“I think you need to tell us exactly what’s up with you and the boy,” Alex said, exchanging a look with Connor. “We’re both pretty damn sure that the pair of you areyou know…”
Tane smiled.
While he may not have been one to reveal too many details of his personal life, Tane knew that there was no way he could keep his and Jacob’s burgeoning relationship from his two closest teammates.
“It’s early days,” Tane said, trying to suppress a smile. “But… yeah. It’s what it looks like.”
“Congratulations,” Alex said, raising his beer.
“About fucking time too,” Connor laughed. “I thought you were going to become the first hockey MVP monk the way you were going.”
The three of them laughed. It was true that over recent years Tane had taken a step back from wild nights and fun and games with boys. While he had never been into serious relationships early on in his career, Tane would still go out and have fun on dates or in clubs. But that had become less of a thing as he got older, with Tane’s desire to concentrate on his career and commitment to the Enforcers taking front and center position in his life.
“As I say, it’s still early,” Tane said. “We’re keeping it quiet. I’d appreciate a vow of silence from you two.”
“Of course,” Alex nodded. “Not a word will pass from my lips until you say it’s cool.”
“Same,” Connor said. “We’ve all got things in our lives we need to keep quiet from time to time. It wouldn’t be the fucking Enforcers if there wasn’t at least one secret going on.”
“Tell me about it,” Tane said, laughing on the outside but internally wondering just how to play the situation with Jacob.
The thought of telling Coach Tremaine wasn’t such a big deal, and Tane felt confident that he had enough trust and mutual respect with Tremaine for it to not be a problem.
However the prospect of the relationship with Jacob becoming known to the Cardini family was a whole other prospect. Even forgetting about the instruction from Antonio to monitor and look out for Jacob, Tane knew that the Cardini family wouldn’t want their most valuable young player falling in love with a soon to be retired veteran.
And when the Cardini family decided that they didn’t approve of something, then all bets were off.
Jacob shouldn’t have to deal with the Cardini family.
He doesn’t need to know what the Cardinis are capable of.
I have to protect the kid at all costs.
“Something tells me that there’s more you want to get off your chest,” Alex said, evidently noting that Tane’s mind was on altogether heavier topics.
“Maybe another time,” Tane replied, shaking thoughts of the Cardini family out of his head for a moment and instead focusing his sights on Jacob.
Jacob was across on the other side of the rooftop with a group of the younger players. They were having a great time and knocking back the drinks too. But Tane was prepared to cut Jacob some slack. After all, the victory against The Beasts had been a good one and there was now a little break before the next game.
There was still another hour before the players had to get back onto the Enforcers private jet to fly them home, and Tane was determined to make the most of it.
After all, he would be a long time retired.
“Men, I think we should take it back to whenwewere the young pups,” Tane roared. “I’m ordering shots for the whole team, and as captain I must insist that the veterans show the young guns how to really celebrate success!”
* * *
After a short flight home, Tane departed the airport in his chauffer driven town car and headed home. But he wasn’t alone…
“I’m so glad you’re coming with me,” Tane said, looking across to Jacob as he sat in the seat next to him and casually scrolled through messages of congratulations on his phone.
“Me too,” Jacob said, putting his phone away and looking at Tane with a big smile. “You played so well against The Beasts. Honestly, I thought as a whole we did well. But you were the star.”
“Personal accolades are all well and good,” Tane said. “But I’d take a win over an MVP award any day of the week. But…thank you. It means a lot to hear you say that.”
Tane couldn’t deny that he enjoyed hearing the boy praise his performance.
Being one of the most dominant players in the league over the years was one thing, but Tane knew that he didn’t have toomany games left. So to hear Jacob praise him made Tane feel like there was at least a little bit of life in the old dog yet.
