Rating:

Teen And Up Audiences

Archive Warning:

No Archive Warnings Apply

Category:

M/M

Fandoms:

Heated Rivalry (TV), Game Changers Series - Rachel Reid

Relationships:

Shane Hollander/Ilya Rozanov, Shane Hollander & Hayden Pike, Ilya Rozanov & Svetlana Vetrova, Shane Hollander & Rose Landry

Characters:

Shane Hollander, Ilya Rozanov, Hayden Pike, Jackie Pike, Yuna Hollander, David Hollander, Rose Landry, Svetlana Vetrova

Additional Tags:

Coming Out, Misunderstandings, Everyone in this fic loves each other but they’re all so stupid, Good Friend Hayden Pike, Fluff and Humor, Good Friend Rose Landry, Hayden Pike & Ilya Rozanov Friendship, In the most begrudging way possible, Long-Suffering Hayden Pike, Relationship Reveal

Language:

English

Series:

Part 2 of Connecting the Two Dots

Stats:

Published: 2026-01-30 Completed: 2026-02-06 Words: 9,051 Chapters: 2/2

Stick the Dismount

Summary

“Do you think they’re engaged?”

“Or he’s thinking of popping the question,” David said.

“Private catered dinner,” Yuna said by way of agreement.

David patted her hand. “Let’s bring a nice bottle of something, just in case.”

Shane and Ilya host a dinner party. Each of the guests thinks they know why; most of them are wrong.

Chapter 1

Chapter Notes

Sequel to Right Formula, Wrong Answer, which you probably don’t need to read first, but you’re going to want to

I still haven’t read the books yet, I’m living off the show, vague spoilers, and absolutely no actual sports knowledge

Shane flopped down onto his back beside Ilya, savoring the ache in his thighs and the loose, floating feeling everywhere else. God, he’d missed this. It had been a rough few weeks.

“Both out of playoffs,” Ilya said, as though reading his mind, “Maybe okay if we have more time for this.”

Shane settled in closer, mindful of a few wet spots. “Sudden death,” he said, “So fucking close.”

“I would say you will win next year, but is not true,” Ilya said, “Is mine.”

“With Ottawa,” Shane said. He was still processing that that was really going to happen, needed to say it aloud every once in a while.

“Yes,” Ilya confirmed and pulled him in more tightly by his side. “With Ottawa.”

Free agency. Nothing was public yet, but the papers were all but signed. No one expected Ilya to leave the team that had drafted him, the city that he had called his home for many years now. But he was. For Shane. Even without anyone knowing that part of the story, this was going to make waves.

“I’ve been thinking…” Shane said slowly, aiming for a light tone.

“Oh no,” Ilya said, the words rumbling deep in his chest and reverberating against Shane’s own.

“Nothing bad,” Shane assured him. “I know you’re announcing it soon, but what if we had a little get together? Something to celebrate you moving closer and the charity, and, you know. Us. Our relationship.” He hoped he was selling this well. “Like a dinner party, just a few close friends.”

“Nothing bad, you say,” Ilya grumbled like the idea of a dinner party with a few close friends was the equivalent of a week of torture. Ilya nudged at Shane. “Did you wait on purpose until after we fuck to ask this?”

Shane studied the side of Ilya’s face, the sharp lines of his profile. Like this, he was at his softest and most pliable. Shane kissed the warm skin of his shoulder. “Maybe,” he said. Ilya hummed.

“Okay,” he said after mulling it over. “But if Pike is going, I want Svetlana there.”

Shane dug his chin against the muscle of Ilya’s shoulder now instead. It’s not like he was actually jealous, not really, but it was hard for him to resist taking the bait. “That’s fine,” Shane said, “I was thinking of inviting Rose.”

Ilya sat up immediately, propped on one elbow. “You bring Rose Landry?” He asked, incredulous. “Your ex, Rose Landry?”

“My good friend,” Shane corrected, “And ex for a reason.”

“Yes, a reason, good reason,” Ilya said, fired up. He swung a leg over Shane and loomed above him, his arms forming a cage on either side of Shane’s head. “She could not make you feel like I can.”

Shane’s breath hitched, stomach swooping with the thrill of it. He nodded, eyes locked on Ilya’s.

“She could not touch you like I can.” Ilya moved one hand to rest against Shane’s jaw, thumb brushing against his lips just long enough to wet it before sliding down to the base of Shane’s throat. It was then that Shane pushed all thoughts of Rose and dinner parties out of his mind as Ilya headed southward, up already for round two.

“Shane!” Rose’s face filled the screen as she answered his video call. “Oh my god, you’re exactly the kind of person I want to hear from right now.”

“Yeah?” he asked, happy to see her, too. They’d both been so busy lately that they’d hardly had time for anything more than the occasional text. But it turned out she had meant what she’d said after their breakup; they were real friends, even far apart.

“Yes!” He could see her move from her kitchen to her living room, where she threw herself down onto a couch. “I just got home from an industry party full of the worst type of man LA has to offer. Say something normal to bring me back down to earth, please?”

He smiled at her theatrics and propped his phone up on his own kitchen counter. It was late and his Montreal apartment was quiet. “Like what?” he asked.

“Like I don’t know…” She searched around the room like she could find answers there. Then she settled on, “How’s Canada?”

“Canada’s fine,” he said, filling a large glass of water from his fridge tap. “Weather’s been nice. I’m heading out to the cottage soon.”

“Ugh, bless you, that’s perfect,” she sighed. “When can we hang out again? I feel like wandering around old Montreal would fix me.”

Shane took a big gulp from the glass of water. Go time. “That’s actually part of why I called,” he said, “How would you feel about coming here to meet my boyfriend?”

“Um, oh my god?” She leaned close into the phone as though that would give her a better look at him, smile shocked and huge. “Shane!”

He ducked his head, trying to hide his own smile. He knew she would be happy for him, and he hadn’t even told her everything yet.

“I know you said you were ‘kind of’ seeing someone,” she said, pulling finger quotes with one hand, “But wow! It’s that serious?”

