Page 110 of The Locker Room

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Christian Edwards. I swear, my friend and I came in here just for a

chance to see you tonight!” She smiled like a cat then. “But I"m the one

who got to talk to you.”

Chris had laughed, downing the rest of his vodka and tonic hard,

and Xander heard the sound echo in the emptiness of his own heart.

“What"s your name, sweetheart?”

“Sandra,” the girl purred.

Even at one-quarter profile, Xander could see his friend—his

lover—stop and bite his lip, closing his eyes as though something hurt

him. He turned then and looked at Xander in the eyes.

“Sandra,” he slurred, making it sound like “Xandra.” “Perfect.”

A few minutes later, they were gone, exiting quietly from the

crowded sports bar, and leaving Xander to nurse his beer for the next

hour and a half.

He wasn"t alone, though. Sammy looked over after a few minutes

and asked him where Edwards went. Xander had shrugged as though his

flesh wasn"t made of brittle glass and about to fly apart.

“Went off with a girl,” he said, all the casual in the world.

94

Amy Lane

There were hoots and hollers at the main table, and Sammy

scooted his stool over to make room for him.

“"Bout time—hope she"s not too surprised when she pops that

white boy"s cherry!”

Xander had looked at him with true hatred then—the kind that

lasted. Sammy had later been put on second string for that moment,

because Xander had stopped feeding him shots. He"d had to transfer

from the team to save his career.

“He"s not a virgin, Sammy. He"s just picky.”

“Yeah? Well, we"re gonna have to get you laid next, Cave Man!

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