Chapter Text
Hayden had been on bad dates before, but this was the baddest.
It’d been a while, obviously, ever since he met Jackie, every date he’d gone on was amazing, simply because she was there. It said something about how truly awful this was going, because even Jackie’s presence couldn’t salvage it.
“Sounds like a fun weekend!” Kelly gushed, she looked between Shane and Hayden.
Hayden chuckled, “Oh, no. Not for me.”
Jackie raised an eyebrow, and Hayden hastily continued, “Not that taking care of my beautiful children isn’t a great weekend. Of course. I mean, I’m just not going to the All Stars game.”
Jackie mouthed 'good save’.
“Oh,” Kelly said, “I thought you guys were taking a cruise?”
“Sister trip.” Jackie said, “I spend most of the year at home with the kids, while this one-” she gently poked Hayden’s knee with her toe underneath the table, “Plays games for a living. So, I get sister cruises.”
Kelly nodded appreciatively, “Well, it still sounds fun. What are the All Stars games like?”
And suddenly, attention is back on Shane.
Shane swallowed, looking between the three of them for a second before shrugging. “It’s just a game for charity. It’s not super serious… and we uh, play like skills games too.”
He managed to look up and make eye contact with Kelly a few times while he rambled, which was better than before.
“Well, you must be like, the best, if you’re going,” Kelly said, “and Jackie said you’re the captain!”
“Uh, I mean everyone on the team is great.” Shane said, “Someone’s got to be captain.”
Hayden scoffed, “He says this like he didn’t win the cup back to back.”
“I’m not the only one on the team.” Shane said, over his shoulder, only glancing at Hayden.
“You’re the captain.”
And what could Shane say to that? Nothing, apparently, so he doesn’t.
Hayden jumped in, ending the silence, “And no one’s as committed as you are. I mean running at five in the morning, barely eating anything that isn’t a lean protein, or a whole grain.”
Shane shot him a look, but before he could say anything back, Kelly jumped in.
“So, you train everyday?” Kelly asked Shane, leaning forward a little. If Hayden didn’t know any better, he’d say Shane actually leaned back away from her.
“Yep. Well, I run everyday, and switch between lifting and practice.” Shane said. He ended it with a tight lipped smile that looked painful.
“Wow. You must love the off season.” Kelly said, “When you can finally take a break.”
“I mean I still run when we’re not playing. And lift.” Shane said. “And I have my own rink.”
Hayden couldn’t watch much longer. Shane had never read a social cue a day in his life but this was painful.
The worst part of all of this, was that it was Hayden’s fault.
They hadn’t seen each other outside of practice in a while, and the kids missed him.
So Shane had come over to his house that afternoon, they played with the kids, gamed for a while, caught up. The usual. Jackie got home around six, and the babysitter arrived shortly after.
“You guys got a babysitter?” Shane said, as soon as the girl they’d hired had been pulled down the hall to the playroom by toddlers. She lived down the street from them and was eager to watch their demons, for now anyways.
“Yeah, I thought a night out would be good. For all of us.” Hayden said, putting on his shoes and not making eye contact with Shane.
As many terrible plans had been, this one was crafted with genuinely good intentions.
Shane was a borderline recluse. Ever since he and Rose broke up, he’d refused to come out with the team, only showing up at the occasional watch party or team dinner. He was the first one at practice, the last one to leave, and Hayden was pretty sure he went home and rewatched old games, or read books about hockey history, or player’s autobiographies.
Hockey. Hockey. Hockey.
And hey— Hayden loved hockey. He was also too invested in hockey, and certainly talked about it more than the average person.
But Shane talked about almost nothing besides hockey.
He refused to elaborate on his breakup with Rose, beyond: We’re still friends, it just didn’t work out between us. No hard feelings.
Which had to be a coping mechanism of some sort, because you don’t lose Rose freaking Landry and get over it in a week, especially not while you still talk to sometimes.
So Hayden really had no choice. He’d always imagined Shane following the same sort of trajectory in life as him.
Neither of them had really gone out clubbing, even when they were both single. Neither had much interest in hookups or one night stands. Being famous hockey players, they could have, if they really wanted to. Shane even more than Hayden. But they were more grounded. Cut from the same kind of cloth. Or at least, they were. Until, Hayden fell in love, settled down, had a small army of children. And Shane… continued as always. Borderline ignoring female attention at all costs.
