Work Text:
Shane awoke to the sound of clanging dishes in the kitchen, followed by the murmuring of Russian curse words. He rolled over, with difficulty, as his body was tightly tangled around a dense layer of blankets. He was uncomfortably hot. His alarm clock read 9:07 a.m., and there was a full glass of water and two ibuprofen sitting on his bedside table. Shane sat up and swallowed the pills without consideration. His head was pounding.
Shane stumbled his way to the bathroom. As he stared in the mirror at the dark circles under his eyes, he tried to make sense of this morning. Shane never slept past 8:00 a.m., which meant Ilya was never awake before him. And why was Ilya even here? Didn't he have a game tonight?
Another stream of Russian profanity drifted from the kitchen.
Ilya was probably trying to poach eggs again.
Shane finished brushing his teeth and headed toward the kitchen.
Ilya looked up as Shane entered, his eyes twinkling with his typical Ilya mischief. “Good morning, sweetheart.”
“Having trouble with the eggs, again?” Shane’s voice cracked.
“No… I don’t ever have trouble with eggs.” Ilya paused. “You like scrambled eggs better than poached anyways, right?”
Shane nodded, smiling softly. Shane knew that Ilya knew that he liked poached better - but his boyfriend couldn’t be good at everything. Shane took a seat at the kitchen island. He trembled slightly, the sweat on his skin now feeling cold. Ilya removed his hoodie and walked behind Shane to pull it over his head. Shane inhaled the familiar and intoxicating scent of Ilya – a warm woodsy musk, men’s deodorant, and just a hint of wet dog. Shane loved it.
Ilya didn’t have a shirt on under his sweater - Shane spaced out for a minute staring at Ilya’s pecs. Shane recalled falling asleep against those warm, hard pecs last night in a cab. Shane suddenly felt his stomach twist.
“Ilya?” Shane looked at his boyfriend, eyes wide.
“It’s okay, moya lyubov,” Ilya said, answering a question Shane hadn’t asked.
“Did… Did I?” Fragments of memories started to flood Shane’s mind. Being pressed into Ilya’s side, cozy and tight, in a booth at a loud restaurant. JJ and Hayden’s shocked eyes. Wyatt and Cliff smiling like children. Telling Troy he was… hot? The taste of vodka and sweat on Ilya’s palm, when he… licked it?
“What… What happened last night, Ilya?” Shane’s voice trembled.
“You don’t remember?” Ilya asked tentatively, sliding a plate filled with eggs, breakfast sausage and toast, toward him.
“WHAT HAPPENED LAST NIGHT, ILYA?” Shane managed to take the tremble out of his voice by increasing his volume, substantially. The buzz in his head was growing louder too.
“It’s nothing Shane. You had a few too many vodka, that’s all.” Ilya said, still calm, and filling a plate for himself.
“Who let me have vodka?” Shane asked, despite knowing what the answer must be.
Ilya grimaced.
“WHY did you let me have vodka, Ilya?” Shane’s voice was stern now.
Ilya shrugged. “Options were limited,” he said, cryptically.
Shane stared at Ilya and clenched his teeth. His jaw twitched. The memories were pouring in now – making out with Ilya in the bathroom, Cliff giggling about ‘Montreal Jane’, discussing merits of gay sex with HAYDEN???
Ilya took a deep breath, exhaling slowly. “It is not a big deal, Shane. I was out with Marly and Hazy and Barrett, and then you showed up with Pike and Boiziau… We all hung out. It was a nice night, no big deal.” Ilya shrugged. He actually shrugged – as though this wasn’t the biggest, most life-altering, horrifying deal.
“I OUTTED US TO EVERYONE ILYA!” Shane thought his heart might beat out of his chest.
“Oh.” Ilya set down his fork, disappointed. “So you do remember.”
Shane blinked, tears were starting to fill his eyes, overcome with an emotion he couldn’t label. Ilya quickly rounded the island and wrapped Shane into a tight hug, rubbing firm circles on his back.
“Deep breaths, sweetheart,” Ilya whispered.
“No.” Shane replied firmly, squirming out of Ilya’s grasp.
“You don’t want to breathe?” Ilya stared at him.
