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Rusty had a moment to regret what his mouth had gotten him into, but it was too late to back off now.

“Yeah, right? If you’d given away, say, ninety percent of your wealth, you wouldn’t be a gazillionaire and Tyler wouldn’t have thought Cross was such a great target.

So, yanno, lots of blame to go around.” He held his breath till dark sparkles floated in his vision.

What the fuck did I just say? Maybe he had a few more daddy issues than he realized.

But after a minute, LaCroix actually nodded. “Or we could blame the two men responsible, of course. Point taken.” He turned to Cross. “Who else will be at your press conference? Someone from our corporate media relations?”

Cross threw Rusty a look that said, What the hell was that? but answered steadily, “No. The team’s media person will, maybe someone else from the Rafters management. Plus Amy and whatever security she considers appropriate.”

“And our lawyer, of course.”

“No, Dad. I don’t need a lawyer.”

“You always need a lawyer.”

A tap on the door interrupted them. Elise said, “Oh good, here’s breakfast. Now, no shop talk over the food. Promise me.”

The silent hotel staffers set out their meal on the suite’s own dining table, four places with cloth napkins and silverware, crystal glasses for juice and water, and serving plate after plate with domed silver covers.

At a nod from Elise, the covers were whisked off, revealing eggs and bacon and French toast and pastries and crepes and cream-saucy round things that were probably Cross’s favorite Benedicts, and fruit, and sauteed peppers with onions, and yogurt and…

“Holy shit!”

Rusty didn’t realize he’d said the words out loud until LaCroix frowned. “Excuse me?”

He clearly meant, Excuse you , but Rusty dug deep in his well of don’t-give-a-shit and grinned. “Looks awesome, Elise. Thanks for inviting us.” Technically, LaCroix had done that, but if he said so, he’d be taking the credit from his wife.

“I’m so glad you could come.” Elise pulled out a chair. “Here, come sit by me. Tell me about your family.”

Rusty sat as directed. Might as well rip off the Band-Aid fast. Cross eased into the chair beside him and laid a hand on his thigh under the table as he said, “I lost one brother a year ago, and my parents declared me dead when I came out to them, so I have no clue what they’re up to now.

” His throat ached, thinking of his youngest brothers, but there was nothing he could do about it.

Cross squeezed his thigh, and to his surprise, Elise touched his forearm with her fingertips. “Oh, I’m so sorry. How awful. Well, if you’re RJ’s boyfriend, then we’re your family too.”

Rusty carefully didn’t look at LaCroix to see how he took that statement, but Cross said, “You have a big sister already. Marie likes you a lot.”

“Marie has met Rusty?” LaCroix asked.

“At the game when I got hurt.” Cross eyed his father. “They were both at the hospital afterward, and for my second surgery.”

When you didn’t show up, Rusty translated.

“We were very glad Marie was right there on the spot and could give us immediate updates. It was a relief to hear things weren’t too serious.”

Can I punch him? Rusty held his breath and clung onto his temper by a thread. “Two surgeries and months of rehab are serious.”

Cross’s fingers dug into his thigh but he said nothing.

“Well, of course.” LaCroix glanced away. “But not compared to real incapacitation.”

“Hockey’s such a violent sport,” Elise said.

“I can hardly even watch. I’ll be glad when RJ retires.

Now, let’s talk about something more pleasant.

I’ve put our charitable foundation behind a new organization I’m really impressed by.

They offer crisis nursery services to parents without a support system.

” She continued on, telling them about the organization while encouraging them to eat.

Rusty thought his tension might’ve killed his appetite but who was he kidding? He was a young hockey player, and the food was some of the best he’d ever had. He mowed his way through three full plates while they let Elise carry most of the conversation.

When they were done, Cross slid his chair away from the table. “It’s been good to see you, Mom, Dad, but we have to get going.”

LaCroix stood and Rusty quickly did the same. Cross’s father gave him a cool look, but hey, he wasn’t letting the guy loom over Cross for the time it took his boyfriend to deploy his cane and push to his feet.

LaCroix said, “We didn’t get the chance to talk about your future with the company, son.”

“I don’t want one,” Cross stated. “Not now, and probably not after I retire either. I need to go work on my speech.”

“But RJ—”

“Not now, Dad.” Cross held out his hand. “Thanks for showing up for me yesterday, and meeting with Rusty.”

His father shook hands, holding on a moment longer than normal. “RJ, you do know I’d show up for you any time you need me to? I may not agree with all your life decisions, but I want you to be safe and well and living a good life. You understand that, yes?”

Cross sighed. “Yes, Dad, I believe you.”

His mother jumped to her feet and hurried around the table to hug first Cross, and then Rusty. “I’m so happy you’re okay and we all got to spend time together like this. We’ll have to do it again. You’ll come visit us in Connecticut, won’t you?”

“I can’t promise,” Cross said. “But we’ll try. Come on, Rusty.”

As soon as they were in the hallway with the door closed behind them, Cross sagged against Rusty’s shoulder. “Thanks for coming with me.”

“Any time. Your mom seems nice.”

“She is. Distractable and up in her own head a lot, but she loves me and does her best.”

“What’s your dad’s deal?”

Cross shrugged against Rusty’s chest. “He likes control. Predictability. He doesn’t like hockey, although how much of that’s because my grandfather loved it, I’m not sure.

Either way, he thinks I’ve been wasting my supposed potential playing a game.

And of course the money I made doing it is pocket change for him. ”

“Hockey isn’t just money.”

“No. But for some people, ten million bucks would be a good excuse. Not for my father.”

“You don’t need an excuse.” Rusty realized he could kiss Cross, right here, even if there were cameras, so he did. A fast peck, because he wasn’t into making free porn, but on the mouth. “Hockey’s the best, anyone who can play is lucky.”

“Right?” Cross pushed away from him and grinned, although only a fraction of his normal brightness. “Let’s go work on this speech.”

Sam had arranged for them to use a small business room on the ground floor, and they were shown to it by an impassive hotel staffer who promised to “conduct Ms. Vail to you when she arrives.” Shana Vail was the Rafters’ media director who’d handled Scott’s coming out a year ago.

Rusty had only seen that event from a fan’s perspective, his heart in his throat as he saw one of his heroes lead the way for him.

He never imagined a year later, this would be him in the same spot.

When the door of the small room closed and they were alone, Cross reached for him, folding him into a hug. Rusty thought he ought to be comforting Cross, but he found himself burrowing into Cross’s arms. “Shh,” Cross said, although Rusty wasn’t aware he’d made a noise. “Let me hold you for a bit.”

“Shouldn’t we be, like, planning?” Rusty mumbled against Cross’s hair.

“Nah. I’m good with winging it. Or Shana can plan when she gets here. Right now, a hug is perfect.”

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 a situation for 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.