(cottage- 2017 post-love confessions)
Shane is handing Ilya something. It looks like? a pair of shoes?
âHere,â Shane places the slipper things into ilyaâs hands.
âWhat are these?â Ilya asks.
âWhy do I wear shoes in the water?â
âBecause otherwise your feet will get muddy and sandy and touch rocks and seaweed and gross stuff,â Shane explains.
âSo? I will just wash them. After.â
âBut it feels yucky? On your toes?â
âI will be okay Hollander.â He hands the shoes back to him.
Shane looks extremely wary. âBut what if you get a scratch on your foot from a rock or a zebra mussel?â
âOh no, not a scratch,â Ilya says, voice dripping with sarcasm.
Shane makes his âdisgruntled frownâ face, which of course makes Ilyaâs heart go all mushy.
âFine. I will wear the shoes. Give.â
Shane looks at him like he suspects Ilya is about to chuck the shoes into the lake, never to be seen again.
âShane, moya lyubov,â Ilya tries. âI am going to wear these stupid water shoes for you so I do not get cuts. Give them to me.â
Shane gets this soft look in his eyes. âWhat does that mean? Moya Loo-Bofâ
He butchers the pronunciation, but Ilya knows what he means. He didnât necessarily mean for Russian the term of endearment to slip out, but it did, naturally. His entire face blushes red.
âMy love,â he mumbles, scared, even after their confessions last night, that heâs spooked shane off.
Itâs Shaneâs turn to turn red at that, but he has a small smile on his face. âPut the shoes on, idiot,â he orders, affectionately.