“No.” Shane shook his head, vehemently.
Shane had no interest in quelling his anxiety. He needed to try to understand what happened – and how much damage was done.
Ilya scrunched his eyes, peering at Shane inquisitively.
Shane knew it was unreasonable to blame Ilya. But there was no room for reason when literal disaster had struck last night.
Sure, Ilya had probably tried to keep things under wraps. And yes, Shane was a terrible liar.
But he had been DRUNK.
Ilya had let him have VODKA.
“How could you let me do that, Ilya?”
Ilya’s eyes widened and jaw fell open. “Noooo, sweetheart! I tried to stop you!” Ilya’s head was shaking now.
Shane shook his head back. “Not hard enough…” He stood from his stool and marched to the living room, collapsing on the couch. He expected Ilya to follow, probably to trap him in another embrace until Shane melted. Shane waited for this inevitability but was surprised when Ilya didn’t immediately come. Instead, Shane felt his phone buzz in his pocket. He retrieved it, tentatively, finding a new group chat.
“The Chosen Ones”
Ilya Rozanov added Shane Hollander, Wyatt Hayes, Troy Barrett, Cliff Marleau, JJ Boiziau and Hayden Pike.
“What are you doing Rozanov??” Shane called into the kitchen. What. Was. Ilya. Doing.
Ilya Rozanov: tell him I did everything to stop him
Wyatt Hayes: haha rozy, someone in the dog house this morning?
Cliff Marleau: hahaha, I was waiting for this text
Cliff Marleau: honestly though man, you could have tried harder
Troy Barrett: You did give him several shots of vodka… 😂
Ilya Rozanov: NO NO NO
Ilya Rozanov: what was I supposed to do? Drag him out of bar? Would been more suspicious
Shane gripped his phone so tight his knuckles hurt.
Then, Hayden’s name appeared. With 3 dots beside it.
Fuck.
Hayden and JJ knew about him and Ilya.
Hayden Pike: Honestly I wouldn’t have clocked anything if you did drag him out of the bar.
Ilya Rozanov: Obviously not you Pike. You are the least observant. Honestly don’t know how you ever even find the puck.
Hayden Pike: So you’re saying I do find the puck sometimes???
Wyatt Hayes: Not sure ‘finding the puck sometimes’ is a brag, bud.
Hayden Pike: 🙄
Cliff Marleau: Can we get back to the part where Holzy is pissed at Rozy? I wanna know more about that.
Cliff Marleau: Holzy?
Shane hadn’t blinked in several minutes.
Troy Barrett: I’m still over here basking in the sweet joy of knowing two of my favourite hockey players have been banging since they were 17.
*Ilya Rozanov hearts this message*
Shane stared at the little heart beside Troy’s message. Ilya just confirmed, in a GROUP chat, that they’ve been BANGING since they were 17.
Wyatt Hayes: Yeah, I dunno if I’m enjoying it in the EXACT same way you are Troy – but I’m pretty thrilled.
Cliff Marleau: 😂
Hayden Pike: Holy fuck – this is all just sinking in. Like WTF.
Hayden Pike: ILYA ROZANOV is BOSTON LILY??? 🤢
Cliff Marleau: Not really sounding like an ally there, Pike.
Hayden Pike: no no no, not like that
Hayden Pike: like I’m totally cool with whatever it is you guys…
Hayden Pike: I mean – whatever, I totally support you Shane!
Hayden Pike: Here for you bud!
Cliff Marleau: hahahahaha pike dude you’re so awkward
Hayden Pike: sorry sorry
Hayden Pike: just hearing my formerly incredibly private bestie tell us all about being pounded into a mattress was a bit overwhelming for my sensitive ears
Shane screamed.
Like out loud.
He screamed.
Ilya came rushing into the living room.
“What?? Moya lyubov, are you okay??” Ilya’s eyes were tracing Shane’s body from head to toe, looking for an injury.
“Did I tell them that?” Shane whispered, as though whispering would erase whatever words he’d said last night.
Ilya shrugged, non-committedly. “Maybe, I don’t remember.”
Ilya definitely remembered.
“ILYA???” Shane sat up, trying to look threatening.
Ilya grinned, walking toward Shane and straddling him, gently pushing him back down onto the couch.
