Rating:

Explicit

Archive Warning:

No Archive Warnings Apply

Category:

M/M

Fandoms:

Game Changers | Heated Rivalry - All Media Types, Heated Rivalry (TV), Game Changers Series - Rachel Reid

Relationships:

Shane Hollander/Ilya Rozanov, Shane Hollander & Ilya Rozanov, Zane Boodram & Ilya Rozanov, Cassie Boodram/Zane Boodram, Wyatt Hayes & Ilya Rozanov, Troy Barrett/Harris Drover, Troy Barrett & Ilya Rozanov, Troy Barrett & Harris Drover & Shane Hollander & Ilya Rozanov, Troy Barrett & Ottawa Centaurs Team Ensemble, Shane Hollander & Ottawa Centaurs Team Ensemble & Ilya Rozanov, Ottawa Centaurs Team Ensemble & Ilya Rozanov, Shane Hollander & Ottawa Centaurs Team Ensemble, Shane Hollander & Ottawa Centaurs WAGs Ensemble, Ottawa Centaurs WAGs Ensemble & Ilya Rozanov, Lisa Hayes/Wyatt Hayes, Nick Chouinard/Selena Chouinard, Caitlin Dykstra/Evan Dykstra, Evan Dykstra & Ilya Rozanov

Characters:

Ilya Rozanov, Anya | Ilya Rozanov's Dog, Chiron (Game Changers), Shane Hollander, Wyatt Hayes, Troy Barrett, Harris Drover, Zane Boodram, Cassie Boodram, Lisa Hayes (Game Changers), Selena Chouinard, Nick Chouinard, Luca Haas, Caitlin Dykstra, Evan Dykstra, Holmberg (Game Changers), Young (Game Changers), Ottawa Centaurs Team Ensemble (Game Changers), Ottawa Centaurs WAGs Ensemble (Game Changers)

Additional Tags:

Texting, Texting Fic, Humor, Fluff, Fluff and Humor, Fluff and Angst, Light Angst, Ilya Rozanov Loves Shane Hollander, Shane Hollander Loves Ilya Rozanov, Established Relationship, Shane Hollander Walks Ilya Rozanov Like A Dog, Ilya Rozanov is Obsessed With Shane Hollander, Shane Hollander is Obsessed With Ilya Rozanov, Ilya Rozanov is a Little Shit, Ilya Rozanov is Whipped For Shane Hollander, Ilya Rozanov is a Menace, Funny, Domestic Fluff, Tooth-Rotting Fluff, Crack, Crack Treated Seriously, Fluff and Crack, Not Canon Compliant

Language:

English

Series:

Part 4 of O-Town’s Fillies Back Again

Collections:

Anonymous, Anonymous

Stats:

Published: 2026-05-21 Words: 13,111 Chapters: 1/1

The BBQ of the Year.

Summary

Ilya
We will be late

Bood
do NOT fuck before my bbq

Ilya
We already have
And we will again!

Post-Fanmail, Hollanov, the Cens & the WAGs prepare for the BBQ to end all BBQs.

Notes

hello, it's me (adele dazeem)

thank you all so much for the love on this series. it's been a joy, has consumed my whole life and, if i am being honest, i think is probably at an end! maybe one day i return to write the hollanov wedding, but i feel like i have successfully exorcised the demons that i needed to in order to get this written. i have loved every second of it <3

you'll get the most of this if you've read the previous works in the series - i think it brings them altogether. if you haven't, you'll have fun regardless, i hope!

one more thing, and then au revoir: oas (said by holmberg) = canadian pensioner fund (according to google)

Barbe-Girlz 🍗🔥💕

Friday April 30^th, 6.26pm

Bood added Troy, Evan D, Boyle, Hazy, Cap, Haasy, Young, Holmberg & Nicky C to the group chat.

Bood

boys

the bbq of the year is t-minus 1 month away

Nicky C

LET’S GOOOOOOO

Evan D

It’s fucking ON

Cap

Hello children!

Holmberg

summer summer summer summer

Troy

@Holmberg are you doing the start of High School Musical 2

Holmberg

damn barrett!!!!

you might be old, but you’ve got taste

did you go to the moving pictures to see that one

😂Young, Haasy

Troy

Actually fuck off

Evan D

@Troy @Holmberg I’ll kill you both oh my god

Boyle

why do we have a separate chat for this one?

usually we class bbqs as official team biz

Nicky C

Great point, actually

Bood

because, my precious little boy

the wags are getting involved

Haasy

Good god

Boyle

this is going to be fucking carnage

i would apologize for my wife, but actually no

you all deserve this

Evan D

We all know she’s funnier than you dude

Cap

Better ass, too

😏Boyle

Boyle

logically i know i should be mad at that

but i’m actually too proud to care

😂Cap

Young

gross

Nicky C

Go and be single elsewhere, kiddo

Let us love on our partners

Young

damn ok !

Bood

cass and i have the mother of all to-bring lists

so i’m just going to put it in the chat description and you can all edit with what you’re bringing

Evan D

Are we doing usual big summer bash rules?

Holmberg

what’s that???

Evan D

Ah, I forget that you’re a wee whipper-snapper

Big end of season BBQ is usually Bood & Cass doing the booze

And we supply the food

Bood

let’s mix it up this year

Nicky C

Aww c’mon you know I’ll forget what I’m bringing!!!

Hazy

Yeah man, let’s just keep it the same as always

Let Nicky buy out the butchers

Bood

nah it’s all good

cass & i will take the meat this year

Evan D

Brooo how come

Cap

Maybe Boody is tired of spending one million dollars on beer??

@Bood, we will take the drinks

❤️Bood

Bood

sounds good rozy, tyvm

the rest of you

stop being little bitches and sign up

Bood 🥵🏒

Friday April 30^th, 6.34pm

Bood

thanks for the save, darling

Ilya

Anything for Cassandra & the Boodlet ❤️

❤️Bood

It is time to tell people soon, yes?

Bood

a fortnight or so until we hit 12 weeks

and then we’re ready to rock!!

Cap

Please do it before the BBQ

You cannot let me be there in person or everyone will see me cry

Bood

nuh uh

i’ll need someone to distract them from all the crying i’ll be doing

Cap

You know what

That is very fair

Please just give a man some warning

In general, to be honest

Love has made me very mushy

Barbe-Girlz 🍗🔥💕

Friday April 30^th, 6.37pm

Boyle

double check when nic’s in

but we should be good for desserts

Troy

Oh, so I’m not allowed to sponge off my boyfriend for cider

But you’re good to sign your wife up to become the team baker??

Haasy

Excellent callout tbf

Evan D

Well fuck

He’s got you there

👀Nicky C

Bood

everyone shut up

time to keep it classy for my gorgeous wife

Cassie B has been added to the group chat.

Cap

Beautiful Cassandra!

Cassie B

Hey Rozy!!

Hello, boys 😘

💕Boyle, Evan D, Nicky C, Troy, Hazy

Young

hey cassie !

Holmberg

cassie!!!

Haasy

Hi Cass 👋

Cassie B

Isn’t it past your bedtime, kiddos??

😂Troy

Troy

Remind me why you aren’t always in the chat, Cassie

Cassie B

Better things to do, honey 😉

😂Cap

Sooo

Are we all in for the 29th??

Evan D

You quite literally could not keep me away

🎉Nicky C

Boyle

speaking honestly, i would swim the atlantic to make this one

so would @Haasy

Haasy

Shut the fuck up omg

Cap

Glad we are all being very normal about this 🙄

Cassie B

@Bood did you share the list?

Bood

all done, baby girl

Cassie B

Thanks, sweetie ❤️

Now, before I put the WAGs in

@Cap, over to you for ground rules

Hazy

Wait, hold on

Is everyone from the WAG chat joining??

Nicky C

Shut upppppp

Evan D

OH MY GOD

Cap

Yes, everyone

So I need you to not be fucking losers, yes?

Do not embarrass me in front of my love

Cassie B

😭😭😭😭

Boyle

holy fuck

ok everyone listen to cap

children, lock in @Holmberg @Young @Haasy

🫡Young, Haasy, Holmberg

Cassie B

Ilya, I won’t share the chat history

So lay it on ‘em 👊

Cap

Okay

Shane and I have been talking

And he wants to get to know you all because he knows I love you very much

Even though you are all fucking idiots

I love him more than anything and want you to know him and love him too before the wedding

And is not like we have to hide it anymore HA 🫠🫠

But he is very nervous because is very new to us

To be us like this

And Montreal are a huge bag of dicks, obviously

I am also very nervous to be honest

So we thought that if he can get to know you all a little before the BBQ

It will not feel like such a big thing, yes?

So that is why glorious Cassie and the WAGs decided a big chat would be best

He may not talk lots because it will be a lot for him

So please just go easy on him

Okay?

Troy

Roz

It’s all going to be completely fine

Evan D

Seconded

Team agreement now in place that we are all totally chill on here

🤝Boyle, Bood, Hazy, Young, Troy, Nicky C, Holmberg, Haasy

Boyle

it’s all good man

we’re gonna love him

Cap

I know you will

Just please

Try to not be weird?

Nicky C

Easier said than done when @Holmberg’s in the chat

😂Evan D, Troy

Cassie B

Stop being mean to little Bergy!

🤗Holmberg

@Troy I forgot to ask – can you add Harris in too?? 💕

Troy

For sure!

This is going to be his Christmas

And we all know how that man feels about Christmas

🎅Hazy, Holmberg

Harris has been added to the group chat.

Troy

H, I shared the chat history 💕

Haasy

Harris!!! What’s up man

Nicky C

Yessss, our fave has arrived 💪

❤️Evan D, Holmberg, Bood, Cap

Harris

Holy crap what the hell is this

Okay, give me 30 seconds!!!

