Page 115 of Game Changer
“Nah,” Kip said.
“That’s tragic,” said Jimmy. “I will if you don’t.”
Chuck laughed. “As if, Jim. He doesn’t evenseeyou through the glow around Grady.”
“Kip,” Maria said, “you didn’t tell me thatallof your cute dude friends are gay. What is even the point of me being here?”
“Ididtell you and, if you want, later we can go to Olive Garden or wherever straight people go.”
She flicked an olive at him from the nachos they were all sharing.
They all drank and talked animatedly for a while. Kip began to feel pleasantly warm and sloppy, laughing easily and teasing his friends.
“All right,” Chuck said, placing his hands on the table for emphasis, “the next round is gonna be bought by whoever has gone the longest without sex.”
“That’s not right,” Elena said. “It should be the person who had it the most recently.”
“Damn, Elena,” Kip said, “youreallywant to buy the next round, huh?”
“I’m not sure it would be me,” she said, looking at him pointedly. Kip shut up.
“Nope, my rules,” Chuck said. “All right, spill it, everyone. Been two weeks for me.”
“What counts as sex?” Jimmy asked.
“Getting off with the assistance of another person,” Chuck said, with authority.
“Oh. Like three days, then,” Jimmy said.
“Wait,” Chuck said, “was it that accountant who—”
Jimmy nodded.
“Nice. All right, who can beat two weeks?”
Elena shook her head. “Last night.”
“Sa-ame,” Shawn singsonged.
Maria threw her head back and moaned. “Fuuuuuck!” she said. “A month. Over a month. Ugh.”
“Uh-oh,” Chuck said. “How about you, birthday boy?”
“Um,” Kip said.A couple of hours...
He looked at Elena for help. She just raised an interested eyebrow.
“Been, like, two months or something,” he said finally. Elena was the only one who knew that it was a lie.
“Aw, shit, sorry, Grady,” Chuck said. “Looks like you’re buying the round on your own birthday.”
“S’okay,” Kip said. Because itwasokay. He was pretending to be sex-starved when he was, in fact, in the best relationship of his life. There were worse problems to have.
He got up to place the order. He wobbled a little as he made his way to the bar. Kyle was there, cute as all hell in a tight white T-shirt.
“My favorite customer,” Kyle drawled. “What can I do for you?”
Kip smirked and rested an arm on the bar. “Buying a round for the table.”