So Hayden gave him little pushes. He met Jackie’s single friends, and her yoga instructor. Hayden slipped the barista Shane’s phone number, after they’d stopped in there for coffee and she clearly flirted with Shane as she took his order.
Nothing ever came of it.
So yes, Hayden had felt guilty when they arrived at the restaurant in downtown Montreal, especially when Shane started shooting him questioning looks. And he felt worse as they waited for their table, but it was for Shane’s own good.
Realisation set in on Shane’s face, when the hostess came back, “Pike, table for four.”
He didn’t say anything but he did shoot Hayden a scathing look.
As they were led to the table, Shane leaned in to whisper, “What the fuck? Who is coming?”
“Kelly. Jackie’s roommate from college. She’s a veterinarian, and doesn’t know a thing about hockey.” Hayden said out of the corner of his mouth.
“I don’t want—” Shane started, but cut himself off, because they’d arrived.
Kelly hadn’t gotten there yet, so the three of them sat down and just asked for water while they waited. When the waitress walked off, Jackie looked between Hayden and Shane. Her eyes narrowed.
“Hayden. Did you not tell him?” Jackie said.
“He wouldn’t have come!” Hayden said at the same time Shane snapped, “No, he did not tell me!”
“Jesus ch- Hayden.” Jackie said, “You can’t trick someone into a date.”
“It’s not a trick, it’s a surprise.” Hayden said to Jackie, before leaning over to Shane. “Just talk to her, see if there’s anything there. If you don’t feel it, you never have to see her again.”
“I told you, I’m not looking to date anyone right now.” Shane said.
“Ok, but you’re never looking to date someone, ever,” Hayden said, “And I figured you hadn’t talked to anyone since, you know. Rose. I’m just trying to get you back on the horse.”
“I want off the horse.” Shane said.
“Shhh, shut up.” Jackie stage whispered, as a woman, Kelly, Hayden assumed, walked up to the table.
She was perfect. Pretty, smart, soft spoken, but passionate about her own career and while she had never watched a full hockey game, she seemed more than willing to learn. Unfortunately, she was from Boston, like Jackie, meaning she was a Bears fan by default (“What?” She’d said, “I like a parade, every once in a while.”), but Hayden tried not to hold that against her.
So why this was the driest, most boring, stale conversation Hayden had ever been a part of, was a mystery.
She liked cats, she hiked, she was thinking about joining a pottery class. Shane played hockey, worked out, then played more hockey.
After talking about the same thing for thirty minutes, they fell into a temporarily uncomfortable silence.
Jackie, of course, saved the day. “Have I shown you the twins’ school pictures?”
“Oh my gosh, no!” Kelly said, scooting her chair closer to Jackie, and leaning in while Jackie pulled out her phone.
“Dude.” Hayden leaned in, whispering to Shane as the girls chatted. “You’re fumbling.”
“I am not fumbling.” Shane said, through gritted teeth. “I’m not playing.”
Hayden was grateful for his children everyday, but especially today. It took half an hour to look through all their class pictures, which led them into how their first day of kindergarten had gone, and then which sports they would play next year when they started primary school.
Basically they covered all of dinner, meaning Hayden didn’t have to listen to his friend try and have a normal human conversation again.
When they made their way outside, it was still light out somehow, and Jackie insisted on showing Kelly the shopping center next to downtown, “You guys pull the car around? Meet us in twenty?”
“Sure thing.” Hayden said. Jackie and Kelly linked arms and started across the street to the stores.
Hayden turned on his heel as soon as they were out of earshot. “Ok ok. So you’re mad.”
“Mad?” Shane said.
“Ok, beyond mad.” Hayden said. “Furious?”
“Frustrated!” Shane exclaimed. “I just— how many times do I have to tell you: I don’t want a girlfriend, and I don’t want to be set up!”
“Yes, I know, I just… I’m worried about you.” Hayden said, “You don’t go out, you don’t talk to anyone outside the team, you don’t talk about anything besides hockey.”
“I like hockey.”
