Heated Rivalry (Game Changers, #2)

by Rachel Reid

Maybe it was just that, after a life of playing at a level above everyone else, Shane had finally met his match.

He didn’t want to return to Russia at all. He wanted to stay in North America and start the next phase of his life. He didn’t want to hear his father—who likely hadn’t even watched any of the games—shame him for not bringing home a gold medal. He didn’t want to live with his father, or depend on anyone anymore. He wanted to be rich and famous and loved and have a huge garage full of sports cars. He wanted expensive clothes and gorgeous women and hot nightclubs. He wanted the weight of his family, and his country, lifted. He wanted to be himself.

Oh noooo This situation is def going to make me cry later

He turned and saw him standing there, huge and handsome, and also wearing makeup. “Very pretty,” Rozanov teased him. “Like a doll.” “You’re painted up too.” Rozanov leaned on the top of the boards and grinned. “Yes, but I’m not pretty.”

😝 But also you are Ilya

He shouldn’t want that. He shouldn’t want any of this.

It’s just you and me here babes and I definitely think you should want this

he heard Rozanov say, without a trace of irony, “The Bears will be happy with me this season. I will score fifty goals.” “Fifty goals?” the stunned interviewer asked. “Are you fucking kidding me?” Shane asked at home. “Yes. By end of February,” Rozanov said.

Gotta highlight so I can see if he actually does it

“Do you feel pressure to outperform Shane Hollander this first season?” the interviewer asked. “Who?”

Sick burn

“Is Drapeau going to be starting tonight?” Shane’s mother asked. “He was weak on his left side last game. Is he hurt?”

Momma knows her hockey 📝

“You need a lamp beside your couch in that apartment,” Mom said, completely out of nowhere. “What?” “Your living room. It’s too dark. Do you want the one from the den at home? We don’t need it.” “That’s okay, Mom. You keep that. I’ll get one.” “Yuna! He doesn’t need our old furniture! He’s a millionaire!” “It’s a nice lamp!” she argued. “They don’t make nice things anymore.”

True! Listen to your mom! And free stuff is the best

“He’s cool. Everyone has been great so far, really.” Dad laughed. “Of course they have been! They’re damn lucky to have you.”

Proud healthy supportive parents 😭

Ilya couldn’t even say a basic English sentence without sounding like a cartoon villain.

It’s part of the charm. You’re doing great sweetie

Cliff was a year younger than him, a bit of an idiot, and probably Ilya’s best friend.

Loving this dynamic and I feel like I’m not going to be given enough of it

was a video, posted to Twitter, of a group of people outside the arena burning what appeared to be an effigy of Ilya Rozanov. “Well, that’s a bit much,” Shane said.

Uhhhh i agree

😳

Ilya: You are very bad at sexting. Jane: Who taught you that word? Ilya: Your mom.

Lol

“Your cab must be out there, right?” Ilya put his hand on the door, but before he pushed it open, he leaned down and kissed Hollander quickly on the mouth. “Good night, Hollander.” “Good night.” Ilya was grinning like an idiot for the entire cab ride back to his hotel.

🫨*shaking my kindle* 😵‍💫

Scott was a super nice guy. Carter was nice too, but Scott was, like, an angel who was really good at playing hockey. He looked like an angel: blond hair and blue eyes and built like a Navy SEAL who was also a model and maybe also a firefighter.

Oh okay alright The description just kept going

“These early games are all easy. Who are we playing next, Scotty? Fiji?” Scott frowned at him. “Denmark. And I don’t want anyone being cocky about it.” “Yes, sir,” Carter teased.

Oooo there is totally somethin going on with them

He made it hard to feel sorry for him.

Louder for the russians in the back

He put his hand on the door handle and was about to leave when he quickly turned and grabbed the front of Shane’s jacket. He kissed him roughly, then let him go. “Good luck tonight,” he said. And then he was gone.

I LOVE ALL THE KISSING

but every time Shane went to Rozanov’s actual home, he felt his world tilt a bit. It was an extra layer of wrongness thrown on top of the mountain of bad ideas they had been scaling for six years.

“Yes, sweetheart,” Rozanov panted, and Shane didn’t even have a chance to be shocked by the pet name

🥴 And now in Russian

“I got, um, ginger ale. You like that shit, right?” “Yeah. I do.” Shane looked at him oddly. Shane didn’t often drink because he didn’t want to do anything that might compromise his performance on the ice. Over the years he had developed an affinity for ginger ale as a substitute for beer.

Ilya has been paying attention to what Shane likes to drink 🫠 that is the sweetest thing ever. HE PAYS ATTENTION!

