The Plus One - Luke Hughes
Summary: You love your mom, but sometimes her persistence on your love life is draining. When she insists you bring a plus one to your sister's wedding, Luke volunteers. What follows is a bunch of preparations and a few looks that mean more than friends.
Warnings: nosy mother, cursing (always), fluff, small amounts of alcohol sprinkled in
W.C.: Almost 3.2k
Notes: I've been putting myself through the ringer this last week after a lot of personal things, and while I love my series, I needed something smaller to get my mind off of them.
Song: You Shouldn't Kiss Me Like This - Toby Keith
Your leg bounced against the floor as you read the text message on your phone for the hundredth time since last night, your teeth gnawing on the chipped nail of your thumb. When your sister announced her engagement, you knew it was coming immediately. Your perpetual singleness had irritated your mother for the last time, and now that your baby sister was getting married, it didn’t matter that you’d focused on your career. You were unmarried, childless, and had no prospects. How dare you?
You looked around your office like it was a burden, wondering how you could’ve been such a workaholic that you hadn’t even bothered to have a life inside those four walls. You’d made a name for yourself, worked your ass off to prove that you deserved to work in the big leagues. Went through years of education and fellowships to land you the opportunity to work for the New Jersey Devils, your favorite team in your favorite sport. If it weren’t for this one stupid fucking text message, you’d feel like your life was satisfied.
Don’t you dare come to your sister’s wedding without a plus one.
Thanks Mom.
Your train of thought was broken when there was a knock on the office door, making you shake yourself out of the funk your mother had placed you in. “Come in.” You called out, opening the desk drawer and dropping the phone in. You slammed the drawer shut just as Luke Hughes walked in, his eyes widening at your outburst.
“Everything alright, Doc? If I need to come back a little later, I..”
“No Luke, you’re fine. Just got.. Some bad news is all.” You gritted out, looking up at him. “What can I help you with?”
“My shoulder’s acting up again, and no one was in the training room. I thought maybe you could take a look at it?”
You nodded, pushing out of your desk chair and following him to the therapy tables in the training room. “Same spot?” You asked as you grabbed the KT tape from its designated spot along with a pair of scissors.
“Yeah, every time I move my neck it feels like I’m being slammed into the boards.” Luke huffed, pulling his team issued hoodie and shirt over his head. The KT Tape one of the assistants had put on was peeling away and all wrong, making you roll your eyes. “Marcus tried to tape me up, but he didn’t get it quite right.”
“More like he didn’t get it right at all.” Luke had been having issues with his shoulder for well over a year, dealing with surgeries and a long string of bad luck. Every once in a while it would bother him again, especially after a rough night against a rival team or if he slept wrong in hotel rooms. “I’ll take care of it.”
Luke sat as still as possible as you pulled the wrinkled tape off his shoulder, trying not to wince when you pulled it off. “So, you said you got bad news?”
“Sort of, not really.” You sighed, pulling off another piece and tossing it into the trash. “My sister’s getting married.”
“And that’s bad news?”
“No, no! Her fiance’s really nice, treats her right.” You explained quickly, tugging at the last piece of tape. “It’s my mother, she’s insisting I bring a plus one to the wedding in June.”
“She’s forcing you to find a date for a wedding that could be during the playoffs?”
“Yeah, lovely bunch my family.” You pulled off the first piece of new tape, snipping it to the length you needed. “They don’t give a shit about my career or half the shit I did to get here. My mother’s more concerned that I haven’t given her grandchildren, and now that my baby sister’s getting married, she looks at me like I’m behind in life.”
“That’s fuckin’ bullshit.” Luke responded, meeting your eyes in the mirror mounted on the wall. “Just because you’re focusing on your career doesn’t mean you're behind.”
“She’s concerned about my biological clock, but I’m in my 20’s. It’s not like it’s all gonna shut down tomorrow.”
“Exactly.” He laughed, shaking his head. “If we make the playoffs, what are you going to do?”