Hayden ignored that because, wow, Shane Hollander likes hockey. No fucking shit.
“It’s just — self-inflicted! You are handsome, talented, and rich! You are literally woman kryptonite.”
“It’s not that easy for me!” Shane said, and then snapped his mouth shut like he hadn’t meant to say it. “I mean, I can’t just… meet a girl…”
Hayden paused, waiting for Shane to pick up after he trailed off, before realising he was done. And oh right Hayden forgot. “Oh, because you’re so famous you don’t want to meet some common woman off the street? Movie stars only?”
“Shut up, you know that’s not what I meant.”
“Right, even the movie stars aren’t enough.”
“Not everyone gets the wife, the dog, the three and a half kids, and the picket fence.” Shane snapped.
“Well, your piles of money, and hockey pucks aren’t going to visit you in your retirement home.”
“Yeah, but my piles of money might buy me a live-in nurse to visit me in my mansion.”
Hayden scoffed at that, “You’re unbelievable, sorry for trying to not let you end up dying alone.”
“I’ve asked you to stop meddling like ten times!” Shane said, “I don’t want your help, and I don’t want your life!”
“Well, don’t worry, you will never know the suffering of a loving wife and children.” Hayden said, “You just stay locked up in your little cottage and never come out. It’s working out great so far, right?”
“You know what your problem is?”
“What? What’s my problem?”
“You—” Shane started, and then all but fell over, stumbling to catch himself and crashing into Hayden. They both ended up falling against the wall.
“Ooof!” Shane said, getting off the wall and looking around before spotting a very sorry looking old woman with a rolling suitcase.
“Oh my goodness!” She exclaimed, “I am so sorry! I wasn’t looking where I was going… are you alright?”
They were fine, they hadn’t even hit the floor. Although even knocking them over was actually pretty impressive.
“No, no.” Shane said, dusting the wall debris off his hands, “That’s what we get for taking up an entire sidewalk, and not paying attention.”
She gave him a smile, and it made her look years younger. Even with her thin grey hair, and laugh lines.
“Yeah, sorry about that, ma’am.” Hayden said, “We were, uh, distracted. Didn’t see you coming.”
“Hmm.” She looked between the two of them, “I’ve always found that I learn the best lessons, when I don’t see them coming.”
Hayden blinked. “Uh, yeah.”
“And being distracted by your own world, makes you blind to the millions of worlds around you. It’s a good way to hit one by accident.”
Hayden and Shane looked at each other for a second. Neither said a thing, because neither could come up with any sort of response.
“You boys have a good night!” She said, taking their silence as a response, readjusting her grip on her suitcase and rolling past them.
“Yeah. You too.” Shane muttered. Hayden half heartedly waved goodbye to her.
They stood in silence another moment. “I guess I should get the car.” Hayden said.
Shane shoved his hands in his pockets, “I’ll get the car, you go find Jackie.”
The drive home was quiet, beside Jackie and Kelly occasionally showing the other something on their phone. They dropped Kelly off at her hotel, before making their way back to the house, where Shane’s car was parked.
As they got out, Jackie turned to Shane, “Alright, so it wasn’t ideal, and I wish Hayden had given you heads up, but it was good! She liked you!”
Which was proof that Shane really was handsome, talented, and rich, because that was a terrible date.
“She did?” Shane said, a little incredulously. At least he was self aware.
“Well, she thought you were shy.” Jackie said, “But cute. She’d go out with you again, but she’s not coming back here anytime soon, so it’d have to be in Boston.”
Shane scoffed, “I appreciate that, Jackie, seriously. But I’m not looking to start a relationship. Especially a long distance one. Especially with someone from Boston.”
Jackie nodded. “I didn’t think you two were like soulmates or anything. Just thought going on your first date since the breakup would be good.”
“Yeah, it was good. Thanks, Jackie.” Shane said, “I should, uh, get home. Early morning.”
“Night.” Hayden said, and Jackie told him to drive safe. He gave them both thumbs up as he got in his car and drove away.
When he was gone, Jackie started towards the house, and without turning around, said, “So he’s really pissed at you?”
“So pissed.”
“Well, it was kind of shitty.” Jackie said.
