Chapter Twenty-One

In December, Ilya attends his third therapy session with Galina, who probes his isolation, the imbalance in his life, and how much he hides from Shane. Galina urges Ilya to seek support beyond Shane and to consider telling Shane he’s in therapy. Ilya admits he’s miserable when they’re apart and has made life changes that left him lonelier.

Seeking company, Ilya goes to the arena gym, where he and rookie Luca Haas strike up a tentative rapport. Harris arrives with team puppy Chiron, and Coach Wiebe joins, chatting warmly about dogs and the upcoming children’s hospital visit, giving Ilya a brief sense of connection.

A week later, Ilya tells Shane he came out as bisexual to Troy—after Troy first came out to him as gay and confessed a crush on Harris. Shane reacts with jealousy, escalating into a tense phone argument. Ilya carries his frustration into a game against the league-leading Admirals: he scores early but takes costly penalties as New York pulls away.

That night, Troy visits Ilya’s hotel room to watch a movie. They commiserate about losing to New York, and Troy reassures Ilya about his captaincy and “cool” leadership. They joke about attraction, and Ilya insists Harris reciprocates Troy’s interest, strengthening their new friendship.

In bed, Ilya starts to text Shane an apology but instead sends a heart. Shane replies, apologizing for his jealousy. They exchange messages, acknowledge Ilya’s need for a trusted friend, and end the night reconciled, teasing about Troy while reaffirming their bond.