripes of light across the room. The plush polyester cushions enveloped two of the Hughes brothers' friends, who were still sprawled out in last night’s clothes, presumably still drunk. Beer cans littered the floor, crumpled and empty. Trevor’s arm dangled off the couch, while his other hand clutched a drool-covered pillow. Across from him, Alex scrolled through his Instagram feed, the volume muted to avoid further tormenting his hungover brain.

I stirred in my bed as the warmth beside me shifted, the weight of the blankets suddenly feeling lighter. Slowly, I opened my eyes and propped myself up on my elbows. Connor's bare back faced me, his muscles rippling subtly as he stretched.

“Con?” I mumbled, my voice husky with sleep.

He turned toward me, his hair falling messily over his eyes, shadowing his face in the soft morning light. “Hey, babe. I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to wake you,” he said softly. Leaning over, he brushed a strand of hair from my face, tucking it behind my ear. His eyes glimmered as they met mine.

“Why are you up? It’s so early,” I murmured, my gaze drifting down to his toned abdomen.

Connor let out a low chuckle, the sound rumbling from his chest. “It’s twelve, baby—it’s not exactly early.”

A groan escaped my lips. “Come on, Y/N, I’m starving. Doesn’t some warm eggs or waffles sound sooo good right now?” he teased, giving my body a gentle shake.

“Mmm, I guess it does,” I mumbled back.

With a swift motion, Connor ripped the duvet off me, crumpling it at the bottom of the bed. He swung his legs off the mattress, his feet padding softly against the wooden floor as he moved toward his bag. He pulled out a pair of pajama pants and a Blackhawks Hockey t-shirt, but just as he went to slip on the shirt, I interrupted with a playful plea.

“Do you haaaave to?” I drawled, dragging out my words.

“Do I have to?” Connor echoed with a smirk.

“Put that on,” I pouted.

“My shirt?” He laughed as I nodded in return. “Why? You like what you see?”

I stepped closer, our bodies barely inches apart. He shivered as my fingers traced the contours of his chest, cool against the warmth of his skin. “Hmmm, maybe I do,” I said, smiling sheepishly.

My hand drifted up to his face, my fingers grazing down his jawline as he leaned into my touch. His large hands found my waist and pulled me flush against him. He pressed his lips to mine, humming softly at the contact.

“Yoooo, what the fuck!” came a third voice from behind the cracked door. Connor and I broke apart instantly, my lips already missing his warmth.

“Can you not do my sister while we’re all here? Matter of fact, at all?” Jack's voice rang out.

“We weren’t—” Connor stammered.

“Get outta here, Jack, oh my god,” I groaned, rolling my eyes.

“Well, I was gonna tell you that me and Quinn made breakfast—or, I guess, lunch—but it seems like you two already ate... each other’s faces,” Jack said sassily.

“Wait, no! I’m sorry, I’m starving!” I shouted after Jack, who was already halfway down the hallway.

“Come on, Connie,” he pouted, clearly embarrassed by what had just happened. I clasped Connor's hand and dragged him down the hallway to the kitchen. Luke, Trevor, and Alex were gathered around the circular table, their faces buried in their plates. You’d think these boys hadn’t eaten in days. The can beneath Trevor's hand crunched under pressure as he washed down his sugary waffles with a gulp of beer.

“Wow, drinking already?” I remarked as Connor and I walked through the doorway.

“You know it,” Trevor replied, lifting his drink in the air like a trophy.

“Morning, guys,” my eldest brother Quinn greeted as we reached the kitchen island.

“Morning, Quinnifer,” I responded, filling a plate with pancakes, piling on butter and syrup.

“What are we doing today?” I asked, glancing over at Quinn.

“I think we’re just hanging around today. Might take the boat for a spin,” he answered.

Connor stayed quiet, following my lead as he gathered his own plate of food. He grabbed a few pancakes, steering clear of the sugary toppings and opting for some fruit instead. If I had pressed him on it, he would have had to explain how his trainer would kill him for indulging too much.