Cassie B

Hey honey 😘

Harris

Right I’m caught up!!

1. Hi everyone 🥰🥰🥰

2. Holy hell

3. Absolutely to all the above, Ilya!!

4. I really don’t mind being the official Centaurs cider supplier 😉

Evan D

All we’re saying is that @Troy needs to start paying up

We’re gonna bleed your farm dry at this rate

Harris

Oh, you reaaaaaaaally won’t this year

Mom & Dad have been going crazy with the apple picking 😂😂😂

😏Troy

Holmberg

smug isn’t a good look @Troy

Troy

Neither is being prepubescent

Harris

Troy!!

👀Haasy, Boyle, Evan D

Troy

Ugh, fine

Sorry

Holmberg

😂😂

please never leave us harris!!!

Bood

heyooo h

💕Harris

ok we need to regroup please

Boyle

we’re all good, aren’t we fellas?

❤️Troy, Hazy, Evan D, Haasy

Nicky C

We luv ya, @Cap

❤️Holmberg, Boyle, Harris, Cassie B

Cap

Love you, boys ❤️

Cassie

Let’s do it

💪Cassie B

Cassie B

Everyone be nice!!

And if @Boyle hasn’t said it already, sorry in advance for Nicole 🫣

😂Boyle, Nicky C, Evan D

Nicole B, Caitlin D, Selena C, Lisa H & Shane H have been added to the group chat.

Nicole B

‘sup, sluts 😏

Boyle

hey sexy

💋Nicole B

Evan D

BOOOOO

Go and bang, don’t make it weird here

Caitlin D

Cannot take her anywhere

😂Lisa H, Cassie B, Nicky C, Haasy, Harris

Bood

the squad’s all here!!

Lisa H

Hey, fellas!

Selena C

HEYYYYYY

Cap

Hello beautiful WAGs of Ottawa! 🥰

❤️Lisa H, Selena C

Caitlin D

@Harris babe!!

How’s Chiron?

Harris

Huge 🙃🙃🙃

My apartment is NOT big enough hahaha

Cap

He is perfect

A perfect boy ❤️

Troy

Can you buy us a perfect new vacuum cleaner then

Nicky C

Stop being such a SPONGE man

Buy your own damn boyfriend a vacuum

Lisa H

Good god, are you always like this?? 😂

Hazy

Literally always, babe

Shane H

Hey

Boyle

hey man!

so good to meet you

Evan D

What he said!

Bood

nice to have you with us, shane

Cap

Hello, sweetheart!

Nicky C

@Cap are you literally saying hello from across the room?? 😂

Shane H

I’m in Montreal right now

Haasy

Oh shit ofc, it’s the Raiders tomorrow right?

Boyle

ouch

Hazy

That’s a rough one

Shane H

Nah, they’ve never been much of a challenge.

😂Boyle, Bood, Hazy, Caitlin D, Nicole B, Lisa H, Cassie B

Nicky C

LMAOOOOOOOOO

Evan D

Absolutely beautifully done

Zero notes

Cap

WOW

I see how it is 🙄

Young

sorry ! had to run my sister into town

Troy

You finally passed Driver’s Ed! Congrats

😂Nicky C, Nicole B, Evan D, Hazy

Harris

TROY!!

😂Holmberg

Young

fuck off

oh cool

hey shnae !

Evan D

I fucking give up

Boyle

literally 5 letters bro

Nicole B

oh baby, you tried

😂Nicky C

Barbe-Girlz 🍗🔥💕

Saturday May 1^st, 1.12pm

Lisa H

Good luck today, Shane!!

Evan D

Go kill ‘em for us, Hollander

Selena C

GO KICK THEIR ASSESSSSSS

Haasy

I forgot how intense you are about hockey Selena 👀

😂Boyle, Holmberg, Nicole B, Cassie B

Nicky C

That’s my girl

😘Selena C

Shane H

Thanks, guys

Will do my best

Cap

Destroy them, sweetheart 💕

But please say hello to Marly for me!

Bood

stop making me jealous

😂Cassie B

Cap

Nothing to worry about dear

😂Cassie B

Hazy

Anyone feel like dropping by ours for an impromptu watch party???

👍Holmberg, Haasy, Young, Evan D, Caitlin D, Boyle, Bood, Nicky C, Troy

Boyle

@Lisa H did he ask you before or after sending that

Lisa H

Before! This time… 🙄

I’m just about to head on shift, anyway

Selena C

GO CURE THEIR ASSESSSSSSS

😂Caitlin D

Lisa H

You know what?

Fuck yeah!!

Cap

Cannot today, sorry boys

I already have my own watch party!

[image attached]

Young

omg hi shanes parents !

👋Harris

Nicole B

helloooo hollanders!

the nhl thanks you for your service

🫡Holmberg, Haasy, Boyle, Nicky C

Cassie B

Nic ffs 😭

🤦‍Shane H

Shane H

Wait

Are you all going to watch my game?

Hazy

Hell yeah brother

Bood

game recognizes game, hollander

😏Cap

Caitlin D

You realize we had to watch these fuckers play Detroit last week, Shane

DETROIT

We need some good food

Evan D

Well I thought the game went rather well, darling

Caitlin D

It did

Do you know how boring it is to watch you win 4-0?

AGAINST DETROIT?? 🥱

Shane H

Wow, thanks

That’s really nice of you all.

Troy

You’re in the squad now, man

❤️Boyle, Cassie B, Bood, Nicky C, Cap, Evan D, Haasy, Harris

Bood, Holmberg, Troy + 5 more

Saturday May 1^st, 1.21pm

Nicky C

I’m guessing that MTL aren’t sitting around watching Roz play

Evan D

No one’s arguing with that

Boyle

fucking melts, the lot of them

Holmberg

he seemed so surprised??

Troy

A lot of locker rooms aren’t like this one, Bergy

You saw for yourself at our last Montreal game

Haasy

He’s still their captain?

Bood

that doesn’t always matter, kiddo

it should, but it doesn’t

Shane ❤️💦😍

Saturday May 1^st, 1.24pm

Shane

Like what possible reason would they have to watch my game

Ilya

I told you, sweetheart!

They care about you

Shane

Fuck

Ilya

Now go and get ready to destroy Marly 💪

Shane

They don’t want me here, Ilya

Half of them don’t even listen to me

I really don’t know what the fuck I’m doing here

Ilya

You are their captain

That title is not a suggestion

Make them listen to you.

And then we figure out what to do next, yes?

Shane

I thought they’d be over it by now

Ilya

I know, my love

I am sorry

Shane

Don’t be

I don’t want you to be

I’m not

But I’m just fucking tired of them baby

Ilya

We are so close to summer

Shane

I can’t wait

I don’t think I can stay here

Ilya

Then you do not stay there

Play your game later

And we fix this after that

Yes?

Shane

Okay

I love you so fucking much

Ilya

Love you more, sweetheart

Make sure those fuckers remember one thing today

Shane

What?

Ilya

You are Shane fucking Hollander.

❤️

❤️Shane

Bood 🥵🏒

Saturday May 1^st, 3.05pm

Bood

they haven’t passed to him once

Ilya

I know

Bood

what the fuck is going on with them

Ilya

I need to get him out of there, Bood

They are killing him

Bood

fuck

what are you gonna do?

Ilya

I am talking to Yuna about it

The way they are playing at the moment, they will look for a scapegoat at end of the season

It will be him

So maybe we can get him traded

Bood

have you messaged wiebe?

Ilya

Not yet

I do not want to do it without Shane

Is his life

Bood

you think there’ll be space in the cap?

Ilya

I will make space if I have to.

I will play for free to get him out of there

Bood

i’ll run the lines later

see if i can find some suggestions for where we can shift

Ilya

Thank you, Boody

For all of it

Bood

don’t get all sentimental on me, darling

Ilya

Never

Is allergy season

Lots of pollen

😂Bood

Barbe-Girlz 🍗🔥💕

Sunday May 2^nd, 11.27am

Troy

How’s the leg, @Shane H?

Looked nasty

Cap

[image attached]

😬Harris, Boyle, Cassie B, Holmberg, Haasy

Not perfect

But he will live

Lisa H

Oh my GOD that bruise is bad

Are you back home yet? Do you want me to come and take a look??

Hazy

Fucccck me

You can practically see the logo from the puck

Bood

hell of a war wound, man

Shane H

I’m okay, @Lisa H

Thank you though.

Sorry I didn’t give you all a better show

Boyle

oh duh, how silly of me

i forgot that one off-game wipes the slate on 3 stanley cup wins

😂Nicole B, Evan D, Selena C, Cap

Nicky C

Watch party went OFF, so as far as we were concerned it was a good night 🕺

Evan D

You’ll get ‘em next time, man

👍Haasy, Holmberg, Troy, Young

Lisa H

Speaking of watch parties

Which one of you animals wants to own up to breaking the vase in the downstairs bathroom??

Young

@Holmberg

Holmberg

fucking snitch!!!!!

he was there too lisa

Young

was not !

Haasy

Yeah you were bro

Cap

Children!

Do not make me ground you

😂Harris, Cassie B, Selena C

Hazy

Well both of you can pitch in and pay for a new one

Which vintage dealer did you get it from, honey?

Young

what

Holmberg

what

Lisa H

😂😂

He’s fucking with you, kiddos

Hazy

Spoil my fun

😂Evan D, Boyle

Lisa H

Buy me a bottle of (good) wine and we’ll call it even @Holmberg @Young

Holmberg

done!!!

Young

sorry lisa !

