Chapter 10: The Media

The press conference was scheduled for 10 AM.

Sebastian had done hundreds of them. Stand at a podium, answer questions, say nothing important, leave. But this time was different. This time, the questions were not about the game.

The night before, his phone had not stopped buzzing. Reporters. Teammates. His mom. All of them asking the same thing. What is going on with you and Julian Frost?

Someone had leaked a video. Not of the fight. Something worse. A clip from the coffee shop security camera. Sebastian and Julian sitting close, holding hands across the table. The date was from weeks ago, before everything got complicated.

The video was grainy, but it was clear enough. Two men. Hands intertwined. Smiling at each other like no one else existed.

Sebastian had not known about the camera. Julian had not known either. But someone had found the footage and sold it to a sports blog. Now it was everywhere.

---

Sebastian stood in the hallway outside the press conference room, his back against the wall, his hands in his pockets. Louie stood beside him, saying nothing, just being there. That was why Louie was his best friend. He knew when to talk and when to shut up.

"Ready?" Coach Marshall appeared at the end of the hall.

"No."

"Too bad. Get in there."

Sebastian pushed open the door and walked to the podium. The room was packed. Cameras, microphones, reporters typing on laptops. All of them staring at him.

He cleared his throat.

"I will make a short statement, and then I will take questions." He paused. "The fight last night was my fault. I threw the first punch. I accept whatever discipline the league gives me. I am sorry to my teammates, my coaches, and the fans."

A reporter in the front row raised her hand. "Sebastian, is it true you were fighting to defend Julian Frost?"

Sebastian's jaw tightened. "I was defending a fellow player from a dirty hit. That is all."

"Then why were you holding hands with him in that coffee shop video?"

The room went quiet. Sebastian could feel every eye on him.

"We are stepbrothers," he said. "We were having a conversation."

"The video does not look like a conversation between stepbrothers."

Sebastian gripped the edges of the podium. His knuckles were still raw from the fight.

"My personal life is not relevant to hockey. Next question."

Another reporter stood up. "Richard Frost released a statement this morning. He said he is deeply disappointed in both of you. He said he hopes this is just a phase."

Sebastian's blood went cold. Richard was already controlling the story. Making himself look like the concerned father while throwing his son under the bus.

"I have no comment on Richard Frost's statement."

"Does your mother have a comment? She is married to him."

Sebastian's hands shook. He wanted to walk out. He wanted to punch someone. But he stood there, frozen, because walking out would make it worse.

"My mother loves me," he said. "That is all that matters."

The questions kept coming. About the video. About the fight. About Julian. About whether they were hiding something. Sebastian answered as best he could, saying nothing, giving them nothing. But the damage was done.

When it was finally over, he walked out of the room and did not stop until he reached his truck.

---

Julian was waiting for him.

He was leaning against the truck, his face pale, his phone in his hand. He looked up when Sebastian approached.

"I saw the press conference," Julian said.

"Yeah."

"You did good."

"I lied."

Julian shook his head. "You protected us. There is a difference."

Sebastian unlocked the truck. They got in and sat there, the engine off, the silence heavy.

"My father is going to use this," Julian said. "He is going to make it look like I corrupted you. Like I seduced you to get back at him."

"Let him try."

"Sebastian, you do not understand. He has been planning this for years. He traded me to Calgary so he could have an excuse to talk to the media about our family. He wants this story out there. He wants people to think he is the victim."

Sebastian turned to look at him. Julian's hands were shaking.

"Then we give them a different story," Sebastian said. "We tell the truth."

"What truth? That we fell in love seven years ago and you forgot and I waited and now we are trying to figure it out? That makes us look crazy."

"Maybe. But it is the truth."

Julian was quiet for a moment. Then he said, "My father called me this morning. He said if I do not end things with you, he will make sure you never play hockey again."

Sebastian's stomach dropped. "How?"

"He has money. Lawyers. Connections. He can make your life hell, Sebastian. He can dig up things you do not even remember. He can ruin you."

"Let him try."

"You keep saying that. But you do not know what he is capable of."

Sebastian reached over and took Julian's hand. Julian's fingers were cold.

"I know that I spent five years hating you for no reason," Sebastian said. "I know that I finally remember what it felt like to love you. And I know that I am not going to let your father take that away from me."

Julian's eyes were wet. "Sebastian."

"I do not care about my career if it means losing you again. I will find another job. I will play in some minor league in some small town. I will do anything. But I am not letting him win."

Julian leaned over and rested his head on Sebastian's shoulder. Sebastian put his arm around him and held him close.

"We need a plan," Julian said.

"We need a plan," Sebastian agreed.

---

The league announced the suspensions two days later.

Sebastian got five games. Julian got three. But that was not the real punishment. The real punishment came in a letter from the league office, demanding that both of them complete a mandatory conflict resolution program.

They were being sent to a remote mountain cabin for two weeks. Together. To coach a youth hockey clinic. To learn how to get along.

It was supposed to be a punishment. A way to force them to work out their differences.

Sebastian read the letter and laughed.

"This is perfect," he said.

Julian looked at him. "Perfect? We are being forced to spend two weeks in a cabin together. In the middle of nowhere. With no phones. No internet. No way to talk to anyone."

"Yeah," Sebastian said. "Perfect."

Julian stared at him. Then he started laughing too.

"Your father wanted to separate us," Sebastian said. "He wanted to make us look like enemies. But the league just did the opposite. They are putting us in a cabin together. Alone. For two weeks."

Julian's smile faded. "You realize this means we cannot hide anymore. Everyone will know."

"I know."

"And my father will go crazy."

"I know that too."

Julian took a breath. "Okay. Then let us go to the cabin. Let us figure out what we are. And let us figure out how to beat him."

Sebastian kissed him. Quick and sure.

"Together," Sebastian said.

"Together," Julian said.