“You want to order takeout, or—” “Do you like tuna melts?” “You want to make me a tuna melt?” Rozanov shrugged. “I’m making one for me. I can make two. Ginger ale is in fridge.”

Now Ilya is going to cook for him??? I’m cooked. I am going to boil over. This is my favorite.

Hayley, he thought to himself. He would text Hayley and see if she was doing anything tonight. He liked Hayley. She was fun, and she had dark hair. And freckles.

🤌🏼 ✨

Ilya rolled his eyes. Why was Hollander saying any of this? Why now?

U WANTED HIM TO

Shane shook his head. There was no way he was going to go over there. He could list a million reasons why he couldn’t go over there, and he ran them through his head as he grabbed his jacket and left the hotel room.

Perf

“Goodbye, Hollander.” “Wait,” Shane said, way too loudly. Ilya waited. “Just...call me, all right? If you need to talk. Or text me. Whatever. But... I’ll listen. I want to help, if I can.” Ilya was silent for a moment. “You did. Thank you.”

❤️🩵

“What color is your bed? The blanket?” “Blue. Like, navy blue.” “I knew it.”

I did too

“I don’t want to come back here.” Shane was confused by the sudden topic change. “To Russia, you mean?” “Da. I want to become American. Or Canadian. But I am in America, so...” In that moment, Shane wished like hell that Ilya played for a Canadian team. “You should,” Shane said. “Have you looked into—?” “We should get married,” Ilya said.

😳 👀

Shane accepted, and then there he was, filling the screen of Ilya’s iPad. He was wearing a hoodie and...glasses?

Glasses?!? YASSSS!!!! Ilya is going to love this

“You are very beautiful,” Ilya said. Shane smiled without opening his eyes. “Come on.” “Is the truth. Your freckles.” Ilya grazed a fingertip over his own cheek. “I am nuts about them.”

✨

But he knew, in that moment, that he had to end this thing with Shane. It was never supposed to have gotten to this point. He was never supposed to have fallen in love with Shane Hollander. He should have ended it long before because now it was going to hurt so fucking much.

Dont u freaking dare

Ilya stabbed the call button. There was only one ring before, “Holy shit, Ilya! Can you belie—” “I’m coming to the cottage.”

AHHHHHHHHH thank god!!!

“The what? What the fuck with these words, Hollander? I’m tired.”

“I love you too,” Shane said. Ilya gave a shaky smile and exhaled. “Thank Christ.” “Does it...does it feel like agony for you too?” Ilya started to nod, then stopped. He shook his head slowly instead. “Not anymore.”

😫😭💙

“Yes. It’s very...” Fuck. What was the right word? Was there a right word for everything Ilya was feeling in that moment? He couldn’t think of one, so instead he said, “She would have loved you.”

Youre killing me 😭

“And he’s been...visiting. He’s...we’re, um...” What were they, exactly? It occurred to Shane that he and Ilya hadn’t even figured out what label they were comfortable with. “Lovers,” Ilya offered.

Please ilya 🤦🏻‍♀️

“You didn’t ever...” His mom sounded suddenly horrified. “You didn’t ever let him win, did you, Shane?”

Love that thats her worry

she clapped her hands together and jumped up from her chair. “All right, so what’s the plan?” she said. “We’ve got a problem, let’s solve it.” Shane glanced at a bewildered-looking Ilya. He gave him a small smile. They had Yuna on their side now, and Shane couldn’t imagine a better ally.

Ohhhhh this is too much I am going to squeal

bad.” “You would leave Boston?” Mom asked, stunned. “For Shane?” Ilya didn’t hesitate. “Yes.” She frowned, as if she couldn’t believe anything he was saying was real. “Oh my god!” Shane exclaimed. “You’re actually conflicted, aren’t you, Mom?” “What are you talking about?” “You’re bothered by his lack of loyalty to his team!” “Well!” Mom said, as if that was a perfectly reasonable way to react to the fact that Ilya was so madly in love with her son that he was willing to throw his whole life into upheaval.

Lol

“Then I will bring you to that dock out there. I will have hundreds of candles all over it...” “That sounds like a fire hazard.” “Is on the water, Hollander. Fucking relax. Will be beautiful, you will love it. The candles. The lake. The full moon.” “Oh, is it a clear night?” “Yes. Of course. And I will get on one knee—” “Ilya—” “And I will say, ‘Shane Hollander, will you please marry me so I can become Canadian citizen faster?’”

moy lyubovnik.”

My lover

moy vozlyublenniy.”

My beloved