“Yeah,” he said, suddenly nervous. It was that serious. Introduce-him-to-friends-and-loved-ones serious. “But, I mean, we’re not telling the whole world yet, obviously. It’s way too complicated, he’s closeted, too, and everyone would have so many questions.”

“Dude, breathe,” she laughed. “I get it. You know I’m the last person to run and tell the media, right?”

He exhaled, long and slow. Took another sip of the water. Set the glass down. “Right,” he said. “It’s just… It’s big. No one knows.”

She stared at him for a long time, blinking slowly like something was clicking into place. “Shane,” she said slowly, “Who is your boyfriend?”

He squared his shoulders, tried to relax and fortify himself. “Ilya Rozanov,” he said simply.

She screamed. It was a wordless squeal, the image on the screen flashing and shaking as she flailed. “What?” She appeared back in frame, eyes round and delighted. “Oh my god! What?”

“I know,” he said, unable to stop his hand from coming up to cover the lower half of his face. “I know,” he repeated.

She was looking at him the way she had when he’d let it slip that he preferred being the hole rather than the peg, which wasn’t exactly a moment he wanted to dwell on too much. “Holy shit! Shane!” She seemed unable to say much else.

“Like I said, it’s big,” he said. “But I really want you to meet him. We’re thinking of having a dinner party. Small, just the people I’m out to— my parents and a few friends, so everyone can meet. We’ve got a lot to tell everyone.”

“Um, yes!” she said, finally able to form other words again, “That would be amazing. I’ll be there. Tell me where and when, I’ll make it work.” Her smile turned softer, eyes a little watery. “I’m so fucking proud of you, you know that?” she said, and he could feel the warmth of it, knowing that she was.

“Sounds great,” Yuna said, already adding the event to the calendar in her phone even as Shane gave her the details on speaker. “We’re free that night. Should we bring anything?”

“No, no, don’t worry about it,” Shane said. “I hired a private chef, so all I have to do is serve the food, and everyone else just has to show up.”

“Very nice,” Yuna said, impressed with his planning.

“I know the season didn’t end the way you wanted,” David said, “But you still had a run worth celebrating.”

“Thanks,” Shane said. Then his voice took on the particular tone that it did when he was nervous and thought that he was hiding it well as he said, “We do have a few things to celebrate, that’s why we wanted everyone there.”

Yuna and David exchanged a look.

“Anything else in particular?” Yuna asked. He may have successfully hid many things from her for a long time, but she knew her son well.

Shane took a while to answer. “Don’t worry about it now,” he said. “I don’t want to say anything until it’s confirmed.”

“Fair enough,” David said, still sharing a significant look with his wife. “Love you, son. See you then.”

“Love you too,” Shane replied, and the line went dead. Yuna set her phone down on the table in front of them.

“Sounds like he has some kind of announcement,” David said diplomatically.

Several possibilities flashed through Yuna’s mind. She went with the most likely one. “Do you think they’re engaged?”

“Or he’s thinking of popping the question,” David said.

“Private catered dinner,” Yuna said by way of agreement.

David patted her hand. “Let’s bring a nice bottle of something, just in case.”

Hayden poked at the burgers on the grill, not because they needed flipping just yet, but because it was his duty as a father and homeowner. Across the yard, several of his teammates were playing an elaborate game of red rover, to the great entertainment of his daughters.

“Need a hand?” Shane appeared beside him then, still sipping at the single beer that he’d been nursing for the better part of an hour.

“Nah,” Hayden said, poking at another patty, “I’m a pro.”

Shane laughed, which always felt to Hayden like a win. Then he glanced around briefly before asking, “Hey, what are you and Jackie doing next Saturday?”

“Nothing, as far as I know,” Hayden said with a small shrug. “Why?”

“Having some people over,” Shane said. He was still being dodgy, which to be fair was pretty standard for him. But Hayden knew enough now to guess why.

“You and…” He waved his spatula around to somehow take the place of saying Ilya.

“Yeah,” Shane said with another glance around, as though someone would manage to figure it out through Hayden’s utensil waving. “A nice dinner, just my parents and some close friends.”

“I’ll let Jackie know,” Hayden said, “What’s the occasion?”

Shane looked out over the yard to where most of their teammates were still goofing around with the kids. JJ was rolling on the lawn in full dramatic fashion as his side was badly losing. Once he caught Shane’s eye, he started waving him over. “Just have some things to announce,” Shane said vaguely.

“Okay,” Hayden said, because that answered exactly nothing.

“Capitaine! Capitaine!” JJ wailed, “Lend us your strength!”

“I think you’re being summoned,” Hayden laughed.

“I’d better go support my team,” Shane said. He set his beer down on a nearby table with a wry smile and left to join the fray.

Hayden shook his head and kept poking at the burgers. Jackie left the group of WAGs she had been talking to to toss an empty soda can into the recycling bin nearby and sidle up next to him.

“What did Shane want?” she asked, “He looked… well, you know.”

“Invited us to a dinner next Saturday with his parents and some friends,” he said.

“Oh, that’s nice,” she said.

“Yeah,” Hayden continued, “Said he had things to announce.”

“Oh.” Her eyebrows shot up. “You think this is like a coming out thing?” she asked, dropping her voice so low she was practically mouthing the words, even though no one was very close to them.

“Kind of sounded like it,” Hayden said.

Jackie looked over to where Shane was getting roped into the shenanigans, to the absolute delight of her girls, her expression fond. “Then we should go and support him,” she said.

“And make sure Rozanov doesn’t ruin the moment,” Hayden mumbled.

“Hayd, you’re going to have to get along with him eventually,” she admonished.

“Get along with? Fine, I can be civil,” he said. “But actually like the guy? Oh no, that ship has sailed.”

He flipped a burger to punctuate his point.

“Are you free for a visit to Montreal next weekend?” Ilya asked Svetlana in Russian once the usual phone greetings were out of the way.

