Page 238 of The Locker Room

wanted was basketball and you. Now, it"s all you. I"ll play the game, but

it"s all about you, okay?”

Chris nodded, closing his eyes really tight and keeping back a little

choking sound. “God, Xander,” he rasped. “I really wanted you to go out

and play for yourself.”

“Well, I"ll do that too,” Xander said, as though it made perfect

sense. “But afterward… even if I sign another contract, even if I keep

playing, there"s going to be more for us, you hear? We"re going to go out

to restaurants and hold hands. We"re going on road trips and staying in

any hotel room we want. We"re going to have something beyond

basketball, and we"ll love it, because we"ll both be doing it, okay?”

Chris shook his head, and it was clear that he didn"t have any idea

what Xander was talking about—but he would. Xander would make it

clear to him.

“Don"t worry, baby. Just get some sleep now. I"ve got you.”

“I love you, Xan.”

“Love you, Chris.”

206 Amy Lane

CHRIS"S eyes closed, and Xander started making plans for post-pro-ball.

Leaving him to go face down Boston for the playoffs was easier

than he thought. Maybe it was because Chris was doing better, but in

small increments, and Xander was starting to feel useless and cooped up

in the hospital, watching his lover sleep, but that wasn"t the main reason.

The main reason was that at most, it would be an eight-day separation,

and Xander would be right back at his side.

Penny and Mandy went back to Sacramento with him, because they

both had jobs, now that Chris was out of the woods, and because Mandy

needed to rehearse with the dancers so she could perform. Xander spent

the plane ride thinking about the game.

He was starting to think that maybe, just like Chris"s rookie, he had