Work Text:
It's a hockey charity luncheon. Shane and his mother flew in to New York City. Now, just like the rookie he had been a million years ago, he stays by her side. This is not a gathering of players. Scott Hunter is here, but no one else Shane has ever had a conversation with. He could talk to Hunter, but also-- then Shane would be talking to Hunter. Shane's not out, and while Shane has no problem talking to Hunter, he's also aware that other people might make assumptions. But then, does that mean he is avoiding Hunter only because Hunter is gay? That's fucked up, too. But if he talks to Hunter just because he's afraid that not talking to Hunter makes him seem like a homophobe, is that any better? He doesn't really want to talk to anyone tonight. Tomorrow, his mother will be taking a flight back to Ottawa, and Shane will be driving to Boston to help Ilya pack. His mind is already halfway down the Mass Pike.
"Oh, I see one of the Marconi brothers-- you know, the Long Island Maronis?," his mom says.
Shane does not know. Whoever they are, they are not hockey players. He nods anyway.
"I'm going to go speak to him. Maybe he'd be interested in investing." She walks away from Shane.
Now he stands alone at the tall, skinny table that's close enough to the bar that he feels naked without a drink. He is thinking about lining up at the bar when someone approaches the table. He looks up.
It's a woman. A really fucking beautiful woman. Shane may be gay, but he is not blind. He wants to touch her curls... Jesus, great, now he's racist as well as a homophobe. Good work, Hollander.
Only now does he realize she has been watching him, and he has been gaping at her. Shit, he should have followed his mother to the Macaroni guy.
"Ginger ale," she passes a drink across the table.
"I'm sorry?" And honestly, he's sorry about a lot of things in this moment.
"You are Shane Hollander." It's not a question. She has the faintest touch of a beautiful accent that is at once unrecognizable and familiar. Because of course this woman who is hitting on him needs to be exotic as well as beautiful. Shit.
"You have the advantage of me," he says, because it's what his mother would say.
She smiles, and there's something coy in it. "I would like to take advantage of you, but you're--"
For a minute, his heart in his throat, Shane thinks she is about to say gay, and already he wonders if she can see it on him like a stain.
"--taken," she finishes.
He swallows. "Uh, Rose Landry--"
The throws her head back and laughs, her golden brown curls shivering. She pushes the sweaty glass closer to him. "He said you were funny, but I admit I did not believe him. Hot, sure, I have eyes, but..." She shrugs.
He stares at the ginger ale in front of him on the table. The one she passed to him. He said you were funny. "What, uh, what else did he say?" Shane's mouth is very dry. She is really fucking gorgeous. And Ilya had the nerve to be jealous over Rose.
"You speak bird," the woman-- Svetlana Vetrova, presumably-- shrugged. "Maybe that's a metaphor that I would only understand if I had a cock?" Her dark eyebrow rises.
"Uh, no." Shane feels his face heat. "I can do, some, uh, bird calls. Like, of actual birds."
She laughs again. "Honestly, Hollander, you don't need to try and charm me with wildlife. You had me at the haul against Minneapolis in your rookie season. The way you snuck it past Butler was so beautiful, I think I came."
Yeah, he can see why they are friends.
"Um, it's nice to finally meet you."
"He speaks about me?" There is a shiver of... jealousy? Insecurity? In her voice. Something needy. Something that Shane sees an echo of in his own heart.
"Yeah. Often? And, um-- always good things."
"That's the most suspicious thing I have heard. Good things. I guess it's good that he is keeping my secrets. Oh, your mother is coming back. He said I should steer clear of her unless I want to be invited to every family holiday for the rest of my life."
"I mean, yeah, you could-- you're always welcome."
"Not yet, Jane," she winks. "I'm not ready to be settled with a suburban mother-in-law like your lovesick idiot. Maybe next year." She smiles and slips away into the crowd.
"Who was that?," his mom asks as she approached.
"Um, Ilya grew up with her. They're best friends. Her name is Svetlana."
"Oh, well she could have introduced herself." His mom is frowning like she disapproves, which, honestly? She probably does.
"I don't think she wanted to do it in such a crowded place. She, uh-- some people can connect her to Ilya, I think." He doesn't even know if it's true, or why Svetlana ran from his mom, but he feels protective of her already. Shane doesn't want his mom to judge her based on a conversation that didn't even happen. Shane knows what it feels like to not be ready for-- stuff.
Shane's phone vibrates. And there, on the screen:
Lily: I hear you met my family now. She is nervous you do not like her.
Jane: I'm nervous she doesn't like me.
Lily: Nooo she's been telling me how hot and good you are for years. She may try to steal you from me.
Jane: You didn't tell me she was like an actual Victoria's Secret angel.
Lily: You are gay 🏳🌈
Jane: Maybe not so gay...
Lily: Get yuor ass up heer and I show you how gay.
Jane: Lot of typos there Rozanov. Something seems to have you riled up.
Lily: 😈😈😈
His mom clears her throat. "We can leave, now that we've spoken to Marconi," she offers. Shit, she has noticed that Shane is no longer physically present in this gathering.
"Yeah," he says. "I'm pretty tired." He has done literally nothing but stood in one spot like an idiot. He couldn't be less tired if he tried. But he was tired of being here at least.
His mom understood. "Maybe we can get a ticket to a Broadway show."
One evening in New York City, just the two of them? Next week, Ilya was moving to Ottawa, and the rhythm of Shane's entire life would change, would be measured in car rides between hockey games. Shane probably wouldn't ever drive to Ottawa just to visit his parents, that was for damn sure, or at least not just his parents. His days alone with his mom were likely numbered. Yeah, he could give her this evening. "Yeah, that sounds fun," he lied. But her smile was worth it.