The Long Game (Game Changers, #6)

by Rachel Reid

“Just going over the medical forms for the kids. There are so many different things. A couple of the kids are allergic to eggs.” “Then we won’t throw eggs at them.”

He closed his eyes and focused on how good it felt to be with Shane, alone in the dark, and tried not to wish it could be the same in the light.

“We are very good at pretending to not be in love. Maybe we are bad at showing it when we are allowed.”

Sometimes Ilya was so starved for touch he felt like screaming. He felt it most when Shane was close, like he was now, but off-limits.

Kiss me, Ilya wanted to say. Kiss me and hold me in front of all these people. Pull me onstage and do it. I don’t care anymore. Please. I’m dying. “Nothing,” Ilya said, and stepped away. “Nothing.”

Mine, Shane thought. The world doesn’t need to know, because I know.

Shane wasn’t the kind of guy who would ever fuck someone in a public place, but this was the most he’d thought about it.

“When you watch it, this is what you will see. Me saying nothing. I wanted to say you are fucking everything to me. Everything. Okay?”

“Let me look at it.” “You saw it this morning.” Ilya had his sore leg stretched out on the sofa. “Is still just bruised.” Shane was already at his side. He tried to slide Ilya’s pants leg up, but the tapered cut of the fancy jogging pants made it impossible. “Pull your pants down.” “You are terrible at foreplay,” Ilya said,

“Is it something you could talk to him about?” “Isn’t that why I’m here?” Ilya asked with a hint of irritation. “So I don’t have to burden him with this? I thought I could talk to you and fix myself so I can be good enough for him.”

“Only the best of the best get to be in that place,” Coach assured him. “It’s like the NHL of dogs.” “Yes, but there are huge assholes in the NHL.” Coach laughed and clapped him on the shoulder. “Yeah, but not in Ottawa.”

Quietly, in a voice that couldn’t disguise his pain, he said, “I already chose you, Hollander.”

“I will. And if he won’t talk to me, I’ll...drive to Ottawa and stand outside his door until—” “Or you could just be cool for once in your life.” Shane’s mouth dropped open. “Oh my god. Ilya is such a bad influence on you!”

You are the best thing in my life. His eyes were blurry, making it hard to type. He quickly swiped at his eyes and kept writing. I love you. Always. Maybe from the first time I saw you.

I am thinking only about you right now. A million memories. Thank you for those. Whatever happens, I am with you. Safe in your heart. I believe it.

Who was Ilya’s next of kin, even? The brother he never spoke to? Would Shane have been allowed to spread his ashes somewhere that Ilya would have liked? Maybe at the cottage, or maybe he’d prefer to be buried in Moscow with his parents. God, they’d never talked about this sort of thing.

“I choose you, Ilya. I promise I will always, always choose you.” Shane’s eyes began to shimmer. He took a deep breath and said, “Ilya Grigoryevich Rozanov, will you marry me?”

“Is this because I almost died?” Ilya teased. “No. It’s because I almost died.” Ilya brushed the tears on Shane’s face with his thumb. What could he even say to that?

“Yeah. Like when Scott Hunter kissed Kip on TV. It was amazing, but also...fuck, right?” Ilya laughed. “Yes. Exactly that.”

Ilya was going to leave the safety of Shane’s house soon, and walk into chaos. The secret wasn’t a secret anymore, and it was time to face whatever was about to happen next. Together.

“I feel like I am fucking a king right now.” “Ilya—” He grabbed a handful of Shane’s hair and tugged his head back. “Do you know how powerful this feels, fucking a king in his throne room?”

“You are Shane fucking Hollander,” Ilya growled. “If you ever forget that, I will drag you back in here and fuck you until you remember.”

“Good. And thank you. For helping me with my shirt. And for...” Ilya couldn’t possibly put into words how grateful he was for Yuna and David’s support, and the easy love they had for their son, and seemingly also for him. For raising Shane to be the man that he was, and for believing Ilya was good enough for him. He finished by saying, “Everything.”

David nodded. “Thank you for making Shane so happy. You’re good for each other.”

“Do you have the ring?” Shane whispered as they stood across from each other, in front of everyone. Ilya barely stopped himself from rolling his eyes. “Why? Is it important?”