Connor looked up at Jack and Quinn. “Thanks for the food, guys. This looks great,” he said before heading to take a seat. My brothers both responded with casual, “No problem, man.”

By the time everyone finished, it was almost one-thirty. All the boys, besides Connor, had changed into swimwear and piled into the living room. Out on the back porch, I sat in a hammock wrapped in Connor’s arms.

“Do you want to go boating with everyone else today?” I asked, breaking our comfortable silence.

His lips parted. “We’ve spent the last couple of days with the boys… this could be our chance for some alone time,” he proposed.

I tilted my head up at him, my cheek resting against his soft shirt. “Hmmm, I can get behind that.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah,” I smirked. “What do you have in mind?”

“I guess you’ll have to find out,” he shrugged.

This dork is gonna be the death of me.

I put this together super quickly for yall! I wanted to get something out as so many people wanted more! What do u want connor and reader to get up to next part?

As the 2024 hockey season drew to a close, Connor and I made the spontaneous decision to embark on a road trip from Chicago to Michigan, where I planned to introduce him to the beloved Hughes summer lake house tradition. Every summer for as long as I can remember, my family has spent the majority of the summer in Michigan, lounging at the lake house. With every mile closer to our destination, my heart quickened its pace, anticipation mingled with nerves as the moment of collision between my two worlds drew near. Yet, amidst my own jitters, I couldn't help but notice the anxiety radiating from the driver's seat beside me, where Connor sat, his nerves seemingly even more pronounced than mine.

It seemed like he was on a timer; every couple of minutes, he dragged his palms against his thighs, wiping his sweat to keep his grip on the wheel. In between that, he’d run his hands through his hair and check his reflection in the rearview mirror. After watching him do this a few times, I couldn't help but chuckle. Connor glanced over at me before turning back to the road and smiled. “What?” he chuckled back at me.

“You are just cute, that's all,” I replied, still with a smile plastered on my face.

“Oh yeah?”

“For Sure”

The car fell into silence for a minute. It was a comfortable silence, but you couldn't help but feel bad that he was nervous. “Connie, they are gonna love you. I promise.”

“I really hope so, y/n.”

“I know they don't know you yet, but I do know they already admire your skill and drive. But they are gonna love you, promise.”

Connor looked at me, his eyes softened and gave me his signature lopsided smile. I stretched my arm out to the car's console and turned up the radio's volume.

The car rumbled along the graveled, mud-plastered driveway, flanked by towering trees that resembled skyscrapers, the only resemblance to the city we had just departed. Finally, the vehicle came to a halt. Connor shifted the gear to park and wiped his palms once more. He unbuckled his seatbelt, popped the trunk, and went to retrieve some of our luggage from the back. Before handling our belongings, Connor opened my door and offered me a hand. I grasped his hand, stepping out of the car.

“Thank you, Con. Chivalry isn't dead, I suppose. But you gotta do something about the sweat, baby,” I teased.

His eyes rolled, and he bumped me jokingly with his hip. Together, we made our way to the trunk. As I started to gather my things, Connor swiftly snatched the bags from me.

“Hey!” I yelped.

“Chivalry,” he smirked.

Connor, busy with all the bags, let out a huff as he unloaded his arms on the front porch. I rammed my finger into the doorbell multiple times, rapid-fire style, just to annoy my brothers.

“HOLY SHIT MAKE IT STOP!” I heard one of my brothers yell, muffled by the walls. The door swung open revealing the shortest of the three brothers. “QUINNIFER!” I shouted, jumping into his arms. “Hey, Peanut!” he shouted back. We shuffled back into the house where I was then greeted by the other two. After almost being squeezed to death, the attention shifted to the awkward blonde standing alongside the bags. I cleared my throat, “Guys, this is Connor!”

“Hey man, it’s nice to finally meet you,” Quinn said, giving him a handshake. Luke followed suit while Jack just stayed back. The middle brother narrowed his eyes, watching his other brothers greet the new guy. “Jack quit being a dickhead and say hello.