Haasy

Lmao

Troy

@Holmberg You’ll need a few weeks of your pocket money to pay for a good bottle

Holmberg

maybe i’ll just use your oas

😂Harris, Haasy, Nicole B

Bood

damn

he kinda cooked you with that one

Evan D

😭😭😭

Nicky C

OOF

Harris

Hahahaha

I wish you could hear the moaning happening right now 😆😆😆

WAIT

@Cap DO NOT!!

Cap

👀👀👀

Nicole B

heyooo

that’s what he said

Harris

Shit

I forgot there were two of you!!

Nicole B

privet, bitch

😏Cap

Caitlin D

This chat was a terrible idea

😂Cassie B, Bood, Haasy, Harris, Evan D

Shane ❤️💦😍

Thursday May 6^th, 2.25pm

Shane

Baby

Ilya

Yes, sweetheart?

Shane

What do your friends like to drink?

I’m heading to Costco to pick up some stuff for the house and just thought I’d check out what they’ve got

Ilya

What are you getting for our home?

Shane?

Ahh

You are staring at ‘our home’ again, yes?

Shane

Innocent until proven guilty.

Ilya

And they think I am the lover boy 🙄

I do it too

Shane

Yeah?

Ilya

Yes

Almost cried buying towels in West Elm last week

❤️Shane

What are you getting in Costco?

Shane

Promise you won’t laugh? 🫣

Ilya

Oh no

That usually means it is something that will get me hard

Shane

New dish rack, yours is gross and I hate that the slots don’t fit the pasta bowls

Ilya

Fuck

Shane

I want to reorganize your car stuff, so probably some shelf storage for the garage

Ilya

I need to sit down

Shane

And we need some extra coat hooks in the hall, so I might head to Michaels?

Ilya

Jesus fucking Christ

Where are you right now

Shane

You’re so weird

[incoming call from Ilya]

Call ended.

Duration: 6mins 33secs

Shane

You never fucking told me what they drink 🤦‍♂️

O-Town’s Fillies Back Again 🐎👩🏽🥵

Thursday May 6^th, 2.57pm

Shane H

Hey ladies! 👋

Nicole B

hey pookie

how’s your day?

Shane H

All the better for speaking to you, obviously 😏

Quick question: what do your guys like to drink?

And the rookies?

Nicole B

you’re such a flirt 😏

josh is a pretty standard beer guy, nothing fancy there

but bood is a bit of a beer snob right @Cassie B?

Cassie B

Oh, the snobbiest

Hanging around with Ilya’s rich ass has given him some expensive taste 😂

He’s cutting down a bit at the moment, though

So please don’t worry about him, Shane!

Caitlin D

Okay

I’ve had it

Lisa H

Literally, this is the LINE Cassandra!!

Cassie B

What the hell???

Nicole B

listen to yourself girl

Caitlin D

There are three enduring images of Canada

Maple leaves, moose

And Zane Boodram standing at a grill with a bottle of beer

Selena C

LITERALLYYYYY

Caitlin D

What the hell is going on, Cassie?

Cassie B

Ugh, fuck

It’s too early!!

Lisa H

WAIT

OH MY GOD

Shane H

??

Nicole B

cassandra jeanette boodram

early???

Selena C

I NEED TO FIND A ROOM TO SCREAM IN

Cassie B

You cannot tell the boys

You need to promise!!

Caitlin D

CASSIE

Cassie B

He’s cutting back because I can’t drink

I’m 10 weeks 🫣

Caitlin D

OH MY FUCKING GOD

Nicole B

and now i’m crying

Lisa H

Cassie!!! Oh my god!!!

Selena C

FIRST TEAM BABY FIRST TEAM BABY 😭😭

Shane H

OH MY GOD

Congratulations!

You’re going to be the best mom ❤️

❤️Cassie B

How are you feeling??

Cassie B

Sick as a dog

This baby is not fucking around

But oh my god we are so excited 😭

It’s still a little too early though so you’ve gotta promise me you won’t blab!

❤️Caitlin D

Selena C

PROMISEEEEE

Lisa H

Doctor’s honour!

Nicole B

i have no honour, so i’ll swear on lisa’s

😂Cassie B, Shane H

Cassie B

Also, Shane

Please don’t be mad at him…

Shane H

Oh god

What?

Cassie B

Ilya knows

Shane H

WHAT

How the fuck did he keep this quiet?

The man is a gossip megaphone!!

😂Nicole B

Cassie B

Z told him back in March 🥸

Just after the video

Shane H

HE’S BEEN SAT ON THIS FOR 5 WEEKS??

Nicole B

you think you know a guy

Selena C

OOOOH Roz is a dead maaaan!!

😬Cassie B

The front door slammed shut with a bang which, to many, might have seemed the responsibility of a strong gust of wind or a heavy boot when the wearer was laden with shopping bags. But Ilya, who spoke both fluent Shane Hollander and now, as a consequence, fluent wooden doorframe, knew better. With a wince from his seat on the sofa and a muttered fuck under his breath, he squared his shoulders with the grimness of a man heading to the gallows.

“Hello, sweetheart,” Ilya called, falsely chirpy to even his own ears. “You were quick!”

“Five fucking weeks, Rozanov?” came the indignant response, as Shane flew to a stop in front of the TV, red-faced and puffing in a way that entirely contradicted the sub-twenty 5k that Ilya knew he was regularly capable of.

This was a new one. “What?”

“You’ve known for five fucking weeks?”

“Shane, I-” Ilya started, before realising that, actually, no, he did not know what his fiancé was talking about. For once. “-What the fuck is happening?”

Shane stuck one hand on a jutted hip, scoffing, before waving his hand around in the air like this is fucking obvious. “Cassie!”

Ilya’s brain made a noise like a slot machine lining up pineapples, before paying out quarters with a tinny ka-ching! as what Shane was talking about finally made sense. A smile slowly started to tug the corners of his mouth, growing when Shane let out a frustrated noise before his own lips started to twitch.

“She told you?”

“Yes! I mean, she told the girls today because I asked what the guys like to drink and she told me not to get Za- oh fuck. Did I make her tell us? Shit, she said it was too early to say anything but Cait was pushing too-”

“-Sweetheart-”

“-Oh god, did I make her say something?”

“Shane,” Ilya said firmly, standing up from the sofa and rounding the coffee table to rub warmly at Shane’s shoulders. Shane let out another groan of frustration before thumping his head against Ilya’s sternum. “You did not-” he flailed around for an expression “-out Cassie for being pregnant.”

“You did not just say that,” Shane muttered into his chest.

Ilya snorted. “I do not think I have another phrase for it right now. Is she okay?”

Shane lifted his head, smile now less reluctant and more fond. “Yeah, she’s good, I think. Sounds like it’s been kicking her ass, though.”

“Mm,” Ilya agreed with a hum. “Bood says she has been pretty sick for a few weeks.”

“Do you think it’ll ease off?” Shane asked immediately. “Like, how long does it usually take for morning sickness to, like, stop?”

“Not sure,” Ilya replied, grin now turning sharklike. “When I knock you up, we can find out.”

Moment sufficiently broken, Shane pushed back off Ilya’s chest to drop his head backwards petulantly with a weary ugh. Ilya reached a hand round to the back of his neck to raise Shane’s gaze to his own, only for him to whack it back with a quick slap.

“You have got to stop joking about that.”

“No one is joking!”

Shane rolled his eyes and pulled out of his grip, Ilya following him into the kitchen where he’d thrown a bag of groceries down on the counter in his haste to instigate his big confrontation.

“This does not look like a dish rack,” Ilya commented lightly, pulling out a six-pack of sparkling water, a bag of chickpea pasta, and a new pack of sponges.

“Well, you’ll have to excuse me,” Shane drawled. “I got the double whammy of my friend being pregnant and my fiancé lying to me for over a month. It was distracting.”

“Is not lying if you don’t ask about something!”

“I’m literally always asking what the guys are saying about their home lives at practise.”

“Yes,” Ilya agreed solemnly. “You are a terrible gossip.”

“Shut up, I’m not! And it’s for sure a lie by omission, at least.”

Turning around to tuck the pasta away in a cupboard (grain cabinet, Shane had called it with a definitive nod), Ilya took his chance to stalk up behind him, sneaking his hands around Shane’s waist to link at his navel, pushing the line of his body against Shane’s and sticking his nose into the soft skin behind his ear.

“This won’t always work,” Shane said with a drifting sharpness, relaxing back into Ilya’s hold and melting his mid-spine against Ilya’s stomach. Ilya didn’t even give it a response, just nosed further into his hairline, exhaling heavily to feel the strands ruffle slightly against his cheeks.

“It was very early when Zane told me,” Ilya started, his voice a murmur. “They did not want to tell people until twelve weeks, but I think he wanted to take my mind off of the video.”

“That’s nice of him.” Quieter.

“I did not want to betray his trust.” An open-mouthed kiss to the column of Shane’s throat.

“I get that.” More slurred, eyes falling closed.

“I am very happy for them.” A well-timed graze of stubble against Shane’s own cheek, and a tug closer around the midriff.

“Me too.” Said on an exhale.

Knowing he was about to win the battle, Ilya prepared himself to deal the death blow. One more slow, lingering kiss to the underside of Shane’s jaw, on the faint pink mark where he’d cut himself shaving the week before. Opened his throat, pitching his next words as low as his vocal cords would go, letting them rumble through his chest. Rolled his ‘r’ for an extra bit of oomph.

“Forgive me, my love?”

O-Town’s Fillies Back Again 🐎👩🏽🥵

Thursday May 6^th, 4.37pm

Nicole B

what’s the betting they fucked about it instead

😂Selena C, Cassie B

Caitlin D

Oh, 100%

Double or nothing Roz played up the accent like he does when he’s trying to get Wiebe to let Chiron on the ice

Shane H

No comment.

