But tonight, for the first time in months, he let himself wonder what came after.
The shoulder throbbed in answer.
Tane rubbed it absently and looked out at the city lights.
One game at a time.
One breath at a time.
One more shift…
* * *
Morning light filtered through the half-open blinds in soft gold stripes across the bedroom floor. Tane woke first, as always, his body clock still tuned to twenty years of early skates and film sessions.
The shoulder had settled to a low, manageable ache overnight. Ice, compression, and the whisky he hadn’t finished had done their job. He rolled onto his side and watched Jacob for a minute.
Jacob was sprawled on his stomach, face mashed into the pillow, blond hair a chaotic halo, mouth slightly open. One arm dangled off the edge of the mattress.
The sheet had slipped down to his hips, exposing the curve of his lower back and the faint red marks from last week’s playful session that hadn’t quite faded. Tane felt a quiet swell of something warm and steady in his chest. Affection, protectiveness, the simple satisfaction of waking up next to someone who belonged there.
“Damn, boy,” Tane whispered. “You’ve got me just where you want me.”
Tane slipped out of bed carefully, pulled on sweatpants and a faded Enforcers tee, and padded to the kitchen.
The blender whirred to life a few minutes later.
Banana, frozen berries, spinach, Greek yogurt, oat milk, a scoop of vanilla protein powder, and a generous drizzle of honey. Tane knew Jacob’s hangover cure by heart now: sweet enough to trick the stomach, nutrient-dense enough to fight the regret.
By the time the smoothie was poured into two tall glasses, Jacob had shuffled into the kitchen doorway, wearing nothing but yesterday’s boxer briefs and a grimace. His eyes were puffy, hair sticking up at odd angles, and he looked exactly like a twenty-one-year-old who’d tried to match Connor shot-for-shot.
“Morning, sunshine,” Tane said, sliding one glass across the island.
Jacob groaned and dropped onto a stool. “Why is the sun so angry?”
“Because you told it to fuck off at 2 a.m.,” Tane laughed in response. “You know, when you were singing karaoke in the living room.”
Jacob winced. “I did that?”
“You did. Sweet Caroline at full volume. The neighbors probably have a petition going.”
Jacob buried his face in his hands. “Kill me.Urgh.”
Tane came around the island, set his own glass down, and gently tugged Jacob’s wrists away from his face.
“Drink. Slowly,” Tane said, firmly but with a warmness too. “Then maybe you live.”
Jacob took a tentative sip, then another. Color started creeping back into his cheeks almost immediately. He looked up at Tane through his lashes… still bleary, but grateful.
“You made this for me,” Jacob said, his words still somewhat disjointed as he worked to fight the hangover. “I don’t know how you put up with me.”
“Someone has to keep you alive after a night with the boys,” Tane laughed. “I know how much the likes of Connor and Alex can drink. Being around them is a tough ask for a grizzled veteran, let alone a young pup like you.”
Jacob’s mouth curved into a small, sheepish smile. “You like taking care of me.”
Tane didn’t deny it. He leaned one hip against the counter, arms crossed, and let himself admit it out loud. “Yeah. I do.”
Jacob reached across the island and hooked two fingers in the waistband of Tane’s sweatpants, tugging lightly.
