Mel’s Reviews > The Long Game > Status Update

Dammit Reid. How can you take me from laughing to crying in just a few pages!?

Every queer orphan out there is sobbing right now.

“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.

Bwahaha, I love this flirty teasing so much.

"Can I take you to bed now, then? And you wear only that jersey?"
Shane leaned in and kissed him. "Is this a hazing thing?"
"Yes. I do it to everyone."
"Shut up."
"Troy was incredible."

He reached for Shane’s hand and they walked, fingers tangled together, down a busy street in downtown Montreal with their heads held high.

There are the big grand moments and gestures, and then there is this. Quietly revolutionary. Holding hands, like a goddamn miracle.

Then Shane stood and said, "I choose him. Come on, Ilya."

Motherfucking legend.

"If anything freaks Anya out, it’s going to be this weird creepy-faced stuffed banana toy you bought her."
Ilya heard the squeak of a toy being squeezed over the phone. "Do not wear out the toys before Anya gets to play with them, Hollander."
Shane laughed and squeaked the toy twice more. "Better hurry, then."

The team was heading directly from the arena to the plane that would take them to Tampa Bay. They’d have the rest of the night and all of tomorrow off to enjoy the warm Florida weather.

Y'all. Don't. Skip. Role Model. This is the Scott Hunter Stanley Cup final all over again. We already got this scene in the last book, but we didn't get THEIR version of events. The dramatic tension is through the mutherfuckin roof.

"Isn't that why I'm here?" Ilya asked with a hint of irritation. So I don't have to burden him with this? I thought I could talk to you and fix myself so I can be good enough for him. A heavy silence hung in the room for a moment. Then, Galina said, very gently, "What do you think Shane would say, if he heard those words? If he knew you didn't want to burden him, or didn't think you were good enough for him?"

Ilya slammed the remote onto the sofa cushion beside him. “Hayden is on FanMail?”
"Yeah."
Ilya launched off the sofa and darted away.

Bwahaha! The enthusiasm! The absolute JOY. That's my Russian troll!

Their texting convos are so good. In the fun banter. In everything they miss or don't say.

Feeling so vulnerable and lonely, and then overwhelmed by the relief of an unexpected reprieve... I would be a puddle too. Because in that happiness you realize how you were hanging on by a thread.