Summary:

Things were good this morning. Shane woke him up gently and they stayed in bed a bit, just sharing warmth and soft, unhurried kisses until it was time to get up; Anya excitedly barked and jumped around them until Ilya opened the bay window to let her outside where she did her business before returning to beg for breakfast like they never feed her; Ilya grumbled about the food Shane prepared but he ate it anyway. This morning was like most of the mornings they’ve had since they got married and Ilya had seemed as excited about practice as Shane had felt.

Ilya’s grip on the steering wheel tightens. “Not now,” he says, and it feels like a slap to the face.

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September 2021, married Shane and Ilya are now playing on the same team, and the things it does to Ilya.