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Hayden has had the most insane six months of his life. And he has four fucking children. So that is saying something.
It all started a week before the season began.
Hayden had invited Shane over to dinner per Jackie's request, fully knowing he was going to decline. He knew how strict Shane was with his pre-game rituals. How he'd get all rigorous and obsessive when there was a new schedule to be accustomed to, with his green smoothies he swore made him faster and morning gym routine that seemed far too tough for how they actually played on the ice. Also, he knew how much it would throw him off if he changed one evening of planning for dinner, even if it was with his best friends. So he was surprised when he agreed, almost enthusiastically and not at all like his usual self.
Shane came to dinner with a bottle of wine and left with tears threatening to leave his eyes. The secret that had been eating him inside was finally let out, spilled quickly like he was afraid it would continue eating his organs if he kept it in any longer.
Hayden wasn't all that surprised that Shane was gay. He was mostly confused as to why he'd kept it for so long, and then also why he suddenly decided he couldn't anymore. His first instinct was to think about hockey, naturally. What that would mean for the team, if it would mean anything at all after Scott Hunter's coming out, and, mostly, what the rest of the boys would think. He had been in that locker room, he knew the things they'd say, and the jokes they found funny——he kicked himself mentally for not stopping that behaviour sooner now that he knew how much it could hurt Shane.
It turned out there wasn't all that much to worry about when a few days later he came out when they were all lined up and ready for their first game. The initial reaction was silence, a few pale faces and raised eyebrows, but the culmination of it all were shrugs and pats in the back in a way that told Shane they didn't hate him but they also didn't... support him, to a certain degree.
They were happy for his bravery and openness, but they were also happy he was telling them and not anyone else. Not the press or the media or the NHL. God forbid people found out their captain, who had let them to victory twice in a row, preferred fucking men over women.
Hayden was attentive to each players reaction, making mental notes of who to slowly stray away from and who was actually alright. Gauging at everyone's reaction, he can confidently say he is looking at some guys very differently.
The next two or three months after were alright, nothing new and nothing life altering. Until, one random Tuesday, Shane casually sent him two texts,
Hey, Hayd! Wanted to invite you, Jackie, and the kids to lunch tomorrow. I'm cooking!
Oh! and also, I'm starting a hockey camp for kids with Ilya Rozanov, wanna sign up?
It was safe to say lunch the next day was filled with questions, that were mostly answered with shrugs and I don't knows but answered nonetheless (though Hayden still wasn't completely sure why he chose Rozanov out of everyone else for this very specific and, frankly, important endeavour).
So you can say he was lucky right now, sitting in the kitchen at Shane's cottage with none other than Ilya Rozanov sitting in the chair opposite to him. When Shane had said they needed to sign some jerseys and sticks to give away to start campaigning for the foundation, he didn't know the invite was for three and not two. And that the third was Ilya fucking Rozanov. He should've known, of course, since the foundation is named after his mother and all. He hasn't completely digested the fact that this is his life now, that he has to hang out with Rozanov now that he and Shane were all buddy buddy or something.
Shane just left the table to get them all drinks, and he is trying his best to not fight with Rozanov just at the sight of his face.
"So," Hayden says, "How are you uh," he clears his throat, "Finding the weather? Must be different here in Ottawa."
Rozanov stares at him like he does in the ice: cold, unapologetic, and disgusted (for some fucking reason). "You are actually asking about weather, Pike?"
Hayden blinks, "I guess, yeah."
"I am Russian," He shrugs, "Cold doesn't scare me."
"I didn't say it—"
"Here we go!" Shane chirps, handing Hayden a beer, a coke for Rozanov, and a ginger ale for himself. Hayden suddenly wonders why he has anything but ginger ale stocked in his fridge but lets it go once Shane sits down at the head of the table, looking at both of them with a maniacal smile. "We're nearly done, yeah?"
Hayden counts the jerseys he's already signed and then looks over at the bag he has left, "Yeah."
"No." Rozanov says at the same time, "I have two bags left." He looks at Hayden with a smirk and raises his hands, "Must be hard to have total of three fans who actually want your signature."
"Fuck off," he rolls his eyes, "I just sign faster." he says, even though he knows it's true.
It becomes quiet after that, with the sound of them sipping on their drinks and the small movement of the lake to make it less uncomfortable. Hayden is suddenly actually nearly done, so he pulls out his phone to try and distract himself while they catch up to him. He texts Jackie something that sounds like he's being held hostage and needs to be rescued before he dies, which is really not that far from how he is feeling right now. He makes a sound with his tongue and tries to make the space less weird.
