A Word In The Wind

For this and many other reasons, it felt right to take the next step with her; to let her know that he felt extremely comfortable with her, and that he would like them to be boyfriend and girlfriend.

Standing in front of her bathroom mirror, Shane splashed his face with water one last time, dried it with a perfectly-textured towel (!) and walked out. Shane found her in the living room, searching for a show they could start while holding a small cup with almonds and cashews in her hand -- healthy eating! How could he have forgotten to add that! Shane sat right next to her on the huge, gray sectional, and cleared his throat.

"There's something I've been thinking about," he said, by way of diving in. Rose immediately gave him her whole attention, and waited for him to say more. "Getting to know you has been really fun, and I really like you." Rose's face shifted immediately to a soft expression and reached for his hand. "Shaney, I like you too. I can't believe how fast we've clicked. it's been so fun getting to know you, I'm so happy."

She held his hand tighter and lifted both her feet onto the couch, knees touching Shane's tigh. For a second, Shane worried that she was going to lunge herself at him, but she was just getting more comfortable.

"I've been meaning to talk to you about something, as well, now that we're on the topic of fun. Remember the other day when we were talking about your rivalry with Rozanov and you told me it was actually just an NHL PR thing, and then I said that people have in the past made such a fuss of seeing me be friends with Miles because it's the opposite of our storyline in X-Squad?"

"Yes," Shane said as casually as he could–– the sudden and random mention of Ilya was a punch to the gut.

Rose continued. "Well, because of that, sometimes Miles and I preferred to spend time together more privately. Just to avoid all the uproar and phones pointed at us. You know what I mean. It's just easier to go to his house, or he come to mine, that sort of thing. And I think because we've had to be somewhat private about it, privacy has become intimacy, sometimes. There's literally no other feeling between us other than friendship and just having fun and feeling good. He's so sweet and super interesting, and just a good guy."

Shane was barely following this rapid turn in conversation. She continued animatedly.

"The other day, he asked me about you. He saw the paparazzi pictures of us coming out of the restaurant during my birthday dinner, and he said you were very attractive, and that if you were ever open to having fun together, us three, he'd be totally excited to participate."

Shane could only stare. Rose was asking him for a threesome with the guy who played Dr. Doom on X-Squad. His mouth started moving before his mind could make a conclusion.

"Miles is a guy," he said stupidly.

Rose gripped his hand a little tighter, but stayed quiet. Waiting for him to say more of what was in his brain.

"And he wants to be intimate with you... and... with me?" Rose nodded, and said nothing.

"And you'd have fun if he spent time with us? And we both slept with you? At the same time?" Rose nodded again, this time adding, "Yes, it'd be so fun, and you could also have fun with each other while I watch. Miles is very good in bed."

Shane was not sure what good in bed meant because the only definition he had was a name that felt like a gut punch these days.

"Shane, I like you so much, and I only want to do things with you that you'd also enjoy. I'd never propose something to intentionally upset you or confuse you," she added.

Shane believed her. He was confident Rose was a good person who wouldn't ever want to hurt him, but he couldn't say that she hadn't confused him. Did she suspect that he would enjoy sleeping with a man? Had he unwittingly exposed his feelings for Ilya when he mentioned the thing about their rivalry?

Shane didn't want to sleep with another guy. The truth was that while the idea of a man's cock definitely turned him on, the thought of someone other than Ilya being inside him actually made him want to cry.

Something must have shown on his face because Rose immediately leaned her weight onto him for a hug, wrapping her soft arms around his shoulders. "Oh Shane, I'm so sorry. Forget I said anything. Please, I'm sorry I made you uncomfortable."

Shane leaned into her touch. He really did like Rose so much.

"No, I'm okay. I swear. I just don't think I'm ready for that. Not with––"

"Miles. Yup. Totally okay. I swear it. And I'm sorry I brought up the idea of a threesome at all," she said apologetically. Leaning back again to look at his face.

Shane took a deep breath and exhaled, looking at her eyes. She really was so beautiful and so kind.

"I think I would be open to it. I would enjoy it. Just Miles would feel wrong..."

Rose seemed to ponder this for some time before she said,

"Not exactly someone for a threesome, no; but there is someone who I have slept with, before, who..."

"Who you think about––sexually?" Rose punted.

Shane said it, "Ilya Rozanov," and then confessed, "he and I, we've slept together before. He's the only man I've ever been with, actually. We started sleeping together when we were young, when our teams played each other, and we never stopped, until a few weeks ago."

Rose's eyes turned into saucers.

"Shane... SHANEY," she leaned in. Her hand flying to her mouth to stifle a scream maybe? Or was it a giggle?

"SHANE HOLLANDER. You are lying to me," She said, somehow seeing a humorous thing in his confession. "Are you seriously telling me that the two best, hottest players in NHL, have slept together. Shane, do not joke with me," she threatened with so much excitement that he found himself starting to smile.

"I'm not joking, no."

Rose jumped to her feet, tiny bowl of cashews shooting off the couch. Both of them ignored it, which was saying something.

"SHANE HOLLANDER!" She screamed and bounced around with so much joy you would think Michigan had won the Stanley Cup. "YOU AND ILYA ROZANOV HAVE FUCKED, REPEATEDLY, AND THIS IS SOMETHING YOU HAVE KEPT FROM ME. OH MY GOD TO HAVE BEEN A FLY ON THE WALL!"

Shane could not hold his laughter now, a sensation of complete relief showering his entire body. Rose had heard his deepest darkest secret and her reaction was not of disgust or betrayal, nor confusion or anger.

"Shane! What happened? Why did things end? You have to tell me everything!"

And so Shane did. He spoke about their growing need for each other adn the confusing feelings that started to take root in his heart as their encounters became more frequent but just as desperate. He talked about his visit to Ilya's house, the tuna melt he made for him and the panic that overwhelmed him when he said his name.

Rose was the perfect listener, letting him share a story he hand't allowed to even tell himself, and gripped his hand while his eyes watered.

When he finished, she sat on his lap and gave him a hug that lasted a long time; the weight of her body soothing him in a way that made him feel like he wasn't a dry leaf caught by the wind. When she let him go, her face looked sad and tender, "Shane, I'm so sorry you've had to deal with heartbreak on your own," -- is that what this was?–– "and that you felt that there was no one you could tell. Thank you for trusting me."

Rose held him for a long time after that, not saying anything, until he spoke again.

"Thank you," he said.

"Shane, I think maybe you need to talk to him?"

"And say what? 'I'm sorry for freaking out and running away?'"

"No, well, yes, that too," she said, "but also that you... love him?"

They’re teaching the kids phonics.

It is legally required.