Page 125 of The Locker Room

we don"t have to quit, but we don"t have to lie like this again, okay?”

Chris looked at him with absolute naked hope in his eyes, and

Xander wanted to cry.How long, Chris? How long have you needed me

to take charge? How long have you wanted one of us to lead our little

family of two?

“Okay!” Xander repeated, and this time, Chris nodded, and Xander

let out a sigh of relief.

“Okay,” Chris murmured, and then he couldn"t say anything else

because Xander was kissing him, plundering him, shoving his tongue

down Christian"s throat and tasting him and claiming him and becoming

the grown-up, all in one cleansing, wonderful kiss—

The Locker Room 107

That was interrupted when the full rack of lights came on in the

locker room.

“Fucking faggots.”

Xander looked up and cupped Chris"s head, pushing Chris"s face

into Xander"s chest to protect him, but it didn"t matter. Coach knew

Chris, even from the back of his head. Xander glared at him, defiantly,

and the man with the acid tongue, the fucker who had peeled away the

layers of the two of them until only the lie remained, smiled in

satisfaction.

“Thanks, guys,” he said smugly. “I"d wait for that phone call

tonight.” And then he turned around and walked out of the locker room,

leaving Chris and Xander staring at each other in shock.

108 Amy Lane

Fallout Canyon

WHEN their hands stopped shaking, and the spots had cleared from

Xander"s eyes, they walked out to the car. Xander held out his hands for

the keys, and Chris handed them over silently—Xander could tell from

his pallor that he was probably going to be sick on the way home.