Shane breaks the tension before it can get any worse, "Jackie?" He asks breezily, nodding at his phone with a small smile, "How is she, by the way?"
"Alright," he smiles back, "Sends her love."
Rozanov clears his throat, "Jackie," Her name sounds odd coming from his mouth, "She is your wife, yes?"
Hayden turns off his phone and continues working, "Yeah."
Rozanov hums, "How long have you been together?"
It would be a lie to say Hayden wasn't surprised by his sudden interest in his wife, he schools his face into something neutral and replies, "Long time," he stares at him again, just to be sure, "So don't get any ideas."
Shane cackles from his seat, quickly covering it with a cough as if it makes it better. Hayden frowns, immediately noticing something is... different. Sure, it's awkward because Rozanov is there but Shane is a bit stiffer than usual. He can't help but thing he's hiding something.
"How about you, Shane?" He asks before he can think better of it.
Shane stares at him calmly, "What about me?"
"Are you seeing anyone right now?" Hayden nudges him on the shoulder, "I know you and your boy——" He stares at him with his eyebrows raised, then he stares at Rozanov who is now looking at him almost expectantly.
He knows Rozanov and Shane are friends now, but one thing is being friends and another is being as close as Shane feeling comfortable enough to come out. He knows it's not that much of a secret anymore, but Shane is still very cautious about who he tells since they were still in a very homophobic industry. Who is to tell what Rozanov actually thinks about gay people? Is he homophobic, too?
Besides, he's kind of the only one in the world that knows about Shane's previous boyfriend. Boston Lily, Boston Person, Boston Guy, whatever. And he truly doubts Rozanov knows much about it. Hayden only knows they were a thing for years, until he came out, and suddenly they were broken up, and he never got to meet the man that had been driving his best friend insane since forever.
What does Rozanov know about gay men living in Boston and willing to endure a closeted relationship with star hockey player Shane Hollander?
"My what?" Shane blushes.
Hayden looks at both of them quickly, "Wait, um." He lowers his voice, "Does he..."
Shane blushes even more and raises both of his eyebrows, "Does he what?"
Hayden winces and moves closer to him, "Does he know... you know, about you?"
Uncomfortable silence overpowers the room again, this time Hayden can't concentrate on the lake. Shane gulps, his eyes drifting slowly toward Rozanov with a look of worry forming on his face. He doesn't know what Rozanov does since he's concentrated on Shane's reaction, so when he suddenly speaks, Hayden jumps and whips his head around.
"That he is gay?" Rozanov asks, "Yes, Pike, I know."
The way he says it seems to be obvious, as if he's offended Hayden even questioned his ally-ship.
"We are friends," he reiterates but the simple look on his face was enough, with his eyes squinted and mouth scowling like a rabid racoon or something, "Friends tell each other this type of stuff, you must know this."
Hayden rolls his eyes and looks back at Shane who is... laughing? No, giggling. Since when did they become this close? And, most importantly, why? He can feel jealousy starting to form at the bottom of his spine and without properly thinking about it, he opens his mouth again trying to one-up Rozanov.
"Right," He puts his lips in a straight line, "So, I know you're seeing someone."
Both men stop signing the jerseys, Shane stares at him with surprise and Rozanov looks at Shane with a similar expression. Hayden is perhaps the worst best friend in the world.
"I— um," Shane tries to laugh, "What do you mean?"
Hayden can't back out now, "Well," he sighs and focuses his attention completely on his best friend (his best friend, just to be clear). "You're suddenly acting like... Like you did with Boston Lily? Or whatever his name was. And I figured you'd tell me one day but it's been fucking weeks so..."
Shane looks at the floor and after a minute, he laughs. Properly now, small and unsure, but warm and real so Hayden can fucking breathe again.
"Shit," Shane looks at him with his eyes open and glassy, "Is it that obvious?"
Hayden lets out a relaxed huff, scratching the back of his head and resting his back against the chair. Yes, he wants to say but doesn't want to embarrass him any further.
Rozanov beats him to it, "Yes, it is obvious."
"Right!" Hayden jumps at the confirmation, "Super obvious. And so is he."
Silence. Again. Uncomfortable, loud, and Hayden's fault, again. He hisses at his inappropriate timing and clears his throat, his head scrambling for a response that can potentially save Shane from even more humiliation but nothing comes. He fucking dug this whole himself, pulled both Shane and Rozanov in it, and now he's putting more dirt on top of them.
