Page 89 of Game Changer
“Bye.”
Scott left quickly before either of them could reach for the other again. Kip blew out a breath and leaned back against the wall. Actual tears prickled his eyes, which was embarrassing. It wasn’t like Scott was going towar.
He was surprised when, a few minutes later, the door clicked and opened. Scott slipped inside, looking a little lost.
“I, uh,” he started. His face was pure anguish. He didn’t have his suitcase. He must have gone to the car and come back. “I was thinking... Planes, y’know? And anything can happen...”
“Scott?”
“I love you,” he said. “I just wanted to say that. Before I left.”
Kip’s jaw hit the floor.
“I don’t expect you to, y’know, say it too or anything. I know it’s probably a ridiculous thing to say or feel right now, but I am in love with you. And I wanted you to know that.”
The tears that had been prickling were nowfloodingKip’s eyes. He was no longer embarrassed about them.
“Kip?”
Kip pressed his lips together and shook his head, trying to gather himself. “Sorry,” he said, finally. “I just... I thought I was the only one who felt that way.”
Scott’s face lit up. All of the agony was gone instantly.
“You’re not.” He closed the distance between them and held Kip’s face, brushing away tears with his thumbs. Scott’s eyes were wet too.
“I wanted to tell you,” Kip said.
“Tell me now.”
“I love you. Scott, I’m...completelyin love with you.”
Scott beamed and kissed him, still holding his face. Kip reached up and did the same.
“Fuck,” Scott breathed. “Now I reallydohave to go.”
“I know.”
“I’m glad I told you.”
“I’m glad too.”
“But it’s really fucking hard to leave now.”
Kip sniffed. “Yeah.”
Scott kissed him one more time. “I’ll call you,” he said as he headed back to the door. “Tonight. I love you.”
Kip laughed wetly. “I love you too. Go win six hockey games.”
“You got it.”
And with that, he was gone. But this time, when Kip leaned back against the wall, he was grinning from ear to ear.
* * *
Scott had decided to sit with his newest teammate, Matti Jalo, during the flight to Columbus. Even with the extra-wide leather seats on their private plane, it was a squeeze fitting his own large body next to Jalo’s massive frame. It didn’t help his comfort level that his ass was still sore from fucking himself on Kip earlier that afternoon.
Not that he minded.
