𝖤𝖺𝗋𝗅𝗒 𝖬𝖺𝗒 2021

𝖂alking up the familiar two steps leading to the small family home Jack plants his feet on the dusty Welcome mat, fidgeting with the paper bag in his hands as he presses the doorbell waiting in anticipation.

The door pulls open and sharp gray eyes land on him before melting in surprise, a smile slowly taking up her face.

"Jack, you're here! Come on in, sweetie".

Maureen steps aside letting him enter and greets him with a short embrace before moving back and staring at him with her hands on her hips, the smile firm on her face.

"She's excited to see you".

"Really?", he asks in an eager tone.

Maureen's smile widens, "You're all she's been talking about all week. 'No, Jack gets here on Thursday, sorry mom. No, Thursday's for Jack, I'll be busy. No, no shopping day for Thursday, Jack's coming in'. So now, you tell me".

His cheeks heat up and he wants to deny it, back away and pretend that this new information does not affect him in any way but his body still tingles and the blush on his cheeks glows under the warmth of the sunlight pouring in.

Maureen nods in understanding.

"Go ahead. I'm not gonna keep you".

"It's great seeing you, Maureen. Seriously", he grins and bounds up the stairs, quickly reaching the closed door of June's room and knocks impatiently.

"Mom, this better be important!", she calls out from inside and honestly, it feels so good to hear her voice in person.

Taking that as his cue to go in, he opens the door, shutting it behind him his gaze catching on her seated by her mirror and applying a fresh coat of lip gloss.

Her eyes find his in the mirror and she squeals, jumping out of her seat throwing the lip gloss down on the dresser and rushing over to him.

Her arms come up around his neck and she comes in with full force almost knocking him to the floor.

He laughs, wrapping his arms around her waist and hugging her properly for the first time in months, breathing in her soft lavender scent.

"Are you real?", she breathes out loudly, tightening her hold on him.

He traces a gentle finger down her spine, her body involuntarily shivering over the material of her baby pink dress.

"Can you feel that? Is that real?", a chuckle leaves his lips and she inches back, coming down from her tip toes so that he's the one bending down now.

Her warm brown eyes dance all over his face, taking him in with the cutest smile only she can hold.

"Are you flirting with me, Jack?".

He knows she means it as a joke but he still feels himself get nervous for some weird reason, as if he's been caught doing something he shouldn't.

He clears his throat, finally bringing the paper bag between them.

"I don't know about flirting but this, I am certain about".

She accepts the bag with confusion and slowly removes a hardcover from of it, her jaw going slack when she accidentally opens to the first page of the book.

"You did not".

"I did", finally something he can be bold about, "I saw a sign outside this store when I was walking past it and I got curious so I went in and they said they'd just restocked it".

He gestures to the signed hardcover of Beach Read, one which she's been complaining about not getting the chance to buy since months because every store she contacted and every time she looked it up, it was always sold out.

And not being a recent release, there aren't very many signed copies available online anymore.

But of course, there was something in New York.

He can't wait to take her to the bookstores there.

"You're literally the best. I could worship you", June sniffs, tucking under his outstretched arm and resting her head on his shoulder.

"Thank you".

"Don't mention it, Bug. And are you this dressed up for me?", he teases but a part of him wants her to say yes.

Yet another part doesn't so that he can keep telling himself that whatever she makes him feel is nothing.

June huffs, stepping back and he already misses her touch.

"You wish. I have date. Well, in the evening. But I wanted to spend as much time with you guys as possible so I thought I'd get ready right now".

And just like that, his heart stills.

That really is nothing.

Isn't it?

"Uh, date?", he surveys her room attempting to act nonchalant.

"Yeah", he looks back at her and she's smiling so wide that he feels worse for feeling the way he is.

God, I'm such an ass.

"With who? You keeping secrets from me, Bug?", he asks in mock offense and she grins with a shrug.

"Just this girl I met at one of Luke's games last month. She's the biggest hockey fan and she's so sweet. Plus so gorgeous it's unfair. But we got to talking there and of course I started crushing on her then last week, she asked me out. Her name's Anna. I think you'll like her. She's really funny too".

Would it be possible for the ground to open up and swallow him whole?

It is embarrassing just how much he dislikes this "Anna" already solely because she's going on a date with June and he isn't.

Wait. No. What?

She picked the day I was returning for the date, that's what I'm mad about!

What must it be like to have June, of all people, crush on you?

I bet it's the best feeling in the world.

Okay, this is insane.

"She sounds amazing. Where are you two going?".

"Movies".

"Great. Sounds fun".

He stands there awkwardly avoiding eye contact and June frowns, clutching the hardcover to her chest.

"Are you okay?".

His eyes snap up at that, "Oh, I'm fine. Yeah. I, uh, we should probably leave now then so that we have plenty of time before your date?".

She laughs, "We're simply hanging out at your house. I'm sure we'll have plenty of time. Let me just grab my stuff".

Jack stands back watching her stuff her lip gloss and phone into the sling bag that was already part ready on her bed and his mind wanders.

Really, something this past month has been feeling off.

Maybe it's because June's moving to New Jersey soon and he's excited about having someone from home there.

Or maybe it's something else.

He does not want to analyse it though so he will tuck it back into the depths of his mind and try to get along with Anna when he eventually meets her.

"Alright, let's go", she sidles up to him and he blinks, looking down at her.

Quit acting like a dumbass.

He nods with a smile and turns back, leading her out of the room dispelling all his thoughts of June! June! June! to attempt for a normal relationship with her this off-season just like it's always been.

***
DID NOT PLAN ON UPDATING TODAY BUT HELLO ITS JACK'S 23RD BIRTHDAY IM SOBBING