Chapter 24 #2
He paused, scanning the room. "But I'm done letting her take the fall for my mistakes.
I'm done pretending. So here's the truth: This relationship didn't start like some romantic comedy, but if I'm being honest here, it was the best way I could think of to get her to go out with me again.
Lana and I met a decade ago in college. And I've been in love with her pretty much since day one. "
A collective gasp went through the room. I felt my cheeks flush as dozens of eyes turned to gauge my reaction. Cam continued, his voice gaining confidence.
"I made a lot of mistakes. I let her craft an image of me that wasn't real because it was easier than admitting how I really felt. I let her believe things about me that weren't true. I walked away from her once because I was too scared to fight for what I wanted. Her."
He turned slightly to face me, no longer speaking to the press but directly to me.
"But I'm not scared anymore. I don't care about some sneaker deal. Or the trade offer of a lifetime. I don't care what anyone in this room writes or tweets or thinks. The only thing I care about is you, Lana."
His voice softened, and I could see the vulnerability in his eyes.
"I love you. I've been in love with you since the day we met. That's not PR. That's me."
The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Every reporter, every camera was trained on us, capturing this moment in high definition. But all I could see was Cam.
Cam, who'd fought for me on the ice in Boston. Cam, who'd held me through the night at the Four Seasons. Cam, who was standing before the entire hockey world, laying his heart bare.
"Lana?" he said, a question in his voice.
I stepped back to the microphone. My hands were trembling, but my voice was clear.
"Cam and I did date in college. Briefly. Intensely. It didn't work out for reasons that seemed insurmountable at the time."
I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of my next words.
"Over the years, I helped create an image of Cam that wasn't the full picture, and when it started to hurt him, I felt responsible. The truth is, Cam Murphy isn't the wild playboy myself and the media have portrayed him to be. He's loyal, thoughtful, obsessed with weird socks, and..."
I paused, my eyes locked with his.
"And... and I love him. I smiled, feeling lighter than I had in days. "If I'm being honest... I never completely got over Cam. And as hockey fans all across America already know... Cam Murphy is pretty hard to resist."
The room erupted. Camera flashes exploded like strobe lights. Reporters shot to their feet, shouting questions. But in that chaos, it felt like Cam and I were in our own bubble, the noise fading to a distant hum.
His smile – that devastating, heart-stopping smile – spread slowly across his face. He reached for my hand, his fingers intertwining with mine. When I smiled back at him, he brought my hand to his lips and kissed it softly, right where the sapphire ring caught the light.
"Cam, Cam," a reporter from Sports Insider yelled. "What about the ring? How does that fit in?"
Cam grinned, exuding his trademark charm. "The ring? Just between us? I'm still working up the courage to ask."
The room roared again, questions coming from every direction.
Coach Sully looked at me, nodded, and stepped up to the microphone, his authoritative presence immediately calming the crowd.
"I have a statement to make as well," he said, his voice cutting through the clamor.
"This morning, we confirmed that Blake Churchin, an assistant coach who has been with the organization for three months, was responsible for leaking confidential team documents to the press.
Blake has admitted that he did this in a misguided attempt to sabotage Cam Murphy's reputation with other teams, hoping it would kill potential trade deals and keep Cam with the Slashers. "
Shocked murmurs swept through the room.
"Blake's employment with the Slashers has been terminated, effective immediately.
" Coach Sully's eyes found mine, and his stern expression softened slightly.
"Lana Decker is as valuable a member of this team as any player or coach.
Her integrity, professionalism, and dedication to this organization have never been in question. "
He paused, his voice taking on the intensity he usually reserved for locker room speeches. "In hockey, when someone takes a cheap shot at one of our own, we respond as a team. We protect our own. I think the Boston Bruins can confirm that's true."
A ripple of laughter went through the room at the reference to Saturday's brawl.
To my surprise, my father stood up next. Frank Decker in his signature navy blazer and Slashers tie, the very picture of hockey royalty. The room immediately quieted – when Frank Decker spoke, people listened.
"My daughter Lana Decker has been part of the hockey world her entire life," he said, his deep voice carrying easily without a microphone.
