glitch | jack hughes (rewritten)

chapter 34

disclaimer: smut 

josephine lee

I sit on the edge of the couch, my legs bouncing up and down while I watch the Michigan hockey game on my TV. Jack sits beside me, mimicking my stance but instead stays perfectly still with his elbows rested on his knees. "Come on, come on, come on." I whisper, popping my knuckles as I take a deep breath. 

Without tearing his attention from the screen Jack drops one of his hands and places a calming grip on my thigh. I'm sure the noise my legs were making drove him insane and this is his way of politely telling me to stop.  I breathe in through my nose watching Rutger take control of the puck, causing everyone in Michigan merch to stand up and pound their fists against the boards. 

Rutger slaps the puck into the net at the right time, getting it in between the goalie's legs before he has a chance to snap them closed. This goal puts the Wolverines in the lead, I stand up clapping my hands as if I was in the room with them. Jack stands with me, patting my shoulders as we watch Luke wrap his arm around his friend. 

With only three minutes left on the clock, there is still a chance that the Gophers could score. I cross my fingers, bargaining with God so Michigan can make it to the Frozen Four Championship. I'll stop smoking, I'll stop lying, I'll stop anything. If God could respond to me he'd probably say, "Yeah right, loser." 

Jack winces, watching the time run out instead of watching the boys throw their sticks and gloves on the ice. I feel my heart squeeze at the look of pure joy on their faces, a large knot forming in my throat as I watch them through the screen. Luke skates to his goalie and tackles him before everyone else joins him. 

I sniffle quietly, trying to stop any tears from falling out before Jack can catch me. While he's entertained with his family group chat, responding to parents and congratulating his little brother I sniffle again but this time I get caught. He gasps dramatically, pointing a finger at me like I did something horrible.

"You're soft for teenage boys!" Jack says with wide eyes and a hurt expression. He's offended because it took him months of begging and ghosting to simply get my attention and his little brother and his friends gained this side of me after a few days. "I'm about to start my period, shut up!" I tell him, wiping my eyes before tears can stream down my face. 

I'm nowhere near my period, but this excuse can help me avoid this silly argument we always have. "Do you have a fire extinguisher, Josephine Liar Lee? I track your period so I can avoid any of your fun surprises. You won't start for another two weeks." He says, catching me in my little white lie. 

I giggle at the way he worded my horrible mood and craving for physical touch, pressing my eyelashes up as the back of my fingers pick up any tears. "I can't help it. They caught me at a good time." I laugh, scooting into Jack's open arms with my eyes leaking tears of joy. I feel his phone buzz against my back, probably more texts from his family. 

natty hughes league 

mom great job luke, i'm so so proud of you! see you soon

quinn atta boy moosey, making me proud!

dad great game, big day for the hughes family.

jack congrats loser.
dang it loser* 
loser* 
shit! loser*
nope can't type your name loser  

luke thank you mom, dad, quinn, and jackoff. 

mom aren't you boys the sweetest 😁

I chuckle at their messages, sitting back down on the couch while Jack turns off the TV, and puts his phone on the coffee table in front of us. I look around for my phone, hoping to send Luke and his friends a nice message to congratulate them on advancing to the next round. I pat the cushions, ready to rip them off in case my phone slipped in between the cracks.