There was something about Sean that had always been so childlike. Gabe didn’t mean that as an insult, but merely an observation. There was an innocence to the other man that had never quite left him, even in fatherhood. He was an anomaly, in that he’d somehow done the bravest thing in the world by ending a marriage, raising his daughter all alone, and all while travelling across the country and pursuing new career prospects. All of the above would be frightening all on their own, yet Sean had taken on each obstacle with so much strength that he’d made it look easy. Gabe had no doubt it hadn’t been easy for him, but that didn’t stop the other man from wearing a smile on his face. Yet he still remained naive to a degree, his cheery optimism so close to Gabe’s own, only where grief had dimmed the light behind Gabe’s eyes, the hefty weight of Sean’s own responsibilities didn’t seem to bother him at all.
It takes a village to raise a child. That was how the saying went, and Sean Carolan was the finest proof of it. He’d gathered Clover close and protected her from a loveless home and had built a new one for her instead, filled with bedtime stories from Kai and cuddles from Libby, unwanted mushy meals from Izzy and big, oversized puppy licks from Zeke. He had no shortage of helpers where his daughter was concerned, and Gabe thanked his lucky stars every day that the other man hadn’t been made to do it all alone. He liked to think that it was a combination of the love and support he received that helped him maintain the innocence and whimsy he was still holding onto. Gabe hadn’t had the same such luck, so it was good to know that Sean could still be the man he’d always loved and adored.
It was with those thoughts in mind that caused Gabe to rich up with his free hand as he pinched his buddy on the nose, laughing softly at the way his skin had crinkled in disapproval. Sean could lament the lossof Gabe’s place on the team all he liked, but he wouldn’t budge. He owed it to Emily and to himself, but he also owed it to Blair too. She hated him enough as it was now without him leaving her high and dry halfway through the year.
“Hey, cut it out,” Gabe gently scolded him, retrieving his hand as he gave his chest a hearty clap. “You saw the name on this jersey, bud. This didn’t come cheap and you know it. You’re still the top dog as far as those fans are concerned.”
He grinned, knowing Sean was sure to blush under the compliment, but it was true. His name still brought a lot of revenue to the club. He was undoubtedly a fan favourite and his jerseys flew off the shelves like hotcakes. The Han’s and the Starling’s did pretty well for themselves too, the newer blood seeming to draw out a younger crowd, but there was no denying that the guys and gals that came out to watch the Rangers could still appreciate a silver fox. Not that Sean was there yet, his golden locks still holding strong, but he had a lot more fans than he gave himself credit for. And Gabe knew better than anybody just how fond Obie was of him.
“Well, I’d better stop ya right there, Seanie. She’s not my young lady by any means,” Gabe grimaced, before dramatically searching their surroundings, as if he thought Blair might pop up unannounced from behind the bar. “And I don’t doubt for a second that she wouldn’t kick your butt for saying it, either.”
He chuckled heartily, trying not to let his skating partner’s obvious disdain for him get to him too much. It was part and parcel of the craft, he supposed. You couldn’t always get along with your colleagues, try as Gabe might, and Blair in particular ran a tight ship. He’d never been late or missed a practice, but she always seemed to be there, already with a sheen of sweat across her brow, as though she’d done several laps of the rink while waiting for him to show his face. Wherever the goalposts were, they seemed to keep on moving and Gabe wasn’t sure he’d be on target ever again.
“Hey, be my guest! I’d love to see a little more of Clover, if she’ll have me,” he agreed enthusiastically, trying with all his might to keep the tightness out of his smile. It wasn’t lost on him that he’d ignored Sean’s question of whether he enjoyed figure skating, unsure how to put it all into perspective for the other man. It seemed like a lot of ground to cover, and far too heavy a topic, for the confines of a bustling sports bar on a random Friday afternoon.
He’d always wanted kids, even since he was a teen. It was exactly the sort of future he’d envisioned for himself, and one that he and Emily had so candidly shared with one another. She’d had a few scares here and there, the nausea and the bloating brought on by her cancer masking itself as something far more hopeful and innocent. It was a dream that had died with Emily, and Gabe was trying his darndest not to let the bitter sting of jealousy take root and destroy his relationship with Sean entirely.
“Anyway, that’s enough about me,” Gabe announced, knowing fine well they hadn’t even touched the surface. Slapping his hand gently against his thigh, he gave his old friend a wide smile that didn’t quite meet his eyes. “What about you? What’s new in the world of Seanie Carolan, hm?”
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