Page 158 of Game Changer
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The following evening, there was a knock on their door during dinner.
“Who could that be?” Kip’s mother asked, already up and making her way to the door.
“Probably just Annette,” Dad said to Kip, meaning their next-door neighbor. “They just got back from vacation today, I think.”
Kip shoveled some mashed potatoes into his mouth. Then he heard Mom exclaim, “Oh my goodness!”
He stood. “Mom?”
“It’s—it’s Scott Hunter!”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Kip moved like lightning. Sure enough, there was Scott, filling the doorway of their modest little Bay Ridge home.
“Scott?” Kip said.
“Hi,” Scott said shyly.
Mom looked between them. “Well. I suppose you’d better come in.”
“Thank you,” Scott said. He stepped in and Kip’s mother closed the door behind him.
“Scott?” Kip said again.
“Yeah, sorry for just dropping in like this,” Scott said. “I got your address from Elena. I thought—I thought we could maybe go for a walk.”
“A walk?”
“Yeah.”
They stared at each other stupidly until Mom said, “Well, get your shoes on! Honestly, Kip!”
Scott grinned, which made Kip smile.
Dad appeared. “Ah.” He stuck out his hand. “George Grady,” he said. “Nice to meet you.”
“Scott,” Scott said, shaking his hand.
“Yes,” Dad said.
“Scott, this is my mom, Margaret.”
“Hello,” Mom said, bewildered.
“Scott is my...friend,” Kip said, “if you’re wondering why he’s here.”
“Actually,” Scott said, “I’m his boyfriend.”
Kip was stunned, but he smiled at Scott. “Yeah,” he confirmed, “we’re, um...together.”
“Oh my lord!” his mother said, her hands clasped together over her mouth. “Oh, Scott, you have chosen so well!”
They all laughed, and Scott smiled affectionately at Kip. “I know it, ma’am.”
“Ma’am!” Mom exclaimed. “Oh, Ilikehim!”