Nicole B

you are a weak, weak man

Fiat 500 Horse Boys 🐎🏒🌈

Friday May 7^th, 9.56pm

Nicky C

Evening, you scrumptious bunch

Know what I just remembered?

Holmberg

what???

Nicky C

Will try and explain it another time

We never got the relationship lowdown from @Cap...

Evan D

OOOOOH

Troy

Excellent reminder

Hazy

Oh I’m sat

Give us the timeline, Roz!!

Cap

I am busy

Troy

No you’re not

👀Nicky C

You literally texted Harris a photo of Anya in your living room 10 minutes ago

Cap

Fuck

💀Holmberg

Young

pls !

Haasy

I am very intrigued

Bood

boys

only if he wants to

Cap

Will check with Shane first

He says it is fine

Right fine okay!

🎉Haasy, Nicky C, Evan D, Young

Let me get a drink

You may all want to do the same

Boyle

jesus, is it going to take that long

Cap

Ten years of history, Joshy

Hazy

I think we assumed we were just getting the relationship stuff but sure thing

Cap

Like I said

Ten years of history

🫨Haasy, Young

Nicky C

WHAT???

Troy

You have GOT to be kidding me

Boyle

roz be so fr

Cap

I am!

Okay so

Evan D

Gather round, one and all

🤫Hazy

Cap

Met at Junior Worlds when we were 17

Came over from Moscow with the national team and on the plane no one could shut up about Canadian prodigy 🙄

Got to some place in fuckass nowhere and it is full of North Americans 🙄

Stepped outside for a smoke and I hear boring voice telling me that I cannot smoke there

(He was right but he must never know I think this)

Turn around and he introduces himself to me and I think

Wow this boy is pretty

Wow this boy is interesting

Then I see him in hotel gym next time after we are drafted and I think

Wow this boy is GAY

Bood

absolutely not

your gaydar is good, but it’s not that good

🤨Hazy

Cap

I mean, he stared at my dick through my shorts for like 10 hours

Holmberg

ummm???

Cap

In his defense

I suppose you could say I was flirting

Boyle

going to guess you’re underplaying that

but continue

Cap

After next Junior Worlds CCM ask me if I want to do an ad

I say yes but it would be fun if we did a rivalry thing with Hollander, no? 😏

Very proud of myself for that one

Nicky C

Wait, so this is like 2010??

Cap

Yes

Haasy

I was 7

🍅Boyle, Troy, Evan D, Nicky C, Hazy, Cap

Evan D

Fuck OFF

Everyone boo Haas

Holmberg

@Troy so you were what?? 46??

😂Young

Troy

Motherfucker

Cap

Shut up or I do not finish

Holmberg

🤐🤐🤐

Cap

It started weird but we were there for hours skating into each other’s faces

And in the end we were just laughing at it

Was nice

Then after the ad shoot we are in the showers and I

Hmm 🤭

Flirted again?

Boyle

sure 🙄

Cap

😏😏

Then I go up to his room later and you all have pornhub for the rest of that

🤮Troy

Hazy

Bro

So you’ve been together for a decade??

Cap

Ahh, no

Next few years, we would just fuck when we played each other or at MLH awards

The Boston streets did not lie about my reputation

Nicky C

Babies, you will be too young to remember it

But at one point old Lover Boy here was in the gossip rags weekly

Cap

I hear it is called a hoe era now 👀

💀Holmberg

But we keep meeting up, inventing sex

🙄Troy

And after a while I realize that I plan my whole year around when I see him

Could not tell you where I was that weekend but I could tell you when next Montreal game was down to the flight time

Bood

diagnosis: downbaditis

😂Holmberg, Young, Hazy

Cap

Yes, but I did not realize what it was for a long time

Neither of us did

It was a night here and there and some texts

But after a while I could not stop thinking about him

😭Nicky C, Evan D, Bood

And it was just something we never talked about

Troy

I guess it would have made it too real?

Cap

I think so.

Then a few years ago he stays at mine for the first time

And I am thinking yes god yes finally

You know?

But he freaked out

(Not only his fault, it is okay)

He left, and then 2 weeks later he is online holding hands with Rose Landry

Haasy

Oh shit 😬

Holmberg

dude

that must have sucked

Cap

You have no idea

So I lose my fucking mind until All Stars game where we are on the same team

And he tells me that he has broken up with Rose Landry

(She told him he was gay)

Troy

????

Cap

Long story

We play together, which is the best

And I guess we have the first proper talk we have ever had

Evan D

So it was All Stars??

Cap

Shh!

You said you wanted the story

He told me he was gay and I said yes you have been sucking my dick for years 🤔

But it was difficult because my father was ill in Russia

Then when he died I had to go back and Shane would call me

Boyle

i’m sorry dude

Cap

That part I do not want to talk about right now

Family shit

But I sat on the phone to him and was thinking fuck my father is in the ground

And all I am thinking about is how many days it is until I can see him

Nicky C

Jesus Christ, Roz

Cap

Then when I get back we are playing Montreal

And I watch Marleau wipe him out

Bood

i remember watching that hit

he went down fucking hard

Troy

That must have been scary

Cap

Do not have the words for that one.

He invited me to spend the summer with him while he is high on painkillers and I think ahh what a dream that would be

And then pensioner wins Stanley Cup and tongue punches his boyfriend on ice

💀Young

And suddenly it was a dream that I could maybe have

Evan D

Goddamn

I’m losing it over here 😭😭

😭Haasy, Boyle

Cap

So we go to the cottage together for the first time

Agreed that we were both fucking tired of pretending that it was not everything

Decided to do long-distance for real

I move to Canada so that I am not so far away

And the rest you know 🤷

Hazy

Holy fuck

You moved here for him?

Cap

Also for the citizenship

But yes

We did so many years where it was only real when we played each other

And we could not go back to that

I think it probably would have killed me

Boyle

does anyone have anything to say that’s not ‘mother of fucking god’ because i sure don’t

Young

nope

Haasy

No

Cap

So there is the story

Troy

Do you feel better for telling us?

Cap

Actually?

Yes, I do

Things have obviously sucked shit recently

But I do not miss having to keep the best thing in my life a secret anymore

Evan D

Proud of you buddy

❤️Bood, Troy, Hazy, Nicky C, Boyle

Hazy

Bro your wedding vows are going to fucking annihilate us 💀

Bood

there will be no survivors

Cap

Oh yes

I do not need gifts

I just want your tears 😈

Young

man

think im gna download hinge

😂Evan D, Nicky C, Boyle

Haasy

That being your takeaway is killing me

Cap

Young, my boy

I love you

Barbe-Girlz 🍗🔥💕

Saturday May 8^th, 12.46pm

Shane H

Good luck out there today!

Evan D

Thanks man!

Cassie B

Let ‘em have it, boys 💪

Boyle

ahh who needs luck

we’re at home

and it’s fucking buffalo

😂Shane H, Nicky C, Cassie B, Harris

Haasy

Thanks, Shane!

Shane H

@Nicky C Jones looks like he’s got a strain on his left

@Troy Miller is compensating for a fucked shoulder

@Haasy can’t say for sure, but I’d say Pascale is working with some kind of bruised ankle?

👍Haasy

Holmberg

holy shit

wizardry

Troy

Noted, thanks!

Cap

Sure on Jones?

Shane H

Mom agrees 🤷

Cap

In that case

You heard the man @Nicky C

Nicky C

On it 🫡

Nice one Hollander!

👍Shane H

Caitlin D

You’ve got Tampa tomorrow right?? @Shane H

Shane H

Yeah.

Bood

you’ll smash it, dude

🔥Selena C, Evan D, Young, Harris

Shane’s apartment building in Montreal had always been oppressively gloomy. It was a modern, high-rise build, constructed for rich people with busy schedules that meant they had no need of the psychological niceties that kept the families in older, shabbier buildings ticking over. They’d spent all that money on floor-to-ceiling windows in every kitchen, dining room, lounge, but the hallways outside were always murky, wall sconces doing nothing but drawing the space in even tighter. When Ilya had graduated from back stairwell to main elevator even that was shaded, throwing his cheekbones into sharp relief as he’d stared at himself in the mirrored walls. At the front door, there was a scratch to the left of the lock where Ilya and Shane repeatedly missed the keyhole in the dim light.

Ilya had joked a while ago that he had a ring of keys like a high school caretaker now - but in truth, he loved it. He loved the permanency of the weight when he carried them, physical proof of his new life. Here is the house I bought to share with the man who will be my husband, here is the cottage where we spend our summers in peace, here is the second garage where I fix cars that don’t need fixing with my almost-father-in-law on a Sunday. Here is the rink, where the staff trust me enough to give me a spare key so that I can practise whenever I want. Here is Shane’s parents’ house, where I am welcome any time and Anya has her own bed. A metallic jangle of things he thought he could never deserve, pressed up against his wallet in his back pocket.

But now, at the door. Here is Shane’s apartment where, someday soon, we will never need to visit again.

The space was dark, save for a singular countertop light next to the fridge and the glow of the television as it played the highlights of Shane’s game. He’d listened to it on the radio while he drove. He knew it was bad. On the screen, Shane found space like he always did, positioned perfectly to receive and send the puck straight to the back of the net. On the screen, Renaud looked up at him, through him, away from him, and tried score himself from too far back. On the screen, the shot was intercepted by Tampa, and fired away to the wrong end.

Ilya closed the front door behind him with a soft click, and as he stepped in further he saw the Shane-shaped lump in the corner of the sofa, tucked into the crevice of the L, impossibly small. Curled on his side, staring up as his televised double was overlooked again, again, again.

“Turn it off, Shane,” Ilya demanded quietly. Shane didn’t move.