“Depends,” she replied, “Why would I want to go to Montreal?”

“Shane wants to have a dinner party with everyone who knows about us,” he explained.

“So sweet,” she tutted, “You two are playing house.”

“Yes, yes, very sweet,” he said, “I need you there to keep me from murdering Pike. I do not think Shane would be so sweet, then.”

“Yes fine,” she agreed, “I will make sure you don’t make Pike’s wife a widow.”

“Widow with sixteen children,” Ilya grumbled, and she laughed. “And you will have to get used to visiting me in Canada soon.”

She paused, and then asked, “So you are going through with that?”

“Yes,” Ilya said, “We are telling everyone at the dinner, news will go public the next day.”

“That boy has you wrapped around his fingers,” she said, “But I like the way love looks on you.” If she had been able to see his face, she knows he would have been blushing then, despite all of his protests that he never did so. “And how is Shane?”

“He’s fine,” Ilya said, “Nervous. Wants everything to be perfect. I don’t understand why he is so worried. Everyone who will be there already knows about us, that we’re serious. What could be the problem? What does he think will go wrong?”

“Careful,” she laughed, “Those are famous last words, Ilyusha.”

Hi, Hayden, the text read, Just want to confirm that you will be at Shane’s dinner on Saturday. Shane said that he has an announcement to make, so I know that it will be important to him to have his close friends there.

Jackie was at Mommy and Me Yoga Night with their two oldest, so it was just Hayden alone with the little ones. He had finally gotten both of them to sleep and sat down on the couch with his phone out to do something mindless for a while (like try to beat that one killer round of Candy Crush now that his lives had refilled). Then he’d seen the text from Shane's mom.

We’ll be there! he replied. So Shane had also let them know that he had something to tell them. Hayden just hoped she didn’t try to ask what. His phone buzzed again moments later.

I don’t want to overstep, but do you think this will be a special occasion? I know Shane is very private, but maybe he talked to you about it.

Fuck, okay. Don’t out your friend, Hayden. Let him have his moment.

He hasn’t said anything about it to me, Hayden replied. Good, neutral, not even a lie. Hayden could do this. Three dots appeared on the screen as she typed again.

Got it. We’re just trying to figure out how nervous to be…

Hayden read the message three times through, trying to figure out the best way to respond. He tapped out his response slowly, aiming for a watertight reply.

You know Shane, it’ll be big, but he probably doesn’t want anyone to make a whole production out of it

There, perfect. He hit send and her answering message came quickly.

Very true! See you then.

Hayden set his phone down with a long sigh of relief, happy that he had managed to get through the conversation without saying a single wrong thing.

Chapter End Notes

Hi I'm back to gnaw on these characters like chew toys some more!

I’ll get the second chapter out as soon as I can :) Highly depends on how snowed in I still am :)))

(Feel free to yell at me to finish this 🥲)

Chapter 2

Chapter Notes

Yes, I did get very distracted creating the menu for this dinner party. I have recipes. I plan on making them.

(Caterer: it’ll be easy. Just take everything out of the fridge ten minutes before your guests arrive. Shane: I need to spread everything out on my kitchen counter at exactly 5:50pm or else everything will be ruined.)

“I just feel like I’m forgetting something,” Shane said, looking over the array of plates and wine glasses and the serving directions the chef had left for him. He needed to memorize the timing exactly, get it all down to a science like an on-ice play.

“You think of everything,” Ilya said, sliding up behind him and putting his hands on Shane’s hips.

“Maybe we should have done this at the cottage,” Shane mumbled, distracted. “But then everyone would have to drive so far…”

“Hollander,” Ilya said in that way that only he could, “You are shortening life span. Maybe relax for next hour.” He kissed the side of Shane’s neck, just once. “Svetlana’s plane is landing soon, I need to get her.”

“Oh thank fuck,” Shane sighed, leaning back against the solid wall of Ilya’s chest. “I don’t think I could handle any more delays.”

The timing of the day, planned out to perfection in advance, had already not gone as expected. Svetlana’s plane was grounded for an extra few hours while they waited for thunderstorms to pass, which meant that Ilya hadn’t left to get her yet, which meant that he had been in Shane’s apartment when the private chef was arriving with the food for Shane to finish and plate as his guests arrived. Ilya had spent the afternoon tiptoeing around the loft space out of sight, holding true to his promise to “be like world’s most handsome mouse” until she was gone. Shane’s blood pressure still hadn’t recovered.

“She will be here,” Ilya said, “Everything will be fine. Deep breaths.”

“We’ve never hosted anything before,” Shane said, “I’ve never hosted anything like this before. I mean there’s a reason all of our team get togethers are at Hayden’s.” He huffed. “I’m really, really not cut out for this.”

“Will be perfect,” Ilya breathed against Shane’s neck, voice becoming suggestive. “If you want, I can help you relax. I could call car service for Svetlana, have some quality time.”

Ilya’s hands gripped Shane’s hips more tightly and Shane allowed himself to melt for just a brief moment. And then he shook his head. “No,” he said, “That will take too long. I know how you drive, it’ll be faster if you go.”

Ilya hummed, a little rumbling purr deep in his throat. “I do like to go fast,” he agreed, “Can be quick when needed.”

Shane didn’t budge. “And if we lose track of time and get walked in on again I might actually die this time.” Ilya made a little disappointed sound but didn’t pursue further.

“Okay.” Ilya took a step back from Shane before they both got stuck there. “Then I need to go now.” He grabbed his keys from the counter and headed towards the door. “At least sit for a few minutes, da?"

Shane considered it. Decided against it.

“I think I’m going to clean the bathroom again,” he said. Ilya threw his hands up, deciding some things just weren’t worth pushing.

“You texted first, right?” David asked as they approached the door to Shane’s apartment.

“Yes, of course,” Yuna said, shooting him a look like he didn’t need to remind her.

He nodded. “Let’s knock extra loud, just in case,” he said. They’d been aware of their son’s relationship with his boyfriend and the dynamics therein for almost a full year now, but it never hurt to be cautious.