“Hey!” Hayden said, “It was— ok, not my best idea.”
They got to the front door, and Jackie gave him a sympathetic look, “You two will be fine, don’t sweat.”
“He was really mad.” Hayden said.
“You’re like brothers, he’ll come around.” Jackie said, opening the door and stepping inside, “As long as you let it go, seriously. Stop with the set ups, it’s starting to drive me a little crazy.”
“Heard.” Hayden said, hands up in surrender. “I am never meddling in that motherfuckers love life, ever, ever, again. Consider that lesson learned.”
“Good.” She said, turning around and pressing a quick kiss to his lips, “Swear jar.”
“Oh sh—I mean, man. Oh man.” Hayden said weakly.
The babysitter was some sort of miracle worker, because when they got all the way inside, all of the children were asleep, tucked into bed, except the baby who is sitting very happily on her lap as they watch Teletubbies.
She is thanked and tipped, generously.
“To be honest, I didn’t think the distance would be an issue for him.” Jackie said, swaddling the baby and setting her down in the crib. Hayden finished putting the last of the toys that littered the room away.
“Huh?” Hayden said, “Why?”
“I mean he dated that girl from Boston for a while?” Jackie said.
“Oh yeah,” Hayden said. He’s forgotten about Lily. “Well, clearly they didn’t work out. Maybe he’s sworn it off. The way he’s sworn dating in general off.”
“Alright, Cupid.” Jackie said, “No more meddling. I’m tired, let’s go to bed.”
The night left both of them exhausted, so they all but fell into their bed. Before he nods off, Jackie’s hand finds his, and she gives it a squeeze. “I know you’re just trying to help.”
“Yeah.” Hayden said, “But I’m not very good at it.”
“Mmmh, no. But you are trying.”
—
Hayden woke up to an alarm. Well, woke up is a strong word. He briefly regained consciousness, looked around, saw it was pitch black out, and promptly whacked his phone with the palm of his hand till it stopped making noise.
He actually woke up to sunlight streaming across his face, and his phone making an irritating buzzing noise, that wasn’t an alarm.
He whacked at it some more, until he saw it was a phone call, and blearily accepted.
“Hayden?” Someone said through the speaker. It sounded really familiar, but he couldn’t place it. Thankfully, his brain was coming back online slowly.
“Mmhyeah.” Hayden said, in a voice that was not his.
His eyes snapped open, and he looked at his phone. ‘Hayden’ was written in the contact line of the call.
“Hey, uh. Who is that?” Hayden said, fumbling to get out from under the covers and snatch the phone up with his hands.
“Shane.” Said Shane, apparently.
“That’s not…” Hayden looked around and noticed a few very important things. 1. Jackie was not here. Her side of the bed was not only cold, but pretty much untouched. 2. He was not in his room. He was in a very clean, minimalistic, bedroom that could be mistaken for an staged IKEA showroom. 3. He didn’t hear anything. The house he was in was… quiet. Not quiet. Silent. No TV, no children, no bickering.
“Ok.” Hayden said, “What the fuck.”
“What the fuck?” Shane exclaimed, “Where the fuck have you been? I’ve been calling you!”
“I didn’t… I- I just woke up!”
“But I wake up at five every morning! I have alarms!”
“I’m not you!” Hayden snapped, throwing the covers off of his legs and standing.
“Are you sure about that?” Shane said, “Go look in a mirror.”
And so, Hayden did. Then he jumped back, and out of the way of the mirror so he couldn’t see. Then he slowly leaned back in, catching just a glimpse of the side of his face.
Well, the side of a face. Shane’s face.
“I don’t.” Hayden’s brain malfunctioned as he tried to string words together. “I don’t understand. This isn’t… that’s not funny.”
“Am I laughing?” Shane said.
“So, what?” Hayden said, “I’m you? And that means… hey! Are you me?”
“Yes!” Shane said, “I woke up in bed with freaking Jackie!”
And that made Hayden’s stomach turn, “Wait, hold on. You what?”
“I don’t mean, Jesus, I mean she was there. When I woke up.” Shane said, “I got up before her.”
“Oh. OK.”
“And I started calling you hours ago.” Shane said.
