Page 123 of Heated Rivalry 1
Ilya kissed his neck. “Have you ever lied to your parents before?”
Shane shuddered. “Probably. I mean... I must have. But not often, no.”
“You love your parents. You are a good son.”
“I try to be.”
“They don’t know how bad you can be.”
“Stop it.”
“What is your mother’s name?”
Shane pulled away, and turned to face him. “What are you doing? Why all the questions?” He was frowning, as if he suspected Ilya was making fun of him.
“What? I want to know about your family! All I know is your mother is Japanese or something. Probably where you get your looks.”
“Half of them, yes.”
“And your dad is...boring? Is that where you get your boring from?”
Shane shook his head, but he was smiling a bit. “My dad isnotboring.”
“He is exciting?”
“He’s...normal. He works for the Treasury Board of Canada.”
“Super exciting.”
“He played hockey for McGill.”
“Wow. Is McGill a town? What the fuck is McGill?”
“It’s a school! A university in Montreal! A very famous one.”
Ilya shrugged and took a sip of his beer.
“My parents are awesome,” Shane said, turning his attention back to the grill. “Seriously, they’re the best.”
“Maybe I will meet them someday.”
Shane froze. Ilya saw the tension grip his back and shoulders.
“Relax,” Ilya said. “Was a joke. I know I won’t—”
“I’d like you to,” Shane said quietly. “I mean... I wish you could. You know. If things were...different.”
Ilya reached out and tapped Shane’s elbow. Shane turned to face him.
“Do they know?”
“About you?”
“No,” Ilya said. “Aboutyou.”
Shane looked down and shook his head. “No.”
“They would not be...good? If you told them?”