The door swung open quickly, Shane standing in the open space looking frazzled. He ushered them in quickly and made a beeline for the kitchen as they exchanged quick greetings.

“We brought a bottle of something,” David said, and when Shane started to protest, undoubtedly about how he had told them not to bring anything, he added, “Just a hosts’ gift.” He held up the bottle: one of Ilya’s preferred brands of vodka, tied with a neat blue bow.

“We know you aren’t the biggest drinker,” Yuna said, “But we thought it would be nice to have on hand in case you two have anything special planned, something to celebrate…”

She knew they had agreed to let Shane make his announcement on his own time, but she couldn’t resist dropping little hints of encouragement. David raised his eyebrows at her as he held the bottle out for Shane to take. He was right, it wasn’t the time to be pushy. But he should be so lucky that she wasn’t outright fishing to find out if the engagement had already happened or if he was planning on asking that night with everyone there. Did he have a ring? Should she act surprised? Did he want her to start looking around at venues? David, as usual the only one who could read all of this plainly in her face, shook his head the tiniest bit, as if to say not yet.

“Ilya will like this,” Shane confirmed as he took the bottle, not seeming to pick up on the silent conversation. “He’ll be back soon, his friend’s flight was delayed, he’s at the airport getting her now.” He glanced at his phone for any hints of an update, and then checked the written list on the counter again. “Fuck, I needed to get the vichyssoise out of the fridge six minutes ago.”

“This is quite the setup you have going,” Yuna commented as she looked over the spread of sheet pans and covered containers and stacks of bowls and plates and, on the bar top, a full charcuterie board complete with dried apricots and little sprigs of rosemary. “I thought you hired a caterer?”

“I did, she prepped all of this,” Shane said, lifting a large stock pot out of the fridge and bringing it to a free counter space. “I just need to get the timing right and everything should be fine.”

“Anything we can do?” Yuna asked.

“I got it,” he said, but he was squinting at the list again, reading and rereading.

“Shane, honey,” Yuna tried again, “It’s okay to ask for help with things.”

“I know, mom, just let me do this,” he said, just shy of snapping at her. Then he pinched at the bridge of his nose and sighed. “I just want everything to be nice.”

“Everything looks great already,” David said, although that was a stretch given the general chaos.

“It’s going to be great, you’ve got this,” Yuna said, letting just a little of her old pregame pep talk voice from when Shane was a teenager come to the forefront. It was a trick that she only tended to need these days when he was feeling reluctant about doing a photoshoot with a high profile sponsor. “Anything we can do to make the night run smoothly? Anything we should know?”

“If you’re hungry now there’s charcuterie,” he said, notably not answering the question. He gestured to some wine glasses and a nearby bottle. “The caterer said this red goes with these cheeses, but I also have a Chenin blanc, or sparkling water in the fridge if anyone isn’t drinking.” His phone buzzed in his hand. “Hayden and Jackie are here,” he said, already heading to the door.

David set about opening the bottle of wine and pouring them a glass each. “He’s nervous,” he said simply as he handed her her glass.

“He hasn’t asked yet,” she agreed knowingly. A mother’s intuition didn’t lie.

“And you’re sure Shane’s parents don’t already know?” Jackie asked as Hayden pulled his keys from the ignition probably for the third time since they’d left the house that day.

“He’s never mentioned them knowing,” he said, “And he gets squirrelly any time I ask about it.”

“Have you tried asking him about the relationship in a way that doesn’t doubt his sanity for choosing Ilya Rozanov of all people?” she asked.

“No,” Hayden said, opening the car door to get out, “And I’m not about to start.”

They made their way past a group of people waiting around the front of Shane’s building, who all perked up when they approached but then went back to not caring a moment later. Huh. Must be waiting for someone. They cut through the lobby of Shane’s building, waving hellos to the front desk security and punching in a code to get through a set of glass doors. Once in the elevator, Hayden started up their conversation again.

“It’s not even the gay thing!” He said, apropos of nothing. “His parents will support him with that, I know they will. It’s blindsiding them with Rozanov I’m worried about.”

“Maybe it’s like a rip off the band-aid thing,” Jackie said.

“Must be,” Hayden said. “I can’t see what else his big announcement could be. I mean it’s not like he’s about to tell us he’s leaving the Metros, his mom would practically know before he would.”

The elevator opened and Hayden tapped out a quick text to let Shane know they were there. He opened the door as they reached it, smiling in a way that actually looked more painful than anything else.

“Hey, you made it!” he said, standing aside to let them in.

“Barely,” Jackie laughed, pulling him into a quick hug. “Two turn-arounds and one narrowly avoided meltdown before we could get all the kids handed over to my parents.”

“The meltdown was mine,” Hayden joked. “And don’t think I’ve forgotten about all those babysitting nights you promised, at this point you’re going to start owing me interest.”

“I kind of thought you had,” Shane said with a much more genuine smile. Then he threw a glance over to the kitchen area, where his parents were engrossed in their own conversation. “You know,” he dropped his voice low, “Ilya’s actually great with kids.”

Hayden had a hard time believing that, given how much of an asshole Rozanov tended to be on the ice— and he hadn’t done much off the ice to change Hayden’s mind about that either. The guy probably pushed kids over for fun, or stole candy from babies or some shit.

“We’ll keep that in mind,” Jackie said, elbowing at Hayden’s arm as subtly as she could.

“Go have some wine and cheese.” Shane gestured towards the kitchen. “We’re still waiting on Ilya and Svetlana, but I think Rose is—” He looked down at the phone in his hand, suddenly surprised. “Calling me now, actually,” he said. “Maybe she’s lost, it has been a while since she’s been here.”

He took a few steps away to accept the call, and the Pikes headed towards his parents. Hayden could still hear a few snippets of the conversation, including when Shane said, alarmingly, “Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad if everyone thought we were dating again,” followed by laughter at something she said.

Whoof. This just got more complicated than Hayden had bargained for.