“Shane,” he tried again.

“He saw I had space,” Shane replied, voice hoarse.

“Yes.”

“I could have scored from there.”

“Yes.”

Looking over the back of the couch, Ilya watched as Shane folded his head into his arms, hands coming up to protect the crown like he was covering himself from an explosion. His knees came up tighter to his chest, almost knocking his elbows. His next words were muffled by the blanket that was half under him, half on the floor.

“I think I hate it, Ilya.”

Ilya’s shoes were off by the door and covered unceremoniously by his dropped jacket as he quickly moved into the living room, folding himself into the sofa and heaving Shane halfway into his lap. He went willingly, tucking his neck into the soft wool at Ilya’s clavicle, fisting one hand in the sweater’s thick material while Ilya slotted the fingers of his other into the spaces between his own.

“You don’t, sweetheart. You just hate them,” he said into the downy hair at Shane’s temple.

“It’s not fun anymore. What do I do? What do I do when hockey isn’t fun anymore?”

Ilya closed his eyes for a moment and tried to fight down the swell of rage that tried to force its way up his throat like bile. Took a deep breath and did his best to keep the inhale stable. How fucking dare they, he thought. How dare they take this from him.

The clock on the wall that Ilya had teased Shane for once upon a time ticked quietly. We all have phones these days, Hollander. Your house does not need to tell you the time.

“We find you somewhere where it can be fun again.”

“What if it never is?” Shane asked, barely loud enough to be heard.

Shane’s head twisted so that he could lay one ear flat against Ilya’s heartbeat, and Ilya tried to measure it, slow it. Tried to focus on the faint smell of eucalyptus from Shane’s shampoo, the orange city lights below he could see from the window, blurred by drizzle. Anything that wasn’t the idea of mashing his fist into the face of every last one of those fuckers, feeling the give and crack of their noses, their eye sockets. Of punching his way through their chests and pulling out their beating hearts like a comic book supervillain to wave it in their faces while he yelled why does yours get to stay whole?

“Do you trust me?” Ilya replied, sliding one hand under Shane’s chin to nudge his eyeline up. After a moment, he raised his gaze, eyes dull and red-rimmed as he nodded. On the screen behind him, during first period intermission, the camera flitted around the stadium and found a young boy wearing a HOLLANDER 24 jersey, grinning broadly as he saw himself on the big screen. Special edition merchandise, released after their last Stanley Cup. The ‘C’ printed proudly on the chest in winner’s gold.

“Always.”

“Then trust me when I say that I will find you somewhere it can be fun again. They do not get to bully you out of the sport that was made for you.”

Shane’s eyes fell closed as he sighed, and Ilya leaned down to press their foreheads together. He stared at the freckles on Shane’s cheeks, the left brighter than the right as a shaft of light from the sole LED in the kitchen threw a stark white glow vaguely in their direction.

“We can’t go backwards, Ilya. I won’t go further away from you. I’ll retire if I have to.”

Ilya tutted under his breath. “I thought we agreed that I would be house-husband first.”

A wet half-laugh bubbled at the back of Shane’s throat, and he pushed his lips up to meet Ilya’s gently, interlocked fingers squeezing tightly. Ilya shifted on the sofa, sank himself further back so that Shane could unfurl one knee and lay it heavily over a broad thigh.

“Bood has been running the lines.”

“They can’t afford us both, baby,” Shane said forlornly.

“They could if I made space.”

Shane’s head shot up, suddenly alert as he searched Ilya’s steady gaze. “No! You’re staying where the fuck you are.”

Ilya nodded. “Shush. Yes, I would stay. But I can play for less.”

“Ilya, you have to play for what you’re worth-”

“-And what about you? What are you worth? Hmm? You are worth more than a team who would run their only asset out of town. You are worth more than a locker room that makes you miserable.”

“Ilya,” Shane protested tiredly.

“I would play for nothing, Shane. I would leave tomorrow. I would drive fucking zamboni at the rink. A pay cut means nothing to me.”

“I would never ask you to do that,” Shane said quietly.

“I know, my love. You never would, but I will do it for you in a second.”

Shane watched him for a moment longer, before throwing himself Ilya’s lap fully, hands detangling so that he could curl them both around the sides of Ilya’s neck, lining his shins up against Ilya’s hips. Ilya’s focus didn’t waver, eyebrows raised as he watched the dart of Shane’s eyes, computing. Slotting the pieces into place like Tetris.

“Please, Shane,” Ilya murmured.

“You would stay playing.”

“I would stay playing,” he parroted.

Shane fell silent again, jaw working as he pushed his tongue around his mouth, chewed on it. Behind them, two commentators narrated with disbelief as Montreal iced out their captain again, lost another perfect goal opportunity. Something’s not clicking, Jack. Dave, you’re right there.

“Have you spoken to Wiebe?”

Ilya smiled, watching as Shane’s gaze got firmer, clearer, settled back on solid ground. “Not yet. But Bood has some ideas, and I trust him.”

“I would need to check-”

“-Yuna already thinks she can get the no-trade clause waived.”

“And we don’t even know if they’d want-”

“-Management would cut off their own arms to get you.”

“And your team-”

“-Would lose their fucking minds.”

Shane’s eyes narrowed as Ilya’s smile got wider. One hand slipped up the back of Shane’s hoodie to trace a line up and down the hot path of his spine, while the other fumbled around for the mute button on the television remote, sending Comeau’s second period fuck-up into silence.

“You’ve thought this through already, haven’t you?” he asked, a lick of amusement finally lighting up behind the brown of his irises.

“Sweetheart,” Ilya started, pushing on the small of Shane’s back, leaning in to press a heated kiss to his lips and lingering there. “I was just waiting for you to say yes.”

Bood 🥵🏒

Sunday May 9^th, 10.57pm

Ilya

Boody

Bood

yes king

Ilya

Call me in the morning to talk about those line ideas?

Bood

shitttttt

he’s in?

Ilya

He is in

Do you think we can make it work?

Bood

not to speak prematurely

but hell yeah i do

Ilya

I will not have him in this shithole city past June

I will not have him in their fucking locker room while they act like he is not better than every single one of them combined

Bood

then we get him out of there

can i make a confession?

Ilya

Yes?

Bood

i will preface this by saying

that i haven’t mentioned anything specific

but last week, if i asked wiebe in passing how creative management could get with cap space

theoretically

would that have been the right move?

Ilya

Fuck

I do not deserve you, my prince

Bood

yes you do

and i want him here too, brother

Ilya

Oh yes?

Are you making a move for my man, Boodram? 👀

Bood

luckily for you, no

you wouldn’t stand a chance 😏

nah

it’s just about time this team got some glory

and i’ve gotta get the mother of my child a fucking cup win

Ilya

For god’s sake 😭😭

I have told you before that you cannot just throw it into conversation

I am not strong enough!!

Bood

sure you’ll be able to return the favour one day 👶

Ilya

One day

Love you ❤️

Bood

ily ❤️

call you in the morning

Bood 🥵🏒

Monday May 10^th, 5.21pm

Ilya

Can you stay after practise?

Bood

where am i meeting you

Ilya

Wiebe’s office

👍Bood

Barbe-Girlz 🍗🔥💕

Wednesday May 12^th, 4.40pm

Bood

calling all hockey boys

Evan D

Yello

Boyle

you rang?

Holmberg

yo

Bood

i have a suggestion

since you’re all reprobates and will surely ruin my beautiful wife’s house

👀Cassie B

blow off some steam with a friendly in the afternoon before the bbq?

👍Hazy

Nicky C

Oh hell yeah!!

Knockout rules?

Bood

you know it

Young

lets do it !

Haasy

Sounds like fun

Troy

Fuck yeah

@Cap reckon you can get us back into the rink?

Cap

Easy 😏

Angela loves me

Nicole B

now who the fuck is angela

Cap

New receptionist on Fridays!

She does Lyle’s shift in the afternoon

Nicole B

oh damn! you finally got brave enough to start using the front door again

😂Cassie B, Selena C, Lisa H, Caitlin D

Caitlin D

I assume Tara never figured out that you called her a bagel

Cap

Not yet 👀

But you never know

Holmberg

wait what???

Nicole B

roz told receptionist tara that her name in russian was the word for bagel

Harris

Oh my god 😂😂😂

Troy

You are LYING

Cap

Everyone shut up

I panicked!

😂Shane H

Haasy

Nah that is incredible 😭

Boyle

bet none of you looked up how to pronounce it

Cap

Josh

Please

Hazy

On it right now

SHUT UP

😂Nicole B

Holmberg

omg

Evan D

FUCKING DYING 😭😭

Nicky C

BOOB-LIK

IT’S PRONOUNCED BOOB-LIK

Cap

I am getting all of you traded

Caitlin D

I can’t breathe

😂Harris, Young, Selena C

Cassie B

I’m going to piss myself

Shane H

[image attached]

“Russians do not blush.”

Haasy

LMAO

Cap

Betrayal in my own home

Bood

that is unreal 😭

hey @Shane H, you in?

Shane H

Huh?

Bood

the friendly?

assuming you’ll get here in the afternoon, right

feel like showing the youth how the fuck to play this game?

Shane H

Oh, wow

Am I invited?

Bood

my guy

assume you’re always invited

❤️Cap, Cassie B, Harris

Evan D

Say THAT

Hazy

C’mon Shane, I need a challenge on these things

@Young couldn’t find the goal if he had a map and divining rods

💀Haasy, Nicky C, Caitlin D, Troy

Young

fuck you

Holmberg

do it do it do it!!!

Shane H

I mean, that sounds great

If you’re all sure?

