Page 69 of Game Changer
Scott stepped away from him and tugged the hem of his shirt back down. “Of course I am.”
“What? But you’re hurt!”
Scott waved a hand dismissively. “I want to see how it feels to skate. I have a game on Wednesday, so I need to figure out how to play with this injury.”
“You’re going toplayonWednesday?” Kip looked horrified.
“Yes.”
“Are all hockey players stubborn idiots?”
“Pretty much.”
“God, if I had a bruise like that I would stay in bed for a month.”
Scott laughed. “I’ve played with broken ribs before. I can play with this.”
Kip looked like he had something to say about that, but Scott kissed him and pressed a travel mug full of coffee into his hand. “You need to go to work,” he reminded him.
“Fine,” Kip sighed. “I’ll be here as soon as I can tonight, okay?”
“Okay.”
“And please take it easy at practice today.”
Scott smiled, touched once again by his concern. “I will.”
They kissed one more time, and Kip was gone.
Scott ran his tongue over his bottom lip, trying to capture any lingering remains of their farewell kiss. Then he felt the heaviness that always landed on him whenever he and Kip parted.
He wanted more time.
In his head, Scott fast-forwarded to a time where Kip maybe didn’t need to work. Maybe he could just...
Just what? Be Scott’s stay-at-home boyfriend? Here whenever Scott needed him? As bored as some of his teammates’ wives were? If Scott never gathered the courage to come out, Kip would basically be a prisoner. They’d never be able to go on proper dates.
“Dammit,” Scott said to no one. He was already fucking this up.
* * *
Fucking Jeff had worked the day before, so absolutely nothing was prepped when Kip got to work.
“I hate him,” Maria said. “I’m going to murder him.”
“He sucks,” Kip agreed with a yawn.
“How was your weekend?”
“Good. I went to the Scouts game with my dad.”
“Oh, you mean the Scouts vs.Admiralsgame?”
“Yeah...”
“Such a fanboy. So cute.”
Kip shrugged. “He’s hot. Sue me.”
