Page 12 of Game Changer
“God, it’s not a big deal.”
“We don’t have a lot of excitement in our lives.” Dad smiled.
Kip joined his father at the same round table he’d been eating breakfast at his whole life.
He loved his parents. He loved this house, but he also desperately wanted to get out on his own.
“How’s Elena?” Dad asked.
“Great. You know, completely impressive in every way.”
“No job openings for you at Equinox Tech?”
“What the hell would I do at Equinox? I’m just a history nerd like my old man.”
“Well, what about the New York Admirals? Are they hiring?”
“Yeah, team historian.”
His dad chuckled and leaned back in his chair. “So this thing with Scott Hunter—”
“There is nothingwith Scott Hunter.”
“All right...” his dad said in that singsong tone ofFine, none of my business.
“Seriously, he just...thinks the dumb smoothies I make are good luck or something. Nothing to do with me.”
“Your mother will be very disappointed to hear that.”
Kip rolled his eyes, but smiled.
“I think Megan’s going to be here for dinner tonight,” his father said. “Andrew too.”
“Oh. Nice.” Megan was Kip’s big sister, and Andrew was her boyfriend. The two of them lived together in Williamsburg.
Whenever Megan came home for any occasion, it just reminded Kip that she had tocome home. She was almost four years older than Kip, but still...
“You planning on being here tonight?” his dad asked.
“Sure,” Kip said, forcing another smile. “Where else would I be?”
* * *
Scott slumped against the wall of the steam room, exhausted and frustrated. They should have won this one.
They had played their backup goalie, a kid from Sweden named Tommy Andersson, and it hadn’t gone well. But Andersson wasn’t to blame. No one had helped him.
Scott ran his hands over his sweat-slick face and into his damp hair.
Scotthadn’t even showed up tonight. It had just been a terrible effort by the whole team, and it should have been an easy win.
Coach Murdock had already made them feel ashamed of themselves. He’d walked into the room, shook his head, and walked out—worse than being screamed at.
No one came into the steam room to bother Scott. They knew better.
He sighed and stood up, tightening his towel around his waist. He needed a shower. And something to drink.
He walked into the lounge area, still wearing his towel, and grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge. He downed it in one go, then turned to see Greg Huff sitting on the counter behind him.