"She understands the game, the players, and the business better than most. I've watched her carve out her own place in this sport through her hard work and dedication. "
He turned slightly to face Cam and me.
"Cameron spoke to my wife and myself last week after spending the weekend at our beach house with our extended family and asked for our blessing, which we wholeheartedly gave.
He told us that while their relationship may have started unconventionally, his feelings for Lana were genuine and always had been.
He wanted us to know his intentions were. ..serious."
I gasped, turning to Cam with wide eyes. He'd asked my parents for their blessing? Last week? Before the scandal even broke?
He shrugged, a sheepish smile playing at his lips. My heart was so full I thought it might burst. Cam respectfully nodded to my father, who acknowledged it with a nod of his own.
My mother dabbed at her eyes with a tissue, and even Zayne looked suspiciously misty.
Speaking of my brother, Zayne stood up next and made his way to the front of the room, shocking everyone, including me. The assembled media shifted forward in their seats – Zayne rarely spoke publicly outside of mandatory press appearances.
Who were these people impersonating my family?
"The first day I met Cam Murphy at BU," Zayne began, his voice gruff, "I told him I'd bury him in the equipment shed if he even looked at my sister. This has been my standard first-day-of-hockey-practice speech since I was in the third grade."
A laugh rippled through the audience.
"But I've never seen my sister or my teammate happier than when they're together," he continued. "Cam's been like a brother to me for years, and I'd be honored to call him my brother-in-law."
He turned to Cam, his expression deadly serious. "But if you hurt her, I'll still bury you in the equipment shed."
Cam nodded solemnly. "Understood."
The two men exchanged a look and Zayne surprised everyone by pulling Cam into a quick, fierce hug.
The press conference shifted into a more structured Q&A after that. I stepped back up to the microphone, my PR instincts taking over despite the emotional whirlwind of the last few minutes.
"We'll take a few questions now," I said, my professional composure returning. "Then we'll issue a follow-up statement later today."
Hands shot up around the room. I pointed to a reporter from Hockey Today.
"Is this going to affect Cam's decision regarding the Montreal offer?"
Cam stepped up beside me. "My agent and the teams are still in discussions, but I'll say this: St. Petersburg has always felt like home. Now more than ever."
I nodded to a journalist from NHL Tonight. "Lana, will you continue as PR Director now that you're in a relationship with a player?"
"Great question," I said. "The Slashers organization has protocols in place for situations like this. I'll be working with Marcus and the executive team to ensure there's no conflict of interest while maintaining the highest professional standards. The team comes first – that will never change."
"Is that the actual engagement ring?" shouted a reporter from the back.
I looked down at the sapphire on my finger, then at Cam. He raised an eyebrow, leaving it up to me how to answer.
"As Cam stated earlier, I believe he's, quote, 'still working up the courage to ask'. Let's not ruin his big surprise. Next question."
The room laughed, and Nana Decker blew me a kiss from the back. I fielded three more questions with professional ease, keeping the focus on the facts of the situation while acknowledging the emotional aspects that had captivated the hockey world.
When the press conference concluded, reporters rushed forward with follow-up questions, but I directed them to contact my office for follow-up. As security began clearing the room, I felt a hand on my shoulder. My mother pulled me into a tight hug.
"I've never been prouder," she whispered. "You handled that like the queen you are."
"Thanks, Mom," I said, returning her embrace.
My father was next, his hug brief but firm. "I told you that you belong here," he said gruffly, emotion evident in his voice despite his attempt to hide it.
Nana Decker pulled me into a hug and kissed me on the cheek, whispering, "The stars have all aligned for you two, darling. "
I laughed, turning to find Cam engaged in what appeared to be a serious conversation with Zayne and Logan. As if sensing my gaze, he looked up, his smile immediate and warm. He excused himself and made his way to me.
"You were amazing," he said, taking my hand. "Professional Lana is soooooo hot, by the way."
I rolled my eyes, but couldn't stop my smile. "That was quite the entrance you made."
"You know I love to make a splash." He squeezed my hand as we headed towards the door.
The heavy glass door of the media room swung shut behind us with a definitive click, muffling the continuing roar of questions and camera clicks. Cam's hand found mine, warm and solid, as we escaped down the service corridor toward my office.