Page 142 of Heated Rivalry 1
“But then...” Mom started. “Oh,” she said. And blushed. “I see.”
“Anyway,” Shane said. He was blushing even more than his mom. “The point is, we’re...together. Sort of. Or we’d like to be. If it wasn’t basically impossible.”
For the first time, the looks of shock left his parents’ faces and shifted to something like sympathy.
“I just don’t understand,” his mother said. “How could this have even happened between you? Weren’t there any nice men in Montreal, Shane?”
“Probably,” Shane muttered.
“Do your teammates know about...this?” Dad asked.
“No! No, no one does.No one. This is top secret, all right?”
His father stood up. “Would anyone like a beer? I could use a beer.”
“Yes,” said Ilya.
“Definitely,” said Shane.
“Is that the strongest thing we have?” asked his mom.
Shane took the break in the conversation as an opportunity to look at Ilya. He seemed to sense Shane’s eyes on him, and immediately turned to give him a questioning look.
How do you think this is going so far?
Not bad, right?
Not bad.
His father wordlessly handed each of them a can of Sleeman beer. He lingered in front of Ilya, but returned to his place on the couch without saying anything.
“I just...” Mom said. “I just can’t believe any of this is real.”
“I know,” Shane said.
“All this time,” Dad said quietly, almost to himself. “You’ve been holding this secret inside. The whole time.”
“You didn’t ever...” His mom sounded suddenly horrified. “You didn’t everlethimwin, did you, Shane?”
“God, Mom! No!”
Ilya laughed. “He does not need toletme win.”
“I would never,” Shane said quickly. “The team comes first. Always. And besides, I like beating him.”
Mom was frowning at him, not quite believing his words.
“When you and Dad play Yahtzee, do you lethimwin?” Shane asked desperately.
“Never,” Mom smiled, maybe understanding. She seemed to relax.
“Is your plan to just keep doing this? Keeping this a secret? Until you retire? Forever?” Dad asked.
“Maybe. I mean, yes. Probably.”
“Oh, Shane.” His mother looked so sad.
Dad shook his head. “Honestly? I don’t see another way. I wish I did.”