Shane makes a noise he doesn't understand and then says, "You know about..."
Hayden winces, "Yeah, pretty much." He looks at Shane with apologies written all over his face, "I'm sorry, buddy."
When no one speaks again, Hayden intersects before the silence returns, "It's not... ideal, I know." He fumbles with the label of the beer can, "But I see the way you look at each other, how you interact on the ice, and——yeah. It's different. Cute, almost."
Shane flushes down to his chest and huffs out a constricted laugh. He stares at Rozanov first, as if looking at Hayden will make what he just said real, and then he smiles with fluster and something secretive he almost doesn't catch.
Shane had just come out to the team, his exact words were, "I'm gay. Yes, I'm sure. No, it will not affect and has not affected the way I play." No one said anything at first, and his face was almost green as he waited for the inevitable comeback. After a minute passed, Hayden stood up and was about to loudly congratulate him when...
"Capitaine!"
Everyone turned their heads to the cheerful sound of J.J.'s voice. He walked over to Shane and put his arm around his shoulders, "No one thinks this affects how you play, right?"
J.J. stared at everyone with defiance, his arm tightening around Shane and his eyes getting impossibly darker, "I assume it won't be a problem for any of you, correct?"
Hayden had been doubtful about the closeness of their relationship before. J.J., even if that was part of his personality, was especially flirty and touchy with Shane. He would always be the first to hug him after a goal, his lips finding home on the side of his helmet, and his hand folding against his neck as if that was normal behaviour between two teammates. Then Shane came out, and Hayden would catch J.J. staring at him in the showers, at the way he tightened the towel against his waist, and when he bent over his locker to find his clothes.
If anything, Hayden was surprised he hadn't just kissed him there with everyone watching.
So he smiles at Shane with a knowing look. "Honestly, I think I've always kind of known you had a thing for each other."
Shane looks at Rozanov shyly and shakes his head. Hayden finds it very adorable, he is like that too when someone talks about how in love he is with Jackie.
"But," Hayden chuckles, "The day you came out to the team, his reaction... That sold it to me. Like I really thought he was going to beat the shit out of Drapeau when he didn't immediately hug you before entering the rink."
Shane laughs but his eyes are squinted in confusion. He looks at Rozanov again and then back at Hayden. "What?"
So like.
Hayden is truly, completely, without a doubt, the worst best friend in the entire world.
He had been rude to Shane's new friend Rozanov, then he'd embarrassed him with his prodding questions about his love life, and now, he had just outed his team member (his friend) to one of their known rivals. Perhaps their most recognizable rival and not only that, but a guy known for spilling his mouth to the press. Fuck, how much more dirt can he fucking add to their grave? How much more until he shuts the fuck up?!
"Ah, shit." Hayden presses his face against the wooden table, "Sorry, fuck. I didn't think about Rozanov not knowing. I'm sorry."
"Hayden," Shane calls slowly and calmly, almost too calm for the gravity of the situation. Like he does when he's really, really mad. Hayden is definitely fucked. But then he says, "What the fuck are you talking about?"
Hayden lifts up his head and tries to evaluate the situation. He checks for the usual I'm really mad signs on Shane's face but finds none. Then he stares at Rozanov to see if he's got a smirk or something on his face like he's a kid who'd just been given candy but finds him all... confused, as well. Did Rozanov know before Hayden?
He squints at him and then looks back apologetically at Shane, "You know..."
Shane looks at him like he really doesn't.
"Um," Hayden scratches his eyebrow, "You and J.J.? Dating or fucking or whatever, I don't know. I'm not sure if real feelings are involved or anything but——"
"Excuse me?" Rozanov interrupts him suddenly, both of his eyebrows raising and his nose flaring like they do after someone smashes him against the boards. "Shane and who?"
Hayden frowns. Shane? Since when is he Shane to Rozanov?
At the precise moment Hayden is about to ask exactly that, Shane bursts out laughing. Big, uncontrollable laughter as if this is the funniest thing he's ever heard. His head rolls back to the chair and his hands clutch at his stomach. It's absolutely something he has never seen before, Shane laughing so hard that he's almost brought to tears, and he briefly wonders if maybe the ginger ale had some sort of drug or something.
"You think me and—" Shane can't finish the sentence through the laughter and Hayden stares guiltily at the can.
"Yes, very funny, Hollander." Rozanov snickers, taking a big swig from his coke, and then putting his elbows against the table. When he stares at Hayden, the fury is almost eating his face completely.