“Well, I’m sorry. I was asleep.” Hayden grumbled, “And I didn’t realise we’d been… that we’re.”
“Bodyswapped.” Shane supplied.
“I mean, yeah, I guess!” Hayden said, “Bodyswapped. Ugh, what the fuck.”
“Alright. I mean, we just need to, um…” Shane started, and then went nowhere with it. Hayden could hear him attempting to make a plan, identify the next steps, and start doing something. To fix this.
But unfortunately, this was outside of the realm of problems either of them had ever even considered dealing with. Even Shane didn’t know what to do.
“We should meet up.” Hayden said, “In person.”
“Oh. Ok.” Shane said, “Yeah, that’s— oh, shit I need to leave.”
“Leave?” Hayden said.
“I mean, you need to leave. Shane Hollander needs to leave. Soon.” Shane said, “For the All Stars game?”
Oh right. The All Stars game that Shane Hollander would need to compete in, and presumably dominate. The games that Hayden had never been invited to, because, as great as he was at hockey, he wasn’t Shane.
“Fine, OK. Come here.” Hayden said, “We can get everything ready, and um. Figure out what the plan is.”
“Great idea, except I have a gaggle of children to look after.” Shane said.
“Bring them!” Hayden said, “They love Uncle Shane, it’ll be like a field trip.”
Shane paused for a second. “Ok. Yeah. Well, I’ll um head over soon. Don’t look at anything on my phone. Or in my drawers. Maybe just watch TV.”
Hayden ignored how weird and ominous that was, because you get kind of used to that after years of knowing Shane. He was sort of an ominous guy.
So Hayden went to the kitchen, found a whole lot of ingredients, and not a lot of ready to eat food. He gave up and grabbed a banana.
Maybe that was Shane’s secret. If Hayden had to cook an entire meal every time he was hungry, he’d eat less too.
He settled in front of the TV, which was huge. The couch he’d plopped on was comfy as fuck, and the banana was actually very tasty.
He scrolled through channels until he found a Grey’s Anatomy rerun, and jackpot. Jackie had put him onto Grey’s years ago, although they both agreed it had run it’s course and should do itself and everyone else a favor, and end. But the early seasons? Gold.
He’s so invested in Izzy, and whether or not she’ll tell anyone else that she has cancer, he actually misses the knock on the door.
He heard it the second time, but when the door swung open and he’s met with a very annoyed version of his own face, he froze and barely even looked at his kids, who barrel through the door.
“Uncle Shane! Uncle Shane!” Ruby said. She’d kicked her shoes off in record time, and was already jumping on the couch.
“Don’t jump.” Hayden said, absentmindedly. He was sort of stuck staring straight ahead.
It was his face. Obviously. But it was so clearly a Shane expression. He’d never seen his own face move like that, or hold itself like that.
“Sorry, Uncle Shane.” Ruby said, and she jumped off, only to immediately start chasing Jade around.
Shane snapped out of it first. He started to move towards the door, and Hayden got out of his way, blinking to himself for a second.
“Alright um.” Shane looked around. There were children running amok, throughout his very polished, fancy, and expensive apartment. Hayden had always had Shane come over to his house for many reasons, but in no small part because he wasn’t sure he could afford the property damage his children might cause.
Hayden clapped his hands. “Ok, who wants to watch TV!”
The kids squealed, and were all of a sudden very easy to steer into the main room, and onto the couch.
“And what goes on the couch?” Hayden asked.
“Butts.” Ruby answered dutifully.
“And what doesn’t go on the couch?”
“Feets!” Jade supplied.
Hayden shrugged, “Close enough!”
He put on Frozen because he really needed them to stay put, and joined Shane in the kitchen.
Hayden had seen Shane look stressed out. Probably more than he’d seen him look relaxed. But it was weird to see the tight lipped, slightly bugged out, face he was making now, with his own features.
Shane looked up from where he’d been standing as Hayden approached.
Hayden hesitantly reached over and touched Shane’s hand… or his own hand… with Shane’s hand. Which was currently Hayden’s hand. He paused there a second, Shane looked down at their hands then back up to Hayden.
Nothing happened when they touched, and Hayden pulled back and sighed. “Worth a shot.”
