Page 141 of Game Changer
“Yeah, well. My situation was a huge mess, but I wasn’tin lovewith the guy.”
Kip nodded. “I’ll talk to him. You’re right. I have to try.”
“Good boy. Now, where are you going to grad school?”
“Oh, I don’t know yet. I applied to a couple of schools, but I’m hoping for NYU. That’s where I did my undergrad.”
“Shame. I thought we were getting along,” Kyle teased.
Kip smiled. “I’m not sure how I’m gonna pay for school, exactly, but I’ll figure it out. I definitely need a better job.”
Kyle looked at him curiously. “Do you have any food-service experience?”
Kip laughed. “Yeah. That’s aboutallI have.”
“The Kingfisher needs a new server.”
“Really?” Kip considered this. It would still be food service, but it might be cool working at his favorite pub.
“Mm-hmm. And there will be even more hours soon because I’m doing a summer program in Italy.”
“Oh!”
“The tips, I can tell you, arefantastic. Especially when you’re cute and charming.” He swept a hand playfully across his own face. “Why don’t you drop by tomorrow, late afternoon, with your résumé? The boss will be there then. I’ll introduce you and put in a good word.”
“You don’t even know if I’m a good worker,” Kip pointed out.
“Are you a bad worker?”
“No.”
“Well, I don’t think you’re a liar, so I’ll go with that.”
“All right. Thanks. I’ll be there tomorrow. And I really do appreciate this.”
“Good. Now go call your gorgeous, successful boyfriend.”
* * *
Kip didn’t call Scott. He had pulled his phone out several times with the intention of doing that, or of sending a text, but he was scared. What if he sent a text and Scott ignored it? What if Scott had blocked his number? What if Kip called and Scott answered and told him not to call him again?
At least now, as miserable as he was, he had hope.
He was sitting on his bed at home, Kyle’s words from earlier that day running through his head.
You have to try.
He should text Scott. Just text him.
He typed out,Can we talk?
He stared at it.
What if Scott wrote backNo?
Maybe Kip should let him make the first move. Scott was the one with all the stress and responsibility heaped on his shoulders right now. Kip didn’t want to add to that. But the Admirals were playing the following night. It would be their first home game since Kip and Scott’s fight, and it felt so wrong not to be going.
He couldn’t dwell on that. He needed to give Scott some space. Instead, Kip would go to work in the morning, and then he would stop by the Kingfisher with his résumé. He would use this time productively.