"Tell me, Pike," His voice is slow and calculated, Hayden hates to admit he finds it a little chilling, "What makes you think that?"
Hayden shrugs and raises his hands up in defence, "I don't know like, how they look at each other?" Rozanov is not content with the answer, "J.J. is always flirting with him! And he stares and he's handsy and he once asked me if Shane was single and——"
"Oh, right." Rozanov chuckles, though the sound is anything but funny. It sounds threatening, his eyes burning under the ceiling lights and his lips forming tightly around his words. "So you are saying Boiziau needs to die. That is what you are saying, yes?"
"What?!"
"Ilya!" Shane chastises after a chuckle, the name dropping out of his lips like he's said it a million times before. Rozanov crosses his arms against his chest and looks to the side with petulance but Hayden can only focus on the fact that Shane called him Ilya.
Ilya?? Absolutely nobody called him that, not even his own teammates.
Hayden is so fucking confused, "I'm so fucking confused." He voices.
And Rozanov (fucking Ilya to Shane, apparently), scoffs. "You are very dumb man, that was clear before but it is different to be fucking stupid."
"Il-ya!" Shane says again, this time with more conviction and it sounds almost like—— like when Jackie yells at him when he forgets to do laundry.
Something finally switches in Hayden's brain. "Wait—" He drifts his eyes between both of them; their curious eyes, the way the rest on the chairs, the position of their hands as if their twitching to touch, their equally pink lips as if they had recently... Hayden thinks he might throw up.
Before getting to any conclusions, he points a finger to each of them, "Wait, you're not— You two are not—"
Rozanov opens his eyes like its obvious, "What? Fucking? No, not right now." He stares at his nails, "Dating? Yes, currently and probably forever. Any questions?"
Hayden quickly looks at Shane to find more answers because surely Rozanov is just joking and they're not seriously together but his expression gives him away without a shadow of a doubt. Shane smiles so bright, Hayden thinks his cheeks might give out. His eyes are twinkling and his cheeks are pink, he softly shakes his head but it's with adoration more than anything else.
"Shane," Hayden asks sceptically, not ready to accept it. "You two are fucking ?" He asks because it's the only word that stuck in his brain after the realization.
Shane now frowns, "We're not 'fucking'. We're together."
"Together." Hayden stares at the table.
"Yes." Both Rozanov and Shane say at the same time. Shane giggles and Rozanov winks at him, Hayden's mouth parts in bewilderment.
He gulps, "And——And you..."
Shane nods, "Love him, yes."
"I was gonna ask if you like him!" Hayden breathes out, "You love him?!"
Both of them shrug, casually. Fucking casually. They love each other casually. An everyday thing, long-term, and solid, like they've done it for far longer than Hayden even began to imagine.
Rozanov is the one who speaks now, "Yes, Pike. Your best friend loves me," he says all giddily but also like he's trying to get under his skin (it's working), "And I love him back, of course."
Hayden stares at him. Really stares at him for the first time. His curly hair and light eyes, the moles on his skin, and the sharpness of his cheeks. He understands the physical part of it, even as a straight guy he can admit when another man is undeniably handsome. Then he stares at Shane, though he doesn't have to look all that much to know how beautiful he is. He knows this, everybody knows this. And he's nice and funny and caring, falling for him must've been undoubtedly easy. Which is why when he looks back at Rozanov, he squints and asks without feeling embarrassed.
"How did you manage that?" He huffs, "Him falling for you, I mean."
Rozanov sighs and rolls his eyes, and when Hayden is expecting a sarcastic answer like pushing out his biceps and muttering something self-obsessive—— Rozanov completely surprises him. He stares at Shane like he hung the moon and says, "I know, right?"
"Oh my God," Hayden says in outrage, "You're like... Disgustingly in love."
"Oh!" Rozanov says suddenly and lifts up his shirt, "Look, this tattoo is for him."
Hayden stares at what seems to be a... Loon? Dark against his skin as if he'd gotten it not too long ago with skin around it still a bit red and irritated.
Shane nudges his shirt down, "Not exactly for me. Just for the cottage."
Rozanov rolls his eyes, "Yes, and the cottage is yours."
"Ours, mostly."
Hayden actually might throw up after all. "Oh my fucking God." He presses a hand against his face, "And this has been happening since when, exactly?"
