𝕷uke worries too much.

They'll write that on your headstone, June would say but June isn't here and June's not picking up and June's out with a guy Luke barely knows anything about and June was supposed to call him ten minutes ago.

It's fine, obviously. There's no need to be concerned about her, Emma would never let her go out with someone she herself didn't trust.

So, it's fine.

Really, it's fine.

"Expecting a call?".

His startled glance meets Jack's who comes waltzing in out of nowhere per usual poking his nose where it's least required, or entertained.

But this time he doesn't dismiss his older brother as easily.

"June, yeah", Luke clears his throat turning back to the silent phone held tightly in his hand.

It's okay, it's fine.

She's probably stuck in traffic.

Why did he let her go out with a man he's never met?

Probably because she takes her own decisions and with his lifestyle, it's difficult meeting every single one of her acquaintances firsthand.

But just . . . .

"Oh", Jack coughs slightly shuffling towards the couch to sit beside his clearly distressed brother.

"Are you . . . okay?".

The younger Hughes laughs humourlessly, rubbing his eyes as he places his phone facedown on the armrest.

"Yeah, just", he hesitates for a moment before thinking fuck it, this is Jack, "she's out on a date and she said she'd call me when she gets back. She was supposed to call me like fifteen minutes ago? Yeah, I'm freaking out. I know it's not a big deal but . . .", he shakes his head settling back.

Jack remains staring at him, his mouth clamped shut for the first time in his entire twenty-one years and eleven months of existence and normally, Luke would be grateful for it.

But today's not a normal day.

He frowns, "Would you say something?".

The older one blinks clearing his throat while raking a lazy hand through his overgrown hair.

"I didn't know she was dating again".

A choked laugh escapes past Luke's lips.

"That's what you're worried about? She's out with a man. I don’t trust men, Jack".

Jack's face twists into a confused scowl.

"You're a man".

"Yeah but I'm normal and the kind of guys June goes for . . . .", he tips his head in thought trying to put his distaste into words.

Jack shifts uncomfortably, exhaling a loud sigh with his permanently tired blue eyes fixed on his brother.

"Call Emma".

"She'll yell at me".

"It's worth a try".

Luke groans quietly snatching his phone from the armrest and unlocks it, searching through his contacts for Emma's number.

His thumb hovers above her contact in reluctance, his mind telling him to calm the fuck down while his entire body tells him to just hit call and get this over with.

June's call decides to interrupt his thoughts at just the right moment.

"Hello? Oh my god, are you alive? Why are you calling me so late?", he exhales out in relief hearing her let out a strangled whine from the other side.

"It's just a few minutes, chill".

"No, don't you dare tell me to chill. I thought something happened to you, you haven't been out with a guy in ages. Jesus Christ, Bauer".

June laughs softly, the sound of her voice enough to relax the pounding in his heart.

"You're such a dad, I love you".

Luke chuckles, "Well, I'm not your dad so stop worrying me like this. How was it?".

At this, she seems to consider her next few words.

"It was . . .", she weighs it out, a loud shuffling and sigh sounding out from the other side of the receiver, "it was nice. He's nice. Really nice. He was actually interested in knowing stuff about me and that's just . . I don't know, Luke, that was kinda sweet".

A small smile tips up the corners of his lips, Jack's stare remains firm on his face gauging his reaction and undoubtedly, eavesdropping on June's responses.

"I'm so glad. He sounds great, I'm glad you had a good time".

"Yeah", she sighs laughing under her breath right after, "me too".

"So will you see him again?".

"I might".

"I guess it was good then".

He can hear her swallow and almost feels ready to address it when she replies again.

"It was good, uh huh. I gotta go now but . . . . we'll talk later?".

"Sure".

"Bye, love you", she smacks her lips loudly against the phone eliciting a wholehearted laugh from him.

"Love you too, Junie".

He ends the call with a light heart and sits back still grinning when his gaze lands upon Jack who sits right next to him with an unreadable expression on his face.

Jack rubs at his brow, "She had a good time?".

Luke nods happily trying not to notice the sudden change in his brother's demeanor.

The latter's mouth tightens, his hand coming up to rub the back of his neck as he gets up on his feet to walk away.

"Good for her", he nods wordlessly exiting the room and leaving Luke to wonder just what exactly his problem is today.

***
i have SO MUCH planned for this book, it's insane