Boyle

we’ve gotta put you and roz on opposing teams though

none of us need ego death at 2pm on a friday

Troy

Surely putting them against each other is the worse idea

Cap

Do not worry

Historically, Shane and I always go easy on each other

No competition here

👀Haasy, Selena C, Lisa H

Nicky C

Ah fuck

What have we done??

😂Nicole B, Harris

Shane H

It’s fucking on. 😏

Haasy

Oh my god

Troy

Welfare check required for @Haasy

🖕Haasy

Bood 🥵🏒

Friday May 15^th, 7.13pm

Ilya

I8R1🏎️ shared a link with you on Pinterest! https://www.pinter…

I8R1🏎️ shared a link with you on Pinterest! https://www.pinter…

I8R1🏎️ shared a link with you on Pinterest! https://www.pinter…

Bood

wots all this then 💂

Ilya

Actually, the board might be easier

I8R1🏎️ shared their board ‘Baby Boodlet 🍼🥹’ with you on Pinterest! https://www.pinter…

😭Bood

Bood

you’re so adorable

wow

that stroller is sick

Ilya

I know!!

It is like a transformer

Top bit detaches for the car as well

And there is a matching bag

Bood

oooh cass will love that!

we need to get some of this on our gift registry

Ilya

No

This one is my registry for you

Bood

ilya

there has to be 10 grand’s worth on there

not happening!

Ilya

You either tell me when you want it delivered

Or I buy it now and your garage is very full for 6 months

Your choice! 🤷

Bood

you are not doing either of those

that is way too much

Ilya

Boody, my prince 👑

This has been the weirdest 18 months of my life

And I am a gay orphan from Russia so that is saying something

I am not always the best with talking

And even if I was I do not think I could say thank you in a good enough way

So you will let me do this, please?

Bood

roz, c’mon

Ilya

If there is anything you do not want on there, replace it

Bood

you’ve never had to thank me for any of it

you know that, don’t you?

Ilya

I do

Does not mean I will not try to

Bood

how about we compromise

that stroller would be great

and then we’ll keep you on speed dial for babysitting

ok?

Ilya

Ahh

So you want me dead?

Bood

in what world was that what i just said

Ilya

You are going to make me spend evenings watching my husband hold Baby Boodlet

So clearly you want me dead

Bood

oh darling

you’re too far gone

you can’t be saved 😭

Ilya

I swear to god, Bood 😭

If I walk into my living room and Shane is holding a baby

I will end up on the news

Barbe-Girlz 🍗🔥💕

Sunday May 17^th, 2.25pm

Nicole B

i have been informed that i am making cheesecake

Troy

Blame your husband

Boyle

she does, for everything

Nicole B

so stop doing things that are your fault 😘

get your orders in then, boys & toys

Nicky C

LEMON CURD

👍Selena C

Young

lemon curd pls nicole !

Haasy

Absolutely lemon curd

👍Holmberg

Cap

Lemon curd please!! 🍋

👍Shane H

Nicole B

lord, okay

can i tempt anyone with a very slutty blackcurrant recipe i’ve been working on 😏

Hazy

Oh my god

YES

🤤Troy, Evan D, Caitlin D, Lisa H

Bood

that sounds naughty

😏Nicole B

Cassie B

I’ll take that action!!

Nicole B

noted all

@Harris can i swing by next week and pick up some apples for pie?

Nicky C

We are not worthy

🙇Cap, Haasy

Harris

Of course!!

Just text me when you want to go & I’ll call Mom

❤️Nicole B

Nicole B

thanks bub!

Holmberg

how big is this bbq going to be???

Caitlin D

It’s a fiesta for sure

💃Nicky C

Evan D

@Cap ended up asleep under the table last year

Shane H

Oh my GOD 💀

What??

Lisa H

Omg @Cap did you not tell him? 😂

Selena C

[image attached]

[image attached]

😂Harris, Haasy, Nicky C, Evan D, Holmberg

Young

no way

Cap

[video attached]

Thank you for this.

He just showed Yuna & David

😂Cassie B, Bood, Evan D

Troy

Giving that “Russian constitution” a terrible rep, Roz

Cap

They mix it with something different here

😭Holmberg

Boyle

embarrassing

Harris

Troy’s acting like he’s not a total lightweight 👀👀

Troy

Now why am I catching strays??

Harris

[video attached]

💀Young, Evan D, Cap, Nicky C, Hazy, Lisa H, Haasy, Bood, Cassie B

Troy

Is it homophobic if I remove my own boyfriend from the chat

😂Harris

Fiat 500 Horse Boys 🐎🏒🌈

Wednesday May 20^th, 11.03am

Holmberg

yo why is management here??

Haasy

Ooh is Wiebe in trouble 👀

Young

whos the old bald guy ?

Evan D

The chairman 💀💀💀

😂Hazy

Young

oops

Nicky C

Seriously tho why are they here on a random Wednesday lmao

Hazy

It’s the end of the season so it can’t be anything tactical

Holmberg

that’s what i thought????

Boyle

@Cap @Bood ?

Bood

no idea

Cap

Same

Evan D

Ok but why did Wiebe literally just ask for you then

Boyle

does anyone else feel like we’re getting got

👍Troy

Nicky C

Last min line changes before next week?

Hazy

They wouldn’t be here for that

Young

this is weird

Bood

calm down

just some team dynamics talk

get back on the ice

Troy

Why wouldn’t they have that conversation at the start of next season?

Bood

you can either get back on the ice

or sit here and bitch and get served by a 6’2” russian in 10 minutes

your choice

Haasy

🏃

Shane ❤️💦😍

Friday May 22^nd, 9.15pm

Shane

So it’s something beginning with T, right?

Ilya

Yes

Shane

And you’re in the living room?

Ilya

I am

Shane

TV

Ilya

No!

Shane

T-shirt?

Ilya

No

Shane

Toilet

Ilya

Gross

No

Shane

Turkey steak?

Ilya

Do you think I have a random turkey steak in the living room?

Shane

I don’t know!

Ilya

You literally sent me the meatball recipe that I had for dinner

You are terrible at this game, sweetheart

Shane

Damn

Terminator 2 DVD

Ilya

Actually, not far off

Shane

Team America DVD?

Ilya

BINGO!!

🎊🎊🎊

What do I take off next

Shane

Boxers.

Ilya

I am still wearing my hoodie!

Shane

And?

Ilya

I feel like perverted Winnie the Pooh 😩

[image attached]

🥵Shane

Your turn, sex pest

What do you spy with your little eye

O-Town’s Fillies Back Again 🐎👩🏽🥵

Saturday May 23^rd, 1.11pm

Caitlin D

At what point do we bug Harris again to get him added in here?

Nicole B

reckon we’re overdue another go

Lisa H

Yes! 💕

Shane H

Did he not want to be in the chat before?

Cassie B

I did scope him out towards the end of last year, but he said that he and Troy still felt a little new

Which I get!

Shane H

But now?

Selena C

Well after that it was everything with the plane, right??

So we didn’t want you to be uncomfortable while we were the only people who knew about you

Shane H

Oh fuck, I’m sorry

Nicole B

now what in the hell is that for

Shane H

I’m the reason he’s not been added in?

Caitlin D

Nooooo, stop being obtuse

We were keeping your identity private like we said we would, but we didn’t want you to have to hide in here again

Easy!

Selena C

THANK US AND WE KILL YOU ❤️

APOLOGIZE AND WE KILL YOU ❤️

😨Shane H

Shane H

Okay okay!

But yes, he should absolutely be in here if he wants to be

He seems nice

Cassie B

Oh he is the sweetest

I nearly gave Troy the shovel talk when they announced they were dating 😂

I’ll text him now!

Shane H

Shovel talk 😂

Did you give Ilya one??

Caitlin D

No, because we didn’t know you then!

Also let’s be so real babe

It would have been you we gave the talk to 😂

Shane H

WHAT??

Lisa H

Shane honey, he is a total loverboy!

Nicole B

it would have been like giving the shovel talk to a polly pocket

or a baby lamb

😂Shane H

Shane H

I can understand that

😂Cassie B

🥰🥰

Cassie B

You’re gonna love Harris!!

Lisa H

He’s like a hoarder of team drama

Nicole B

sits on a pile of it like a gossip dragon 🐲

Caitlin D

Guys, you know ‘gossip’ is Shane’s sleeper agent activation word

Selena C

😂😂😂😂

Shane H

I am not that bad!!

Nicole B

me when i lie

Shane H

🙄

Cassie B

WE’VE GOT HIM!!

ADDING HIM NOW

💃Selena C, Nicole B

Harris D has been added to the group chat.

Harris D

I hear there’s a gorgeous group in need of a social media manager??? 😏😏😏

Selena C

FINALLYYYYYYYYY

Lisa H

Here’s trouble!

Harris D

Hey everyone! ✨

@Shane H, so nice to meet you when we’re not fighting for our lives with the guys 😂😂

Shane H

And you

That chat is crazy haha

Harris D

Never thought I’d be spending my days watching my boyfriend rag on 20yos for calling him old 🤦

😂Cassie B, Lisa H, Selena C

Caitlin D

Evan told me that Holmberg signed him up to a denture clinic’s mailing list 😭

Cassie B

STOP IT

😭Harris

Shane H

I mean, we do play hockey

It’s arguably not the worst prank?

😂Harris

Nicole B

josh’s dentist would agree

Shane ❤️💦😍

Monday May 25^th, 2.49pm

Shane

Babyyyyy

Please ask them?

Ilya

Hollander

You are in the chat as well!

Shane

I don’t want them to think I’m overthinking it

Ilya

You are overthinking it

Shane

Yes, obviously

But I don’t want them to know that!

Ilya

Sweetheart

Shane

Pleaaaaaaaaaase 🥺🥺

I’ll owe you?