“I’m just busting his chops y/n, don't worry,” Jack smirked. “What's up?” He finally spoke, shaking Connor's hand.

“Quinny, can you please handle our bags while I give Connor the grand tour?”

“Whatever, anything for my favorite sibling,” he replied, immediately getting hassled by the other two.

I managed to grab Connor's hand and sneak him around the brawl leading him into the living room. His eyes trailed along the pictures that decorated the mantle; pictures that told the Hughes’ past summers, the quilt that was draped against the couch; the quilt that was ripped and resewn back together, it held too many memories to throw out. He soaked in the room, observing all the details laid before him. I plopped down onto the couch, also soaking everything in. “What do ya think?” I questioned.

Being the same age as Luke created a unique bond between you, distinct from your relationships with his two older brothers. When Quinn and Jack would sneak out to meet with some girls by the dock, it would be you and Luke in your makeshift fort binging movies. Or when everyone would pile onto the boat to go wake surfing, Luke would stay behind cause he knows you get seasick. It was the stuff like that growing up that made you two so close. Your mothers would gush behind your backs, betting on your future together on who would confess first. But you two were young and oblivious, just living in the moment, cherishing all the time you could be together before summer came to an end.

As your eyes met Luke's, his demeanor changed; his eyes softened but his body tensed. He raised his hand, tapping his leg, signaling you to come and sit with him. For some reason, you were slightly taken aback. It is not like you haven't shared a seat before… you guys used to have sleepovers and share a bed. But it may be the fact that you both are all grown up and that Luke got a whole hell of a lot more handsome. You mouthed “Are you sure?” over to the boy, and he just replied with a nod. The conversations around you continued as you walked across the wooden patio.

"Hey..." you began, glancing down at Luke. His gaze rose to meet yours, and a grin spread across his face as he wrapped one of his large hands around your waist, almost pulling you onto his lap. You followed his lead and took a seat. His arm then encircled your waist completely, and he rested his head on your shoulder. Your body initially tensed at the sudden display of affection, but soon you relaxed against his chest as the two of you eased into a casual conversation.

Luke's older brothers didn't miss his bold actions. Quinn nudged Jack in the side and discreetly pointed in your direction. Jack stifled a laugh followed by a playful jab to the gut by his older brother. “Who knew Lukey had game?” Jack joked with a stupid smirk. Quinn merely shrugged, signaling Jack to halt his teasing before you and Luke caught on.

Throughout the rest of the summer, Luke's gestures did not simmer down. Anyone who didn't know the pair would think they were a couple. Whenever you were together, one of you was always hanging on to the other, like a support beam. If one of you headed to get food, the other promptly followed suit. And if one of you emerged from the lake sopping wet, the other immediately wrapped them in a warm towel. Luke's actions weren't entirely surprising to you. Longing touches, tight embraces, the gentle tucking of hair behind your ear—all felt like natural extensions of your friendship. But both your mothers saw. They saw the subtle dance of affection that whispered of deeper feelings. It was in the lingering gazes, the softness of their voices when speaking to each other, and the way their laughter seemed to harmonize effortlessly. Luke's brothers could see it. They could see the unspoken attraction between you, clear as day. Deep down you knew it, Luke too. Yet both of you could not rattle the idea that the other didn't reciprocate.

The boat ripped through the water under the control of Jack. “Jack ease up man! You're gonna kill us all,” Quinn yelped. Luke, who sat lazily right next to you, just chuckled at their antics. You looked a little pale in the face.

“Hey… You okay y/n?” Luke questioned, dragging his hand through his damp curls.

“Does he not know how to drive this thing?” You complained sluggishly.

“Awh is someone feeling a little seasick?” He teased. “Jack slow down you asshat or let Huggy take over!” He shouted over to the two boys who still happened to be fussing at the wheel.

“C’mere…” Luke slung his arm around your shoulder and you instinctively rested your head against his.

Jack shuffled out of the driver's seat annoyed. He shot a glance over in your and Luke's direction.

