𝖮𝗇𝖾 𝖣𝖺𝗒 𝖻𝖾𝖿𝗈𝗋𝖾 ⎯⎯  𝖳𝗁𝖾 𝖣𝖺𝗒

𝕵ack leans against Quinn's doorframe, appraising his brother from afar as the older one continues stuffing clothes into the suitcase lying on the ground.

"Excited, are you?", Jack steps into the room uninvited, his tone full of amusement.

Quinn's rolls his eyes, folding pairs of socks together and placing them inside.

"You could say that".

"You do realise you leave the day after tomorrow?".

Quinn shrugs, straightening up as he zips up the suitcase and plops down on the edge of his bed.

"No harm in getting things done early. I had a lot to pack, you know".

"Right. And Cassie's probably packing too now, I assume? You're gonna have fun showing her around Vancouver", Jack presses on, recalling how Cassie — Quinn's best friend and well, unrequited crush — accepted a job in Vancouver since she needed a change of scenery from Los Angeles and Quinn happily offered to let her become his roommate while she gets herself settled in the city.

It works entirely too well in his older brother's favour and that is absolutely not lost on Jack.

Quinn narrows his eyes, "Yeah".

"Sure you don't wanna talk about it? Maybe even about the living arrangement? Because I know you're screaming with joy internally".

"If anything, you should be the one talking to me. June's coming back tomorrow, bud".

And just like that, Jack's teasing smile falters, shoulders tensing as he is forced to come back to the very thing that he's been trying to distract himself from ever since he woke up.

He is just so fucking nervous. It's insane.

What will she say? How will she react? Will she be happy? Will she take him back? Will she admit to feeling the same? Will she finally become his girl?

Or will she say no? Will she run again? Will she panic? Even worse, will June simply turn him away and go on living her life? Find someone else? While he slowly dies inside?

Jack shakes his head making Quinn sigh.

"Sit", the older Hughes pats the space beside him on the bed and reluctantly, Jack takes a seat.

"I don't know what's going through your head but I can tell you one thing. Whatever happens tomorrow, it's gonna be just fine. You will be just fine, no matter what".

Jack blinks, looking down at his hands.

"That's the thing though. I may act like I'm fine but I won't be, not in the real sense. And I—I don't wanna fake it, Quinn. I really, really love her. I want to make this work. I want her to choose me. I'm still so confused about why she ran away".

Quinn tentatively places a hand on his shoulder gaining his attention.

"I've known her for as long as you have and one thing I know about June is that she doesn't run away. Never. Do you remember how she had that huge fight with Luke the summer before you got drafted and Luke was sulking in the house all day?".

Jack nods, "He wouldn't even tell anyone what happened. He kept moping around. Wouldn't even go over to her house because he thought she'd slam the door on his face".

Quinn smiles lightly.

"She came over just before dinner, took him out on the porch and sorted it out. I'd never seen them fight so badly but she couldn't even go a day without fixing it. Finding a solution. So, yeah. I'm confused about her running away too. But y'know what that proves?".

Jack raises a brow.

Quinn chuckles, patting his younger brother's back.

"She's really scared about this. Whatever you make her feel, it scares her. You made the girl who never runs from anything, run away. I think that counts for something. I've seen how she is with you. You're not the only one feeling a lot here".

"But", Jack rubs a hand over his face, "I keep thinking, what if she realises she doesn't want more? Or she says yes right now but dumps me afterwards because, well, it just isn't working for her? Because she's found something better? It terrifies me to think of her coming over to see us in the future with someone else by her side. Someone else who's lucky to be loved by her. For me, she's—".

Quinn leadens an attentative glance, silently urging him to continue.

He runs his hands through his hair, gripping it tightly and looking at the ground.

"For me, she's the rest of my life", he whispers, hoping that speaking those words delicately out into existence somehow makes them true in every sense.

He hears a sharp intake of breath and just as Quinn is about to respond, another voice interrupts them from the doorway.

"You two look like you're having an intense discussion".

Jack glances up as Luke saunters in with a taunting smile which turns into a squint when he takes in his brothers' expressions.

"Who died?".

"No one. Jack's finally talking to me though", Quinn replies.

"About . . . . June?", Luke's eyes flicker to Jack.

"Yes".

