𝗥𝗢𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗦, ʟᴜᴋᴇ ʜᴜɢʜᴇs

fifteen

THE warm glow of the restaurant's lights cast a cozy ambiance over the Hughes family and Charlotte-Alexandria as they settled into their seats. Charlotte felt a jolt of excitement and nerves as she took in the scene, glancing around at the familiar yet somehow different faces of Luke's family.

"So, Charlotte, how's work been treating you?" Jim asked, leaning forward with genuine interest.

"It's been good, actually. Busy, but I like it," Charlotte replied, smiling.

Luke's eyes lingered on her, a soft smile playing at the corners of his lips. Every now and then, he'd catch her gaze, and they'd share a knowing look that made her heart race.

As the evening progressed, the conversation flowed easily. Jack and Quinn exchanged playful banter, Ellen shared stories about the boys' childhood, and Jim kept everyone laughing with his dry wit.

"Remember when Luke tried to teach himself to skate in the living room?" Ellen said, chuckling.

"Oh no, not that story again," Luke groaned, but he was smiling.

"Wait, I haven't heard this one," Charlotte said, her curiosity piqued.

Ellen grinned. "He was about five and decided he wanted to be just like Jack and Quinn. So he strapped on a pair of rollerblades and tried to skate around the living room. Needless to say, it didn't go well."

Luke shook his head, embarrassed but amused. "I had a lot of bruises that week."

Charlotte laughed, feeling more at ease with every passing moment. The family's warmth and acceptance made her feel like she truly belonged.

As the night drew to a close, Quinn, Jim, and Ellen prepared to head back to their hotel. "We'll see you all tomorrow," Jim said, giving Luke a meaningful look. "Get some rest, you three."

Jack, Luke, and Charlotte waved them off, and once the door closed, a comfortable silence settled over the apartment.

Jack stretched and yawned. "I'm beat. Heading to bed. Night, guys."

"Night, Jack," Luke and Charlotte-Alexandria said in unison.

After Jack went to his room, Charlotte-Alexandria noticed Luke seemed restless. "You okay?" she asked, tilting her head slightly.

Luke ran a hand through his hair, sighing. "I just... I'm a bit nervous about tomorrow. I don't want to embarrass myself in front of you."

Charlotte-Alexandria stepped closer, her expression softening. "Luke, you're going to do great. You always do."

He gave her a half-smile but didn't seem convinced. "Thanks, Alex. I just can't seem to shake it tonight."

"Do you want to talk about it?" she offered, reaching out to touch his arm gently.

Luke hesitated, then nodded. "Yeah, but not here. Come on."

He led her to his room. His bed was unmade, a testament to his earlier nervousness.

Charlotte-Alexandria took a seat on the edge of the bed, patting the spot next to her. "Sit down. Let's talk."

Luke sat beside her, their shoulders touching. "It's just... I've never felt this way before. Not about hockey, but about you. I don't want to mess things up."

Charlotte's heart skipped a beat. "Luke, you're not going to mess things up. I promise."

He looked at her, his eyes intense. "You mean a lot to me, Charlotte-Alexandria. More than just a friend."

Her breath caught in her throat. "You mean a lot to me too, Luke."

Before she could say anything more, he leaned in, capturing her lips in a soft, tender kiss. It was as if the world outside ceased to exist, and in that moment, it was just the two of them.