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Dinner with her husband, her husband's work husband, and her husband's work husband's actual boyfriend was the best idea of Jackie’s life. She was a genius, really.
They had decided to take full advantage of the two sweet, sweet weeks of peace and quiet while their children were away, and Jackie had invited Shane and Ilya over for dinner almost as soon as she found out about them. Hayden, who was trying to be supportive of the whole Rozanov thing, had just nodded with a tight smile.
It hadn't been much of a choice, anyway.
Shane had to return to Montreal to rest, and Ilya had to stay in Boston. Shane’s parents still lived a couple of hours away, too, which wasn’t ideal for keeping an eye on him, and no one trusted he’d actually do it himself. Three weeks of full rest, the doctor had said, followed by a devastating, no hockey until next season.
Ilya couldn't afford to stay with him, and he looked so stressed about it that her heart ached. Shane, on the other hand, looked like he was about to argue with his literal surgeon. Even Hayden sighed like he was about to burst into tears.
It was a combination of things, really, that made Jackie conclude she had no choice.
She turned to the doctor, who she knew was being extra nice on account of the whole star hockey player thing, but looked about ready to punch Shane himself, and smiled. “He’s staying with my husband and I. We'll make sure he doesn't push it.”
She wasn't sure if she was particularly convincing or the doctor was especially tired— technically, this really wasn’t his job — but he nodded, telling the room a nurse would be there soon, leaving Jackie to tut at Shane before he could open his mouth.
“No buts. Ilya has to play the rest of the season, and you're not gonna rest properly on your own.”
“There is not a right way to rest—” Shane spluttered, pushing himself up to tilt his head and glare at her better. The more she thought about it, the more sense he and Ilya made.
“Oh, yes, there is,” she rebutted. “I'm a pharmacist. I know better than you.”
Then, because Shane Hollander was secretly petty, he crossed his arms and huffed. “You’re not even licensed yet.”
“Just for that, it’s four weeks,” she quipped.
“Come on—” He whined, turning to Ilya, trying to ask for backup, just to be met with his boyfriend's stern face.
“No. Beautiful woman is right,” he grunted, before Shane could even start whatever argument he was gonna try. “You will spend three weeks in house with her and Hayden Pike resting.”
“Come on, man,” Hayden sighed, “don’t make me agree with Rozanov over here.”
So basically, Jackie had Shane around all the time now, fully relaxed, and it was kind of the best thing ever. She couldn't not invite Ilya to dinner when he had an away game against Ottawa.
She'd been texting the guy non-stop, regardless, and he was fucking hilarious.
Her husband didn't agree.
This was okay, since it was free entertainment.
She was sitting next to Shane, who'd shockingly taken the seat next to her instead of his boyfriend, and he bumped his shoulders against hers with a nervous smile. She grinned back, squeezing his hand under the table.
Across, Ilya and Hayden looked like they were trying extremely hard not to kill each other. It was great.
“I'm gonna fucking throttle you, Rozanov—”
“With what strength, Pike? Would be better hockey player if you had it.”
Jackie was nothing if not an instigator. Ilya had brought over a bottle of her favorite red wine, and she was starting to feel pleasantly flushed.
“I feel like you should at least be trying to get along.” She grinned. “I mean, aren't you two, like, trauma-bonded forever now?”
Beside her, Shane tipped his head back with a groan. The pain meds were making him so relaxed it was almost unnerving. “Jackie.”
“You weren't even conscious!” She laughed. “We all did much bonding in that hospital room, you know?”
“Hayden and Ilya almost got into a fist fight,” he muttered. If she didn't know better, she'd think he was pouting about it. God, Ilya rubbing off on him was the best thing that had ever happened.
“Aw, come on, Shane,” she needled, “it was hot.”
Delightfully, his cheeks flushed bright pink and Jackie tilted her own head back, laughing.
“Stop making fun of me!” He squawked, slapping her arm. He was getting redder by the second. It was an open secret in their house that she was the only person who could really get under his skin like that. She took full advantage every chance she got.
“I was being serious!” She retorted. “If you hadn't been injured I would've jumped their bones right there.”
“Jesus Christ, Jackie!”
He was so red now that she was almost scared for his blood pressure.
On the other side of the table, the boys had gone quiet. Hayden's blush was bordering Shane's, looking frozen in place, but Ilya— he looked like this was the best day of his life.
She leaned forward conspiratorily. “You agree?”
And Ilya, whom she knew was a fucking menace, just smirked back, looking pleased. “Of course. It was, how you say… passionate.”
“‘Course,” she smiled, lopsided, “it’s hard to be anything but around two beautiful men, hm?”
Then, without breaking eye contact, she took a slow sip of her wine and winked before turning away.
She was delighted to see both Hayden and Ilya were blushing now, and immediately understood why Ilya derived such pleasure from making everyone around him flustered. Shane, on the other hand, looked exasperated.
“You're torturing them,” he deadpanned. “I thought I only had to worry about Hayden and now you're doing whatever this is.”
“I'm flirting,” she corrected.
“With my boyfriend—”
“You flirt with my husband!”
“I—!”
“She’s got a point there,” Hayden interrupted.
Finally, the tension in the air broke as she and Shane started laughing, leaning slightly into each other. It reminded her far too much of uni.
“You're such an asshole,” Shane hissed.
Jackie shrugged. “That’s your type, babe.”
“You do it to yourself,” Hayden agreed.
“You think is hot,” Ilya cut in, unrepentant.
Shane just huffed.