“Jump off the Brooklyn bridge, probably.”
Luke’s eyes widened at your statement. “I wouldn’t go to that extreme.” He staggered out, scratching his chin. “If the playoffs don’t go to plan, you could always ask one of the guys.”
“Absolutely not,” You rejected immediately, pulling the adhesive protector away from the tape and lining it up on his shoulder perfectly. “That might be the most pathetic thing I could do.”
“You gotta admit it would make a statement though.” Luke responded, moving his shoulder like he’d done 100 times before, giving you a perfect view for the next piece. “Walking into your sister’s wedding with a tall, strong hockey player.”
“No, it would be a disaster. My mother would make it her mission to get whoever my plus one is to continue pursuing me and all this other dramatic shit would happen.” You lined up the next piece of tape perfectly and flattened it against his skin. “I’m not going to risk my professional life and subject any of those poor souls to my family’s chaos.”
“I’ll do it.” Luke suggested, straightening his shoulder out so you could put one more piece along the length of his shoulder, holding all the other pieces in place. “I grew up with Quinn and Jack, I’ve dealt with my fair share of chaos.”
“You don’t have to do that.” You sighed, smoothing the last piece before grabbing his shirt and handing it to him.
“If it helps a friend out, I’m going to do it.” Luke smiled, and your chest felt easier at his statement. “I’ve been to a hundred weddings, what’s one more?”
“Okay, let’s say I agree to this plan,” You start, moving over to the other table across from him and sitting on the surface. “We’d have to sell it that we’re already mad for each other, or else my mother will talk your ear off. And it’s not just the wedding, you’d have to go to the rehearsal dinner as well.”
“Why do I have to go to the rehearsal dinner?”
“It’s my sister, I’m the maid of honor.”
“Oh.” Luke sucked in a sharp breath of air, and your eyebrows bounced at his response. “Okay, I can do that. I’m a better actor than my brothers.”
“You’re serious?”
“Yeah. If we don’t make it to the final round of the playoffs, then I’m readily available.” Luke said confidently, pulling the shirt over his head. “You and I will pick at each other’s brains, figure out how to look madly in love, go to the wedding, and then hit up the open bar.”
You smiled, shaking your head. “Sounds like a good date to me.”
–––––
Luke arrived at your apartment ten minutes early, clutching a bag of chinese take out. He seemed extremely out of breath, and your head tilted as he walked in the door. “Did you take the stairs?”
“Yeah, how else was I supposed to get up here?”
“The elevator?” His jaw hit the floor, dropping the bag of takeout on the dining room table. “You didn’t see it?”
“No, I didn’t see it.” Luke groaned out, pulling open the paper bag. “Five flights of stairs just to tell me there’s an elevator?”
“There are signs right by the stairs, Luke.” you laughed, taking the container of Chow Mein from him and moving over to your couch. “My mom was ecstatic to find out I have a plus one.”
“Well, there’s some good news.” Luke followed you over to the couch, sitting on the opposite end and immediately scarfing down his food.
After eating dinner, the two of you went over everything. Your favorite things in life, where each of you grew up, the ins and outs of each other’s family. Any possible questions your mother might ask, you both had answers to. “Do you know how to dance?”
“What?”
“You know,” You extended your arm out and curved the other in front of you, pretending to slow dance. “Dance.”
“I mean yeah, why?”
“Because odds are we’ll have to dance, or we won’t sell the illusion.”
“Is she really that extreme?”
“Yes.”
Luke shook his head in disbelief. “Your family is crazy.”
“Correction.” You started, grabbing the last egg roll from the take out containers. “My mother’s crazy. My dad and sister couldn’t care less if I brought a cardboard cutout to the wedding.”
“I’m sure there’s still some of Jack somewhere..”
“Luke.”
“I’m kidding, I promise.” He laughed, patting your knee softly. “I know how to dance, at least well enough for a hockey player.”
