Power Play: A Jack Hughes Love Story
Ch 1
Chapter Two: Unavoidable Encounters
Y/N had been perfectly content spending the night curled up on the couch, wrapped in a fleece blanket, with Benny and Nala at her feet and Finn and Callie perched on the armrest. The post-game adrenaline had long since worn off, leaving behind only the lingering embarrassment of her very public, very humiliating encounter with Jack Hughes.
Which was exactly why she had zero interest in going anywhere near downtown St. Louis.
Unfortunately for her, Amber had other plans.
“Oh, come on,” Amber whined, standing in Y/N’s doorway with a determined look and a hand on her hip. “You never go out anymore. And it’s Tin Roof. Do you know what that means?”
“That it’s loud, overcrowded, and full of drunk people?” Y/N deadpanned.
Amber rolled her eyes. “No. It means cheap drinks and hot hockey fans.”
Y/N winced at the word hockey, her mind flashing back to the thud of impact and the absolute mortification of locking eyes with Jack Hughes as she ran away like a feral raccoon.
Amber didn’t know about the incident. Y/N had been way too embarrassed to tell anyone, especially Amber, who would absolutely never let her live it down.
“I don’t know…” Y/N hedged, snuggling deeper into her blanket. “I had a long day.”
Amber narrowed her eyes. “Doing what? Hanging out with your dogs?”
“Excuse you, Benny and Nala are excellent company.”
Amber crossed her arms. “Y/N. You love Tin Roof. You love their overpriced vodka cranberries. You love judging people’s dance moves from the bar. And you owe me for skipping out last weekend.”
Y/N groaned, knowing she had lost. “Fine. One drink.”
Amber beamed. “That’s my girl. Now, get dressed. We’re going full hot girl mode tonight.”
Later, at The Tin Roof
The bar was exactly how Y/N remembered it: dimly lit, packed wall-to-wall with people, the air thick with the scent of beer and cheap cologne. The music pulsed through the speakers, shaking the floor beneath her feet as Amber dragged her toward the bar.
Y/N wanted to have fun. She really did. But the nagging feeling in the back of her mind wouldn’t let up. She didn’t know why, but something felt off.
Then, she saw them.
A group of ridiculously tall, ridiculously recognizable men gathered near the back, dressed in casual street clothes but still standing out like sore thumbs. It took her half a second to register what she was looking at before her stomach dropped.
Jack Hughes. And some of his Devils teammates.
Y/N’s breath caught in her throat. Oh, you have got to be kidding me.
Amber, completely oblivious, was busy waving the bartender down. “Ooh, I think I’m feeling tequila tonight.”
Y/N didn’t respond. She was too busy freaking the hell out.
The Blues were playing the Devils again? How had she missed that? Then again, she had been avoiding Hockey Twitter like the plague ever since she got hit by a literal NHL player.
Panic bubbled in her chest as she subtly turned her back to Jack’s group, hoping, no, PRAYING that he wouldn’t notice her. She could not, under any circumstances, explain to Amber why she was suddenly acting weird.
Unfortunately, fate had other plans.
Jack was mid-conversation with one of his teammates when his eyes casually swept the bar—then snapped back in her direction.
Y/N froze.
His brows furrowed in confusion at first, as if trying to place where he’d seen her before. Then, recognition dawned. His lips quirked upward, amused as hell.
“Oh my god,” she muttered under her breath.
Jack Hughes had just spotted her.
And judging by the way he was already heading toward her, she was absolutely screwed.
Y/N’s pulse skyrocketed as Jack weaved through the crowd, heading straight for her like he had nothing better to do than torment her tonight.
She turned sharply toward Amber, gripping her friend’s arm. “We need to leave. Right now.”
Amber barely glanced at her, too busy watching the bartender pour a round of shots. “Relax, drama queen. We just got here.”
Y/N barely had time to protest before Jack’s voice rang out, smooth and teasing.
“Well, well, well. Fancy seeing you here.”