“What are you even doing?” Shane said.
“I thought, if we like, touched. It might just revert.” Hayden said, “I don’t know. Not really sure what the procedure is.”
“Why would— you know what, nevermind.” Shane said. “What the hell are we supposed to… do!?”
“I mean. Uh. Keep going like normal?” Hayden said. “What else can we do?”
“I can’t be a father!” Shane exclaimed, “I spent all morning being terrible at it!”
Hayden did not tell Shane about his own morning, which had actually been quiet and relaxing.
“Well, the kids are gonna think it’s weird if ‘Uncle Shane’ starts acting like their dad, and I think people will notice if ‘I’ show up for the All Stars game.”
“Fuck… fuck.” Shane muttered to himself, bracing his arms against the counter. “I mean, how are you going to compete?”
Hayden tried not to take offense to that, because yeah. Hayden was not as good at hockey as Shane was. But Shane usually didn’t point that out.
Hayden shrugged, “I mean, it’s still your body. Maybe it’s all like muscle memory.”
Shane looked up at that, looking a few degrees less stressed. “Yeah… that could… that’s true.”
Hayden looked behind him, where his children were stuck in place staring at the screen, unblinking.
“Hey, you’ve got a rink here.” Hayden said, “Let’s do a few laps, see if I need to call out sick or something.”
Shane nodded, and let out a deep breath. “Alright.”
Shane had a few old pairs of skates lying around, Hayden had borrowed them before, when they’d wanted to fuck around on the polymer plastic rink. He almost walked to the closet in the back to grab a pair, when Shane grabbed his elbow and pulled him back.
“Use mine.” Shane said, holding up his skates, “We need to see if you’re used to them.”
“Right.”
Hayden put them on in somewhat of a daze. They didn’t bother with putting on all their gear so Hayden was in sweats, a t-shirt, and ice skates.
He paused, before the opening. His plan was good. See what they were working with, and adjust accordingly. But what if he sucked? If he still wasn’t as good as Shane.
Nausea rolled through his stomach, and he was only pulled out of his own head by Shane’s hand on his shoulder.
“You ready?” Shane said, starting to get on the ice already.
“Huh? Yeah.” Hayden said, following him like he hadn’t hesitated at all.
The first step was awkward. Hayden wasn’t sure if it was the fake rink, or new skates, or the new body.
Hayden cringed as his other foot followed, and then he stepped off. His mind ran through all of the worst things that could happen: he falls and breaks Shane’s arm, he sucks at skating and has to pretend he’s sick, he actually tries to go to the game… and is so bad that when they eventually fix this mess, Shane has to retire out of embarrassment.
“Relax, dude.” Shane said, and Hayden looked up at him.
He looked… okay. Comfortable on the ice at least.
“It’s not that bad.” Shane said. “Definitely… different. But uh, I think you were right about the muscle memory thing.”
Hayden put all of his energy into relaxing. He knew how to skate, just… skate.
So off he was. He lapped the rink once, then twice. On the third, he started picking up speed, and even flipped around, and went around again, backwards.
A laugh busted out of his mouth unconsciously, “Holy shit.”
Shane stayed in the middle of the rink, sort of shuffling back and forth, turning to watch Hayden do laps.
“Is this what you feel like all the time?” Hayden said. He yelled it, not stopping to look at Shane, or even really turning towards him.
“I guess!” Shane called back, still a blur to Hayden.
“Holy shit!” Hayden exclaimed, he felt like he was flying, like he was unstoppable. No wonder this bitch only even wanted to talk about hockey— this was like drugs.
He went around a few more times, before gliding to a stop. Except he didn’t even have to think about stopping, or where he wanted to stop, or how fast he stopped. It was like he knew the exact right speed to go, and he knew where everything on the rink was.
Shane smiled, “So, you can skate.”
“I wasn’t afraid I couldn’t skate.” Hayden rolled his eyes, “I was afraid I couldn’t skate like you.”
Shane scoffed, “Well, you can. So now you just need to… go there.”
Hayden saw the realization on his face. Hayden would actually be going to All Stars, as Shane, and would have to interact with a whole lot of people, as Shane.