You smiled up at him, your cheeks aching at how natural it felt between the two of you. A couple of encounters in the training room for his bum shoulder and a single agreement, and suddenly you’ve found yourself a friend in Luke. You were no longer worried about convincing your mom, and instead wondering if maybe you were trying to convince yourself that you didn’t like him.
You couldn’t deny he wasn’t gorgeous. His eyes crinkled when he smiled, a real genuine one and not posed for pictures. His laughter was infectious, and he seemed so carefree when he wasn’t completely surrounded by the pressures of the hockey world. You started to wonder if it was going to be easy to go back to your real life when the wedding was over, or if you and Luke would have a trauma bond over the event. You hoped for the latter.
–––––
The devils lost in the second round, but not without a hard fight. You couldn’t help but be proud of your patched together boys, even when half of them were moaning and groaning every night while you handed out ice packs like candy at halloween. The first week back home was rough, your mom hounding you, going on and on about making sure you actually had a date to the rehearsal dinner and wedding.
“Yes mother, he’ll be coming up a day or two before the dinner.”
“Well, what’s his name? You’ve been so secretive about him.”
“His name is Luke, and I haven’t told you much because I want his privacy respected, he’s a higher profile guy than any of us are used to.”
“Oh please, sweetheart. Just tell me you haven’t got a date.”
“Mom, I have a date.”
All this to say, it really made everyone’s jaw drop when you walked in on Luke’s arm, both of you putting on a smile as you crossed the threshold. You’d spent a few weeks away from Jersey, and whether you liked him or not, you’d really missed seeing Luke everyday. You’d been spending more time with him, having lunch together at the practice rink during the day and making it a point to have a movie night at least once a month. Your life had become boring around your family, so having him around for the weekend made things feel more bearable.
“The woman in the pink blouse, that’s her.” You whispered as your mother made her way to the two of you, a look of disbelief on her face.
“You must be Luke,” you mother said as she extended her hand out, introducing herself.
“Yes, ma’am.” Luke smiled politely, shaking her hand. “I apologize for not making it into town sooner, I was in Minnesota supporting my brother Quinn.”
“Oh, it’s no problem. I’m just happy my eldest found someone to take care of her in the big city.”
“Mother..” You muttered warningly.
Luke made it seem absolutely effortless, responding courteously before you could continue. “I’m very grateful to have met her, she’s helped me through a couple of rough seasons with my injuries. It’s been amazing getting to know her more outside of the rink.”
The conversation continued, or more so the fucking interview your mom subjected Luke to. By the time it was all over and your mom walked back to your baby sister, you and Luke took a sigh of relief. “She’s relentless.”
“I tried to warn you.” You responded as the two of you walked over to the bar, grabbing one of the premade cocktails while Luke grabbed a beer. “You think we convinced her?”
Luke glanced back over to where your mother was standing, smiling at the two of you. “Looks like it to me, and we’re doing a pretty good job of being casually optimistic.”
“Casually optimistic.” You repeated, taking a sip of the drink. “Is that what the beginning of a relationship is supposed to look like?”
“It is when half of the equation is a famous hockey player.” Luke replied over the rim of his beer, before bringing his hand to the small of your back and guiding you to a table as dinner started to be brought out. The touch was soft and intimate, sending butterflies flying through your stomach. You looked up at him as you took your seat, seeing a small smirk on his lips. “Although you make it pretty easy.”
–––––
The ceremony and the events leading up to it was a disorganized mess, despite the best efforts of your sister's wedding planner. She was 45 minutes late coming back from her makeup appointment, resulting in you and the other bridesmaids scrambling to get her into her dress perfectly. When that finally got situated, the ceremony ended up being 5 minutes behind schedule, making your mother a bit frazzled.
The reception was easier. You and the best man told embarrassing stories about the bride and groom in the speeches, the first dance was beautiful, and finally it was time for the party to begin. You and Luke had a great time, laughing and telling him more funny stories growing up with your siblings. You realized over the weekend that everything was easier when he was around, his non-chalaunt attitude bleeding into your own energy.