Amber froze. Slowly, she turned, her eyes widening like a deer in headlights as she took in Jack standing right in front of them.
Y/N could practically hear the click of Amber’s brain processing the situation.
Jack. Hughes.
Standing inches away. Speaking directly to Y/N.
Amber’s jaw dropped.
“You... you’re Jack Hughes,” Amber stammered.
Jack smirked. “Last time I checked.” Then, he turned his attention back to Y/N, eyes glinting with amusement. “And last time I checked, you were running away from me after I nearly committed vehicular manslaughter.”
Amber whipped around so fast that Y/N was surprised she didn’t give herself whiplash. “I’m sorry...WHAT?!”
Y/N closed her eyes briefly, mortification washing over her. “Jack.” She gritted his name through clenched teeth. “Shut. Up.”
Jack just grinned. “Oh, you didn’t tell your friend? Wow. You’re really just keeping that one to yourself, huh?” He let out a low chuckle. “What, were you gonna take that story to the grave?”
Amber was still staring at Y/N like she had just confessed to an elaborate double life. “Excuse me, what the hell is he talking about?”
Y/N exhaled sharply. “It’s not a big deal.”
Jack laughed. “Not a big deal? You...” He gestured vaguely at her. “ate shit in that alley.”
Y/N groaned and buried her face in her hands. “Oh my god. Please stop talking.”
Amber, meanwhile, was giddy. “You got hit by Jack Hughes’s car, and you didn’t tell me?!”
“I did not get hit-”
Jack cut in, grinning. “She got hit.”
Y/N glared. “You bumped me.”
Jack shrugged. “Tomato, to-mah-to.”
Amber looked between them, processing everything, before suddenly gasping. “Wait. Does this mean you owe her?”
Jack raised an eyebrow. “Owe her?”
Amber turned to him with a dangerous glint in her eyes. “Oh, you definitely owe her. I mean, you literally ran her over. The least you could do is make it up to her.”
Jack huffed a small laugh. “Alright. I can respect that logic.” He turned to Y/N. “Drinks on me. All night.”
Y/N’s stomach dropped. “No. That’s not necessary.”
Amber smacked her arm. “YES, it is.”
Jack shrugged. “Too late. Already decided.” He nodded toward the bartender. “Whatever they want, put it on my tab.”
Y/N stared at him, completely overwhelmed. This was too much. He was too much. This entire night was too much.
“I need a second,” she muttered, spinning on her heel.
Amber grabbed her wrist before she could escape. “Oh no, you don’t.” She looked at Jack. “We’ll be right back. Girl stuff.”
Jack smirked. “Take your time.”
Amber dragged Y/N toward the bathroom before she could argue.
Bathroom Confessions
The second the door shut behind them, Amber whipped around, eyes blazing.
“WHAT THE HELL?!” she whisper-shouted.
Y/N groaned, leaning against the sink. “I didn’t want to tell you because I knew you’d make it a big deal.”
Amber gasped. “Because IT IS A BIG DEAL!” She threw her hands up. “You got run over by JACK HUGHES and you didn’t think that was worth mentioning?!”
“I didn’t get run over.”
Amber waved a hand. “Details. But, Y/N. He’s into you.”
Y/N choked. “Excuse me?”
Amber gave her a look. “Oh, come on. He found you. In this packed-ass bar. And now he’s paying for our drinks? This man is trying to compensate for something.”
Y/N groaned. “He’s just doing it to mess with me.”
Amber rolled her eyes. “Or because he feels bad. Or because he thinks you’re cute. Either way, we are milking this.”
Y/N sighed, rubbing her temples. “I really just want to go home.”
Amber grabbed her shoulders. “No. We are staying. You are drinking for free. And you are going to go out there and act normal.”
Y/N exhaled slowly. “Fine. But if this gets worse, I’m blaming you.”
Amber grinned. “Fair.”
She looped her arm through Y/N’s.
“Now, let’s go drink on Jack Hughes’s dime.”