“Ah. Sure. That could be a complication.” Will paused. “Do you want one of us to come out there, to stand beside you? Or all three of us, if you like. Casey does a good death-stare.”
“No.” The offer helped, though. “We have all kinds of people. Cross’s agent and whoever.”
“We’re your family, though.”
Okay, that was a welcome reminder.More family.Rusty rubbed his eyes and sniffed. “Dammit, Will. Yeah. But we’re okay, I promise.”
“Can’t swear Scott won’t fly out regardless, the moment he hears. Unless you want me to sit on him, if he’d make things worse?”
“No. He and Cross can work that out.”
“How are you and Cross doing, between the two of you? Are you on the same page?”
“Yeah.” Rusty smiled through the lingering prickle of tears. “When it’s just us, we’re great.”
“Will you have to do a press conference or something?” Will sighed. “We did those. Wasn’t fun.”
“Later today.”
“Good luck. Let me know if you want me to watch it. And I mean it, kid. You need someone at your side? You call me. Scotty’s NHL dollars are good for something. I can catch a plane.”
“Thanks. I mean that.”
“Remember, it’s not all bad. That first time you have the impulse to kiss your man in public and you start to hold back, and then realize, ‘I don’t have to anymore. I can kiss the hell out of him right here and now.’ That’s one sweet moment.”
“Thanks, Will.”
“Anytime.”
Rusty hurried through a basic shower, getting clean as fast as he could. Then he brushed his teeth, pulled on sweats, and jogged to the kitchen. Cross was making coffee with the high-tech machine, wearing pressed tan slacks and a tailored navy sport coat, his hair damp but styled.
Rusty blinked. “Is there a reason you’re dressed like a car salesman?”
Cross barked a laugh and turned. “My father likes us to be well-dressed in public. I’m pandering to him a bit, without going as far as a suit. And any car salesman who wears Tom Ford to work is selling Lamborghinis.”
“I wouldn’t know. I wear more like Henry Ford.”
Cross held out a coffee cup. “Your morning rocket fuel.”
“Thanks.” He took the mug and sipped, letting the caffeine hit his bloodstream. He’d slept better than he expected, but Cross had woken twice with bad dreams he needed hugging out of, and Rusty thought he was still in adrenaline debt from yesterday. The smooth brew went a long way to helping. “I could marry that coffeemaker.”
“Not if I ask you first.” Cross went a bit wide-eyed at his own words.
Rusty went to him and delivered a coffee-flavored kiss. “Hold that thought a year or two. We’ve got enough on our plates right now.”
Cross kissed him back. “Smart man.”
“How did the Rafters take your call?”Are you okay with your team?
“Pretty well. They’ll send a media person to our press conference to assure everyone of the team’s support. They said they’d touch base with the Gryphons too.”
“That’s good.” It gave him an excuse not to make that call. A little of the tension in his chest eased and he sipped more coffee.
“Yeah. And Sam scheduled the conference in the hotel at eleven, after we’re done with my parents. Amy’s coordinating. Shall I call a driver to get us to the hotel, or do you want to do it?”
“Hey, if you don’t need your foot up anymore, can I drive the Porsche?” Rusty joked. The Cabriolet was a sweet, sweet convertible. Rusty had considered looking up what it was worth once and decided he’d rather not know.
Cross glanced out the window at the heavy gray sky. “Kind of a waste to drive her with the top up, but sure.”
