Page 136 of Game Changer
“I’ll be done here in about twenty minutes. Then I’ll make sure you get home safe, okay?”
Kip was ready to politely decline, but instead he heard himself say, “Okay.”
Kyle smiled and slid a glass of water in front of him. “Drink this. I’ll be with you shortly.”
The water was cold and Kip hadn’t even realized how much his body had been craving it. It was nice of Kyle to think to give it to him. Kyle seemed nice.
God, Kip wanted to feelanythingother than the all-consuming despair that had gripped him since he’d walked out of Scott’s apartment. He shouldn’t have left. He should have stayed and talked it out with Scott. He knew that now.
But it was too late. Obviously, it was too late. By now Scott had for sure figured out that Kip was not worth the hassle.
At least there was Kyle. Kyle in his faded jeans and his tight V-neck T-shirt. Kyle with the floppy bangs and the winter eyes and the flirty smile. Kyle wouldn’t judge Kip for completely fucking up the best thing that had ever happened to him—thatwouldever happen to him. Kyle was going to walk him to the subway station because he was nice, and helpful. And cute, but that part wasn’t important.
Suddenly, Kyle had his jacket on. He wasn’t behind the bar anymore. He was standing beside Kip’s bar stool. “Come on, tipsy.”
Kip slid off the stool and followed Kyle outside. They walked together down the block a bit, and Kip enjoyed the cool night air. Kyle didn’t talk much, which was nice because Kip was sleepy and he didn’t think he could carry on a conversation right now.
Kyle’s hand curled around Kip’s bicep as they walked. “Hello, muscles,” he teased. “You have beautiful arms, you know. I’ve been admiring them.”
“Oh?” Kip smiled sloppily. Hedidhave nice arms, dammit, and he appreciated that someone had noticed.
“Mm. And a gorgeous smile. Look at those dimples!”
Kip grinned wider, showing off the dimples a little. Compliments were awesome.
Kyle stopped walking. “I’d really like to kiss you,” he said. “Can I?”
Oh.
No.
“Um...”
Kyle’s brow furrowed. “Is that not what you want? I thought we were—”
Shit.
Kyle’s face was so close, and Kip’s eyes landed involuntarily on his lips. This was bad, wasn’t it? Kip was withScott.Washe with Scott?
Kyle must have taken whatever was happening on Kip’s face as an invitation, because he leaned in and pressed their lips together. And for a second, Kip was too stunned, too confused, toodrunkto do anything but kiss him back.
Kyle was a good kisser.
Butholy shit, no!
Kip shoved him away, and stumbled forward.
“Hey, what the fuck?” Kyle said, catching himself before almost landing on his ass.
“Fuck,” Kip mumbled. “This was... I can’t do this. I wasn’t looking for—I’m sorry.”
“Are you all right?”
“Yes! Just... I need to go. Where’s the—Fuck. Where’s the subway?”
“That way. Do you want me to—?”
But Kip had already taken off at a run.