“I can pound you into the couch, right now, and maybe you’ll forget?”
Shane grumbled and pushed Ilya off of him. Ilya fell to the floor beside him with a thud. Shane returned to his phone and took a deep breath, ready to compose a message.
Shane Hollander: I’d like to apologize for my behaviour last night. I had too much to drink and I clearly said some inappropriate things. It was unprofessional, not reflective of my true character, and it won’t happen again.
Clif Marleau: 😂😂😂
Wyatt Hayes: haha you’re good shane
JJ Boiziau: hey I’m just catching up. Why is Shane issuing a formal apology?
Troy Barrett: wait, Shane, are you being serious?
Hayden Pike: unfortunately yah, I think he’s serious
JJ Boiziau: dude ok hold on - shane bud
Shane Hollander: what?
“They’re teasing you for your press release, Shane” Ilya groaned, deciding to just stay laying on the floor.
Shane’s stomach dropped. “What press release??” He was shouting again. “There was a press release??”
Shane quickly searched his and Ilya’s full names into google. Nothing unexpected came up – just the typical reports comparing their stats and the unreasonable trade rumors. Shane turned to find Ilya sitting up, now at eye level, and staring at him.
“Didn’t find the press release?” The corner of his mouth twitched up.
“I hate you.” Shane said, seething – and pushing him back to the floor.
Wyatt Hayes: Shane – you don’t have to apologize. We’re your friends.
Cliff: yeah dude you should PLEASE let it happen again. Watching Rozy squirm all night trying to keep your cover was the highlight of my year
Ilya: Squirm? I was not squirm.
“It means to like flail, or panic, or be uncomfortable.” Shane explained out loud, out of habit more than actual desire to assist Ilya in this moment.
Ilya: Oh, ok, I hardly squirmed. It was investment was my future.
Cliff: how so?
Ilya: if my boyfriend dies of embarrassment then who will I get to pound into the mattress?
“Ilya!!!” Shane yelled, while also typing furiously into the chat.
Shane Hollander: Ilya!!!!
Ilya Rozanov: What? You want to be dead of embarrassment, or fucked so good you cry tears of joy?
Troy Barrett: omg
Troy Barret: omg
Troy Barrett: Can I please show this to Harris???
Hayden Pike: 😲
Cliff Marleau: ahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
Shane Hollander: ILYA.
Shane rolled over again to stare Ilya in the eye. Ilya blinked, slowly.
JJ Boiziau: Ohhhhhh he’s serious now.
Shane Hollander: Very. Or there will be no …. Pounding…. Anytime soon.
Ilya Rozanov: 🤐
Wyatt Hayes: I’m dying over here hahahahaha
Cliff Marleau: holy shit to think there’s someone capable of shutting rozy up 😂
Later that day, Shane was in his home gym on his treadmill, trying to outrun his feelings. Ilya had reluctantly left a few hours earlier to go back to Ottawa for his game tonight. He’d convinced Shane to eat some breakfast and talked him into showering together before he left. The shower, specifically Ilya’s talented mouth, briefly distracted Shane from his ongoing flurry of thoughts, but the moment Ilya left they all came rushing back. The blurry memories of last night, the overwhelmingly revealing text thread this morning. Surprisingly, no one really seemed mad? But, Shane was bad at reading emotions under any circumstance, let alone via a text.
Shane was already on his ninth kilometer when he heard the doorbell. He would have ignored it, but as a rule follower at his core, ignoring a doorbell just felt like adding something else to the list of things he had to be stressed out about later.
Shane swung the door open to find Hayden and JJ. Hayden’s grin was a bit reserved as he held up a takeout bag from Shane’s favourite salad place. JJ’s grin was not the least bit reserved as he stepped past Shane into the house, enthusiastically clapping him on the back as he passed. Shane felt the muscles of his back clench in response.
“How far have you run so far?” JJ asked.
“9 km,” Shane said, flatly.
“Sweat out the booze yet?”
“I think I’d need at least another 9 for that.”
JJ and Hayden led themselves to the living room, Shane taking a moment to catch up to what was happening. “What are you guys doing here?” He hoped his voice was steady.
