Page 24

“You are hot, all three of you, although Casey and Will aren’t my type.”

“I notice the name you left off that list. So you like what? More of a hockey player build?”

“Yeah, I guess. I’m not sure I actually have a type. I dated a woman before. I almost married her.”

“So you’re bisexual.”

“I think so? I loved her, she was great, but the sex was… okay.”

“Sex should be more than okay. Have you slept with a guy? Is it better?”

Cross shrugged, his stomach feeling squirmy. He was ready to be done with this conversation. “I’ve done stuff with guys. Sometimes it’s hotter.” Mostly with Rusty, that last time, making him come, joyfully, enthusiastically. Better than even with Willow, how much he liked it.

“So maybe you’re bisexual but you lean to guys. Or maybe you’re gay but biromantic. Or whatever.”

“Maybe. I don’t know.”

“Hey.” Scott leaned toward him and laid a hand on his forearm. “You don’t have to define it or name it. You do you. If you find guys hot, yay, so do I. If you want to come out, I have your back. If you don’t, you can still talk to me whenever.”

Cross’s throat went tight. “Thanks. I don’t want to come out. Not yet.” How could he when he didn’t understand himself? He pushed his stool back and got up. “Gonna clear the plates.”

Scott got up too. “I should go home and nap before the game. But Roger?”

“Cross.” He’d never made a point of that with a teammate before. He hated to seem weird, but today was all the weird already. “I don’t actually like my name that much.”

“Cross, then. There are really only two rules to relationships, and those are consenting .” He held up one finger.

“ Adults .” He held up a second. “Over eighteen, and everyone can say no at any time and it stops. No, you know what, not just a right to say no, but enthusiastic consent. If someone’s not saying yes, you stop and figure out why.

But that’s it. The rest is no one’s business but yours. ”

“Okay.” He set the plates in the sink and followed Scott to the front door.

On the threshold, Scott paused, then glanced over his shoulder. “You know, Will’s fifteen years older than me. Doesn’t matter.”

Fifteen years? Was that a random comment? Does he know about me and Rusty? Shit. Cross tried to focus on Scott’s words and not let himself visibly react.

“Will’s awesome,” Scott continued. “We met him in this bar, and I said, ‘He’s the guy.’ Casey and I are too much alike.

We strike the wrong kind of sparks sometimes.

Will’s like this long, cool drink of water that keeps the sparks from turning into fires.

We work. Age is just a number.” He laughed. “Listen to me being all Yoda.”

“No, I appreciate it. Thanks.” If Scott wasn’t just talking randomly, at least he didn’t seem bothered by the idea of Cross and Rusty together.

In fact, Scott grinned and gave a thumbs up. “See you at the game, Cross.”

When Cross had shut the door behind Scott and his watch pinged that the gate had reclosed, he wandered back to the kitchen.

Putting away the little bits of leftovers and rinsing the dishes used up a bit of time.

He tried to keep his mind blank, but his brain kept pulling up wisps of thoughts.

Will is fifteen years older. What matters is consent.

You do you. But also, We almost always jerk off…

Was it really weird that Cross had wanted to lean through the screen and kiss the hell out of Rusty, clean him up and pull him into bed? And not jerk off?

Maybe demi isn’t the right fit for me. But he didn’t want to go farther down that path. Not before a game. Especially one where Rusty would be in the seats watching him.

And also Marie. Fuck.

He’d been suppressing the realization that they’d be side by side in his two seats and he hadn’t warned either of them.

Of course, neither of them knew the other from a hole in the wall.

Technically, it should be fine. But if Marie shouted “Go, RJ!” then Rusty would figure out she wasn’t just another stranger.

Rusty at least should know about Marie. Marie… He’d mentioned going out with someone younger. She’d assumed it was a woman, but Marie was sharp and not a homophobe. Was there a chance she’d guess?

He texted her first. ~Hey, I filled the seat next to you with a hot young hockey player, minor leaguer.

Not your type, though. It would be beyond weird if his sister tried to hit on his boyfriend.

He thought about adding, “He’s gay,” but even though Rusty was out, that felt like exposing him without permission.

She texted back right away, to his surprise. ~I can ask him for tips about the game.

That had not been his intention, to encourage her to interact. Marie had gone to enough of his games over the years to build up some decent hockey knowledge. ~You shouldn’t need tips by now.

~Always something to learn, especially out of the mouths of experts. That’s my philosophy.

It was, too. Not usually about sports, but Marie had inherited Dad’s brains and knew a lot about a lot of things.

