Page 259 of The Locker Room

queer bastard. You know that, don"t you?”

The Locker Room 225

Xander looked at Chris, who was smiling faintly, even though his

head was tilted back against the pillow and his eyes were closed with

exhaustion and pain.

“I"ve been to hell, Leo,” he said quietly. “I wouldn"t take you there

for the world.”

Leo sobered, and the expression on his face was unexpectedly

compassionate. “Yeah, well, that"s what makes you worth following.

Still, man, I wish you had told me. I was watching the coverage from the

private room upstairs and I almost spit out my Scotch. Damn—brother,

your timing was impeccable.”

Xander managed half of a mischievous smile. “Even though it

might cost us the bonus for playing in the championship?”

Leo snorted and waved his hand cavalierly, his red hair almost

mussed and his ruddy Leprechaun features dancing with evil glee.

“Sweetheart, I"ve probably fucked five guys who will be happy to make

up the balance.” He raised his eyebrows wickedly, and Xander couldn"t

help it—he laughed, and beside him, Chris managed a rusty chuckle.

Then Leo pulled up the coffee table (which was made

indestructible, true to Chris"s promise at the very beginning) and copped

a squat, leaning his elbows on his knees. It was the classic Leo let"s-

make-an-unholy-bargain pose, and Xander regarded him dubiously.

“What?”

“You still want to play in the championship games, right?”

Xander looked away. Of course he did. “As long as I"m wanted.”

Leo nodded, because he"d known this. “See, the thing is, there"s no

clause in the NBA that says you can"t play gay. I know for a fact there"s

nothing in your contract that says it. So, all that matters is that no one at

the top decides that „playing gay" is against public decency, right? Have