Rose circled the block and chanced a moment to slow down and scope out the front of Shane’s building again. Nope, still there. A few teenaged girls, a handful of college kids; they would have been fine on their own. It was the gaggle of men with cameras that she would rather avoid.

“Fuuuuuck,” she breathed. If she’d known it would be like this she would have brought security.

She continued a little way down the block until she found a spot to pull over and poke at her dash display to call Shane. He picked up on the second ring.

“Hey,” she said when he answered, “Sorry, blame jet lag brain for this, but I stopped for coffee earlier and I really didn’t think that through all the way.”

“You aren’t late,” he said, confused. Which made sense because she was rambling and had started her story somewhere near the middle.

“I posed for some selfies,” she sighed. “Which of course went right to Twitter. People put two and two together and now there’s paps outside your building.”

“Shit,” he said quietly. “Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad if everyone thought we were dating again,” he tried, though he was clearly not serious. 

“Speak for yourself, I have a date with a costar of a costar next week,” she said, “And I’m pretty sure this one isn’t gay.” She paused and considered. “Maybe bi.” He laughed.

“If you pull around the corner, there’s a parking garage for the building behind here, but I’ll have to let you in,” he said, “I’ll meet you down there and you can come in the back.”

“That’s what he said,” she said without missing a beat, and then singsonged, “See you soon!”

“I didn’t know you were still so close with Rose,” Yuna commented when Shane hung up and rejoined them.

“Yeah, we’re friends,” he said, distracted. “I have to go let her in, some photographers followed her here so she can’t use the front.” He looked over his food preparation list once again. “And I’ve got about fifteen minutes of downtime before  I need to touch any of this, so everyone just relax, have a drink if you want. There’s a bottle of white and some sparkling water in the fridge. I’ll be right back.” And then he was off.

“‘Just relax,’ he says,” David chuckled. “He gets this from you, you know.”

“And what’s wrong with wanting to have a plan?” she shot back, though it had the warmth of a well worn joke.

“He’s nervous,” Jackie said, “Big night for him, you think?”

“Yes, but he hasn’t done anything except drop hints about what it is,” Yuna said with a small laugh.

Hayden could feel the bubbling discomfort of it all, like any direction this conversation went was going to lead them right into disaster. He grabbed a grape from the charcuterie tray and popped it in his mouth instead of contributing.

“So,” David asked, “How are the kids?”

And that, at least, was a topic that Hayden had hours worth of material to work with.

Rose threw her arms around his neck the moment she saw him and Shane resisted the urge to pick her up when he hugged her back. It had been way too long since they saw each other in person.

“I’m so excited for this, you have no idea,” she gushed. “You are going to tell me everything about how all of this happened, don’t think you can keep dodging me.”

He laughed and led her in. “I really don’t think you want all of the details.”

“Okay, maybe not all the details,” she conceded. “All the details you can spare without offending my delicate sensibilities.”

“Not sure there’s much I can tell you, then,” he said as they wound through the hallways and stairwells on their way back to Shane’s apartment. “There is not a PG version.”

“Damn dude, okay!” she said, impressed. “Then you can offend my sensibilities a little bit, twist my arm.”

“Maybe some time when my parents aren’t around,” he evaded. They turned another corner, almost to Shane’s door. “Everyone is here already except Ilya and his friend, they’re on their way from the airport now.”

“Ugh, another hallway?” she complained. “Is this an apartment building or a maze?”

“I kind of like it, no one’s ever back here,” he said. “It works out well for us, Ilya comes this way all the time.”

“That’s what he—” He cut her off with a sideways look. “Oh, come on, it’s like you’re setting me up for it.”

He let them back into his apartment, relieved to see that everyone seemed to be having a pleasant conversation and enjoying the charcuterie. Successful so far at least.

“I like what you’ve done with the place,” she said.

He scratched at the back of his neck and threw a glance over at the others heading towards them. “I let Ilya pick out a few things,” he mumbled, embarrassed. Hayden didn’t need to know that.

Rose and Jackie greeted each other excitedly, talking fast about how long it had been. Hayden had a touch of the starstruck look he tended to wear whenever Rose was around.

“Hi there, I’m Yuna, Shane’s mom,” she introduced herself with a nod.

“David,” David said.

“So good to finally meet you,” Rose said graciously.

“I’m surprised you haven’t met,” Jackie remarked.

“Well, Shane does have habit of keeping his love life private,” Yuna said significantly. “Can I get you a drink, Rose?”

“Mom, you don’t have to do that,” Shane said, but she was already headed that way.

As the group migrated back towards the kitchen, Rose managed to hang back and pull Shane aside. “Do they know?” she asked, suddenly serious.

“They know I’m gay,” he said, voice dropping to a near whisper. His mind jumped to telling her that there wasn’t a PG version of how he and Ilya had gotten together. “They don’t know everything.”

“Oh, good,” she sighed. “I’m not sure I could handle a full coming out tonight. That would be a lot.” She laughed. “Besides, I’m not sure you could pull off a beard.”

Hayden was eating his fifth piece of stress-induced fancy cheese. Maybe sixth. At this rate Shane was going to put him into an early grave.

This night had felt like it was going all right, it felt like maybe they were all on the same page. And then Rose Landry had called and Shane’s mom started dropping hints that she thought the two of them were dating again and now it was clear that they were all decidedly not thinking the same things.

He couldn’t even get Jackie’s take on it, because she was too caught up in catching up with Rose. Fuck. Okay. Stick to supportive best friend mode.

Even if this night was going to be an absolute fucking disaster.

Shane was welcoming in Rozanov and the woman formerly assumed to be Lily (by Hayden… not one of his finest moments). Svetlana, that was it. She greeted Shane with a quick kiss to the cheek while Rozanov ducked in behind her with a small suitcase, which he set down near the door. Hayden braced for the confusion, for Shane’s parents to question why Shane’s biggest rival of all people was here at this party, but it didn’t come. They were content to stand with him and discuss summer plans while he, internally, was adrift on a sea of doubt and aged cheeses with names that he couldn’t pronounce.