“Thought you might want some company,” JJ said, glancing at Hayden, and taking a seat in an armchair. Shane wondered what the glance meant. Was this an intervention?
Shane reluctantly took a seat on his own couch. Hayden and JJ never showed up unannounced. Shane took a deep breath in preparation.
“He texted us.” Hayden announced.
“Who texted you?” Shane had no idea.
Hayden paused. “Rozanov.”
Shane stared, waiting for that to make sense. “What?”
JJ pulled his phone from his pocket, tapping the screen a few times, before handing it to Shane. Shane eyed JJ suspiciously before looking at the screen.
Group chat: #1 hockey player & just ok 4th line metros
Ilya Rozanov added Hayden Pike and JJ Boiziau
Ilya Rozanov: I have to go back to Ottawa now.
J Boiziau: ok…
JJ Boiziau: Safe trip?
Ilya Rozanov: What?
JJ Boiziau: I hope you have a safe trip back to Ottawa.
Ilya Rozanov: Jesus.
Hayden Pike: What’s this? What’s happening?
JJ Boiziau: I dunno, I guess we’re friends now with Rozanov or something. He’s keeping us updated.
Ilya Rozanov: …
Ilya Rozanov: are you coming here?
Hayden Pike: Where? Ottawa?
Hayden Pike: No, we don’t have a game there.
Ilya Rozanov: TO SHANE’S HOUSE.
JJ Boiziau: Huh?
Ilya Rozanov: it will never make sense why he’s friends with you
Ilya Rozanov: Come to Shane’s house now. I am leaving. You are Shane’s friends. So you come here and be his friend.
Hayden Pike: Oh, ok. He wants to hang?
Ilya Rozanov: No, probably not.
Ilya Rozanov: He probably wants to run on the treadmill until he passes out.
Ilya Rozanov: Just come here and be his friend still.
Ilya Rozanov: please.
JJ Boiziau: What?? Be his friend STILL?
JJ Boiziau: Does he think we’re mad at him, or something?
Ilya Rozanov: Have you met Shane?
Hayden Pike: Jesus, ok, we’ll be right over.
Ilya Rozanov: Get him salad from his salad place.
Hayden Pike: ok, on it.
JJ Boiziau: leaving now.
JJ Boiziau: wait.. wtf Rozanov – the group chat name??
JJ Boziau: Rozanov I’m literally on the first line with shane
JJ Boiziau: Rozanov??
Hayden: hey, he called us “just ok”. I think that’s a compliment coming from Rozanov
Shane looked up at Hayden and JJ. He opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out.
“You don’t actually think we are mad at you, right?” Hayden asked, shuffling back in his armchair.
Shane bit his lip. Of course they were mad at him.
“Dude, why would we be mad at you?” JJ said, voice sounding somewhat distraught.
Shane hesitated. “About…” Shane could hardly say it out loud. “About… Rozanov?”
JJ and Hayden shared a quick glance. Shane braced himself for the worst.
“What about Rozanov?” JJ said, leaning forwards, watching Shane carefully.
Shane really wanted to go back to the treadmill.
“That… we’re together.” Shane couldn’t speak quieter if he tried.
JJ and Hayden stared at him.
“Well – can’t say we aren’t questioning your judgement a little…” JJ said, at a normal volume.
“He is Rozanov afterall…” Hayden continued. “Rozanov.”
Shane nodded, understanding. Of course they weren’t okay with this. But Shane would have to stand-up for himself. For Ilya.
“I know. I know you guys think he’s an asshole… And, well, he is an asshole.”
Well, that wasn’t a great start. Shane let out a puff of air. He needed more time to prepare for this!
“Yeah – an asshole you’re hopelessly in love with.” JJ chuckled.
Shane’s gaze darted to JJ’s.
JJ continued. “And, a literal asshole you described in great detail last night for all us…”
Shane let out a quiet little gasp. “Oh god, I did?”
“Well maybe not the hole, but we heard a fairly convincing tribute to his ass.” JJ responded.
“There were accompanying hand motions,” Hayden giggled.
Shane sunk into his seat, groaning and covering his face with a pillow.
Wait, did Hayden just giggle?
