Page 113 of Game Changer
Kip looked dangerously close to crying, which was not at all what Scott wanted to happen.
“Hey,” Scott said, placing a hand on Kip’s shoulder. But Kip stood up and started pacing.
“I’m not—I’m not acharity. I’ve got a normal student loan to pay off—the same kind that millions of other people have. I’ve been managing just fine since I graduated. Maybe my job isn’t impressive, and I live with my parents, but I have my fucking pride. And I was paying the loan off on my own every month before you just...just scribbled on a fucking piece of paper and shoved it in a birthday card and—”
“Hey!” Scott said, standing to meet him. He was getting angry now. He took a breath. “Look, I wasn’t trying to insult you. It seems silly for me to have all this money and for you to have all these loans to pay off. It seems like a pretty obvious solution, right?”
“I can manage my own life, okay?”
“Okay,” Scott said desperately. “Okay. Yeah. Fine. I’m sorry.”
Kip rolled his eyes, but it seemed to be more at himself than at Scott. “Fuck, Scott. I know you’re just trying to...”
“I only want you to be happy,” Scott said quietly.
“Iamhappy,” Kip said. “Maybe I’m not living my dream life, but who the fuck is?” Then he laughed roughly and gestured at Scott. “I mean, besides—”
“My life isn’t perfect, Kip,” Scott said tightly. “I thought you understood that.”
Kip exhaled. “I’m sorry. I know. I’m being an asshole. I’m just touchy about this stuff.”
Scott nodded, possibly a little frantically. He wanted to undo whatever was happening here. “It was too much. I get it now. I do. This relationship probably seems a little...unbalanced to you. But you give meso much, Kip. I love you. I love you and I know I rush into things, and I know I’m probably being way too intense about us, but please. Just know it’s only because I care about you so much.”
Kip seemed to consider this, then his face softened. “Okay.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. But I’m tearing up this check.”
“Deal,” Scott said, relieved that the situation seemed to be defused.
“I’m sorry,” Kip said. He slumped back onto the couch and buried his face in his hands. “That was a thoughtful and generous gift you were trying to give me. And believe me, a part of mereallywants to say yes to it, but I can’t.”
Scott sat next to him and pulled him into his arms. “Let’s just forget about it, all right?I’msorry. I should have gotten you flowers or something.”
Kip laughed against his shoulder. “It’s always hard to decide: flowers, or fifty thousand dollars.”
Scott laughed too, fully realizing now how ridiculous his gift had been. He really had no idea what he was doing.
“I want to try again,” he said into Kip’s hair. “Can I try again? I want to give you the perfect present.”
“You don’t need to.”
“I want to. I love you, Kip. I’m sorry I’m so fucking bad at this.”
Kip’s gaze was soft and affectionate as he tilted his head and brought their lips together. The kiss was achingly slow and sweet, and Scott melted into it.
“I love you,” he said, his lips brushing the light stubble on Kip’s cheek.
“Love you too. So much. Fuck, I don’t want to be mad at you. I missed you.”
“I missed you too.”
“I’ll miss you tonight.”
“I know. I’m sorry. And I’m so busy this week. I’m sorry about that too.”
“What’s on the schedule this week?” Kip asked, then started trailing kisses up Scott’s neck.
