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Ilya Rozanov heard the song from Marlow’s niece, of all fucking people.
He had stopped by Marlow’s place that afternoon thinking maybe they could go out. Grab a drink somewhere. Anything to keep his mind busy. That morning new pictures of Shane and Rose Landry had hit Twitter, and Ilya was already done with the day.
If Shane Hollander didn’t want him… well, then he didn’t want him either.
He didn’t want to kiss Hollander.
He didn’t want to hold him.
He didn’t want to talk to him.
And he especially didn’t want to go out somewhere and be photographed holding hands so everyone would know Hollander was his.
He didn’t.
When he arrived at Marlow’s place and saw the niece sitting in the living room, he almost turned around and left. But of course that was the exact moment Marlow realized he needed something from the store. And apparently the world would end if the girl was left alone for thirty minutes.
So that’s how Ilya “Russian Terror” Rozanov ended up sitting stiffly on a couch next to a fifteen-year-old girl while she watched youtube.
She didn’t try to talk to him—which, honestly, fair. She didn’t know him. She was too busy staring dreamily at the guy on the TV.
After a while another video started.
A guy in a rose-pattern suit appeared into frame, guitar in hand.
I got a girl crush
Hate to admit it but
I got a heart rush
Ain’t slowing down…
At first Ilya barely listened. It wasn’t his kind of music. But as the song continued, the words started sticking.
I got it real bad
Want everything she has
That smile and that midnight laugh
She’s giving you now…
Look, contrary to popular belief, Ilya is not a brute.
He’s smart. Just because he speaks English as a second language and sometimes misses a word or conjugates something wrong doesn’t mean he’s stupid.
So yes. He understood exactly what the song was about.
I want to taste her lips
Yeah, ’cause they taste like you…
When Shane kissed her… did he do that stupid half-smile in the middle of the kiss?
The one he always did with Ilya?
Did she like it?
I want to drown myself
In a bottle of her perfume…
Did Shane let her use his fancy body wash?
Did Shane like her smell better than Ilya’s cologne?
Shane used to complain about it. Said it was so strong it felt like Ilya had bathed in it.
I want her long blonde hair
I want her magic touch…
Did Shane like gingers better than blondes?
Did he like that her hair was longer than Ilya’s?
Did Shane prefer straight hair over Ilya’s curls?
Yeah, ’cause maybe then
You’d want me just as much.
Fuck.
And I got a girl crush
I don’t get no sleep
I don’t get no peace
Thinking about her
Under your bed sheets…
Maybe he just hated Rose Landry.
Maybe it wasn’t at all about Shane.
The way that she’s whispering
The way that she’s pulling you in…
Did he boss her around?
Did Shane… like it better?
No.
No. That didn’t make sense.
Shane liked being told what to do.
Ilya knew that.
…or at least he thought he did.
I want to taste her lips
Yeah, ’cause they taste like you…
His eyes started burning.
Fuck.
Russians do not cry.
These weren’t tears. Obviously.
He had just… forgotten to blink.
Yes.
That was it.
Where the fuck was Marlow?
He had been gone for almost an hour. He said it would be quick.
Would Marlow kill him if he just left the niece here?
He could stand up and walk out right now.
Yes.
Good plan.
Hate to admit it but
I got a heart rush
It ain’t slowing down…
Right as he was gathering the strength to get up, the front door opened.
Marlow walked in carrying grocery bags.
Ilya didn’t even look at him. He muttered a quick goodbye and walked out before Marley could say anything.
He needed to go home.
He needed to get there fast.
He’d give himself the rest of the day.
Then tomorrow he’d go back to pretending he didn’t care about Shane Hollander.
Right now he just wanted to get home, open the closet he never touched, take out the T-shirt Shane had left there, pull it on, and sleep.
A few minutes after the door closed, Marlow’s niece looked up from the TV.
“Uncle Marley…”
“Yeah?”
“I think Roz broke up with his girlfriend.”
Marlow frowned.
He had suspected something was wrong. Ilya had been in a pissy mood lately. And now that he thought about it…
He hadn’t seen Roz text Montreal Jane in weeks.
Fuck.