Shane looks nervous again as he bites his lower lip. He hesitantly stares at Rozanov and he stares back, they stay there for a minute like they're communicating telepathically or something and Hayden wants to know what the fuck is happening. When Shane finally averts his eyes from Rozanov, he has an expression as if all the answers suddenly appeared in his head like a light bulb being turned on (just by staring at the guy, mind you).
"Since the drafts," Shane answers shyly, "Kind of."
Hayden tries to keep his composure (he fails). "Since before we even met?!" he half yells, looking at Shane with his eyes open wide and secretly pinching the skin between his thumb and forefinger just to be sure he isn't having the craziest nightmare of his life (he is not). Still he says, "You're not being serious."
Shane doesn't backtrack. Hayden is still unconvinced.
"Okay, sure." He presses his lips together as he tries piecing everything together, "So, what about Boston Lily? You just— Broke up with him or cheated on him or...?"
"Come on, Pike!" Rozanov slams his coke against the table, "I am Boston Lily."
"What ?"
Rozanov stares at Shane with pleading eyes, "This cannot be your best friend, moya lyubov'." He shakes his head, "He is hopeless."
"Be nice." Shane looks at him sternly but his lips still slightly curve in a smile, "He's just a little confused."
"Confused..." Rozanov squints, "Sure."
Hayden knows what he's implying, he just doesn't have the energy to indulge in it as gears turn faster in his head and things start finally falling into place.
He'd grown accustomed to Shane disappearing when they played in Boston, throwing out really bad excuses as if they both didn't know he had someone waiting for him. Lily. He knew Lily. He knew it was serious because Shane had never shown interest in any other person beside her (or Rose Landry, but that was another conversation). And he also knew it was in Boston and Boston only, that he didn't see her or anybody else anywhere else——that was, until a few weeks ago.
It was a rainy Monday in Montreal. The streets were crowded and the pavement wet, half of the team came in late to practice, the opposing team won the first face-off, and one of the rookies got punched in the face.
The game was against Boston. Of course, it was against Boston. They'd just lost their best player (not that Hayden would ever say that about Ilya Rozanov out loud) and they were playing dirty thinking that would make up for it. Montreal had won, sure, but half of their team was sore and mildly injured from all of the crashing and tumbling. No one had actually gotten seriously hurt, it still felt like shit though. And, not for the first time, Hayden wished his best friend would go out with the team to get their spirits up together instead of sulking and obsessing on his own.
He knew he wouldn't come, still he called. The phone rang three times before Shane answered, his voice tired and worn out as if he'd just finished a set in the gym.
"Hey, man." Hayden said over the loud music of the bar, "How are you feeling?"
Shane hissed through his teeth, "Hey, Hayd!" his voice wavered, "Perfect! All good, why?"
Hayden frowned, "Nothing, nothing. It's just——"
"Fuck."
Hayden took the phone off his ear and stared at it with concern, "You sure you're okay, buddy?"
"Yes!" Shane almost yelled, "I mean——no, uh." He coughed, albeit very unconvincing, but coughed. "I think I'm coming down with——with something."
Hayden bit his lip with worry, they couldn't have the captain coming down with anything with their next game so close. "Oh, no." He looked at the guys, who were sitting on a large booth with beers filled to the brim and their faces dropping like they were gonna fall asleep at any moment. They could manage without him, couldn't they? "Want me to bring you some soup or something?"
The line went dead for a moment and before Hayden could ask again, Shane's voice filtered through quickly. "Yeah, for sure!" He was definitely burning up a fever, "That's amazing, yes." Something rustled and then he groaned, "Oh, Il-" The line cut again, Hayden was now sure Shane was really sick and maybe even hallucinating like that one time they talked over the phone when he was still recovering from his concussion.
When the line connected again, Shane was panting and speaking sharply, "O-Okay, love you! Bye."
That was all Hayden needed to quickly buy some canned soup from the place near Shane's apartment and walk up the stairs as he texted Jackie telling her he'd be home late. He wondered if he should knock or just filter in, he didn't want Shane to get up from his bed so he opted for the second. He still texted him just to be sure before he pressed the buttons of the combination he already knew by heart and pushed inside without a second thought.
The apartment was warm and lit up as he walked through the hall and set the plastic bag on the kitchen counter. He looked at his phone again and saw no response from Shane.
"Shane?" He called out but he didn't respond. Now he truly was worried something had actually happened.
Hayden trotted up the stairs with his heart beating out of his chest when...
"Ah, fuck." Shane moaned through the walls, "Just like that, yes."