“Oh my god, can you guys just kiss and get this over with already… Jesus,” Jack mumbled, letting out his frustration. The color returned to your face as Quinn took over, but the pale was replaced with an embarrassing red. You hid your face in Luke's chest trying to ignore Jack's words.

“Fuck off, Jack,” Luke retorted. “You're such a dick.”

The sun had set and the boat pulled into the dock. The sky was all different hues of pinks, yellows, oranges, and reds. Jack had rushed off the boat to meet up with this ‘rocket’ he was talking to leaving you, Luke, and Quinn. “Don't worry Huggy we can clean this up,” Luke said, gesturing to the empty beer cans, towels, and sunscreen that littered the boat. “You sure?” Quinn hummed. You could tell he was tired; I guess it is hard work being the boat's captain. Luke nodded back at his eldest brother while you let out a groan. The boat bobbed as Quinn stepped off. You shuffled across the boat's floor, grabbing a trash bag. Luke tossed the empty cans into the bag that you held open. “Maybe you picked the wrong sport, Lukey,” you joked as he threw another can in, mimicking a basketball toss. Your teamwork was pretty effective, only taking 15 minutes to get the boat back in good shape. Luke hopped off the boat onto the dock. His hand extended to grab yours.

“M’lady,” He snorted, taking a bow, helping you off the boat.

You hit him with your hips. “Dork,” you rebutted.

As the colors of the sunset faded into the velvety embrace of the night sky, you and Luke found yourselves on the dock, your feet dangling over the edge. The only sounds were the gentle whispers of the wind through the trees that seemed to be as tall as skyscrapers, the crickets that chirped into the early hours of the morning, and the crashing of water as it rolled into the muddy lakeside shore.

Luke let out a soft sigh, his gaze fixed on you with a look that made your heart flutter. You tried to keep your composure, your eyes focused straight ahead. But you simply could not help yourself any longer.

"What are you looking at, Hughes?" you quipped, breaking the silence.

"You," he replied simply, his voice barely above a whisper.

You turned to face him, your breath catching in your throat as his hand gently brushed a stray strand of hair behind your ear. His touch sent shivers down your spine, igniting a warmth deep within you.

"Me?" you echoed, unable to tear your gaze away from his.

"Only you," he murmured, inching closer until there was barely any space between you.

He took his hand, guiding a piece of your fallen hair behind your ear. His hand then stayed resting on your cheek. Placing your hand on top of his you spoke, "Luke…".

“Can I kiss you y/n?” he interrupted.

Your eyes dilated, still staring back at his. Your throat went dry, parched by the sudden rush of adrenaline, while your heart pounded against your ribcage, drowning out all other sounds. The only thing you could do was nod. He brought his face close an inch away from yours. His hot breath whispered against your cheek. Time stretched, suspended in a haze of anticipation before his lips finally met yours. His unoccupied hand quickly found a new place to reside, resting on your hip, pulling you in as close as possible. Your lips parted, both in search of air. That single kiss was not enough for Luke. He dove back in, pressing kisses to the side of your neck, trailing behind your ear, with his hair tickling your jaw. The new sensation made you gasp, locking your fingers into his hair. “Luke…” you groaned.

Eventually, the heat had worn down, leaving both parties in shock at the events that had just occurred.

“Y/n…” Luke started, “I have liked you- wait no…” he stopped himself. “I have loved you for the longest time. At the end of every summer, my stomach twists itself in a knot. I dread leaving the lake, I dread leaving summer behind, but I dread leaving you the most. I am not sure how I have been able to get myself through the long winters and the busy fall. It may be the lingering thought that I will eventually make my way back to you. You are my best friend, you always have been and you always will be. I don't wanna screw this up, and if you don't like me back we can pretend this never even happened…” he rambled.

“Luke.” You cut him off.

“Yeah?” He quickly replied, turning his eyes onto you.

“We literally just made out you idiot… I would hope I like you back.” His chest sank back in relief with an exhale. “I cannot picture my life without you.” You added with a more serious tone. “We have grown up together and I expect to grow old with you.” Luke didn't reply with words. He pulled you back into a deep kiss.