And now his lifeline, Jackie, was going with Rose to meet the newcomers and Rozanov, that asshole, kept trying to put his hands on Shane and Shane kept batting him away.

Hayden excused himself to the bathroom, knowing he had to tap out before he lost it.

Rose hadn’t reached her level of acting career without learning to read a few microexpressions, even from people who thought that they were doing a good job hiding things. Ilya Rozanov did not like her.

When Shane introduced them all to each other, Svetlana had been pleasant in the neutral kind of way that said she recognized Rose, but didn’t want to make a big deal out of it. Ilya, on the other hand, had a particular twist to his mouth every time Rose spoke like he was sucking on something sour. During the initial introductions, his hands had snuck around Shane’s waist, which Shane swiftly swatted away. And then after Jackie said something about how great it was to have everyone in one place and to see Rose, Ilya had moved in for the possessive PDA again, which Shane was having none of. Rose stole a panicked glance over to Shane’s parents, but they were busy admiring some of the new artwork on a far wall, none the wiser.

“Can we just get through a nice dinner first?” Shane asked in a quiet murmur, and Ilya took barely a fraction of a step away from him, lips pursed.

“I’ve been looking forward to this all week,” Rose said brightly, ignoring the exchange and trying to work out how to subtly signal that she was not trying to take his man without giving away secrets to anyone else in the process. “I’m just glad I was able to get the time off between filming.”

“Must be so hard,” Ilya cooed sarcastically.

“Ilya,” Shane hissed, “Don’t be an asshole.”

“But you like when I am asshole,” Ilya said, softening considerably when he turned to Shane, “What does that say about you?”

A flush of color appeared high on Shane’s cheeks, just under his freckles. “Just come help me plate the food, will you? Dinner is almost ready.”

Ilya followed along behind him dutifully, clearly satisfied at having staked his claim.

“Poor Illyusha,” Svetlana laughed behind her hand, “Always such a jealous boy.”

“He only gets away with it because he’s pretty,” Jackie said, shaking her head, and then added, “But don’t tell Hayden I said that.”

“This is true,” Svetlana said. She turned to Rose. “Sorry he is rude to you.”

Rose waved her hand. “No worries,” she said, “I’ve been in Hollywood way too long to get offended by something as tame as that.” She considered the other two women momentarily. “So you both know about them, right?” she asked, “I don’t have to hold my tongue all night?”

“Not sure how anyone could look at the two of them and not see that they’re together,” Jackie said. She threw a little concerned look over to Shane’s parents as she said this. That confirmed it, then; they didn’t know. At this rate Rose wasn’t sure they’d make it to dinner before the secrets all came tumbling out.

“People see what they want to,” Svetlana noted sagely.

“Oh no,” Jackie said, noticing that Hayden had returned to the kitchen. He and Ilya stood on either side of Shane, both trying to talk to him glaring daggers at each other. “I think I need to go collect my husband before he causes an international incident.”

“I guess he’s not the only jealous one,” Rose remarked.

“Men,” Svetlana said simply.

“Men,” Rose agreed, feeling such a warmth for this new person. “Can I just say, you are gorgeous,” she said, unable to hold back the compliment.

“Thank you,” Svetlana said. “Means a lot from you.” Her voice was light and her smile easy. “I loved you in the spy movies.” She tilted her head a little, voice turning wry but her smile still in place. “But your Russian needs some work. We’ll have to find you a good coach.”

Oh, Rose liked this one. “Got anyone in mind?”

“Ah, Pike, you are here,” Ilya said the moment he joined them in the kitchen, “I thought maybe you stay home with ten children and send better Pike instead.”

“Better?” Hayden sputtered indignantly.

Ilya gestured at Jackie with the salad tongs he was holding. “Yes, smarter, better looking.” He shrugged. “Probably better at hockey.”

Hayden glared back it him, conflicted over whether to argue with him or agree that Jackie was in fact the better Pike, if it meant agreeing with “Ilya Fucking Rozanov,” as he was fond of saying.

“I don’t need this right now,” Shane said. He was trying to drizzle the same precise amount of balsamic reduction over each salad plate, but the balsamic was sticky and it was getting on his fingers and he couldn’t wipe them in between each plate because then everything would take twice as long, and Hayden and Ilya were acting like children instead of actually helping him get this dinner finished and his timer was about to go off to pull the salmon out of the oven, which he could not do if there was balsamic all over his hands so he needed to finish with the salads before he had a full on meltdown.

“Hey, bud, if you need help, I’m your guy,” Hayden said, “Just point me in a direction and tell me where to go.”

Ilya answered instead. “I can think of somewhere you can go,” he said, leaning closer into Shane’s space.

“The two of you can help by not being dicks right now,” Shane said through gritted teeth. If the salmon burned because of them, he’d make them both run drills until they collapsed. He’d do it. He find some way to make it happen.

“Hayd, honey,” Jackie said, swooping in to surely save the evening from disaster. “How about we bring some of this out to the table and get out of his hair.”

“Thank you,” Shane sighed. “Everyone needs one of these and one of these.” He pointed at the assembly of soup bowls and salad dishes. “And I put place cards out for everyone.”

“Two at a time, Pike?” Ilya goaded. “Is too slow, like your game. I can carry four.”

Visions of vichyssoise becoming scattered across the apartment floor flashed through Shane’s mind. “Do. Not.”

Ilya picked up two dishes only, and carried them very carefully towards the table.

Rose Landry was, Yuna discovered, quite lovely. So was Ilya’s friend, Svetlana. They were both stylish and in possession of themselves in a way that Yuna loved to see. While David went to refill their glasses, the three of them chatted about what it was like to live a fast-paced, jet setting life and how nice it was to take some time away from all of that to come together like this.

Yuna wondered if Shane and Ilya were planning on having a wedding party. Would there be a big wedding? No, Shane seemed like he would want to have something smaller and more intimate. Svetlana would know what Ilya would want.

