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6:05 a.m.
Ilya wakes to a kiss on his forehead and a gentle hand pushing curls from his face. He purses his lips until Shane kisses them, at which point he opens his eyes and breaks into an easy grin.
“I took Anya out.” Shane says quietly. “I’m going on my run now, okay?”
“Have fun, моя любовь.”
Shane kisses Ilya again, this time on the bridge of his nose. Ilya loves these mornings. Loves listening to his husband pad quietly through their bedroom as he goes about his many routines.
“I’ll be up at 10.” Ilya promises.
When Shane straightens his back to go, Ilya lets his eyes fall shut. Caught in a blissful state between sleep and wakefulness, he’s eager to succumb completely to his exhaustion. Then, Shane speaks again.
“You’re cheating on me, by the way.” He says casually.
When Ilya’s eyes shoot open, he sees Shane wearing a shit-eating grin.
“Am I?”
Shane laughs.
“Mmhm. According to Twitter, at least.”
Ilya groans. Twitter. Going public with the love of his life has been wonderful for all the obvious reasons, but it’s also skyrocketed him and Shane to an entirely new, sometimes overwhelming level of fame.
They’ve broken containment, becoming a power couple not just in the hockey world but outside of it as well. It’s still a little startling when he posts a picture of his husband grilling, or hiking, or whatever, and that same image winds up splashed across a Daily Mail article the next morning.
“Fucking Twitter.” Ilya grumbles. “Who is it that I’m sleeping with? It better be someone hot at least.”
Shane shrugs.
“Depends on who you ask, I guess. I saw Barrett and Svetlana, but I didn’t scroll down that far. There could be more.”
Ilya feels a little tug of pride in his chest. There was a time when all this attention would have sent Shane spiraling, overwhelmed by the spotlight and doomscrolling until someone physically took the phone from his hands.
“At least they remembered I am bisexual.” Ilya points out. “Is nice, right? So inclusive.”
Shane rolls his eyes.
“Oh yeah, I’m thrilled the internet respects my husband’s ability to cheat on me with men and women.”
“So, we are on the same page! Go enjoy your run, sweetheart. Troy and Sveta will be gone by the time you get back.”
“Hilarious.” Shane says dryly. “I miss when you were asleep. Much more peaceful that way.”
Pressing a parting kiss to his lips, he leaves Ilya to drift off in their warm, cozy bed.
10:00 a.m.
Ilya is alone when his alarm goes off. He listens to the distant sound of his husband in the kitchen, Shane’s knife falling repeatedly against the cutting board in a soothing rhythm. It’s almost enough to make him fall asleep again.
Yawning, Ilya grabs his phone off the charger and opens the Instagram app to see a post from Yuna. She’s uploaded a photo from a few years ago, of David, Shane, and Ilya sitting around the kitchen table playing a game of Yahtzee.
@yunahollander: I used to think no one would ever be good enough for my baby, but that was before I met Ilya Rozanov. Ilya is thoughtful and hilarious, and he would NEVER cheat. Except maybe at Yahtzee, jury’s still out on that one! 😜
As Ilya reads the caption, his response shifts from touched to confused. Yuna’s been known to post about her family from time to time, but this particular caption feels… targeted? Ilya thinks he’s missing something.
He reads the caption again, and this time the word cheat sticks out to him. Oh, right. Shane had mentioned that this morning, hadn’t he? That early conversation almost feels like it could have been a dream.
Regardless of the reason for the post, he makes sure to leave a comment response for Yuna.
@ilyarozanov81: I beat you all fair and square! Let’s have a rematch on Friday. I love you :)
Ilya then moves to Twitter, where it doesn’t take long for him to come face-to-face with his own name.
sofia 🏳️⚧️@admiralsstan21
now can we finally stop the mass psychosis that ILYA ROZANOV is a loyal husband??
Attached to the tweet is a paparazzi image of Ilya and Svetlana last time he visited Boston.
She looks radiant, an open-mouthed laugh lighting up her face as Ilya guides her down the sidewalk with a hand on her lower back. In his other hand are her high heels, which he offered to carry when her feet started hurting.
