" 𝕳ey".

June looks up from her conversation with Ethan — he arrived last night to spend fourth of July and the entire next week with them before he and Luke leave to spend some time with the UMich boys, and Jack and June travel to Nashville for the NHL Awards — and raises a brow at the brunet nervously staring down at her.

"Hey?", she smiles lightly and he shifts on his feet, well aware of Ethan watching their interaction with interest.

"Can I like . . . ", he gestures for her to move away to give them some privacy but Ethan's quick to notice the cue and he immediately jumps to his feet.

"I'll go eat", he taps June's shoulder and walks away but not before giving Jack a knowing glance.

Why the fuck is everyone and their mother interested in our business?

He sighs.

"Do you wanna go to the beach? For a walk. Uhm, we'll be back before the fireworks start".

Her eyes light up but she remains seated.

"What will we do at the beach?".

"Uh", he rubs the back of his neck, pursing his lips, "Walk. I don't know, I think it'll be refreshing to get away from their yelling for a while".

She grins.

"You mean Quinn's yelling because you won't let him and Alex cook in peace?".

"We don't need to discuss the details".

Snickering, she stands and shrugs bringing the oversized crepe shirt she pulled over her bikini top, closer to her body.

"Sure", she stuffs her hands in the pockets of her jean shorts and follows him out of the house for the short ten minute walk to the beach.

They talk about everything and nothing as they wander through the parking lot and make their way downwards stopping short near a secluded spot from where they can watch the water and the scores of families and couples enjoying their evening on the beach.

A low wind whips through her hair, cool air tickling her exposed skin as her eyes stay fixed on a couple running around with three little boys.

"That's you".

Jack snaps from his daze — he'd been busy staring at her side profile — and turns to the toddler she's pointing at.

The little boy is busy digging his way through the sand while his younger brother chases his dad and his older brother tries to make a sand castle with their mom.

He snorts, "Seriously?".

She rolls her eyes and glances up with a smile.

"It's obvious".

"I was never that chaotic".

"Ellen would beg to differ".

"Oh, please", he momentarily looks away because he knows that she is, in fact, correct.

"Do you ever think about having kids?".

June chokes on her spit and begins coughing, her wide eyes meeting his equally surprised gaze as she attempts to regain her composure.

"What?".

He laughs, "I just mean that, have you ever . . . . y'know thought about having a family someday?".

She silently blinks up at him, not speaking.

"It's not a weird question", Jack squints.

"No, I . . . didn't expect it though. Uh, I think", she looks back at the kids and their parents, "yeah, to be honest. I just, I think it'd be difficult. For me, at least".

A furrow forms between his brows.

"Why?".

She shrugs, fidgeting with the hem of her shirt and glancing away to look at the blushing sky.

"I'm not ready to do that alone. If I'm having a kid then whoever my partner is will be there. And sometimes, I just feel like that might be hard to find".

He can see it, the uncertainty edged into her adorable frown, her hair gently flowing with the breeze and for a second there, he almost says something he's been trying to avoid for days now.

She just looks so, so unlike anything beautiful he's ever seen.

The words are right there on the tip of his tongue but he's resisting and he's resisting and resisting and—

"What about you?", she finally looks up, calm and curious about his answer.

It takes him a moment to snap back into reality and considering it's not the first time he's had to do it this evening, he's a little concerned.

"Yeah", he clears his throat, rubbing his eyes, "Yeah, I think I'd like to".

A soft smile tugs up her lips and he is once again filled with that feeling, that feeling that has his heartbeat quickening, his throat constricting and eyes twinkling with the awe of just how unreal she is.

"You're cute with them. You'd be a great dad".

Something about the way she says it makes him realise that it's almost as if she's holding herself together, trying to keep her voice from wavering.

And that . . . . he wants to acknowledge.

"Are you—".

"I think we should head back. Luke will probably lose his mind if we're not there in time for the fireworks".

Luke. Right. She's his best friend.

Jack has no business fucking this up, what the hell is he doing?

Inhaling, he nods.

"Yeah, come on".

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the nhl awards were held in july'23 bc i said so 🧘🏻‍♀️