“Dude, really, you don’t need to be embarrassed. It was, like, actually so fun to see you like that. Uninhibited. It’s like a whole other side of you we never get to see.” JJ went on.
“Yeah, man. I’ve been bothering you for years to give me some details on your hookups. And I finally got a little info!” Hayden smiled. “Actually, more than a little.”
Shane slowly uncovered his face, peering at his best friends. Their eyes were alight with... delight? They sort of looked like Ilya did, when Shane came home from a game with some new hockey gossip.
“He’s more than just a hook-up.” Shane said, wanting to stand his ground.
“Obviously.” JJ said, grin wide.
“You’re not mad?” Shane asked, needing confirmation.
Hayden sighed.
Shane’s stomach dropped.
“Of course we’re not mad, Shane. Obviously, this whole thing is a shock, and we wish you could have told us sooner. But that doesn’t matter now - we’re happy for you.”
Shane moved his gaze to JJ.
JJ nodded. “Definitely not mad, Captaine. Actually – thrilled to know you’re getting some ass on the regular. I was worried for you! I thought you were a dude-virgin. It’s a relief.”
Shane let out a strangled chuckle.
“And, you know what? This Rozanov guy might even be growing on me. He’s almost funny.”
The nausea Shane had been feeling all day started to settle. “Can we, uh, eat those salads now?”
Shane, Hayden and JJ spent the next half hour eating overpriced, lightly-dressed salads. JJ and Hayden had an impassioned argument about whether the cilantro on their salads was disgusting (JJ) or the best thing ever (Hayden). Shane focused on eating, choosing not to comment on cilantro, and instead taking some deep breaths between each bite and organizing his thoughts. Just yesterday Hayden and JJ had been flooding him with pictures of various Instagram-guys, trying to spark his interest. And now they were sitting in his living room, having been told to come here by Ilya - who they knew was his boyfriend. And they didn’t seem mad. Actually, they specifically said that they weren’t mad. They were probably at least a little bit grossed out – but that was manageable - Shane decided, chewing on a chunk of kale. They seemed happy actually, if anything.
Hayden turned on the TV, which of course was already tuned to ESPN. The Ottawa vs Seattle game was about to start. JJ went to raid the kitchen for some snacks, returning with his arms full.
“These must be the boyfriends?” JJ said, holding up pretzels, Skittles and Milk Duds.
“If those are Shane’s, we have bigger problems than him screwing Rozanov,” Hayden said, stealing the Milk Duds from JJ’s grasp.
Shane let out a tiny laugh.
“Can’t believe you let that stuff in your house,” Hayden chortled.
“He eats like a child.” Shane responded.
It was half-way through the first period when Shane gathered the courage to say something else.
“Can… Can you guys tell me what happened last night?” Shane said quietly.
“You don’t remember?” JJ asked, chomping enthusiastically on pretzels.
“Just little pieces… I remember you two dragging me out to the bar.”
“Hey!” Hayden interjected, mouth full of Milk Duds. “You came willingly.”
“I doubt that,” Shane replied. “But anyways – you were bothering me about hooking up.”
“Right…” JJ let his pretzel fall back into the bag. “Sorry.”
“Nevermind that,” Shane continued. “I remember we ran into Ilya, Cliff, Wyatt and Troy. And I immediately started to feel panicky –“ Shane looked toward the TV to avoid his friends’ gaze. “Because I knew it would be hard to keep... Keep it a secret…” Shane was still having a hard time specifying what “it” was outloud. He continued. “Ilya handed me a vodka and, at the time, it seemed like a good idea. I remember Troy talking about his boyfriend, and then something came up about Boston Lily? I think? Anyways, I remember thinking that you had all figured it out, so I think I confirmed it?”
“Well, honestly we weren’t really putting two and two together…” Hayden said, hesitating. “Until you just straight up said that you an Ilya had been fucking for a decade.”
Shane let out a weird little squawk.
“And that he’d railed you twice that morning.”
Shane clenched his teeth together.
“And then you tried to tell us some freaky story about you and Ilya in Vegas…”
“PLEASE STOP.” Shane said, very loudly.
Hayden fell back into his seat laughing. JJ came to sit beside Shane, patting his shoulder gently.
