Page 190 of The Long Game
David smiled up at him. “I know.” He finished the first cuff, then took Ilya’s right hand and got to work on that cuff link. “What I’m trying to say, and Yuna’s always been the better speaker, is I’ve always felt so lucky to have a son as wonderful as Shane that I never expected to be blessed with a second one.”
David’s hands, and Ilya’s shirt cuff, turned blurry. Ilya blinked rapidly, refusing to cry before the wedding even started.David glanced up from his work, and Ilya could see the tears in his eyes too.
“It’s not fair that you don’t have your family here on your wedding day,” David said, “and I’m not trying to overstep, but—”
That was all Ilya let him get out before he engulfed David in a tight hug. “My family is here,” he said simply, and with surprising steadiness.
It seemed impossible that anything in Ilya’s life was real; that he was about to marryShane Hollander. In front ofpeople. That they would be teammates next season. That Ilya was about to officially become a part of Shane’s family, and that he and Shane might start their own someday. It was too staggering to think about, so instead he hugged Shane’s father and tried not to cry.
After a long moment, they released each other, and David took a step back. He sniffed once, then said, “Well. You look good.”
Ilya wiped hastily at his eyes. “Usually, yes.”
David shuffled a bit awkwardly, probably unused to wearing his emotions so plainly, and glanced out the window. “Anya’s keeping the Pike kids busy in the yard.”
“Good. And thank you. For helping me with my shirt. And for...” Ilya couldn’t possibly put into words how grateful he was for Yuna and David’s support, and the easy love they had for their son, and seemingly also for him. For raising Shane to be the man that he was, and for believing Ilya was good enough for him. He finished by saying, “Everything.”
David nodded. “Thank you for making Shane so happy. You’re good for each other.”
Ilya smiled. “Yes. It is time for the world to see how good.”
“Holy shit,” Shane said.
He’d pulled back the curtain in the guest room he’d gotten dressed in, and could not believe how many people were in Ilya’s backyard.
Our backyard, he reminded himself. They lived together now.
“Are you surprised?” Yuna asked as she fussed with his boutonniere. “You’re both very popular.”
“I haven’t felt very popular lately.”
“Well, you are. Deal with it.” She stood back and gasped. “You’re so handsome!”
“Yeah? I look okay?” Shane turned to examine himself in the mirror. He was wearing a light gray suit, not a tux, with a pale blue tie, and he was sweating already. He’d gotten his hair trimmed, but it was still fairly long, and he was wearing it down.
“You look like Kit Harington,” Mom assured him. “If Kit couldn’t grow a beard.”
Shane huffed. “Thanks, Mom. Is Dad helping Ilya get ready?”
“Yes, but you know that’s just an excuse for the two of them to hang out.”
Shane smiled at that. He wished Ilya could have had family here today, but he was glad he’d grown so close to Shane’s own father.
“Well,” Mom said, beaming at him, “we should probably get down there. Do you have the ring?”
Shane patted his pocket. “Yep.”
“And your ringer is turned off?”
“I’m leaving the phone in the house. But yes.”
Mom peeked out the window again. “Oh! Ilya’s out there.” Shane tried to go to the window, but Yuna stopped him. “You’ll see him at the ceremony! It’s bad luck to see him before then.”
“Mom. I saw him this morning. We woke up together, had breakfast.” He left out the third thing they’d done.
“Just indulge me. My only child is getting married! I’m allowed to be nuts.”
Shane smiled and hugged her a bit awkwardly because they were both trying to avoid crushing the flowers that were pinned to their chests. “You are seriously the best mom in the world.”
