Page 179 of Game Changer
The room was silent.
“When you have a secret that you work as hard to protect as I did,” Scott said, “it’s exhausting. It’s a nonstop effort, trying to keep it hidden, and the fear of people finding out consumes you. It also makes you lonely.”
He paused a moment. He was probably overstaying his welcome, but he wasn’t done.
“I’ve been extremely fortunate. I have a lot, and I’m grateful. But I was always missing something very important in my life. And this year, I found it.”
Scott’s eyes landed on Kip, and he could see that his lips were pressed together and his eyes were wet.
“I’ve attended a lot of my teammates’ weddings over the years, and I listened to a lot of speeches about love, or finding that person who changes everything for them. I never really got it, though. I’d assumed that I never would get it. It wasn’t for me. But this year... I met someone. I metthatperson. The person who changes everything. And he gave me the confidence, and the strength, and theneed, to be honest about who I am. Fear is a powerful thing, but this year I found the thing that is more powerful.”
People were turning to look at Kip now. There was probably a camera on him too, for the live broadcast.
“So I share this honor with my teammates, and my coaches,” Scott said, needing to wrap it up, “but I also share it with you, Kip. You have made me better, in every way. I love you.”
Kip mouthedI love you tooback at him.
“And, uh, one of the gay clubs here in Vegas is having a Scott Hunter night tonight, so that’s where I’ll be later, if any of you wanna come dance.”
There was scattered laughter, and a distinct “whoop” that Scott was sure was Carter. He smiled.
“Thank you,” he said. Then he picked up his trophy and left the stage to wild applause.
* * *
Scott drummed his fingers against his knee, possibly to the thumping beat of the club music. More likely to the internal rhythm of his racing heart.
He was in a club. Agaynightclub. Which was packed with people who were ostensibly celebratinghim.
He could be cool about this. Absolutely.
It helped that he was surrounded by friends.Morethan helped. He didn’t have words to describe how much it meant to him to have the people who meant the most to him here with him tonight.
Carter and Gloria sat on the couch across from him in the cozy VIP section. Beside them sat Huff, with Bennett relaxing in a chair by himself. Matti Jalo stood at the railing, watching the dance floor below them.
Scott’s invitation had been sincere; he would have loved to have seen anyone from the audience of the NHL Awards here at the club tonight. He hadn’t honestly been expecting anyone to actually show up, beyond Carter, Huff, and Bennett. Even Jalo was a surprise.
“Elena said she loved the speech and wishes she could be here,” Kip said as he set his phone down on the table in front of them. He shifted a little closer to Scott, pressing their bodies together on the couch and giving him a reassuring pat on the knee. “How are you doing?”
“Good,” Scott said. “Really. I’m happy.”
And he was. It was weird, being famous for a whole new reason. For just being who he was. He had fans now who didn’t even watch hockey.
It was going to be an interesting summer.
Scott was going to be doing a lot of press that summer, including aSports Illustratedfeature. This time the focus would be almost entirely on his sexuality and private life. It was nerve-racking, but he understood why it was important.
Kip had argued against a European vacation; he was determined to work as many shifts at the Kingfisher as he could before school started. Scott knew better than to fight him on that, but Kiphadbeen getting better about letting Scott pay for things. Things like this trip to Las Vegas, which had been Kip’s first time on an airplane. Scott was happy he was there for that, and he looked forward to experiencing many more firsts with Kip.
He also really enjoyed visiting Kip at work. The Kingfisher now had named a drink after Scott. Only Kip and Scott knew why it had blueberry juice in it.
“You look incredible tonight,” Scott said in a low voice, his lips brushing Kip’s ear. “Have I told you that yet?”
Hedidlook incredible. He always looked perfect to Scott, but this was the first time he had seen himdone upto go out. He looked effortlessly sexy—sensual—in a way that Scott was sure he could never achieve himself. He was wearing a deep V-neck black T-shirt and charcoal jeans that were so tight Scott wondered how he had managed to put them on and, with some concern, how they might be removed later. His hair was messily arranged to create a look that appeared both careless and meticulous.
But the thing that wasreallydistracting Scott tonight was the touch of eyeliner that Kip was wearing. There was something about it that excited Scott, like he was leveling up. He was officially,boldly, staring down the homophobic stereotypes that got thrown around locker rooms and saying, yes, Scott Hunter—captain of the New York Admirals and model of rugged masculinity—was going to a gay nightclub with his pretty, painted boyfriend.
Scott tangled their fingers together and held tight. Let the world make no mistake: Kip Grady was his.