“Honestly, the Rozanov part is a big surprise, but I’m possibly more surprised to learn that you’re a bottom.”
Shane turned to glare at JJ, who was grinning ear to ear.
“I mean you’re such a control freak – I thought for sure in the bedroom you’d…”
“JJ –“ Shane interrupted firmly. “If you don’t stop talking right now I will make sure to never pass you the puck again.”
JJ opened his mouth to argue, but clearly thought better of it, and stood sheepishly to return to his armchair.
“Do you want to know what else happened?” Hayden said cheerfully, stuffing his mouth with more Milk Duds.
“Do I?” Shane reached over to steal the box of candy from Hayden and place it out of his reach.
“Well, I can skip over the explicit stuff if you prefer…”
Shane groaned.
“But Ilya told us a bit about how you were casual at first, but now serious for the past few years. And now, you’re engaged?” Hayden asked, eyes full of anticipation.
Shane swallowed. “Wait, Ilya told you we’re engaged?”
“No…” JJ said, as though speaking to a young child. “YOU told us that you’re engaged.” JJ paused. “And then you literally went on a deep-diving mission to retrieve Ilya’s chain from under his button-down, and hold out the ring for all of us to see.”
Shane’s jaw dropped.
“Oh.”
“Apparently, you proposed?” Hayden prompted.
Shane couldn’t help but smile a little. “Yeah.”
He looked at his friends – who did not look satisfied by his response. He chewed his lip, pondering how much to tell them.
“Well, it was just a few months ago. We had had this big fight – it was – well, it was actually about telling people, sort of. Anyways, it doesn’t matter. And then the Centaurs plane had that emergency landing – remember?”
Hayden and JJ nodded.
Shane looked down at his hands.
“And I kinda had this revelation that I had to stop being such an anxious disaster and make sure that Ilya really understood how important he is to me.”
Shane waited for a comment, but none came. “So, I proposed.”
“How’d you do it?” Hayden asked, figuratively and literally on the edge of his seat.
Shane considered him for a moment, before continuing. “Like the normal way, I guess. I filled the living room with candles before he got home from a road trip.”
“You – Shane Hollander – filled your living room with a fire hazard?” Hayden said, in mock surprise.
“It was his house.” Shane admitted. “And they were electric.”
“Did you get down on one knee?” JJ asked.
Shane nodded, slowly.
JJ whooped. Hayden said “hell yeah, that’s my man!”
“Was he surprised?” JJ asked, edging Shane on.
“Yeah…” Shane hesitated. “I think – we both probably thought - that’d he’d be the one to propose. He had kind of brought it up before… About what he would do. But, I think he was actually really happy that I beat him to it.” Shane smiled at the memory.
“Did you have super hot sex afterwards?” Hayden asked. “Jackie and I had the hottest sex after I proposed.”
Shane turned his attention back to the TV. Ilya was stealing the puck from Seattle’s second line centre.
Hayden threw a lingering Milk Dud at him – it bounced off his cheek.
Shane groaned, but nodded slowly. “Yeah. We had hot sex afterwards.”
JJ whooped again.
“So, are you going to tell us about him?” JJ said.
It took Shane a moment to break his gaze away from the TV and give JJ a questioning look.
“What do you mean?”
“Well, usually when people are in a serious relationship they like to tell their friends about their partner.” JJ said, reasonably.
“You want to know, about… Rozanov?”
“Do you still call him Rozanov, then?” Hayden asked.
Shane shook his head. “No. Well sometimes in... I mean, no.” Shane shook his head harder – he definitely wasn’t divulging that information.
Hayden and JJ waited patiently for Shane to continue.
“What do you want to know?” Shane ran his tucked his hands into his hoodie – actually, it was Ilya’s hoodie – he just remembered.
“Well - what you like about him?”
