Heated Rivalry
by Rachel Reid
Contents
Chapter Eighteen
Overview
Shane and Ilya begin texting like something closer to friends, not just arranging hookups, and Ilya pushes for more intimacy through video calls. Breaking their usual late-season distance, Ilya invites Shane to his hotel before a Boston–Montreal game, and the rushed encounter leads to an unusually honest moment.
Ilya confides that his father is dying and that his family—especially his stepmother—keeps pressuring him for money, exposing how trapped and used he feels. After Boston wins and Ilya gets a tense call from his brother, Shane is left waiting for contact that never comes, underscoring how fragile their new closeness is.
Summary
Two weeks after All-Star weekend, Shane Hollander receives a text from Ilya Rozanov, saved in Shane’s phone as “Lily,” about Frank Zullo being arrested and put on waivers. The conversation turns into shared hockey gossip and joking flirtation, including Ilya suggesting they Skype. Shane is surprised by how easily they chat and how reluctant he feels to end the exchange.
In Boston, Ilya admits to himself that he texted partly out of boredom while resting an elbow injury he hasn’t told Shane about. Ilya fantasizes about seeing Shane on video and imagines Shane’s private life and bedroom, then fixates on making the Skype idea happen, framing it as a way to push Shane out of his comfort zone. Underneath the sexual focus, Ilya also thinks about wanting extended, uninterrupted time with Shane—then insists to himself it would be to “get Shane out of his system,” because the situation is getting too complicated.
In March, with Boston and Montreal battling for the division lead and the playoffs approaching, Shane is leading the league in scoring just ahead of Ilya. Despite their usual late-season habit of cutting contact to focus on the rivalry, Ilya texts Shane on a Boston game day and asks him to come over for an hour. Shane argues it is a terrible idea, but gives in and goes to Ilya’s hotel anyway.
They rush into sex, and Shane notices Ilya’s unusual urgency before the game, which makes Shane suspect something is wrong. Afterward, Shane asks directly if Ilya is okay. Ilya reveals his father is dying, and that the bigger stress is his stepmother Polina and other relatives repeatedly demanding money now that his father has none. Shane offers comfort, suggests Ilya can call or text to talk—not only hook up—and Ilya accepts the idea with a soft, unusually tender kiss before Shane leaves.
That night Boston wins by two goals; Ilya scores twice and Shane scores once. Ilya plans to meet Shane again afterward and feels less guarded about showing how much he wants Shane, even as he knows the arrangement cannot last forever. Leaving the arena, Ilya receives a call from his brother, while Shane waits up late in his hotel room for Ilya to text—wondering whether Ilya cares the way Shane does—before falling asleep when no message comes.
Who Appears
- Shane HollanderMontreal star; starts texting Ilya, visits him pregame, comforts him, waits in vain for a message.
- Ilya RozanovBoston star; texts as “Lily,” breaks routine to see Shane, confides family stress, gets a call from his brother.
- Frank ZulloAdmirals defenseman; arrested and waived; referenced as a known homophobe.
- PolinaIlya’s stepmother; repeatedly calls Ilya, planning for herself and demanding money.
- Ilya’s fatherDying; his condition triggers family pressure and complicated feelings for Ilya.
- Ilya’s brotherCalls Ilya after the game, implying renewed family demands or news.
- Scott HunterMentioned as someone likely glad Zullo is gone.
- HammersmithReferenced in Ilya’s gossip story during texting.
- HaydenShane’s teammate/roommate on the road; leaves to call his wife, leaving Shane alone.