dear jack • jack hughes

009

STEP YOU TAKE
Liana's Point of View
📍Newark, New Jersey
November 2021

"Fuck you!" I yell over the phone. This is the eighth time this week that Quinn has made fun of me for failing my math test.

"I'm just kidding with you, Lia." He says, laughing with his words. "And even if you did fail college, you know Jack would let you live with him and you would never have to lift a finger ever again."

And he's not exaggerating. Jack has actually told me that multiple times. For example, he said, "You should come be a WAG in Jersey and live with me. Fuck college, I'll pay for everything." He said.

We aren't dating, and we haven't kissed, but I'm honestly fine with that. It's just us, Jack and Lia, we don't need a label right now.

"After I failed that test, I really did think about that option." I admit. I didn't really think about it, but it did sound like a better option that before.

"Are you there yet?" Quinn asks. There is New Jersey. The Devils have a game today and I'm surprising him at his house afterward. They won the game, Jack scored the over time winning goal.

I was there, and I'm glad he didn't see me while I was. Luke gave me a key to his house the last time he was there, he brought it back to me.

So here I am, in a completely dark house waiting for him to walk through that door. "I think he's here, I'll call you back."

"Remember to practice safe sex!" He says before hanging up, I don't even have time to protest that comment.

I set my phone in between my skin and the waistband of my leggings, pulling down my 86 jersey over it once I do.

I hear his car turn off just as quickly has it pulled up. It's late and he's tired, maybe I should've surprised him tomorrow when he's not tired from a game.

I see the door open, and I'm not really hiding. I'm standing right in the open. As soon as he turns on the light next to the door, he'll see me.

I hear the door close, he most likely kicked it closed with his foot because he's been doing that since we've been kids.

The light flicks on and he stops moving. His hand is still near the light switch, his car keys in his other hand, his whole body frozen.

"Are you going to hug my or not, Hughey?" He sets the keys down and pulls me into him, lifting me and spinning me around when he does.

"Why are you- what are- you're here?" He sets me down, hands on either of my shoulders, he doesn't believe I'm actually here.

"I was at the game and I wanted to surprise you after." I say.

"Well this is the best surprise ever." He wants to kiss me, I can tell he wants to kiss me. But he knows that if anything happens, it'll probably be on my terms.

Would it be bad to say that if he kissed me right now.. I wouldn't be mad about it?

The only thing holding me back is I don't want him to disappear on me again. I'm working on trusting them again, and they haven't done anything wrong yet to not make me trust them.

"I'll never let you go again, Lia. Ever. It was the biggest mistake I've ever made in my entire life. I know you don't trust me completely, yet. And that's fine. But whatever happens will be on your terms, not mine, okay?"

Reassurance. It's really important to me. And the fact he knew exactly what to say and why to say it only makes me love him even more.

"Do you wanna watch a movie?" He asks after a few moments.