“Oh.” Shane paused. Shane considered how to answer – he decided on honesty. “Well. I like that he’s just... He’s always himself. Like he’s always 100% Ilya.” Shane glanced quickly at Hayden and JJ, to check if they were already alarmed. They were just watching him with interest. Shane blinked and carried on. “He’s actually really smart – people don’t give him credit for that. But he moved here from Russia when he was 17 – you know? He didn’t know English at all. And it’s not like his family was any help... And – he’s so funny. Like really really funny, even in his second language. He can always make me laugh, even when I want to kill him.” Hayden chuckled, and Shane felt his courage building. “I know people think he’s an asshole. And like, yeah, I get it, he is. But once you get to know him... Teasing is just his love language, right? He only teases people he actually cares about. If he doesn’t like someone, he would never tease them like that. And he always…” Shane felt his cheeks heat. “He knows how to take care of me. He knows when I’m stressed, or anxious, or scared, or whatever. And he always knows what to do to take me out of it… And he’s like really strong – physically obviously – but also in all the other ways. He loves kids and he’s so good with them. And he’s obsessed with animals, especially dogs…” Shane looked again at his friends – both had giant goofy smiles on their face. Shane smiled back – for real this time. “And – he’s really fucking hot.”
JJ cackled and Hayden groaned, falling back into his chair. But his groan was the good kind – at least Shane was pretty sure it was.
“Well, bud,” Hayden said. “You have me convinced.”
“Yeah – I mean, he’s always going to be an asshole.” JJ added. “But honestly, watching him flounder over you last night. And then this morning – texting us like that - I get it.”
Shane felt his insides buzz with warmth. It was kind of fun telling his friends about Ilya.
Everyone turned their attention back to the game, which was now just about at the end of the second period. Ilya had just scored his second goal, bringing the score to 3-1.
“He’s always really good at hockey.” Shane couldn’t help saying.
Hayden threw another Milk Dud at him. “Yeah, no shit.”
They watched the rest of the game, making the occasional comment about players or strategy. Hayden even managed a sort-of complement about Ilya’s stickhandling at one point. Afterwards, JJ retrieved some ice-cream from the freezer and turned on a new HBO show. Shane didn’t pay much attention – his mind was still reeling from the events of the past 24 hours. His friends were here. They knew about his boyfriend. It’s possible they even… liked his boyfriend?
A few hours later, now deep into at least the 3rd episode of the new show, Shane heard the front door open, shortly followed by Ilya’s voice calling his name.
Shane felt a moment of panic before remembering that this was okay. It was okay for his boyfriend to enter his apartment when his friends were over.
Hayden sat up from under his mound of blankets, and JJ set down his second bowl of ice cream.
Ilya entered the room, eyes bouncing from JJ, to Hayden, to Shane.
“What are you watching?” Ilya said, as though this was the most normal thing ever.
“The Following.” JJ supplied.
“Oh, yes, I am on episode 5.” Ilya rounded the couch and eyed Shane. Shane could tell Ilya was tired - normally on an evening like this Ilya would flop onto the couch, resting his head in Shane’s lap. Shane took a breath, removed the pillow from his lap and adjusted his legs, making space for Ilya. Ilya looked a Shane – as though asking him for permission. Shane gave a subtle nod in response. Ilya smiled broadly – the kind of smile he usually only gave Shane in private. Then, he enthusiastically flopped down, head landing on Shane’s lap, his smile now directly in Shane’s eyeline.
Shane ran his fingers through Ilya’s hair. “You came back,” he said quietly.
“Mmhmm,” Ilya responded, his eyes briefly fluttering closed.
“I have to leave tomorrow for Philadelphia. We leave early.”
Ilya’s eyes met Shane’s. “I don’t care.”
Shane smiled and gave Ilya’s hand a squeeze.
Shane looked up - JJ and Hayden were both watching them intently.
“Get a room, why don’t you,” JJ said, voice filled with delight.
“This is our room, Boiziau,” Ilya said. “Also, that better not be the last of my Rocky Road.”
“You know, Ilya.” Hayden started. “Shane told us earlier that you only tease people that you like.”
Ilya scoffed. “Shane – what lies are you telling them about me?”
Hayden and JJ laughed and turned their attention back to the TV. Hayden sank down back under his blankets. JJ gathered another large spoonful of icecream. Ilya shuffled his body so he could see the screen and nuzzled his head back further into Shane’s lap. Shane ran his hand up and down Ilya’s arm as a feeling of calm engulfed him. He let his mind stop reeling, and decided to watch the show – with his friends and his boyfriend.