𝗥𝗢𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗦, ʟᴜᴋᴇ ʜᴜɢʜᴇs

twenty-three

THE sun dipped lower in the sky, casting a golden hue over the lake as the Hughes family relaxed after a day filled with warmth and laughter. Charlotte-Alexandria sat on the porch swing, swaying gently, her gaze drifting over the tranquil water. She could hear the faint sounds of Luke and his brothers chatting by the fire pit, their voices a comforting murmur in the background.

Ellen emerged from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a dish towel, and took a seat next to Charlotte. "You looked like you needed some company," she said with a warm smile.

Charlotte returned the smile, feeling a deep sense of contentment. "I'm glad you joined me. It's been such a wonderful day."

Ellen nodded, her eyes softening as she looked out at her sons. "It has. I love seeing them all together like this. And I love seeing Luke so happy."

Charlotte's cheeks warmed at the mention of Luke, but before she could respond, the sound of car engines and excited voices filled the air. She straightened up, peering down the driveway. "Are those...?"

Ellen grinned. "The boys' friends, I believe. They've been looking forward to this."

Quinn appeared in front of them, a grin on his face. "You guys might want to come out. The cavalry has arrived."

Charlotte looked up, her humor piqued. "The cavalry?"

Ellen wiped her hands on her jeans, a smile tugging at her lips. "This should be interesting. Let's go see how they've grown."

Charlotte felt a flutter of nerves in her stomach. She'd heard plenty about Luke's hockey friends, but meeting them in person was another thing entirely. She followed Quinn and Ellen outside, her heart beating a little faster with each step.

As they rounded the corner, Charlotte spotted them—two groups of guys, each one looking like they'd stepped straight out of a sports magazine. They were laughing and catching up with Luke, who looked up and smiled the moment he saw Charlotte approaching.

"Guys, this is Alex," Luke said, his voice full of pride as he introduced her. "Alex, these are the guys."

The group of men turned their attention to her, and for a moment, Charlotte felt like she was under a spotlight. But the smiles on their faces were welcoming, and the tension in her chest eased.

"Alex, huh?" one of the guys, a tall, broad-shouldered guy with a mischievous grin, said. "I'm Ethan, you can call me Eddie. So you're the one who's been keeping our boy here on his toes?"

"Guilty as charged," Charlotte said with a laugh, trying to mask her nerves.

Another guy stepped forward, a bit shorter but stocky, with an easy smile. "I'm Dylan. Luke's mentioned you a few times."

"A few times?" another one of the group—Mark, if she remembered correctly—chimed in. "Dude, she's all he talks about."

Luke groaned, but there was a smile playing on his lips. "Ignore them, Alex. They're just jealous."

Charlotte felt her cheeks heat up, but she smiled through it. The guys were a mix of playful and genuine, making her feel like she was already part of the group.

As they all moved to the porch, the conversation flowed easily. The guys shared stories from the road—wild games, crazy fans, and their relentless pursuit of victory. The Umich crew wasn't far behind with their own tales of college hockey glory, filling the air with laughter and friendly banter.

Charlotte found herself relaxing more and more. These were Luke's closest friends, the ones who had seen him at his best and worst, and now they were welcoming her into their circle. It was a new kind of acceptance, different from the warm embrace of the Hughes family but just as meaningful.

At some point, Charlotte noticed how the guys kept glancing at Luke, their eyes full of something she couldn't quite place. It was like they were seeing him in a new light, one that involved her in the picture.

When the conversation lulled for a moment, Dylan turned to Luke, a teasing smirk on his face. "So, man, are you ever gonna tell us how you managed to score someone like Alex? Or are you just gonna keep us guessing?"

Luke rubbed the back of his neck, a sheepish smile crossing his face. "Guess I got lucky."

"Lucky, my ass," Cole said, rolling his eyes. "You've never looked happier, dude. We've all noticed it."

Charlotte's heart swelled at the words, and she caught Luke's eye, sharing a soft smile with him. There was something in his gaze, something that told her he felt the same way.

The evening continued, filled with easy conversation and the comfortable company of friends. Charlotte found herself fitting in seamlessly, laughing along with the guys, sharing stories, and feeling like she belonged in this world that Luke was so deeply a part of.

As the night wore on, the porch was filled with the warm glow of fairy lights and the sound of cicadas in the distance. Charlotte leaned back in her chair, feeling a deep sense of contentment. She was surrounded by people who had come to mean so much to her, and she knew, without a doubt, that this was where she was meant to be.

By the time they all headed inside, there was a shared understanding among Luke's friends. They saw how happy he was, how much brighter his world seemed with Charlotte in it. And Charlotte, in turn, felt the warmth of their acceptance, knowing that she had not only won over the Hughes family but also the people who mattered most to Luke.

As the night drew to a close, Charlotte found herself standing on the porch with Luke, the others having gone inside. He reached for her hand, pulling her close. "You were amazing tonight," he murmured, his voice full of admiration.

"I was nervous," she admitted, resting her head against his shoulder.

"You didn't need to be," he said softly. "They love you. Just like I do."

Charlotte's breath hitched, and she looked up at him, her heart pounding in her chest. The way he looked at her, with so much love and adoration, made her feel like the luckiest person in the world.

"I love you too," she whispered back, standing on her tiptoes to press a soft kiss to his lips.

In that moment, surrounded by the quiet of the night and the warmth of their love, Charlotte knew that this was just the beginning of something beautiful.

They both were pulled apart by a very shrill scream, Trevor's, maybe?

"What is that!?" she hears, Luke rests a head on her shoulder, "What was that?" he asks, she lets out a chortle and shrugs.

"Trevor met Shrimp."

"Goddamit Trevor." Luke groans dragging Charlotte-Alexandria inside to go introduce the weird one-eyed dog to the rest of the gang.