“Alright everyone, the bride and groom would like all couples to join them on the dance floor.” The emcee announced, and Luke immediately got out of his chair, extending his hand out to you. You took the offer, your cheeks slightly rosy from the gesture as well as the small amount of alcohol that had hit your system, following him out to the dance floor as a 90’s country love song played through the speaker.
“I’d call this a success.” Luke stated, bringing his hand back to the small of your back and pulling you closer as you both started swaying in time to the music. “Your mom hasn’t bugged us in over an hour.”
“I’d think so too.” You smiled up, your own hand pressed flat against his shoulder while the other was extended out with his fingers laced together. “Thank you again for all of this, I’ll never be able to repay you.”
“I could think of a way.” Luke smirked, spinning you quickly before bringing you back to the starting position. “I actually need a plus one for a wedding at the end of July. Do you know anyone who’d be willing to join me?”
“I think I might.” You laughed, your head tilting back naturally. When your eyes came back to meet his, he had a soft smile posted openly. You looked around, wondering if your mom was watching for him to look at you like that, but she was focused on dancing with your dad. “She’s not looking.”
“I know.”
“You don’t have to look at me like that.”
“But I want to.” He simply said, spinning you out again before bringing you back. “You look beautiful, and that deserves some appreciation.”
–––––
The second wedding of your eventful summer was much more extravagant. You’d never met them before tonight, but you’d recognized the groom from a few posts by the NHL, and the bride complimented your dress like it wasn’t her big night. They were absolutely lovely in the few minutes you got to interact with them, and Luke and his brothers took turns dancing with you to make you feel more comfortable.
“You know, when Luke told me that he was going to a wedding with our team doctor, I thought he’d gotten a concussion.” Jack said as the two of you causally swayed on the dancefloor.
“What makes you say that?”
“You don’t know? Luke’s had a crush on you since you first started with the Devils.”
“You’re joking.”
“Oh c'mon, Doc.” Jack laughed, spinning you in time with the music before pulling you back in. “You don’t see the way he looks at you?” You looked over Jack’s shoulder, spotting Luke dancing with his mom. He laughed at something his mom had said, before his eyes looked up and met yours, and that same look from your sister’s wedding was instantly on his face. “Looks like he’s not the only one.”
The song ended soon after, and was replaced by a familiar tune. The same country song from your sister’s wedding, almost as if it was fate. You hugged Jack before immediately joining Luke. “What a coincidence."
“Right, a coincidence, and I totally didn’t slip the DJ a 20 so he’d play this song.” Luke smirked, his hands feeling more natural on your back this time. “I have something to tell you.”
“You don’t need to.” You smiled, your hand moving from his shoulder to curl around his jawline. “I like you too. A lot. My life has been so fucking boring since off-season started.” Luke looked at you stunned, like he was trying to deduct how you figured it out. “Lukey, I’ve caught you looking at me like I’ve stolen your heart. And.. Jack told me.”
“Of course he did.” Luke shook his head, spinning you once before pulling you in. “And you have. It was just a small crush in Jersey, but when you told me you needed a plus one.. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity, especially since I knew it’d make your life easier. And it gave me a chance to get to know you outside of the doctor I already knew.”
Your breath caught in your lungs, blinking rapidly as you tried to process his confession. “I’ve been so focused on my career, I never really got the chance to build a life outside of it.” You sighed as the instrumental part of the song came along, chewing on your lip. “Now that I’ve had to go without my favorite part of the day, I don’t want to do it again.”
Luke smiled, resting his forehead against yours. “Can I kiss you?”
You nodded, a smile peaking through as your lips joined together. Much like his touch, the kiss felt right. It wasn’t desperate or heavy, just a soft press that felt like a promise. A new branch extending, showing you life wasn’t all work and sleep. That it can be even more when you’ve got the right plus one.