Despite the caption, Ilya smiles. They’d had fun catching up that night, dancing, gossiping, and drinking until he tapped out a little after 2 a.m.
Svetlana had teased him then, reminding Ilya how fun he’d been before marrying a boring Canadian, but the fondness in her voice said she wasn’t too upset by his newfound domesticity.
Of course he’d walked her back to her apartment. Of course he’d carried her shoes and planted a goodbye kiss on her cheek once he’d gotten her home safely. He continues reading.
Alyssa M 🍭 @jackieshauna77
@admiralsstan21 exactly! sorry but no one can convince me hollanov isn’t PR LMAOOOOO. I know a fellow whore when I see one xoxo
Ilya frowns. So, is he cheating on Shane, or is their relationship not real at all? The least they could do is try sticking to one bullshit story.
#1 Scott Hunter stan @dilfscotthunter
is anyone still talking about THAT moment between Roz and Barrett at their last game against the guardians? bc personally I’m still at the restaurant
This user has attached a gif of Ilya slamming into Troy on the ice, wrapping an arm around him after Barrett pulled off a particularly impressive goal.
Never mind the fact that Troy isn’t even looking at Ilya. He’s grinning toward the stands instead, eyes scanning the crowd for Harris.
lesbian for hollanov 👩❤️💋👩 @mrshollanov
@dilfscotthunter Newsflash: two queer people can be friends without secretly fucking. Shocking, I know.
#1 Scott Hunter stan @dilfscotthunter
@mrshollanov duh, but you have to remember that rozanov is a notorious manwhore. put me in a room with troy barrett and even im folding
lesbian for hollanov 👩❤️💋👩 @mrshollanov
@dilfscotthunter Don’t care, didn’t ask, plus your fave is 100,000 years old #scotthunterretireplease
#1 Scott Hunter stan @dilfscotthunter
@mrshollanov scott haters find a new joke challenge: impossible edition
Ilya keeps scrolling (but not before liking the tweet at Scott’s expense).
averie (taylor’s version) 💚@faithforgottenland
Are we finally talking about the rosanov cheating rumors? Are we finally doing this?
alexis 🏑@hollanderssidepiece
@faithforgottenland Girl wtf are you even talking about
averie (taylor’s version) 💚@faithforgottenland
@hollanderssidepiece I’ve heard it’s like an open secret in the hockey world that rosanov never actually settled down. he has a girl in every city, secret love child, etc
Nicole Evans @nicoleevans18
@faithforgottenland Do you even go here? Pls learn to spell his name before yapping about shit you know nothing about
Thank you, Nicole. Ilya thinks, feeling stupidly vindicated.
He’s not ashamed of his past, but it is mildly annoying that internet strangers are trying to interfere with his personal life. People who, as Nicole put it, are yapping about shit they know nothing about.
As he moves further along in the thread, he sees a familiar name.
Troy Barrett ✅ @troybarrett17
Uh? I’m engaged. And Roz isn’t my type, no offense.
In case his words weren’t clear enough, Troy’s post also includes a lovey-dovey photo of himself and Harris. They’re grinning widely, Harris’s head on Troy’s shoulder as he shows off the ring on his hand.
Ilya taps like on the tweet; it’s not often Troy wades into any kind of petty online discourse. His social posts usually relate to his sexual assault awareness work in some way, with the occasional tribute to his boyfriend sprinkled in for good measure.
Ilya checks the replies to Troy’s tweet, and…yep. Sure enough, they’re filled with a mix of fans fawning over his relationship and loyal Toronto supporters calling him a traitor.
Ilya returns to his notifications to see that Hayden has tagged him in something. He has a checkmark next to his name now, and Ilya makes a mental note to accuse him of purchasing it.
Hayden Pike ✅ @haydenpike
I’ve been around @IlyaRozanov81 for a few years now, and I can confirm he’s a huge dick…
Directly under that tweet is a second one:
Hayden Pike ✅ @haydenpike
… to everyone except his husband. Idk what the Russian names he calls Shane mean, but anyone who’s heard how softly he says them knows there’s no way that man is cheating.
