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Shane closed the bedroom door after tucking in the last of the kids and heaved a deep sigh. Four kids in bed, and now to deal with the biggest baby of all: his husband.
The living room was dark, except for a cracking fire, which cast shadows on Ilya’s face as he sat in his favorite chair while slowly sipping a glass of scotch. If he wasn’t being so damn dramatic, Shane would have been more distracted by how handsome he looked.
Usually the first week back in Ottawa after a summer at the cottage was full of excitement. The kids were ready to go back to school and see their friends, and the Centaurs training camp was days away from starting. But this year there was a heaviness to the house and Shane wasn’t allowing it to last another second.
Squaring his shoulders as if he was walking into the media pit after a game, Shane walked into the living room. He stood behind Ilya’s chair.
“We need to talk about what happened.”
Ilya scoffed. “Nothing to talk about.”
“You can’t be mad at him for this, Ilya.”
“Why not?”
“Because he is your son, and he has done nothing wrong.”
That comment got Ilya on his feet.
He turned to face Shane, jaw set with agitation. “He has made a bad choice. He has ignored our advice. We have built an empire, a legacy and he is throwing it away!”
Shane couldn’t stop himself, he rolled his eyes. “My god Ilya, he hasn’t thrown anything away! You’re being so dramatic.”
Shane was honestly surprised Ilya didn’t stomp his foot. “I am not! I want the best for all our children, and he is choosing a bad path!”
“He isn’t! He is choosing what makes him happy!”
“Happiness isn’t everything!”
“It is in this situation.”
Ilya crossed his arms over his chest. “He can’t do this. I won’t support it.”
Shane shook his head. “No, not an option. He is your son, you love him, you will support him in this. He isn’t hurting himself or anyone else with his choices.”
“He is hurting-“
“Your pride doesn’t count.” Shane interrupted.
Ilya pouted.
Shane took a deep breath. “Ilya, he has been struggling with this decision for a long time. It took a lot of courage for him to come to us. You can’t shame him for this, your relationship will never recover.”
For the first time Ilya looked defeated. “But Shane… it’s so awful. I’m so disappointed.”
“That’s it!” Shane threw his hands in the air. “Get over yourself Ilya!”
“I’m allowed to have my opinions! I’m allowed to tell him when he is wrong!”
“Holy shit, he just wants to play Goalie!”