Maybe she was getting too far ahead of herself. Best to wait until the proposal actually happens to start conferring with others about wedding plans. Still, between the three of them she was sure they could pull together some kind of celebration that was both personal and undeniably chic.

“So I have a vichyssoise, served chilled with a ribbon of wild garlic-infused olive oil,” Shane said, pointing at each and trying to remember the exact way that the chef had described everything and managed to make cold potato soup sound elegant and appealing. “Cedar plank salmon with blistered tomatoes and creamy herbed farro, and a pear and arugula salad with a balsamic reduction.” He clasped his hands together to punctuate the description. “Bon appétit.”

They were seated at a large rectangular table, which had been set very simply with some candlesticks of varying height and eucalyptus branches that he'd copied from Pinterest and that the caterer had assured him looked effortless and sophisticated and not like he had thrown a bunch of weeds on the table last minute. Shane seated himself at the head of the table, with Ilya and Rose on either side of him and Hayden across from him at the other end. Svetlana sat between Ilya and Jackie and his parents filled out the other side with Rose. He had, in fact, agonized about this seating arrangement for long enough that he wondered in passing if he should have hired an event planner for this party of eight, but explaining the relationships between everyone without outing himself probably would have taken just as long. He had questioned and requestioned putting Rose and Ilya across form each other, but in the end he wanted them desperately to get along. Ilya and Hayden would have to be a slower work in progress.

“This looks incredible,” Shane’s dad said, and there were a few murmurs of agreement.

“The caterer did a lot of it, but thanks,” Shane said sheepishly. Then he looked out over the table and realized it was covered in a few too many empty glasses. “Hold on, I forgot the pitcher of water in the fridge, let me just grab that.”

“You’ve been running around all afternoon, let me get that,” Yuna offered, already starting to stand.

“No, Mom, you don’t have to do that, you’re a guest,” Shane stopped her. “Ilya, do you mind?”

“What, I am not guest, too?” Ilya asked with a little challenging grin.

Shane sighed. “Just go get the water, will you?”

“He treats me like waiter,” Ilya said to no one in particular, but fetched the water anyway.

And then dinner was, in a word: stilted.

His guests complemented the food until that vein of conversation ran dry. And everything was delicious; he’d be sure to save the chef’s card for future events, if he could bear to make himself do this again. Then they had all gotten conspicuously quiet, like they were all trying to take their cues from him, even though social cues were yet another thing that was really, really not Shane’s strong suit.

All the while, the moment that they had planned to tell everyone about Ilya’s move to Ottawa— just after dinner, before dessert and coffee— loomed ever closer. But everyone was being weird. Did they all hate each other? Had this been a huge mistake? Maybe they should do this more casually, postpone the announcement and just text everyone later. Why had he built this up in his head so much anyway?

Plates were nearly empty, people were giving little nods of satisfaction, and it was nearly time.

And then Ilya’s phone started ringing.

He pulled it from his pocket and looked at the screen. “Shit,” he swore softly, and that was all the explanation he gave before the phone was up to his ear and he was stepping away from the table. Shane felt very suddenly like his apartment’s open floor plan had been a mistake, as there was only so far away Ilya could go and absolutely no privacy.

“Um, anyway,” Shane said, trying to pick up the thread of the conversation again in an attempt to drown out whatever Ilya was saying to the other person on the phone. It didn’t sound overly positive. “I just want to thank everyone for coming tonight, it really means a lot.”

“We’re so happy to be here,” his mom said, “And if tonight has anything to do with certain big life steps, then we want you to know that there’s no pressure to do anything in a specific way and you don’t have to rush anything.”

“Thanks, mom,” he said, even as his brow furrowed. That seemed specific. Had she already guessed what was going on?

“For what it’s worth,” Rose said, “You don’t owe anyone any kind of performance or explanation. I’m still so proud of you either way.”

“Thank you…?” Shane wasn’t entirely sure what that meant, but he appreciated it either way.

“Yeah, man,” Hayden added, while Jackie nodded beside him.

“In your own time,” she added, “Whatever you need to do.”

Shane was feeling a bit like he’d walked into an intervention for himself, but could not quite grasp onto the thread of what they were all saying. Had they all guessed about the move? They were all being so supportive, which was nice to be sure. He had never been great at reading tone, but everyone’s tone seemed distinctly… off.

“Uh,” he said eloquently. And then— thank god!— Ilya was on his way back to the table to rescue him from whatever it was that was happening.

“Sorry, was agent,” Ilya said as he sat back down. “Boston offered an extra million. Agent said ‘eleventh hour offer.’”

Shanes heart fell down into his stomach, mixing sourly with the food he had just eaten. Ilya was about to change his mind after everything. “Yeah?” Shane asked, and the word cracked in half on the way out.

“Yeah,” Ilya agreed. He reached out to put his hand over Shane’s. “I turned them down, will take pay cut.” He grinned then, loose. “I hope you like being sugar daddy.”

Shane let a nervous laugh bubble up out of him. “Don’t do that to me,” he said, feeling giddy with the relief of it. Beside him, Rose was coughing in reaction to a sip of wine that must have gone down the wrong pipe.

“That’s how you’re announcing it?” she asked.

“What? Is joke.” Ilya looked at her like she was being obtuse. “We are both very rich.”

“Wait, what’s happening?” Yuna asked urgently, “You aren’t re-signing with Boston?”

“No, that’s what we wanted to tell everyone,” Shane said.

“That’s what you wanted to announce?” Hayden sounded downright offended. “We thought you were coming out to everyone!”

“Everyone here already knows?” Shane looked around the table, as though there may have been a spare guest or two that he’d forgotten about.

“And I thought you were announcing that you and Ilya are dating!” Rose said, and then looked around the table in a panic. “I mean. Shit. Everyone did already know that, too, right? I didn’t just fuck things up?”

“Of course you all know,” Shane said, figuring their joined hands and Ilya’s territoriality would have been indication enough.