Ilya smirks. He figures Hayden’s tweet is more for Shane’s sake than his, but he appreciates the sentiment nonetheless.
Ilya Rozanov ✅ @IlyaRozanov81
@haydenpike I am nice to others too, Pike. Don’t believe me, ask your wife and kids.
Shane appears in the bedroom door, like he has a sixth sense for when Ilya is harassing his best friend.
“It’s 10:10.” He says, nose scrunched up in an adorable grouchy expression.
Ilya smiles, beckoning him forward with the hand not holding his phone.
“Sorry, sorry. I’m catching up on the drama that happened while I was sleeping. Did you know I am very famous?”
Shane crawls into bed, tucking himself beneath Ilya’s arm.
“Technically, they’re only talking about you because you’re married to me.”
Ilya grins. He loves, when his normally humble husband gets cocky. Sexy.
“Fine. Is true. Because they are all idiots who think I’m a cheater.”
“It’s pretty dumb. Did you see what Jackie posted?”
Ilya navigates to her profile.
Jackie Pike 🫶🏻 @jackieeee_6
@IlyaRozanov81 is a great husband and an even better babysitter. Throwback to when the girls crowned Shane and Ilya prince and prince of Pikeopolis 💕💕
Another picture, this time of Shane and Ilya in matching plastic crowns. Ilya’s expression is faux serious, deeply proud of his new title, while Shane flashes the camera a sweet, earnest smile. Ilya replies immediately.
Ilya Rozanov ✅ @IlyaRozanov81
@jackieeee_6 Now I miss you and your many children. Visit soon?
“We must frame this.” He says to Shane, gesturing at the picture of them as princesses. “Imagine how excited the kids will be next time they come over!”
Shane nods.
“That’s a nice idea. Oh, wait, look at Rose’s account. She posted, too.”
Ilya’s eyebrows shoot up at that. If he and Shane are famous, then they need a whole new word to describe Rose Landry. Sometimes when she FaceTimes Shane, he can hear swarms of screaming fans circling her limo.
Rose Landry ✅ @roselandry
Wait, is now a bad time to mention that @IlyaRozanov81 is cheating with me too?
Below is a photobooth strip from her last birthday. She’d dragged Ilya in with her after one too many shots, and the images are as follows: Rose kissing Ilya’s cheek, Ilya kissing Rose’s cheek, Rose and Ilya grinning, and the two of them looking thoroughly confused. Apparently, they hadn’t realized they needed to think of more than three poses.
Ilya laughs at the memory. When he and Rose emerged from the photobooth, Shane was outside, looking overjoyed that they were getting along so well. He’s even smiling again now, as Ilya types out his reply.
Ilya Rozanov ✅ @IlyaRozanov81
@roselandry Shhh, don’t tell my husband 🤐🤫
He sees that Rose tweeted a second time, too, and this one features a Polaroid from the Hollander-Rozanov wedding. Shane is smiling at the camera, but Ilya is gazing adoringly at his new husband. Total heart-eyes, just like Hayden always says.
Rose Landry ✅ @roselandry
No but seriously. Anyone who’s spent even a second around these two knows Rozanov only has eyes for one person 👀 Love you both!!!!
Shane cuddles into Ilya’s side.
“Oh, God. All these people talking about you are gonna make your ego even bigger than it already is, aren’t they?”
Ilya ignores him, already making his way back to his timeline. He’s immediately greeted by a string of recent tweets, all starring him.
Bood 🥩♨️✅ @zaneboodram
@IlyaRozanov81 Anyone who thinks Roz is cheating has never experienced him cornering you at a bar to drunkenly ramble about his husband’s freckles.
Sveta 🪩 @svetlanavetrova
@IlyaRozanov81 walks me home because he is a gentleman. You were not there to see him texting his Shane all night. All of you are idiots.
Hazy :) 🦸♂️✅ @wyatthayes
Besides me, I don’t know anyone who brags about their spouse more than @IlyaRozanov81 does. Who can blame him? Hollander rules!