“Well, you’ve got like an hour to tell me everything I have to know, to be Shane Hollander.” Hayden looked at the watch on his wrist, which— was a Rolex. Fucking awesome. He looked back up at Shane. “Go.”
Turns out, there was a lot to know. Hayden had to stick with Shane’s workout routine, his diet, and sleep schedule. All of which were laid out in detail in his phone’s notes and calendar. Shane showed him the specific apps, when he looked up at Hayden with wide eyes. “Oh. And don’t go into my texts. Except for my moms. Just do whatever my mom tells you to do. Don’t question it. And photos. Don’t look at any photos.”
“Okay.” Hayden said, not commenting on how weird that was. Again, ominous guy.
“And uh, all of your outfits are laid out. So you don’t have to dress yourself.”
“My outfits?” Hayden said, and he finally looked over at where Shane was packing bags. Sure enough, there were a couple bags on hangers. He could only see the one on top, but it was labeled ‘Friday Night’.
“Yeah, I mean,” Shane ran a hand through his hair. “I, um. I got a stylist.”
Hayden’s eyebrows involuntarily rose. He’s pretty sure they touched his hairline.
“You?” Hayden said, “A stylist?”
“Well, it’s not my strong suit.” Shane said. “And everyone’s been taking pictures of me, like all the time. Because, you know.”
Hayden did know. News of Shane and Rose’s break up hadn’t been officially announced yet, so he was still getting occasionally bombarded by paparazzi. Plus, fans approaching him in public. Rose’s fans, Hayden noted. Not that Shane wasn’t famous, but Rose was famous famous. In cities other than Montreal.
If anything, having designated clothes to wear was one less thing Hayden had to worry about, so he dropped it without teasing. Well. He shot Shane a look, and Shane scoffed. “Fuck off.”
“So. That’s it? Those are the rules?” Hayden asked. “Don’t go through your texts or photos, keep up with your workouts and diet, listen to everything Yuna says, without question.”
Shane seemed to be thinking about it, as he paused a second. All of a sudden, he looked up at Hayden, again with that intense anxiety face.
“And most importantly, do not talk to Ilya Rozanov. Ever. No matter what.” Shane said, “Avoid him. Don’t even look at him. OK?”
Hayden nodded, and resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Like he even needed to be told that. Besides, Shane had been avoiding Ilya Rozanov for his entire career. How hard could it be?
“Alright, rules for me?” Shane said, closing his suitcase, and sitting on the edge of his bed.
“Rules?” Hayden said, “I mean, you’re just gonna be at home. I don’t know. Play with the kids. Don’t burn the house down.”
“OK, man.” Shane said, and then all of a sudden Hayden jumped up from where he’d been sitting.
“Do not have sex with Jackie!” Hayden said, “That’s a rule. No sex with my wife.”
Shane’s face crinkled up in a wince, “Oh, ew man. Yeah, duh.”
“Well, it’s harder than you might think.” Hayden said, “We’re both very—”
“Ok! Ok!” Shane said, and he slapped his hands over his ears. “I know! You’ve got a million children.”
“Well my rules are: no sex with my wife, be a good father and husband— except no sex with my wife, so be a mediocre husband.” Hayden thought about it another moment. “That’s all I got.”
“I think I can handle that.” Shane said, “She left this morning anyway. By the time she gets back, you’ll be back from All Stars, and we’ll have figured this whole thing out.”
Hayden nodded, like he completely agreed that it would be that easy.
Upstairs, Hayden stood by the door, one hand on his suitcase, watching his kids put their shoes on.
“Ok, kids.” Hayden said. The car Shane had hired to take him to the airport arrived at the end of his driveway. “Be good for… your father.”
“Have fun, Uncle Shane!” Ruby said, giving his leg a hug. Hayden messed up her hair, and she pulled away squealing.
“Good luck, Uncle Shane!” Jade said, from the floor, while she struggled with her velcro shoes.
Hayden turned away quickly. He rubbed the tears out his eyes as he made his way down the driveway, which thankfully, was long as fuck.
When he got in the car, he took one look over his shoulder, and saw Shane… well Hayden standing in the doorway, waving to him, his kids at his feet.
Hayden shut the door behind him, with a grimace. This was gonna be a long weekend.