In Montreal a week later, Shane goes on a quieter date with Rose Landry at a wine bar and realizes he genuinely likes her company but feels anxious about sex with her. Rose steers the conversation toward Shane’s lack of physical enthusiasm, noting that he seems to enjoy talking more than kissing, and gently asks if she is not “doing it” for him.

Shane admits the sex has been a problem, and Rose reframes it as simple incompatibility rather than something to fix. When Shane says he is not necessarily “like Miles,” Rose carefully asks if Shane has ever been with a man. Shane answers honestly that he has, and confirms it was better.

Shane further admits he prefers receptive sex, which makes him feel unexpectedly lighter once it is said aloud. Rose offers, half-joking, to give Shane’s number to Miles, but Shane declines, saying he needs to figure things out. They agree to end the romantic relationship and become real friends; Rose promises support, and Shane, tearful, asks her to stay in touch because he has no one else to talk to about this.

That same night in Boston, Ilya hooks up with Svetlana Vetrova while they watch a hockey game and banter in Russian about players like Matheson and Bogrov. Svetlana praises Shane Hollander, needling Ilya, and when she asks if they will have sex again, Ilya coldly chooses food instead, sending her to dress.

Afterward, Ilya fixates on how different Shane is from everyone else: other hookups satisfy him temporarily, but only Shane makes him ache and long. Ilya tells himself Shane is not an option and that what they have should end, yet he is terrified by how badly he wants it to continue. Still, Ilya refuses to risk rejection, hasn’t texted Shane since their Montreal game, and can’t stop imagining Shane and Rose becoming permanent—making Ilya dread the upcoming All-Star Game.