Yeah, it is.Rusty held onto Cross and let his nerves settle in the rhythm of their slow breaths.
A knock in the door broke them apart and a slim, elegantly dressed woman with long dark hair came in. She held out her hand to Rusty. “Shana Vail, Rafters’ media rep.”
“Rusty Dolan.”
Her grip was firm and dry. “I know. Gryphons’ management has agreed to let me manage this situation.”
“Cool.” He tried not to flinch, but it was never good to be asituationfor your team.
“We’ll keep the Tornados in the loop as well, since I understand you’re going to development camp with them shortly. Congratulations.”
“Yes, thank you.”
Vail turned to Cross. “So, you. A heads up would’ve been nice.”
Cross raised his chin. “I’ve been kind of distracted.”
“Right, I give you that. Kidnapped? I’m so glad you’re okay. I was shocked to hear what happened yesterday.”
“Thanks. It was a shock to us too, but we’re fine.”
Vail glanced at Rusty. “I’m sorry you have to deal with this press conference on top of such a traumatic experience.”
Me too.Although it wasn’t bad to get everything out in the open. “I’ll be happy when this is over and we can get back to our lives.”
“I’ll try to help in any way I can.” She turned to Cross. “One other thing. If they ask about your injury, we’re sticking to the same script as before. LTIR, no specific end date.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“The team is a hundred percent behind you, in case you were wondering. Same as Edison.”
Which, from some of Scott’s overheard bitching, meant eighty percent, but that was still a win.
Cross said, “Thank you.”
Vail’s smart watch beeped and she glanced at it. “Time already. Your agent could’ve scheduled this later in the afternoon and given us more prep time?”
“Maybe he thought I’d get cold feet and run off to Tahiti?”
“Would you?”
Cross shook his head. “I’m ready. Should have done this last fall.”
“I’m not sorry to only be managing one coming out at a time.” Vail pulled the door open. “Ready, gentlemen?”
No, Rusty was not ready, but he followed her and Cross out. Cross paused, glancing around the lobby. Even there, someone had a camera out, filming, but Amy was waiting nearby to give him a thumbs up. She stepped into the guy’s line of sight, screening them.
Cross let Vail guide them to a big conference room. A table with four chairs fronted by microphones sat at the far end. The audience area, with perhaps space for fifty, was half-full. A few reporters called questions as they navigated the aisle and got themselves seated, but Rusty followed Cross’s lead, keeping hiseyes front and his lips zipped. Amy positioned herself against the wall at the back.
When they were seated, Vail leaned into her mic. “Right, let’s get started. Welcome, members of the press. You’re all here to get the full and accurate story from Rafters star defenseman Roger LaCroix regarding a tabloid press article that released this morning. Mr. LaCroix will make a brief statement and then we’ll open for questions. The Rafters stand behind Mr. LaCroix a hundred percent. Please keep your questions respectful and on-topic.” She turned to Cross. “Take it away.”
Rusty had caught Cross’s wild-eyed glance when she saidstatementand had been tempted to reach for his hand, but the chairs were a little too far apart. All he could do was try to laser-beam his confidence visually across the space.
Cross cleared his throat and slid his chair forward. “Right. Thanks everyone for coming. Let’s get one thing off the top. I am a queer man. I identify as bi.” He flicked a quick look at Rusty, but Rusty hadnoproblem with Cross hedging on bisexual or biromantic or whatever. Keep it simple. He nodded.
Cross continued, “I’ve dated a woman seriously in the past, and I’m now dating a man. Seriously.” He turned and smiled at Rusty, soft and fond, as if he couldn’t help it.
Rusty was a little bit charmed, no, a lot, that in the middle of this, Cross couldn’t resist smiling like that at him. To hell with spacing. He dragged his chair two feet to the left, pulled his mic over too with an unplanned squeal, and nudged his knee against Cross’s, no doubt visible under the table.Take that, any bigots out there.