Fifteen minutes later, he was in a cab frantically calling his wife to get rid of the sound and willing himself to never, ever think about it again.
Right now, though, he remembers it clearly. The little details he didn't focus on at the initial shock like the men's sneakers piled beside Shane's Reebok's on the entrance, or the Russian vodka placed beside the oven with a little note as if it was a gift.
"Jesus," Hayden says out loud, "I guess... I guess I can kind of understand." He stares at both of them and shrugs, "No one gets how it feels to be Shane Hollander like Ilya Rozanov, right?"
Rozanov pats him in the back, and smiles with a bit more friendliness, "Da, now you are getting it!"
Both Shane and Hayden chuckle, the silence that reigns on is not threatening anymore. It's almost relieving, like taking a big breath of air and letting it out right as you thought you were going to suffocate. Hayden closes his eyes and savours the quiet, his brain still moving uncontrolled at all the surprises he's had to uncover in just a few minutes. Just in a few days (again, Hayden has had the most insane six months of his life). When he comes to be with his heart beating at his normal rate again, Rozanov is gone and there are cluttering sounds coming from the kitchen.
"He's bringing dinner," Shane says, his fingers tapping the wood of the table rhythmically.
Hayden smiles. He can see a difference now. In Shane and in his space. Granted, he has only been to the cottage three times counting this one but... there's a new sense of freshness and warmth, a feeling he knows can only come from a place full of love and trust——from a place built by a family. Sure, Rozanov and Shane are not yet a fully formed family but they seem to be intertwined like one. Hayden can tell, and he has only interacted with them as a couple for ten minutes.
He can also tell how different his best friend is. He is like, really happy. He quite literally cannot contain his smile right now, as if having his best friend and boyfriend (god, that sounds serious) in the same space is a dream come true. Like he has been waiting for it for years. And it breaks Hayden's heart to know that it has. That Shane has been garnering all of this love and joy since he was a teenager, that he's had to keep it contained in these tall ceilings and open windows for god knows how long. That he still has to, even if it seems like he doesn't want to. Because when someone looks like this; all giddy and happy and in love, with his cheeks red from smiling and eyes glistening with affection——why would they want to keep it hidden?
Hayden speaks before his emotions get the best of him, "I'm proud of you, Shane." He looks at him with a smile, "And I'm really happy for you... Even if it means I have to put up with Rozanov from now on."
Shane, despite also being a little teary-eyed, laughs and playfully punches him on the shoulder. Then he licks his lips like he's trying not to cry and sighs, "I'm really happy, too." The look on his face is almost unbearably sweet, "And he's... Amazing, like maybe too amazing. And I——" He looks at the floor, "I spent so much time thinking it would always be just a fantasy. That I would have to bear the rest of my life wondering what being with him could've looked like... And now I have it. I have him, and I have a future with him."
Hayden clenches his hands trying to stop himself from crying. He wished he could've helped, somehow. That he could've spared Shane from some of that sadness or maybe just that he could've been there to comfort him through it.
Before he can wallow in his guilt, Rozanov enters the room with three plates in his arms and slowly places them on each place. He doesn't sit before hugging Shane from behind, his arms wrapping against his chest with Shane's hands immediately holding him closer. "So romantic, my Shane."
Shane rolls his eyes and then looks up at him with his lips pursed. And, for the first time (though certainly not the last time), Hayden sees Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander kiss. Quick and chaste, but a kiss anyway. Even if he's happy for him and is slowly getting accustomed to his new best-friend-in-law, he can't help but wince at how overly tender it all is.
"Alright. Enough of that, love birds." He says as he cuts into his chicken, and wills his head to catch up.
They all settle and start to eat their dinner as they try to settle on a more mild conversation. It's not as easy with Rozanov and his stupid, annoying commentary and one-upping as if they're competing for Shane's attention. And what makes it worse is that he always wins. Fuck, he can't wait to tell Jackie. He imagines her reaction, how surprised she might be, how many times she'll ask him Ilya Rozanov?! as if the words sting her. (The reality is that when he tells her, she simply answers with, "I knew it!" and shows Hayden all the forums speculating about it online).
After they eat, they settle in the kitchen as Shane washes up and gets him another can of beer.
It's after a quiet moment that Rozanov stands straighter and frowns, "Wait a minute."
Hayden and Shane stop what they're doing to stare at him waiting. He's suddenly wearing that erratic fury they've come to know as a common expression when he's upset about something.
Rozanov looks at Hayden. "You said Boiziau asked you what?"