Chapter 30
Rusty woke to the chirble of Cross’s new phone, an unfamiliar generic ring tone. He grunted and rolled over. At some point in the night, maybe after they’d shared a midnight bowl of reheated chili, they’d swapped places and Cross now lay sprawled across him, his good leg thrown over Rusty’s thighs.
Rusty nudged him with an elbow. “Hey, dude, phone.”
“Ugh.” Cross fumbled on the nightstand and looked at the screen. “Damn. My agent.” He rolled off Rusty and sat up to answer. “Yes, Sam? What’s up at seven in the morning?”
Rusty was about to pull the pillow over his head and try for more Zs when Cross snapped, “What? Fuck!”
Rusty stuffed the pillow behind him instead and mouthed,“What?”at Cross.
“I’m putting you on speaker,” Cross said.
“With who?” the guy on the other end asked.
“Seems like you know who,” Cross growled.
“So this isn’t just a rumor? You are dating a man?”
“Yeah, I am.”
“Rusty Dolan of the Eugene Gryphons?”
“Yes.” Cross glanced at Rusty. “Say hi to the nice agent.”
Rusty reminded himself he’d need an agent if he was going to sign a higher league contract and confined himself to, “Hi.”
“Mr. Dolan. Do you have representation?”
“Uh, no sir. Not yet.”
Cross told his agent, “If you’re good with representing two queer clients, I can put in a word for you, Sam. He’s going to be one hell of a player.”
“I’m not sure if that’s a conflict of interest.”
“How? What’s good for him is good for me. In fact, it’d be more conflict to be working against some other agent of Rusty’s.”
“Okay, well, we can discuss it in the future.” Sam sounded a little distant. “Right now, we need to talk about this publicity nightmare that’s about to descend on you.”
“What nightmare?” Cross glanced at Rusty who tried to hide the way his gut was turning to ice. “I’m dating a wonderful man and we’re very happy. End of story.”
“A fellow player, for all the complications that will cause,” Sam pointed out. “And one who somehow got you kidnapped?”
“Oh, hell, no. Rusty had nothing to do with that.” Cross glared at the phone. “Where did you get that story?”
“It appears that one of the men arrested yesterday for some kind of crime against you decided to sell his story to a tabloid. The piece came out in the paper this morning and it doesn’t paint your, um, boyfriend in a very flattering light.”
Rusty burst out, “Oh, fuck Tyler Wellington with a rusty chainsaw! Motherfucker!” His chest ached.I did this to Cross. If I hadn’t dated that weasel, or if I’d dealt with his threats on my own and not involved Cross…Although then he and Cross might’ve never gotten together.
Cross grabbed Rusty’s hand and wove their fingers together, squeezing firmly. “Anything Wellington says is a lie. He vandalized, stalked, and then kidnapped Rusty. Who’s going to believe him?”
“Unfortunately, social media has jumped on the story. There are pictures of the two of you circulating, and reports that Dolan was seen at your rehab center and at your house.”
“Well, heismy boyfriend.”
“So you say, and it’s going to be very hard to put that genie back in the bottle.”
Rusty leaned toward the phone. “I’m out already. Ever since my dad told the whole church congregation to pray for his homosexual son to see the light.”
