Page 41 of Game Changer
Scott sat up and said to his roommate, “I’m going to make a phone call. Be back in a bit.”
He walked out of the room and took the elevator to the lobby. He ducked into the little business center room, which was empty, and called Kip. He sat in one of the desk chairs and swiveled from side to side while he waited for him to answer.
“Hi,” Kip said, after two rings.
“Hey.”
“Shouldn’t you be in bed?” he teased. “Big game tomorrow.”
“I will be soon. I just...wanted to hear your voice.” Scott cringed at how hokey that was. He wasn’t good at this.
“I miss you.”
Scott smiled at his phone. “I miss you too. Did you find a tailor? I would offer to pay for it, but I have a feeling you’ll turn me down.”
“You’re right. I would,” Kip said. “I was going to ask Elena if she knew a good one, but then I thought...”
“Oh.”
“Yeah. I don’t want to... I mean, she kinda...”
“She knows?”
“No! No. She doesn’t. I mean, I didn’t tell her about us. I just... She’s gonna figure it out, y’know? She’s smart. And...she knows I like you. But, yeah. If she learns I somehow scored a free Hugo Boss tuxedo, she’s gonna have questions.”
Scott frowned. “Right.”
“Maybe...maybe I should rent a tux. Just to be...safe.”
“No, that’s... No. You should...” Scott sighed, and hoped he wouldn’t regret this. “You should tell her. If you want. You said she’s your best friend?”
“Yeah.”
“Tell her. I don’t want us to come between you and your best friend.”
“Thanks.” Kip sounded relieved. “I really want to tell her. And she can keep a secret better than anyone. She’s the best. You’d like her.”
“I’d love to meet her.”
“Save her a dance at the gala.”
“Deal. I’m a terrible dancer, though.”
“She’s an amazing dancer. She’ll make you look good. Promise.”
“Okay,” Scott said absently. Kip sounded like a weight had been lifted, but Scott felt like it had been placed directly onto him. He chewed his thumb.
“So, Valentine’s Day, huh?” Kip said cheerfully, changing the subject.
“Hm?”
“You wanna cook for me?”
“Right...yeah.” Scott shook his head.Get your head in the game, Hunter.“Yes,” he said, more convincingly, “I do.”
“Didn’t know you cooked.”
“I can cook,” Scott said. “I was a latchkey kid. I made a lot of the meals for Mom and me when she was working late at the grocery store. And later...when she got sick.”
