Chapter summaries The Long Game--A Gay Sports Romance Rachel Reid

Chapter Forty (Chapter Thirty-Eight) Summary – Wedding Plans and a Public Announcement

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

Shane turns thirty in May with a quiet family celebration at the cottage. He has resolved to stop fighting the future and to accept imperfection — including eating cheeseburgers while remaining an elite hockey player. He also decides he is done with the Montreal Voyageurs: after a teammate (J.J.) apologized for suggesting Shane tripped on purpose, no other teammate or coach did, and the local media treated him viciously. Shane tells his agent Farah that Ottawa is his first choice for free agency. Additionally, whoever signs him must accept that they are signing Ilya Rozanov’s husband.

The two have sent out wedding invitations for a small July ceremony in Ilya’s backyard. At summer’s end they plan a honeymoon in Spain, suggested by Scott Hunter as a “gay as hell” destination. As the sun sets, Shane finds Ilya in a hammock. They talk and then Ilya spontaneously decides to make a video for Instagram announcing their engagement and their intention to keep playing hockey. Shane feels a twist of terror about angering Commissioner Crowell but suppresses it. They post the video, no longer willing to hide. Shane worries about being signed, but Ilya teases him by offering to revisit his trophy room — or watch his best goals while blowing him — to reassure him.

Key Events

  • Shane celebrates his 30th birthday with family at the cottage.
  • He decides to leave the Montreal Voyageurs due to lack of support and media hostility.
  • Shane tells Farah that Ottawa is his first-choice free-agency destination.
  • Wedding invitations are sent for a small July ceremony.
  • Ilya and Shane plan a honeymoon in Spain.
  • Ilya films and posts an Instagram video publicly announcing their engagement.
  • The video includes their plan to continue playing hockey and win more championships.
  • Shane briefly worries about Commissioner Crowell’s reaction but moves past it.
  • Ilya playfully suggests boosting Shane’s confidence with a trip to his trophy room.

Character Development

  • Shane Hollander: Accepts that he cannot control the future or be perfect. He stops hiding from the public eye, agrees to the Instagram video, and prioritises his happiness with Ilya over his career fears.
  • Ilya Rozanov: Takes the lead in making their relationship public, showing his confidence and desire to stop concealing their love. He is playful and supportive, using humour to calm Shane’s anxieties.
  • Anya (Ilya’s sister): Present but off-screen; her presence reinforces Ilya’s family bond.
  • J.J. : Appears only as a reference — he apologised to Shane, but the rest of the team did not.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • The hammock: Represents relaxation and domestic peace, a contrast to the pressures of hockey and media.
  • The golden hour light: Symbolises a new beginning — the warm glow frames their public coming-out moment.
  • Public video vs. hiding: The video is a deliberate act of visibility, rejecting the shroud of secrecy they had maintained. It signals a permanent shift in their relationship’s public status.
  • Food (cheeseburger, cake, tacos): Shane’s easy enjoyment of food mirrors his acceptance of imperfection; he no longer denies himself simple pleasures.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter marks the point where Shane and Ilya fully commit to living openly as a married couple, both personally and professionally. Shane’s decision to leave Montreal and his willingness to let his future agent know that Ilya comes as a package deal cements his priorities. The Instagram video is the narrative’s climax of their coming-out arc — they are no longer hiding from anyone. It also sets up the final chapters, where free agency and the wedding become the central plot drivers.

Study Questions and Answers

  1. Why does Shane decide to leave the Montreal Voyageurs?
    Shane feels betrayed by his team because only one teammate apologised after the false accusation that he tripped on purpose. The coaches and other teammates remained silent, and the Montreal media was vicious toward him. He no longer wants to represent the organisation.

  2. What does the Instagram video signify for Shane and Ilya’s relationship?
    The video is a public, irreversible announcement of their engagement and their continued hockey careers. It ends their period of hiding and shows they are prepared to face any backlash together.

  3. How does Ilya’s attitude contrast with Shane’s anxiety in this chapter?
    Ilya is bold and carefree — he decides to make the video on the spot and posts it immediately, dismissing the potential fallout. Shane initially feels a “twist of terror” about Commissioner Crowell’s reaction, but he suppresses his fear and supports Ilya’s decision.

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