He decided harping on “don’t do that” would only make things worse.

~Looking forward to seeing you. You can come down to the dressing room area and meet some of the guys after.

Or go back to my place and I’ll meet you there.

~Your place, I think. I’m a bit jet lagged.

~I have the yellow room stocked with Lindor truffles. Marie usually used the sunshine-themed guest room.

~You’re my favorite brother.

~I’m your only brother.

She sent a grin emoji. ~Aren’t you supposed to be napping? Good luck with the game.

He liked that Marie knew his routine well enough to say that. God, he didn’t make enough effort to stay in touch. ~Thanks. And thanks for coming.

He got back a heart emoji.

When he was sure the conversation was done, he texted Rusty. ~So I have a confession.

He thought Rusty might still be in practice, but he got a quick reply of ~???

~My sister’s also coming to the game and she’ll be sitting next to you.

~Oh shit. Are you sure you want me to come?

~Yes!

~Does she know about us?

~No. Not really. I hinted I was seeing someone. She figured it was a woman.

~Should I cheer for one of the other guys? Throw her off the scent? Bozie’s kind of hot.

~No. The word leaped from his fingertips.

Cross figured he was lucky he hadn’t put an exclamation after that.

He didn’t need to be ridiculous, but he didn’t want Rusty pretending to like someone else.

~You’re just watching the game. It shouldn’t be a big deal.

It’s not like you’re going to blow me a kiss or something.

~I might.

For just a moment, Cross was struck by that image— him down on the ice, looking up in the stands and seeing Rusty there, big and blond and stupidly handsome, and Rusty catching his gaze and throwing a kiss…

He must’ve hesitated too long to reply because Rusty added, ~I was joking.

~I figured. Listen, you should come down to the locker room after. You know half the guys already, we can hang out for a bit before I have to head home.

~What about your sister?

~She’s going straight back to my place. She was in Tokyo or somewhere for work. Jet lag.

~Then yeah. A chance to meet Bozie? Absolutely

~Har. Har.

~I guess if your sister’s at your place you don’t want me around, huh?

Well, fuck.

Cross typed out three answers, then gave up and hit the call button.

Rusty picked up. “Yeah?”

“I want you around. I always want you around. It’s just… soon. And Marie’s nosy and always in my business. I mean, I love her but yeah, she’s nosy.”

“I’m not trying to push you to tell her. I haven’t told anyone. Well, Kris maybe kind of suspects. She knows I was crushing on you last summer.”

“You were? There were a lot of hotter guys around.” Axel at least. Goldie was married but Zykov had muscles for days and flexibility too, and that dark, intense smolder thing when he wasn’t pranking people.

“No, there really weren’t.”

Cross couldn’t deny the little flutter in his chest. “Well, I do want you to meet Marie. My folks mean well, but Marie’s the one who was always on my side. I think she’d like you but… I just… If she knows we’re together, she’s going to ask questions I don’t have the answers for.”

“It’s okay. I have practice in the morning. I couldn’t stay late anyway. You should see her while she’s in town. We’ll have lots of time.”

“Yeah. Summer’s coming up, right? Sucks that you guys are out of the playoffs, but it means just four more days and your time will be your own.”

“I guess that’s a bright side.” Cross could hear that Rusty was still bummed about it, naturally, but then his voice brightened. “Hey, can you get me tickets to the playoff games? There has to be some advantage to a wealthy NHLer boyfriend.”

“I can get you tickets. Hell, I could fly you to the away games in a private plane.” Probably, if someone didn’t need the plane for more important family business, but it sounded good.

Rusty laughed. “That would pretty much kill our chances of staying under the radar. But I won’t say no to home games.”

“Absolutely. It’ll be cool to have you up there cheering for me. For us.”

“You. Well, also the team because go Rafters!”

“Right? Thank you.”

“I can’t wait to see you tonight.” Rusty took a breath. “Hey, shouldn’t you be napping?”

A laugh bubbled up inside Cross’s chest and burst free. He chortled and coughed over Rusty’s, “Wait. What did I say?”

I have a sister and a boyfriend and I’m not as alone as I thought I was. “Nothing. You’re right. I’m heading to bed for a couple of hours.”

“Fucking right. Play great and I’ll see you afterward.”

“I’ll give security your name. I hope you enjoy the game.”

“Absolutely. Unless you have a gazillion turnovers and then I’ll give you technique advice.”

“You wish.” Cross couldn’t suppress the smile on his face, didn’t want to. “See you tonight.”

“Yeah, later.”