Work Text:
Shane had downloaded Grindr. Now he actually needed to hook up with someone on it. He couldn't pick anyone in Montreal or Ottawa because he was a household name there, so he'd have to find someone in a city he played in occasionally.
The first opportunity for this came early in the season. It was Montreal's first game against Boston, and the team's plane had arrived a day early, so Shane had time for a hookup. He'd found a promising account in Boston: into fitness and also hockey, HIV negative, not looking for a long-term relationship.
__________
@hockey69
heyyy cutie ;)
r u a penalty box? bc I'd like 2 be inside u ;)
@2username4
Hi
Are you gay?
@hockey69
no
bi
does it matter?
@2username4
No, I just wanted to make sure.
@hockey69
oh ok
want 2 meet?
@2username4
Sure. I'll be in Boston at the end of this week, would Friday night work for you?
@hockey69
yes
7pm at your hotel?
@2username4
Sure. I'll send you the room and address when I get there.
@hockey69
;)
__________
Shane was in the airport the next day. It was his first trip with the Montreal Metros, and he was both nervous and excited to be on the ice with Rozanov for the first time since the CCM commercial and hookup.
Hopefully Ilya had forgotten about it and wouldn't use it as blackmail material. Shane couldn't let his mother's hard marketing work all go to waste because of one hookup that was obviously a one-time thing that would never be repeated or mentioned again.
His phone suddenly chimed with the Grindr notification sound, and he almost jumped out of his skin.
"I. . . I'm going to the bathroom, I'll be right back." Shane said awkwardly. The other Metros shrugged or nodded, all either doing a crossword puzzle or something on their phones.
He ducked into the last empty stall and opened Grindr to see a message from the guy he'd been talking to.
___________
@hockey69
hey y is there no e in grindr
it should b grinder right?
@2username4
IDK?
I didn't name it?
@hockey69
ah i see
english is not my first language
just confused
should have left the d out instead
good pickup line chance
@2username4
? Then it'd be griner?
How is that a good pickup line?
@hockey69
i'll give the d 2 u l8r;)
@2username4
OMG
__________
The plane had landed in Boston at around six in the evening, and Shane was alone in his room by six thirty. The other Metros had decided to go out to get something for dinner and hit up some clubs. They'd tried to get Shane to come with them, but he faked feeling nauseous after the turbulence on the flight and said he needed to rest up before the game tomorrow.
__________
@2username4
I'm at the Copley Place Marriott
110 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02116
Room 1842
@hockey69
ok!
should i come over now?
@2username4
Yeah sure?
@hockey69
ok! c u soon;)
@2username4
Hey just so you know
I've never really done this before
I've been with a guy one other time
And I've never met up with anyone I've met online.
@hockey69
it is ok
i cannot say same thing for myself;)
but it does not bother me at all
__________
Shane changed into a casual t-shirt and jeans. He turned on the TV and flipped through channels, trying to find something to distract himself.
". . . Hollander's first game against each other since the World Juniors earlier this year." A reporter was saying. "Do you think it'll be an interesting game, Jeff?" She turned to her companion on screen.
"Yes, Maria, I think it'll be a once-in-a-lifetime event. It's been a while since the hockey world has seen such raw talent and potential." Jeff grinned as he talked. "They're both easily the favorite players in the league right now, and they've both held their own when not playing against each other, so it'll be interesting to see how their NHL dynamic together is."
The screen changed to a compilation of videos of Shane and Ilya in their World Juniors games as Jeff kept speaking. "As you can see in these videos, Rozanov has a much more. . . Physical tactic when playing. He's also known for chirping a lot, so we'll see how Hollander handles that tomorrow night. He's a much meeker player, and he really focuses on the game more than the other players. Since the game will be here in Boston, it's obvious there'll be more Rozanov fans, but I dare say Hollander might be statistically more likely to win with Montreal."
"Great analysis, Jeff." Maria smiled. "We'll be right back to talk about Ryan Price's trade to the Hurricanes."
The commercials began: bright medicine musicals, insurance skits, local furniture ads. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door, and Shane shot up to open it.
Shit. He should've checked the peephole first.
"Ilya Rozanov?" He asked, confused. Was this some kind of weird prank on him?
"Shane Hollander?" Rozanov matched his voice.
Shane's jaw dropped. "Holy shit. Are you hockey69?"
Rozanov grinned and nodded, stepping into Shane's hotel room.
Maybe this wasn't a one-time thing that would never be repeated.