Troy Barrett ✅ @troybarrett17
Just for the record, @IlyaRozanov81 once drove us to 4 grocery stores looking for some protein powder Hollander loves. It was a really boring day.
“Wow.” Shane mutters. “You got Barrett to post twice in two hours.”
“Mm, yes. Because I’m so popular. Don’t be jealous, Shane.”
Shane snorts, reaching over to Ilya’s phone to keep scrolling. He stops when he sees his own name, handing the phone back to Ilya. Ilya’s eyes widen. Private to a fault, his husband isn’t usually one for revealing much about his life on social media.
“Here.” Shane says. “Just remember that Harris isn’t up yet, so I couldn’t ask his advice on what to post.”
Shane Hollander ✅ @shanehollander24: If you’re gonna get online and talk about my husband, make it something nice.
For his contribution, Shane has selected a handful of photos never before seen by the public. In one, he’s sitting in Ilya’s lap at his parents’ house. They’re smiling in sweaters, cozy as can be.
In another, they’re laughing by a bonfire. Ilya can’t remember what was so funny, only that he and Shane had been laughing long after everyone else at the party stopped. Eventually, Hayden said it’s really not that funny, guys, which only set them off into another fit of giggles.
The third picture, taken by Yuna last summer, shows Shane and Ilya on their dock at the cottage. They’re facing away from the camera, holding hands as they walk toward the lake at sunset. If Ilya thinks hard enough, he can almost feel the sun burning his back.
“I love these pictures.” Shane says quietly. “And I love you. I’m sorry the internet is so annoying.”
Ilya’s heart swells. He wonders how long it’ll take to get used to this life. To understand there are this many people who know who he is and love him because of it. Who are proud to defend him in public if the occasion arises.
“I love you so much.” Ilya says. “But you didn’t include my favorite picture of us.”
Shane wrinkles his nose again.
“I didn’t? Which one’s your favorite?”
“You know.” Ilya teases. “The one from my birthday? You’re naked on our bed, and I’m—”
“Shut up!” Shane says. “Oh my God. Shut up. I can’t believe I let you take that.”
Ilya laughs, rolling on top of his husband to kiss his neck. Shane groans, but the annoyed sound soon shifts into a soft sigh.
“You can’t? I can. You’re always such a good boy for me.”
Shane pushes lightly at his chest.
“Knock it off.” He chides. “We should get up, Ilya. It’s not good for you to be in bed this late in the day.”
That sounds a lot like a challenge. Ilya growls, diving in to pepper more kisses to his husband’s skin. His neck, his cheeks, and the tips of his ears, until Shane is giggling.
“Let me show you how sorry I am.” Ilya breathes against his ear. “For cheating on you so many times. With, like, everyone we know.”
He’s not looking at Shane’s face, but he’d bet a million dollars that he’s rolling his eyes right now.
“Fine. Okay. But…let’s try to be quick. We need to go grocery shopping today.”
“Mmhm. No problem.” Ilya says. “I bet I can make you come in less than three minutes.”
Silence. Ilya pulls back to look at Shane, whose eyes are now narrowed in fierce determination.
“You’re on.” He says.
And Ilya gets to work.
Two and a half minutes later, Shane is red-faced and snuggled into Ilya’s chest. Ilya kisses his head, inhaling the wonderfully familiar scent of Shane’s favorite shampoo.
“Well, моя любовь?” He says. “Should we start the shopping list now?”
“Oh. Yeah. We probably should.” Shane says, a little breathless.
He reaches for Ilya’s phone on the nightstand, but a notification from Harris stops them from going straight to the notes app.
Harris Drover 🍎
Wow! I sleep in one day, and you narrowly avoid a social media crisis. Seems like the Ilya Rozanov Defense Squad took care of this one, huh? ☺️
The Ilya Rozanov Defense Squad. The words ring in Ilya’s head, welcome and foreign all at once.
Ilya
Yes. I am very lucky. Sorry for fucking your fiancé, by the way.
Harris Drover 🍎
No problem! Enjoy your Sunday, and tell Anya I said hi 💕💕💕
Ilya smiles, looking forward to a day spent with his husband, his dog, and absolutely no more Twitter.