Page 42 of Game Changer
“Sorry,” Kip said. He seemed genuinely embarrassed. “I should have figured.”
“No! I wasn’t saying that to make you feel bad. I just...like telling you things about me.”
“I want to know everything about you,” Kip said quietly.
Scott thought his heart might burst. He was so touched by Kip’s words that he didn’t notice that he hadn’t replied, until Kip said, “Oh god. That was a bit intense. Sorry.”
“Not at all,” Scott said. “You can ask me anything.”
“Anything, huh? How about...what are you gonna cook for me?” Kip’s tone was relaxed and playful again.
“Not telling. It’s a surprise.” Scott grinned. “Oh, shit. Unless... Do you have any allergies?”
“Nope.”
“Okay. Then it’s a surprise.”
Scott picked up a pen that was sitting on the desk in front of him and started absentmindedly doodling on a hotel notepad. “How was your day?”
“Fine. Not too exciting. Except, y’know, you.”
“Tell me everything that happened. I just want to hear your voice.”
Kip talked about the podcast he’d listened to on the way home from Scott’s that morning, and about the woman he saw with an iguana in a baby carrier, while Scott listened and drew little swirls on the notepad.
“So, yeah,” Kip said, when Scott’s swirls had reached the edge of the page. “That’s about it. Not a very exciting day.”
Kip yawned, which made Scott aware of the time. “Oh god, I’m keeping you up. You have to work early tomorrow, right?”
“Yeah. Yeah, I should go to bed.”
“Okay. Me too.”
“But Scott? I’m glad you called.”
Scott smiled into the phone. “I’m glad I did too.”
“I’ll watch the game tomorrow night.”
“I’ll score a goal for you.”
“Fuck off.”
“I will! First goal is yours. Remember that.”
“All right. It’ll be our secret.”
“Yeah,” Scott said quietly.
After they said goodbye, and after Scott pocketed the notepad he’d been doodling in, he exited the business room and walked back through the lobby. He was met by Frank Zullo. He had a young woman on his arm, and they both seemed pretty drunk.
“Evening, Hunter,” Zullo said, with more than a little sneer in his tone.
“Zullo.” Scott nodded. “Just getting in?”
“Sure. Just, ah, heading to bed, y’know?”
“Pretty sure you already have a roommate,” Scott said, glancing at the young woman.
