After leaving Shane Hollander’s parents’ cottage with plans to return for dinner the next night, Shane sits in the car overwhelmed and unsure whether the conversation went well. Ilya Rozanov believes it went better than expected, but Shane stays tense and quiet on the drive back to Shane’s cottage and then steps outside for air.

Ilya brings out a bottle of special Russian vodka to steady the moment, but quickly realizes Shane is too spun up to drink much. Instead, Ilya pulls Shane close, tells Shane “I love you,” and kisses him openly and tenderly, feeling that there is no going back to secrecy in the same way as before.

Shane’s anxiety turns into practical spiraling about timelines: Ilya’s Boston contract, when Ilya could get to Ottawa, and how long they must wait before publicly launching their charity (and thus acknowledging their connection). Ilya shuts the logistics down by initiating sex on the patio, focusing on calming Shane and reaffirming what they want.

Afterward, Shane and Ilya confirm their commitment: Ilya plans to move to Ottawa when he can, they will start the charity, and they will make their “friendship” public as a cover while spending as much time together as possible, including summers at the cottage. Ilya jokes about a future proposal framed as speeding up Canadian citizenship, but Shane answers sincerely that he wants a life with Ilya and is willing to play the long game even if they must keep sneaking around for a while.

They talk about smaller steps: Shane invites Ilya to his real Montreal apartment, admits he will sell the secret “hideout” building he bought out of paranoia, and says he wants Ilya in every part of his life. Ilya admits he wants to tell everyone immediately, but Shane insists they stick to the plan; they compromise by considering telling friends gradually. Their banter turns flirtatious again, and they head inside, with Ilya hinting he may be able to extend his stay.