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Ilya’s on what David assumes is his best behavior for about a week, sweet and supportive, clearly committed to the plan that will at least allow him and Shane to be seen in public together. He’s making a big sacrifice, uprooting his life without complaint.
“Tell me if we’re over here too often,” David says as the two of them bring plates to the kitchen. “I know you were planning on spending all of this time together, not having dinner with us every other day.”
“No, it’s good. He likes having you here.” Ilya looks over at Shane and Yuna, engrossed in their conversation about sponsorships, and his mouth curves in a fond half-smile.
“You’re a good sport.”
“No, famously, I am a bad loser.”
“I think we’ve learned that’s not true. I’m impressed you’ve kept up the whole—” he gestures vaguely at Ilya, “for so long. Was it all for Shane?”
“Not all,” Ilya says, and David sees the red flag go up as clearly as if it was in Ilya’s hand. He remembers that Ilya’s father died not long ago, and now Ilya has a plan to get a Canadian passport.
David leans against the counter. “Well, whatever part of it was for Shane, thank you. It’s not fair, the way you’ve both had to hide, but I think you’ve protected him as much as you could.”
“He’s done the same for me.”
Ilya probably doesn’t know how much his face opens up when he looks at Shane, like he’s watching the sun rise. Or maybe it’s new, feeling safe enough to let the love pour out of him. Either way, David lets him look in peace for a minute.
Eventually, Ilya reaches for his beer and takes a sip. “Shane says you work with the Canada Treasury?”
“It’s a government job,” David says. “Nice and steady. It paid for Shane’s hockey when he was growing up.”
“And you enjoy it?”
“Yes,” David says, “but you don’t have to pretend to be interested.”
“Thank god,” Ilya says, sounding ten years younger. “It sounds so boring.”
Shane perks up from his conversation like a prairie dog popping out of a hole. “Did you just call my dad boring?”
“I said his job was boring!” Ilya protests. “Not him!”
“I told you that you weren’t allowed to use that word!”
“It is boring,” David says, winking at Yuna. They’d spent a lot of time worried about Shane, and it’s good to see him so happy.
“I think boring is okay sometimes,” Ilya says.