"Shouldn't I hear this too then? She is my best friend, after all".

"Which is exactly why I kept myself from doing anything for so long", Jack states irritatedly.

Luke perks an eyebrow, "Didn't keep you from sleeping with her though".

"I love her—".

"Yeah, I know. Hence, why I've been giving you the benefit of the doubt. But what happens if it doesn't work out? Then I'll be stuck with a best friend who's too awkward to be around my family and you'll find someone else to fall in love with".

"He literally just said that for him, she's the rest of his life", Quinn exhales, "You'd know that if you came in two minutes ago".

Luke stands there, stunned.

His mouth parts, a divot between his eyebrows as he turns to Jack in an attempt to find his words.

"See, speechless", Quinn comments.

Luke shakes his head, "What? I—Wow. I was mad because I thought you were just fuck buddies with her then you say you're in love with her and now, you want to what? Marry her?".

"Okay, first of all", Jack holds up a finger, "fuck buddies sounds gross. Like it didn't mean anything to me which we have, by now, established that it did. And second of all, yeah. If she lets me. I'm serious about her, Luke. I always have been which is the reason I didn’t do anything for so long because I didn't want to fuck things up between you and her and my friendship with her".

A slow smile spreads on Luke's face, he leans back observing his brother.

"Friends with benefits? Is that better?".

Jack scrunches up his nose, "It still sounds weird".

"But that is what you were doing", Quinn remarks.

"No, it was—it was more than that, okay? It was like she was my girlfriend but she also wasn't. And no one knew about it".

"Oh, I had my suspicions".

Both the younger ones turn to Quinn who's staring at Jack with a mischievous grin.

"What?".

Quinn shrugs, "I had my suspicions. I came down to get water once, at the lake house, in the middle of the night and saw her sitting on the kitchen counter eating ice cream while you", he looks pointedly at Jack, "stood in between her legs".

"What?", Luke shrieks out but Jack simply stares, dumbfounded.

He truly thought they'd gotten away with it until Luke walked in on them.

"You never said anything. I didn't even hear you come in", he says, accusingly.

Quinn grins wider, "Yeah because I got confused then realised there was obviously something going on there. So, I went back upstairs and came down twenty minutes later when you were both gone".

"You never even said anything to me!", Luke gapes.

"I did, actually. I told you they seemed closer this summer but you acted like them being more than friends would be the craziest thing in the world".

"You could've just led with what you saw in the kitchen. Then I would've understood. And not come close to dying when I walked in on Jack on top of her!".

Jack flinches at the memory, "I thought we agreed to never talk about that again".

Luke glares at him, "Oh, no. You're never hearing the end of this. I'm fucking traumatised, bro".

"I was just talking to her", Jack retorts.

"While you were on top of her. I almost thought I was still napping and in the middle of a nightmare".

Jack flinches again and Quinn directs a glare at his little brother.

"Quit being so dramatic, will you", he tells Luke who huffs.

"That was crazy but, obviously, now that I've somewhat gotten used to the idea of you being in love with her — God, that still sounds so weird — I'm on your side. Well, not really but in the sense that I want you guys to work things out. And for you to not fuck it up in the future. Not gonna lie, it would be kinda cool to have her officially become a part of our family".

Jack grimaces, lightening up a little at the idea of June officially becoming a part of their family.

"Thanks for the vote of confidence".

Luke smiles as if it's genuine gratitude, "You're welcome".

"Also, don't forget that if he does something slightly stupid, Maureen will gut him alive", Quinn points, Luke nodding in affirmation.

"I love how much faith you guys have in me", Jack scoffs.

Luke brushes him off, "Now that he's finally opened his mouth, I think it's time for someone else to do the same", he meaningfully glances at Quinn.

Quinn shudders, shooing them.

"I'm perfectly fine, please get the hell out and let me do nothing in peace".

"Or maybe text Cassie", Jack supplies.

"Or maybe text Cassie", Quinn retorts tauntingly, getting ready to throw them out if necessary.

***
it's our one year anniversary baes, one entire year of june & jack! <3 i'm so so happy that i get to do this, even if i'm inconsistent at times i've still got you guys waiting and cheering no matter how long it takes for me to update. thank you so very much for all your support and love, it means the world to me 🥹🫶🏼