Ilya

What will you owe me?

Shane

Whatever you want.

Ilya

Fuck

You will be the death of me

🥰Shane

Barbe-Girlz 🍗🔥💕

Monday May 25^th, 2.52pm

Cap

Okay

Shane and I are making ONE TRIP to Costco for drinks

If you do not tell us what you want by tomorrow afternoon

You can drink water from a bowl like Anya

Boyle

kinky

Bood 🥵🏒

Tuesday May 26^th, 6.10pm

Bood

anything?

Ilya

Not yet

Yuna keeps leaving the room to take calls though

Which is a good sign maybe?

Bood

🤞

Barbe-Girlz 🍗🔥💕

Thursday May 28^th, 2.52pm

Bood

@Cap, did you get the ok from angela?

Cap

Yes, all fine!

We have the rink from 1-3

Nicky C

HELL YEAH

This is going to be so much fun!!

🥳Holmberg, Young, Troy

Evan D

Awesome

Boyle

@Shane H does the time work for you?

Shane H

Yeah, all good for me thanks

No practise tomorrow, so I should be in the city by mid-morning?

Bood

and exactly how badly should we be preparing to have our asses kicked?

Cap

Speak for yourself

😂Hazy, Boyle, Caitlin D

Hazy

Oh Jesus

Troy

What?

Hazy

I’ve just realized I have to defend the goal from Shane Hollander

Someone kill me

😂Cap, Selena C, Harris, Cassie B, Lisa H

Haasy

It was nice knowing you

Young

pour one out

Bood

sometimes i still hear his voice

Holmberg

maybe we can give him a broken stick??

☝️Evan D, Nicky C

Shane H

I’m still here…

👀Nicole B, Caitlin D, Haasy, Lisa H

Boyle

go easy on our boy, hollander

we need him

Cap

He does not know the meaning of the word

Shane H

Sure I do.

It’s what every game I’ve ever played against you is like, right?

🥱Cap

Holmberg

bro omg

Caitlin D

Oh my god

Troy

Holy shit

Have we finally found someone more competitive than Roz?

Cap

You have not met his mother

Imagine this but two of them

They play Yahtzee like it is the World Series

😬Evan D, Caitlin D

Shane H

There is no way in HELL she got that many sixes without fixing it

Dad agreed with me!

Cap

He just wanted to leave the room

💀Nicky C, Nicole B

You see what I am dealing with?

Evan D

Maybe tomorrow we all just watch instead

😂Cassie B

Nicole B

thoughts on me “working from home” so that i can sit in the stands

might even take a sick day

Cassie B

Are you in the office today?

Nicole B

yeah

i’ll start moaning about a headache

cough cough

😂Harris, Lisa H, Haasy

Harris

@Boyle thoughts on this??

Boyle

my beautiful wife

i’m sorry to hear you’re under the weather

❤️Nicole B, Cap

Caitlin D

Number one woman supporter

💪Boyle

Barbe-Girlz 🍗🔥💕

Friday May 29^th, 12.47pm

Troy

Yo @Cap

Open up

Cap

Password?

Troy

Open the goddamn door

Cap

❌

Two attempts remaining

😂Nicole B, Harris

Troy

What’s the security question?

Cap

You did not set one

Troy

Fuck

Captcha?

Cap

How many motorcycles can you see?

Troy

None

Cap

I do not actually know if that is right

The door is open anyway

Try and use a muscle this time, yes?

Troy

🖕

Bood, Holmberg, Troy + 5 more

Friday May 29^th, 2.31pm

Evan D

It’s like watching the Mona Lisa get painted

The Sistine Chapel

Young

fr

Nicky C

I’m not even mad about how quickly he knocked me out

Haasy

It was an honour

Evan D

Setting up a gofundme to buy Hazy bruise ointment

Holmberg

damn

bad luck boody

Bood

how troy is still going i have no idea

never mind, spoke too soon

😂Nicky C

Troy

I’m dying

Also, not to state the obvious

But everyone in the league is a fucking idiot for not clocking this

Evan D

Including us

Troy

We already knew we were fucking idiots

“Sweetheart. You know I think you are the most beautiful man in the world, yes? And that I am the luckiest son of a literal bitch who has ever existed?”

Shane stopped fiddling with his collar in front of the mirror long enough to heave a sigh.

“Oh god, what did you break?”

Ilya gasped in mock-offense behind him, walking up until their eyes met in the mirror, locking in on Shane’s warmly. He wrapped one arm snugly around Shane’s chest, fingers feeling for the thin chain that lay underneath the fabric of his shirt.

“I broke nothing!”

Shane pursed his lips, tilting his head to the side. Over his shoulder, Ilya’s curls caught the light of the sun as it touched the treeline of the garden, dappling gold over the floor, the bedsheets, and hitting the back of Ilya’s head.

“Uh-huh. Sure.”

“Anyway. Tell me.”

“What? Oh. I am the most beautiful man in the world, and you are the luckiest son of a literal bitch who has ever existed.”

“Correct. Remember that for me now. You look fucking weird turning up to a barbecue in a dress shirt.”

Shane’s mouth dropped open as Ilya’s reflection winced dramatically, turning his face to bury it in Shane’s hair. He twisted in Ilya’s grasp, locked a hand underneath his chin and pulled Ilya’s face to him, Ilya squinting apologetically.

“That is fucking rude.”

“You are nervous for some reason, and so you are dressed like choir boy.”

“I am not dressed like a choir boy!”

“I feel like I should give you a tiny glass of wine and a cracker. For communion?”

“You motherf-” Shane broke off into a fit of laughter, fight draining out of him as he registered Ilya’s words. He doubled forwards, thwacking his forehead against Ilya’s cheek and waiting to feel the answering purr of Ilya’s laugh. “-Fuck you.”

Ilya had coaxed many laughs out of Shane over the years. In the early days, it was the mortified squeak as young eager fingers had found the ticklish spot on his side while Ilya stripped his shirt off. There was the incredulous scoff, the one that said I’m pissed at you, but this is also annoyingly charming. There was the almost-witchy cackle when he one-upped Ilya at something, the reluctant giggle when Ilya managed to bring him out of a spiral on a bad day.

But this? This was Ilya’s favourite. He hadn’t named it yet, hadn’t given it a synonym. It was free, loud, unashamed. Ended on an ungainly snort, sometimes rolled to the back of his throat, and folded the delicate skin between his brows.

“A fucking choir boy, oh my god. Do I- do I? Oh my god, I fucking do look like a choir boy.”

“Yes,” Ilya replied fondly.

Shane’s laugh trailed off, and he raised his face up to Ilya’s, features scrunched with a weary hint of embarrassment. Ilya ran a thumb across his eyes, relaxing the tight skin on the lids.

“You do not need to be nervous, my love. You literally saw them all in person three hours ago. You told Evan to stop being a little bitch when he passed.”

Shane groaned while Ilya grinned. “Oh god. I did, didn’t I?”

“He loved it. They love you.”

“It’s a barbecue.”

“Just a barbecue.”

They both fell silent, and Shane’s gaze dropped quickly to his phone, face up on the dresser. This hadn’t been the plan. They were supposed to be alone, possibly (likely) naked, and certainly not getting ready to head out the door. But Shane was learning, after many years of letting routine after fucking routine force him through his twenties in a soulless rush from one thing to the next, that just because he had a plan for how he thought things should go, didn’t mean it was how they ought to.

“I guess. Or maybe it isn’t just a barbecue, I don’t know. I think that I might need to make a good impression now.” Shane’s face turned coy as Ilya’s brow furrowed, hand moving to fiddle with the band on Ilya’s finger. “Mom just texted.”

Ilya’s heart stopped for a moment, heavy beat laying thick in his chest and pressing up into his eardrums as he scanned Shane’s face. The bedroom sat in stillness around them, and while Ilya spent a moment trying to work up the courage to ask Shane what he knew, he catalogued. Shane’s hoodie, folded over the back of the chair next to the dresser. Shane’s toiletries, freshly unpacked and ready to be moved into the en suite. The rumple on the duvet from where he’d been sat earlier. All things that went away at the end of the weekend but could, if Ilya was so, so lucky, be there for good.

“Shane?”

“Nothing confirmed yet, but the clause is gone and she says the teams have been talking. A lot.”

“Please, sweetheart,” Ilya said quietly. Desperately. Shane smiled, and pressed a quick kiss to his lips, next words lingering on Ilya’s cupid’s bow.

“Need a roomie?”

Ilya’s eyes grew to saucers as he pulled back, the blue in them glinting as his mouth slowly turned up to match Shane’s widening grin. All at once, Shane thought, he looked seventeen and twenty-eight, accent both thick and fresh and softened by time. He was the boy smoking defiantly underneath the no smoking sign, and he was the man teaching his dog how to shake hands on the sloping grass of his own garden. He was the boy that cocked a smirk at Shane across the floor of a hotel gym, and the man who whistled off-tune while he made pasta with Shane’s ring on his finger. He had been everything then and somehow, impossibly, he was more now.

“I think I would like that a lot.”

Bood 🥵🏒

Friday May 29^th, 5.45pm

Ilya

We will be late

Bood

do NOT fuck before my bbq

Ilya

We already have

And we will again!

Also, heads up

I will arrive crying and I will keep crying all night

Please do not ask why in front of everyone

Bood

tell me this means what i think it means

Ilya

Fuck, Boody

It might finally be fucking over

Bood

ILYA

TELL ME THIS MEANS WHAT I THINK IT MEANS

Ilya

😭

Nothing signed yet

So nothing to the boys

Bood

oh my god

fuck brother!!!

do you think a baby announcement and a transfer will actually kill any of them

Ilya

No!