“You said no one knew!” Rose exclaimed.

“I meant the public,” Shane defended. “Why would my parents be so okay with me inviting my arch rival if they didn’t know?” Rose didn’t have an answer for that. Instead she just shook her head into her wine glass and then took an overly large slug and luckily didn’t choke on it this time. Beside Shane, Ilya was shaking with the effort of not laughing outright, his hand that wasn’t in Shane’s covering his mouth and doing a bad job of concealing it. Beside him, Svetlana murmured something in Russian that Shane couldn’t understand. 

Shane’s mom was still latched onto the talk of hockey. “So then the big announcement is that you’re changing teams?” She squinted at Ilya, and it was clear on her face that she was mentally running through numbers and logistics. “Surely not the Metros.”

“No,” Ilya said, “Ottawa.”

“That’s an insane move.” She continued to study him like the world’s most confusing puzzle. And then her expression melted. “That’s… That’s Shane’s hometown.”

“Yes,” Ilya said simply.

“All that talk about some big trade earlier in the season,” Hayden said, slow and measured, “Nothing ever came of that. Was that about you?”

Ilya shrugged. “Maybe. Probably. I started to ask questions. Things became… bigger.”

“Exaggerated,” Shane clarified. “No trade, he’s a free agent. Ottawa has potential.”

“And here we thought you were getting engaged.” Shane’s mom sounded shell shocked.

“Engaged?” Shane blinked at her in surprise.  “No, we only figured out our relationship a year ago, that’s way too soon.”

“He’s moving to Ottawa for him,” Shane’s dad said to her softly, and her eyes took on a misty quality that made a little lump form in Shane’s throat.

“He’s moving to Ottawa for you,” she repeated quietly. On the table, Ilya tightened his grip on Shane’s hand. Yeah, it was like that.

“Wait, you’ve only been dating for a year?” Jackie asked. “I would have guessed way longer.”

“We were… casual… for longer,” Shane said diplomatically.

“Since summer before rookie season,” Ilya said proudly.

“Before rookie season?!” Hayden looked ready to faint. “The whole time?”

“Hayden,” Shane said, “You knew it had been years, I told you that.”

“That’s the whole time I’ve known you…” Hayden groaned weakly and sunk down into his seat like he was deflating.

“Not while you and I were together,” Shane was quick to tell Rose. “We were… we broke up. Stopped seeing each other. Whatever.”

“I’m not worried about that,” she said with a sad little twist to her mouth, “I just kind of wish you’d told me earlier.”

“At least he told you,” Hayden commiserated, “I had to walk in on them.”

Shane’s dad chuckled. “Me, too."

“Not me,” Svetlana said. “I have eyes, I see them in the same room.”

Shane’s face was on fire. “So technically you’re still the first one I told.”

“Aw, okay. I forgive you then,” Rose said and gave him a little pat on the shoulder. "It helps that you two are pretty much the cutest couple I've ever seen." And that, at least, had Ilya preening and turning a kinder face to her at last.

“Look,” Shane said, “We are serious about each other, but things like marriage, going public, that’s way down the line. We’re taking it slow. Once Ilya’s in Ottawa, we’re starting a charity about mental health in hockey.”

“And hockey summer camp,” Ilya added.

“Right,” Shane said, “That was the rest of the announcement. And we know that you’ll all support us in this, that’s we wanted you all here, to celebrate.”

“Then why were you so worried about how everyone would react?” Hayden asked, sitting back up like he’d gotten a second wind. “And if you’re starting a camp, why didn’t you want your parents to hear you say Ilya was good with kids?”

Shane’s eyes widened in alarm, but it was already too late.

“Kids?” his mom asked, and that was her planning face back in place again.

“Not any time soon,” Shane protested.

“You know,” she continued anyway, “Adoption is a process that can take a few years. It wouldn’t hurt to start looking into it now.”

“Mom,” Shane pushed back, “We haven’t even talked about if, or... or how many...”

“Would be nice,” Ilya said lightly. Then he threw a little wink towards the Pikes. “Less than four, I think.”

“So!” Shane blurted, aiming to distract from all of that, “Anyone for dessert? And coffee?"

His dad leaned back in his seat. “And maybe that bottle of vodka we brought.”

“Yes,” Ilya perked up, “That is good.”

“I’m in,” Rose said, “I’ve got plenty of time to kill before the paps get bored and stop circling.”

“I’ve got two guest rooms if you need to crash here, since Svetlana’s got the other,” Shane offered, “Although that might fuel the rumors more if anyone sees you leaving tomorrow.”

“Eh,” she said with a dismissive wave, “Let ‘em talk.”

Between the vodka and the water his hands were immersed in, Ilya was warm all over. He handed another freshly washed plate to Pike for him to dry. The two of them worked in near silence. For the most part.

“So,” Pike said, breaking that. “Ottawa.”

“Yes,” Ilya agreed. “Ottawa.”

“It’s impressive,” Pike said and set the dry plate onto the stack in front of him.

“Is not good team,” Ilya admitted. “Not yet.”

“That’s what I mean,” Pike said and accepted another plate. “You could go anywhere.”

“Yes.” The two of them continued in silence for a while longer, both sensing the ceasefire. Then Ilya said, carefully, after working through the wording, “I am glad that Shane has so many good people to love him.” He held out a bowl for Pike to take. “Even if they are all very stupid sometimes.”

“Even you?” Pike quipped.

Ilya looked at him sideways and allowed the corner of his mouth to turn up, just a bit. “Yes, Pike,” he said, “Even me.”

Chapter End Notes

The unstoppable force meets immovable object dynamic of Yuna “Thinking Six Steps Ahead” Hollander vs. Hayden “Confused But Has the Right Spirit” Pike is so important to me actually.

Are Rose and Svetlana flirting? Who knows! Sure! Listen, I don't tell them what to do, I just work here.

There’s another in this series now, too. Leave some love here if you liked this one!

Feel free to go find me on tumblr where I exist for short bursts and disappear intermittently