Page 80 of Game Changer
“You think I’m going to hurt him?”
“I don’t know. We’ve only just met. Convince me otherwise.”
Scott sighed. He hadn’t spoken to anyone about his feelings for Kip before now. It was nice to have someone to share them with, but it was also terrifying. “I can’t explain it, because it doesn’t make sense how quickly I’ve—”
“Fallen?”
Scott felt himself blushing. “Yeah.”
She squeezed his hand. “You are asking a lot of him, you know.”
“I know. I won’t promise more than I can give, but... I’ll give him everything I possibly can.”
“In secret?”
“For now.”
She raised an eyebrow.
“Like I said, I won’t promise more than I can give. But this is new. I think, with time, I’ll be able to give more.”
She seemed to consider this. “Okay.”
Scott cleared his throat. “Do you like working for Equinox?”
“I do. I get to do what I love, they treat me with respect, and the money is obscene.”
Scott laughed. “Sounds like my job.”
When the song ended, Elena leaned in. “You can kiss me, if you want. If you want to...divert attention.”
He smiled, touched by the offer, and kissed her on the cheek. “Thank you. But I won’t do that to you.”
“Wouldn’t have been such a hardship.” Before they parted, she said, “Kip is the best person I know. And he’s happier than I’ve ever seen him these days. I’m protective of him because I love him.”
“I know.” Scott wanted to tell her that he loved him too, but he’d never said that out loud before. He hadn’t even let himself seriously consider the possibility, but as he walked Elena off the dance floor, and saw Kip sitting, relaxed in a plush chair, watching them...
...what else could this feelingbe?
* * *
Scott and Elena looked stunning together, dancing, and Kip was envious. He wished he could be the one in Scott’s arms. He consoled himself by remembering that he soon would be.
But it would be nice to dance with him. Kip didn’tneedpeople to know they were together. He wasn’t interested in showing off, or being shown off. He just...wished he could share everything with Scott.
He watched them leave the dance floor. Elena was immediately asked to dance by someone else, and Scott disappeared into a crowd of people. Kip sighed. He was getting bored. He didn’t want to drink anymore, and he felt too inadequate to engage in conversation.
He was observing the party, trying to enjoy the spectacle, when his phone buzzed.
Scott: 161912
Kip stared at his phone, confused. Maybe Scott had pocket-texted him by accident?
A second message came.
Scott: Door code. Works for the elevator too.
Kip looked up. Scott was leaning against a wall on the other side of the massive room, typing on his phone.
