Oh my, I just noticed something, could be a reach but the author is always detailed with subtle implications she adds. I had said before that Ian always looks very tired and exhausted in the flashbacks with tj. If you notice in the 2nd flashback the motel door has a no smoking sign but once tj enters, Ian immediately grabs the pack of cigarettes and places one in his mouth, without lightning it. It could be showing us how Ian feels about this repeated cycle, how draining it is but still put up with it.
Oh my, I just noticed something, could be a reach but the author is always detailed with subtle implications she adds. I had said before that Ian always looks very tired and exhausted in the flashbacks with tj. If you notice in the 2nd flashback the motel door has a no smoking sign but once tj enters, Ian immediately grabs the pack of cigarettes and places one in his mouth, without lightning it. It could be showing us how Ian feels about this repeated cycle, how draining it is but still put up with it.