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Hayden felt comfortable saying that Shane Hollander wasn’t the funniest man on Earth. Probably not in Canada either… Hayden wasn’t even really sure about Montreal.
And that’s not to say he’s boring or has no personality, that’s actually so far from the truth. Over the years, Hayden’s seen every facet of his best friend there was to see. Shane is dedicated to his sport and surprisingly sincere, if stiff, for interviewers even though Hayden knows he doesn’t like the fuss, especially if it was a tough game. Hayden knows an unfortunate amount of details about Shane’s crazy diet and the few things he’ll break it for (so far, the most reliable breakage has been a bite or two of birthday cake at Hayden’s kids birthday parties).
There’s more, of course. Hayden could probably talk about Shane all day just because he’s that kind of guy. He loves his best friend, so what?
But one thing Hayden had never seen, and kind of didn’t think was possible, was Shane being… well, he’s being silly. There’s really no other word for it.
The booth they’re settled in is squished into the corner of the club the Centaurs had chosen after losing to the Metros. It wasn’t too bad of a show, thanks to Rozanov’s score, but it certainly wasn’t a challenge either. Hayden would feel a little bad for him, since he’s his best friend’s boyfriend or whatever, but Rozanov doesn’t seem all that upset about the loss.
He’s over on the dancefloor moving around with some of his teammates. Boodram, Hayden knows, is among them but the others are a bit of a blur. Hayden probably wouldn’t mind getting a little funky on the floor, but he knows Shane is not super into this scene and he would feel bad leaving him here when even his boyfriend is dancing.
Hayden’s turning to ask Shane about his plans in the two days before their next game when the lights change to a pop-music shade of purple and a new song fades in. And that’s when it happens.
Shane gets silly.
Hayden looks over to see Rozanov turn and face their table, widening his eyes at them (probably just Shane) and pointing excitedly to the DJ with a weirdly big smile on his face.
“He really likes this song. Something that used to be on at a lot of clubs, I guess? Good memories or something,” Shane smiles and lifts his beer in a little wave then takes a sip. He must’ve noticed Hayden’s confusion. The confusion that is very much still there because–
“Isn’t this kind of a girly song, though?” A really old one too. Well, not really old. But definitely before Hayden and Jackie had met which has now started to register as kind of a long time ago. The one about someone calling in the club and they’re too busy partying to care.
“I don’t know. It can’t be that old if this many people know it, right?”
And that’s fair enough, Hayden thinks, looking out over the veritable sea of flailing people. He’s about to try and ask about the game again when Rozanov starts waving from where he’s now on the edge of the dancing area.
Hayden watches as Rozanov makes the telephone hand shape, his thumb and pinky fingers extended out, and starts pretending to dial a number. Hayden’s too busy thinking he looks stupid focusing so hard on a pretend phone for no reason when he hears Shane laugh (he refuses to call it a giggle) beside him.
He turns to ask what Rozanov is doing and sees… Shane pretending to pick up his own fake hand-phone. It’s so goofy watching him looking into the imaginary caller ID and shrugging, as though he might as well see who’s on the line, that Hayden can’t believe what he’s seeing.
Shane lifts his hand up to his ear and says, “Hello?”
Hayden looks over to the dancefloor, eyebrows in his hairline, to see Rozanov mouthing come dance! He looks back to Shane.
“I’m busy!” Shane pretends to put the phone in his other hand and points exaggeratedly to Hayden. As if Rozanov can’t see them from fifteen feet away. As if they’re really on facetime or something. Hayden would like to know if Shane realizes he doesn’t have to actually say anything out loud for the message to get across the room. It’s loud enough that his boyfriend probably can’t hear him anyways.
But… Hayden can admit it is a little cute. He remembers when even Shane’s sarcasm wasn’t strong enough to come through those walls he had up in his rookie year and the next couple seasons after that too. Hayden wonders when Shane stopped peeking out of his shell and left it behind. He wonders why he didn’t notice it about him until now.
Now Shane’s being silly, not just in public but with– Ilya. Huh.
Hayden’s broken from his weird reminiscing by Shane tapping his arm with the back of his hand.
“I’ve got to go deal with this,” Shane says, mock-apologetic and indicating his phone call. Right. Hayden guesses if he can play princess with his children, he can join in on a little playful moment with Shane. Jackie always says Shane is pretty much their first-born anyways.
“No, I understand! Seems important. You better go take that,” He winks.
Before Hayden’s even done talking Shane is scooting out of the booth, beer forgotten and a fake exasperated but actually incredibly gooey smile on his face. And, of course, his pretend phone is forgotten as soon as he reaches the dance floor in favor of his boyfriend’s hands grabbing to drag Shane further onto the floor.
Hayden watches for a minute or two. They don’t flail about like some of Rozanov’s teammates or the other partiers. Rozanov doesn’t even take them very far into the crowd. Shane sways a little awkwardly and very off-beat while Rozanov tries to get him to move a bit more with his hands on Shane’s hips. It’s definitely not Rozanov’s usual standard of dancing, to say the least.
But he keeps pace with Shane and looks more than happy to do so.
Hayden moves his gaze away when they start to move a little too close together for Hayden to not feel a little creepy if he keeps watching.
He takes the last swig of his beer (and maybe Shane’s too. It’s not like he’s going to come back for it at this point!) and pulls his real phone out when he hears the chime of a text.
!!Jackie!!
When will you be home?
Hayden looks back up to the dancefloor where Rozanov is making Shane twirl him in a circle. They’re laughing and clearly having fun. Hayden doesn’t really feel the need to get funky anymore.
!!Jackie!!
When will you be home?
Gimme 15 minutes <3