Chapter Thirty-Three

Shane enters the Montreal Voyageurs locker room and is met with silent disgust, except for a sympathetic look from Hayden. Coach Theriault pulls Shane into his office, demands to know if the relationship is real, and, upon hearing it has lasted years, benches him under Commissioner Crowell’s directive and forbids any public statement.

Back in the room, Shane appeals to the team’s history and contributions, but Comeau calls it messed up and J.J. accuses Shane of lying. Hayden intervenes, reminding everyone of Shane’s leadership and friendship, warning they’ll regret their treatment. Shane leaves, telling teammates to reach out if they want to talk, locking eyes with a conflicted J.J.

That night, Shane and Ilya FaceTime. Shane is wrecked; Ilya tries to steady him. They compare coaches’ reactions—Wiebe supportive, Theriault furious—and lament being benched when their teams need them. They avoid social media, note supportive texts from friends, and discuss the limits of their control under the league.

By morning, Farah emails a clear, non-blaming statement announcing their long-term relationship and asserting professional separation from personal life. They also receive Crowell’s summons to meet in Montreal the next day. Shane prefers to face Crowell without Farah initially; Ilya agrees, intending to involve her if needed.

Ilya prepares to drive to Shane after walking Anya and reflects on feeling unexpectedly calm and ready to fight. On his route, he discovers a neighbor’s sign—“We love you, Ilya!”—with Funko figures of both players. He sends a photo to Shane, and they take heart from the show of support.