Rusty bit his lip, then said, “I guess.” Cross noticed he didn’t ask what Tyler wanted, just headed to the bar like he knew.
Tyler smirked at Cross. “He’s an obedient boy.”
Cross decided this was his moment, with Rusty gone, to make his position clear. He leaned close and lowered his voice. “Listen up. Rusty’s too polite to make a scene and too broke for lawyers, but I have lawyers, I have money, and I have nothing but time.” The last was a white lie, but he could pay people who had time. “He broke up with you. Walk away now. You keep giving Rusty a problem, and I will fix it, and you.”
“Is that some kind of threat?”
“It’s a promise.” Cross sat back as Rusty, over at the bar, accepted a glass from the bartender and headed their way.
“Here.” Rusty set the drink in front of Tyler and lowered himself to the edge of his seat, scooting his chair farther toward Cross.
Tyler sipped slowly, muttered, “Second-best whiskey,” then downed the shot. His green eyes glittered as he turned to Rusty. Cross assumed those were contacts. Too startling to be real. Tyler said, low and hard, “You and me, kid. We’re going places together. You promised.”
“I never promised anything.”
“Sure you did, and I believed you. Took it seriously. Tookusseriously.” He flicked a look at Cross. “So maybe we had a little argument. There’s no need to drag a stranger into it.”
“I’m not a stranger,” Cross said. “I’m his boyfriend, you’re the ex. What will it take to get that through your head?”
“Uh-uh.” Tyler raised his stupid eyebrow again. “If he’s your boyfriend, why was he out fucking me? Does not compute.”
“You were the old news. I’m the rebound.” Cross leaned back in his chair and folded his arms, intentionally showing off his thick biceps. Hockey players tended to focus more on lower bodystrength than upper, but Cross put in the time on weights and he hoped Tyler took the pose in the spirit it was meant.
Rusty tossed Cross a quelling look, then cleared his throat to get Tyler’s attention back on him. “Listen, Tyler. You need to quit calling me and don’t come around my work anymore. I don’t have money, I’m not interested, I don’t have anything you want.”
“Don’t put yourself down like that, baby boy.” Tyler ran a finger around the rim of his shot glass. “You were a bit clumsy when we got together but now?” He grinned. “You’ve got alotof what I want. Have you seen your ass?”
“Uh—”
Cross felt a flash of irrational anger at the idea Tyler had seen Rusty naked, had been allowed to touch him. He snapped, “How many times does he have to say ‘fuck the hell off’ for you to get the message?”
Rusty frowned at him, and Cross mimed zipping his lips. But it washardto watch this jerk give Rusty trouble. Cross was glad the kid had called him.
Tyler shrugged, going back to eyeing Cross. “You said you have money. You gonna try to pay me off?”
Rusty turned to him. “When did you say that?”
“While you were at the bar,” Cross admitted. “But you know what, Tyler? It’ll be a cold day in hell before you get your hands on any of it.”
“I’m not for sale anyhow. You wouldn’t want me to take a bribe to give you up, Rusty, would you?” A nasty smirk crossed Tyler’s lips.
Cross managed not to clench his fists, but it was hard.Those lips would look better punched in!The urge to violence surprised him, because he was usually good at getting his opponents to take the penalty. He had a very long fuse.Maybe not so much around Rusty.
Tyler had no idea what this young man had been through. The asshole wasn’t good enough to lay one single finger on Rusty, and Cross would have no hesitation making that very clear the moment Rusty asked him to.
Rusty sighed. “I just want you to leave me alone. We’re through.”
Tyler pushed back his chair. “I’m not done with you. You think for a bit, think about how good we are together. Muscle-boy can’t give you anything I don’t do better.”
“Go away,” Cross growled.
Tyler smirked and stood smoothly. “I’ll be in touch, kid.”
As Tyler made his way to the door, Rusty slumped in his chair. “Fuck. That didn’t go well.”
“He’s delusional.” Cross pulled out his phone to show he was recording. “At least we have it all on video.”
“None of that’s illegal, though. Just annoying.”
