Page 18 of Dead Ball Situation

Sacha went up on one elbow and stared down at him. He looked adorably outraged. “That’s ridiculous. Your money is not mine. Of course I’d have to work.”

Bandit took a breath, but he refused to break eye contact. “Maybe you don’t. I mean, I want you to be able to design your cakes, but I also want you to do so stress free. Art probably doesn’t come from a place of panic. I love you. You’re mine. Don’t go into this thing killing yourself, hoping to make ends meet. Let me take care of you. Come live with me.” He could see the sadness rising in Sacha’s eyes. He hurried to squash it. “All of you. Baba and Artem too. Let me help you with nursing care andbe the extra hand you need. We’re partners. Please stop stealing my right to be your rock.”

Sacha chewed his bottom lip. The hope in his eyes crushed Bandit’s chest because he felt Sacha’s denial coming despite his desire. “This is Baba’s home. It’s the house she bought and lived with her husband until he died. She’ll never leave it, and I can’t leave her.”

Bandit had always thought the three-story townhouse was damn nice for the way Sacha struggled. He got it now. Everyone had left him to pay for a home that wasn’t even his. Then the situation was compounded by everyone else’s unwillingness to move to someplace more affordable. Everyone had definitely unabashedly dumped a load on Sacha’s shoulders.

Luckily, Bandit was determined and shameless once he had his sights set. “Then let me live here. I’d gladly sell my house to stay with you. Just let me in. I want to be your partner in life.”

A sweet smile touched Sacha’s lips. He plucked at the covers. “I could never ask that of you.”

“You’re not asking. I’m begging for you to take me in.” He sat up and gently rolled Sacha onto his back. Bandit straddled Sacha’s body, ensuring he couldn’t get away. “Let’s do this thing together. I need to know you’re waiting in my bed when I get home. When I have a game, I want you there.”

Sacha pulled a face. “I doubt Baba would let it go if I went to the game and didn’t watch it with her. She’s pretty set on the idea that you’re ours.”

Bandit smiled despite his frustration. “Then let’s figure out how to bring Baba to the games. I can hire someone to push her in a wheelchair.”

Sacha snorted. “Hell would snow, or whatever that saying is, before Baba sat in a wheelchair. Now, if you want to hire some big, muscular stripper type to carry her everywhere, she’ll go wherever you like.”

A laugh burst from Bandit. “If that’s what it takes.” His smile slipped. He needed this. “Please, Sacha. I never want to feel the way I felt last night ever again. I need to know my home is with you. You’re drowning in responsibility that I want to share with you. Let me in.”

Sacha’s heart was in his eyes, and it was beautiful. “Okay.”

With one word, Sacha gave Bandit the entire world. A loudWOOTescaped him, forcing him to cover his mouth.

Sacha’s eyes swam with laughter. “I can’t imagine what Baba will have to say about that later.”

Bandit settled down, squishing Sacha beneath him. “We could just stay right here forever and never find out.”

“Mmm.” Sacha’s hands ran up Bandit’s body. “I like this plan.”

Bandit did too. They might never leave this bed again.

Chapter Nine

Sacha worked to puthimself together to his best. It was the first game of a new season. Last year, they had loved swinging that camera his way for some reason. Bandit had already left. A teammate had picked him up so Bandit could leave with Sacha. It was crazy how Sacha felt as he headed for his bedroom door. Well, Bandit and his bedroom. He saw the man every day damn near all day. They went to bed together each night and woke up beside each other every morning. Still, Sacha couldn’t wait to get to him. He wanted to set eyes on Bandit, even if it was only on the field. But damn, he looked fine as fuck on that field.

Sacha stepped out into a world of commotion. Dana looked beyond exasperated, trying to keep Baba in a wheelchair whileArtem looked done with all of it. It was forecasted to be a decent temperature outside, but Baba wore her coat. Artem had his shoes on and keys out.

“What’s all this?”

Baba quickly sat, as if Sacha would spank her if she didn’t behave. “We’re going to the game. You took ages to get ready. I’m an old lady. This chair hurts my ass.”

Sacha blinked. He didn’t even know where the chair had come from. Sacha was equally shocked Baba sat in it at all. “You’re all going to the game?”

Baba nodded. “Bandit asked. He bought me a chair and everything. I couldn’t say no then, could I? That’s rude.”

A smile exploded across Sacha’s face at the way Baba acted as if she didn’t want to go, chair or not. “Okay. Hold on one more second.” Sacha darted into Baba’s room and grabbed two of her million pillows from the bed. He returned with his haul. “Stand up. You’ll be miserable if you try to sit through this game and you’re already hurting.”

“That’s why I didn’t want to sit yet. Everyone kept forcing me.”

“Nobody forces you to do anything, Baba,” Artem grumbled under his breath.

Sacha put a pillow on the seat and another against the back. “Try it now.”

Baba sat. She squished her butt around, as if testing it out. A bright smile lit her face. “Perfect. Now let’s go before we miss all that sexy stretching before the game.”

With a headshake and a smile, Sacha headed for the door. He hoped the wheelchair fit in Artem’s SUV or Sacha didn’t know what would happen. Thankfully, the transfer and stashing went smoothly. Everyone was oddly silent during the ride. Sacha was fine with the quiet. He stared out the window and mused over the past year of his life. Bandit had truly swept in and took over. For the first time in a long time, Sacha breathed easier. Bandit could afford extra nursing care and simply having his extra hands made all the difference in the world. Plus, Sacha got to live his dream at his pace, and it was such a fucking relief. It had been the best year of his life. He kind of hated it was already time for a new season, but Bandit loved his career. So Sacha loved it too.

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