Tonight is baby announcement only

Is for you and Cassie

My Boody, a dad

I am so proud of you

Bood

ditto, darling

now get off the phone and bang your man again

quickly or you’ll miss the koftas

Ilya

🫡🔥🍆🥵💦💥😭

O-Town’s Fillies Back Again 🐎👩🏽🥵

Friday May 29^th, 6.22pm

Caitlin D

HOLLANDER

GET YOUR ASS HERE

Selena C

If you’re not here by 7, we’re trashing your chickpea salad!!!

Cassie B

Oh for GOD’S SAKE 😭😭

Bood just told me Ilya texted earlier

You are shameless, man!!

💀Caitlin D

Shane H

SORRY SORRY

We’re coming now!

Nicole B

i bet you are

By the time Ilya and Shane arrived, there was barely enough room to squeeze their car onto the gravel driveway. As Shane manoeuvred his car back into a small gap, an arm over the back of Ilya’s headrest (and yes, Ilya thought, all the girls on Twitter were right – it is fucking hot), they could hear the distant thud of music coming from the back garden.

Shane turned the car off, and the two of them turned to one another. This could be their new Friday, the look said. This could be their new Saturday, or a new off-season tradition, or something they did on whatever random fucking Monday Bood decided to turn the grill on.

“Your team is really nice,” Shane said quietly, reaching a hand over to twist a curl back into position off Ilya’s forehead. Ilya smiled.

“Your team too, soon.”

Shane nodded. “No second thoughts?”

Ilya raised a brow. “No. You?”

“Mm,” Shane hummed, head dropping from one side to the other in mock-consideration, before snorting at the faux-aghast expression on Ilya’s face. “I think you’re stuck with me. Sorry.”

The music outside changed, and there was a burst of laughter from somewhere around the side of the house. Ilya pulled Shane into a quick kiss across the gearshift, pushing a smack once, twice, three times square into the centre of his lips.

“Good. I want you stuck to me. I will glue my dick to your-”

“-Absolutely not.”

“Pah. Spoilsport.”

“Today was good, I think,” Shane commented lightly. “I feel like it helped.”

“I told you that they already loved you, sweetheart,” Ilya replied, smug pout firmly in place as his fingers played with Shane’s where they rested on his upper thigh.

Shane smiled. “I don’t just mean that.”

“No?”

“No. I had fun today,” he said with a soft shrug.

Ilya stared at him for a second, eyes filling before he dropped his gaze to Shane’s hands, cradling it in both of his and lifting it to his lips.

“Thank you for trusting me with it.”

“Easiest thing in the world,” Shane replied simply. “Now let’s go, or you really will miss the koftas.”

Barbe-Girlz 🍗🔥💕

Saturday 30^th May, 10.37am

Selena C

💕💕💕💕

[video attached]

[video transcript, 4mins 2secs]

The picture comes to life in a blur before focusing on Selena from her phone’s front camera, grinning broadly as she throws a glance behind her and walks away from the group gathered around Zane and Cassie’s outdoor social area. In the background, the chatter of multiple conversations can be heard. She bends down, presumably at a table, and spends a moment trying to prop the phone upwards, landscape. She adjusts the camera, muttering ‘fuck’ when the camera drops forward. Back upright, she fusses for a moment, before standing back and checking the framing. Satisfied, she throws one more glance behind her.

“Showtime,” she mouths to the camera, before returning to the group and tucking herself under Nick’s arm.

He is stood by the grill with Zane, Cassie, and Evan. On a large double cluster of sofas nearby sit Caitlin, Lisa, Wyatt, Harris and Luca. To their immediate left, propped up against another table, leans Troy. Holmberg is on the floor by Troy’s shin, legs bracketing a happily panting Anya while he ruffles the fur on her neck. Young, Josh, and Nicole stand gathered in a trio nearby, engaged in conversation with Shane and Ilya. Ilya holds a bottle of beer in one hand, with the other around Shane’s waist as he talks to Nicole, also holding a beer. Chiron circles their feet.

In the frame, Zane throws Ilya a glance, who nods and passes his bottle off to Shane. He claps loudly to get everyone’s attention. All the conversations die down and turn to face him.

“Okay”, he calls loudly, “Everyone be quiet! I want to say something quickly. It has been a hell of a season, and a hell of a fucking year. I will not go into details – we all know them, yes?”

There is a smatter of laughter from the group, and Ilya turns to Shane to give him a brief, fond look.

“What I want to say is this: I am so proud of you all. At the start of this year, we did not know what we were. At the end of this year, I think that I can say that we have found this out.”

“What’s that?” Luca calls.

There is a pause.

“We are a fucking team!” Ilya shouts. The crowd cheers, Nicole catcalling while Shane tucks both bottles under one arm to clap.

“But this is not my party. I would never dare to host a party when my best friend, and the best Alternate Captain in North America, is stood right here. So, Boody, my prince – over to you.”

The group whoop again as Ilya returns to Shane’s side, pushing a kiss into his cheek when Shane returns his bottle. By the grill, Zane takes Cassie’s hand, and both of them step forward.

“Alright, animals,” Zane calls. The group falls quiet again. “Here’s the usual stuff. I fucking love you all, I have the greatest job in the world, and I am so proud to call you fucking losers my friends. Nick, stop fucking eating for one minute?”

More laughter from the group, and in the corner of the frame, Nick lowers a kebab skewer from his mouth.

“I hope that Cass and I throw a thousand more of these. Holmberg, I hope you turn up every time with a bottle of the worst fucking liquor that you can find at the store on the way here.”

Everyone cheers, and from his seat on the floor, Holmberg pretends to take a bow.

“Nicole, I hope you make these fucking cheesecakes forever, despite the fact that we are a team of professional athletes and this cannot be good for us.”

Another cheer, and Nicole cocks a wry grin at the pair.

“I have no idea what next season looks like.” Missed by the crowd but evident on camera, Zane throws a quick look in Shane and Ilya’s direction, and the arm that is back around Shane’s hip squeezes tightly. “But I know that for Cass and I, next year will look very different.”

The group is silent, save for a whispered ‘what the fuck?’ by Young.

Zane and Cassie share one more look, before Cassie moves forward.

“I’m pregnant, bitches!” she yells. For a moment, the camera’s microphone blows out with the force of the sound as cheers, screams, and curses fill the air. Shane puts his hands to his mouth and woos, while Ilya beams at the pair and wipes under his eyes.

The next minute is a melee of hugs, as the whole group take their time congratulating Zane and Cassie, Selena lingering to wrap her arms around Cassie’s waist. Zane is kissed on the forehead by Evan, Troy, and Caitlin. Cassie laughs as Holmberg struggles to his feet quickly to pull her in for a hug, only to stop halfway, stricken, and pull his hands back. Another laugh, and she yanks him into a rough embrace.

Zane steps away from the group, towards Ilya. Ilya drops his hand from Shane’s waist, and pulls Zane into a tight hug, hand at the scruff of his neck. Zane sways them both, and over Ilya’s shoulder the camera sees him look at Shane, who grins excitedly at him.

From the sofas, Lisa steps away, out of frame for a moment. When she returns, she is holding a small gift bag with balloons on it.

“Hey!” she calls. Zane and Cassie turn to face her, and most people pull back from their excited conversations and hugs to watch her. “I got you something!”

She gestures to the bag, and Zane breaks from Ilya to take it.

“Lisa, you fucking knew?” Wyatt shouts.

Cassie walks to stand by Zane’s side as he fumbles around in the tissue paper inside the bag. He pulls out a newborn-size babygro, and holds it to his chest proudly. Cassie squeals, and brings her hands to her face. On the front of the babygro, sharp black writing reads BABY BOOD, COOKING UNTIL DECEMBER.

The group cheers and yells again. Zane slowly wheels around to face Ilya, grinning, still holding the babygro to his chest. Ilya is open-mouthed, looking pained, and when Zane faces him fully he flicks a hand and wheels around, dropping his head onto the shoulder of a laughing Shane.

“Get that shit away from me, Zane!” His voice is muffled by the fabric of Shane’s jacket.

The crowd laughs as Zane goads Ilya. “Look at it, Roz!”

“No!”

“Look how fucking small it is!”

“Do not do this to me, Boody!”

The group jeers louder as Zane steps forward towards Ilya, who yells ‘no!’ again and takes off out of frame at a pace. Shane laughs again, shaking his head when Nicole approaches him, also giggling. From the grill area, Selena darts back towards the camera, picking it up in portrait orientation and turning it to face the grass area. Ilya is halfway down the lawn. Behind the frame, Zane yells.

“Get him, boys!”

Wheeling back to the social area, Selena catches Zane taking off with the babygro in a fist, Holmberg, Young, and Luca overtaking him quickly. They chase after Ilya on the lawn, who can be distantly heard screaming at Zane while the group explodes in fresh laughter. Holmberg launches himself at Ilya, rugby tackling him to the ground. His legs are pinned by Luca, his arms by Young. Zane arrives and stands, straddling Ilya. He can be heard shouting at Ilya, who is screaming back. There are barks from behind the camera, and then Chiron and Anya race into frame, running off to join the boys.

“Look at it, you sappy fuck!”

“Stop it!”

“My child is going to wear this, Rozanov!”

Selena turns the camera back to the laughing group. Nick, Evan and Troy are cheering on the boys on the lawn, while Cassie, now seated next to Harris, Caitlin, and Lisa, cackles at the display. In the corner of the frame, Nicole is laughing and clapping.

Shane is bent double with his hands on his knees, laugh hearty and loud as he watches the display.

Selena flips the camera back around to face her, winking and blowing a kiss.

“Best summer ever,” she whispers.

The camera goes black.