“Can you people ever be normal?”
Jackie snorted, taking another sip of her wine. She was on her second glass now, never having been much of a drinker, and her cheeks burned happily. Ilya shook his head, muttering something in Russian that made Shane look even more mortified.
She was starting to feel kind of mean before Hayden finally cleared his throat.
“Yeah, sure. Uh, how did you guys meet?” He questioned, looking awkward and unsure, like he didn't know if he could ask Shane that; like Jackie hadn't been needling him for five straight minutes.
Unfortunately, it was the wrong question because Ilya’s smirk widened into a delighted grin, and Shane sighed long-sufferingly.
“Oh, come on, dude, seriously?”
“I didn't say anything yet!”
“But it's gonna be gross, isn't it?”
“Is nothing gross about passionate making love, Pike,” Ilya retorted immediately. “You should know this. You want small army of children.”
“He's got you there, babe,” Jackie snorted.
Hayden's eyes widened, looking betrayed. She shrugged, snatching the bottle and pouring herself another glass, smiling gently as she watched them. It was sweet, the familiarity of it all.
Hayden whipped around to glare at Ilya. “Stop stealing my wife, Rozanov,”
Ilya shrugged guilelessly. “Is not my fault. Am irresistible.”
“We met the summer before our rookie year,” Shane cut in, probably already sensing a coming fight. “We, uh— we hooked up.”
“Dude.”
“I am telling you, Pike,” Ilya scoffed, “is nothing wrong with wild, fiery sex—”
“Please stop talking.”
“What? You don't understand? You have seen Shane's ass, yes?”
Predictably, Hayden went bright red, staring at his best friend helplessly. Shane looked resolutely away, grabbing at Jackie’s now refilled glass and downing the entire thing in one gulp.
After a long, stretching silence, Jackie took pity on them.
“How long have you been official then?”
“Since the hospital, actually,” Shane shrugged helplessly. “I, uh. I kind of realized I couldn't imagine waking up and not having him by my side again.”
Ilya nodded. “Shane is precious to me. Injury made me realize how much.”
“That's so romantic,” she cooed, starting to giggle around her words, comfortably buzzed. “Hayd and I just had the exclusivity talk after the fourth date.”
“Yes,” Ilya nodded solemnly, “Pike is passionless man. Very sad. In Russia, we have word for this— boring.”
“I'll be a lot less boring when I stab you with my damn fork,” Hayden muttered, knuckles going white as he gripped his utensils tighter.
“Not knife?” Ilya shook his head. “Boring. You prove my point.”
“Someone will stab you for real one day, and I'll be so happy about it,” Hayden sighed.
“Hayden,” Shane warned. “You guys promised you'd behave.”
“Jesus Christ, fine. I don't know, how the fuck is the season going, Rozanov?”
“Is good. You should know this, Pike, we beat you last week.”
Jackie choked on her wine. Shane scowled like he'd been personally insulted.
“It was 2-1, asshole.”
Ilya grinned. “Win is a win, no?”
“I got knocked out halfway through the game.”
“Yes, and I play extra hard to avenge you,” Ilya nodded solemnly.
“Oh, fuck off.”
“Make me.”
“Is this foreplay?” Hayden interrupted, sounding like he’d swallowed something improperly. “Are you trying to get it on on my dinner table right now?”
“I am surprised you know this word,” Ilya snapped back immediately. “Surely you do not last long enough for this.”
“Oh my God,” Jackie spluttered, howling with laughter. “Ilya, Jesus Christ!”
Turning to her, he softened. His eyes sparkled with mirth. “Am very sorry, Jackie. I can find you good, strong hockey player if you need.”
“Stop trying to sabotage my marriage!”
“Am trying to save your wife,” Ilya scoffed.
Jackie just laughed.
“Shane,” Hayden hissed. “Anyone else. Literally anyone else, I'll even find you an aggressive hockey player if that's what you're into—”
Shane rolled his eyes, biting into his food. “Please, all hockey players are aggressive.”
“Exactly.”
“Ah,” Ilya smiled, “but are they aggressive when—”
Instantly, Hayden's elbow dug into Ilya's ribs. “Don't.”
“Am just saying,” he defended.
Again, Hayden turned to Shane. “When are you going to teach him about inside thoughts?”
“You know he does it to piss us off, right?”
“Yes. And I'm pissed off.”
Ilya waved him off. “You are just jealous.”
“Can we talk about literally anything else?” Shane begged.
Jackie was feeling nice and bumped their shoulders together. “How are Yuna and David doing? Are they going on another trip now that you're settled?”
“Yeah,” he smiled, softer now, “they wanna visit the east coast next. Apparently, Dad’s convinced California is the worst place ever now, but Mom still wants to travel.”
“This is true,” Ilya nodded immediately. “East Coast is much better.”
“Careful, Ilya,” Shane shook his head, reaching over and squeezing his hand from across the table, “you’re starting to sound American over there.”
“I cannot believe you accuse me of something so horrible,” he gasped, one hand flaying out on his chest. Though, Jackie noticed, he kept his other clasped securely in Shane’s, carefully settled next to the salt shaker. “You are mean, mean man.”
Shane laughed, eyes wrinkling at the corners. “You’re such an asshole.”
Jackie turned, smiled at Hayden, and mouthed ‘they’re cute’. Her husband huffed, a short little breath, and shook his head minutely. His smile, though, was ridiculously fond, and when his foot tapped against hers underneath the table, she knew he was agreeing with her.