Chapter Twelve #2
“I’ll make us some coffee,” Scott said. “At least stay for that.”
“Okay. How are you feeling?”
“Like I got hit by a puck. But other than that… I’m very happy.”
Kip smiled and finished getting dressed. Scott went into the bathroom, stopping to kiss him on the cheek on his way past.
“Yikes,” Kip said, making a face. “That bruise does not look great.”
“Doesn’t feel great either. But I’ll live.”
In the bathroom, Scott splashed water on his face, and stood back to examine his bruise in the mirror. Kip hadn’t been lying: It had definitely darkened overnight into an angry midnight blue color.
When Scott had thrown on some sweats, he headed to the kitchen to make coffee. He paused when he saw Kip standing in front of the living room windows.
“You get this view every morning, huh?” Kip asked.
“More or less.”
“It’s not bad.”
The first hint of light was showing itself over the Brooklyn skyline, softly illuminating Kip’s lean frame. He stood with one arm stretched over his head, his hand on the glass.
“It’s better now,” Scott said. He wrapped his arms around Kip from behind, and kissed his neck. Kip sighed and turned to kiss him properly.
In that moment, Scott could imagine all of it.
Being with Kip. Living with him. Going to bed and waking up together.
Preparing meals and going to restaurants and traveling together.
Not hiding anymore, just being happy and complete with a man he…
cared about. Being brave enough to let the world know who he really was.
But even if he was brave enough, it was a lot to ask of Kip, who may not realize what he was getting himself into with Scott.
It would be a big deal if Scott came out.
It was unheard of in the NHL, and the media would want so much of them.
Scott was used to being scrutinized by the public; he didn’t want to drag Kip into all of that.
Besides, they had only been seeing each other for a couple of weeks. It was ridiculous to even think…
They broke apart, and Scott brushed a strand of Kip’s hair aside and ran his palm over the light stubble on Kip’s jaw. “I’d love to have a whole day with you.”
“You will.”
“Uninjured. Really take my time with you.”
He could see the change in Kip’s eyes. Dark lust creeping in.
Scott leaned in for another kiss, but Kip pulled back and shook his head. “I have to get going,” he sighed.
“Coffee first.”
As Scott fumbled with the fancy coffee machine that he rarely used, Kip lifted Scott’s T-shirt and inspected the bruise.
“You aren’t going to practice today, are you?” he asked.
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 to play on Wednesday?” 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. Admirals game?”
“Yeah…”
“Such a fanboy. So cute.”
Kip shrugged. “He’s hot. Sue me.”
“Can you imagine actually dating him?” Maria asked. “It would be amazing. Like Cinderella.”
“Come on. My life isn’t that shitty!”
“Well, it would be wild, anyway.”
“Mm.”
“You know, I was working on Saturday and he didn’t come in. I wonder if he’s found another silly superstition.”
“Well, there goes my entire love life,” Kip joked.
“I mean, all that shit went down with Zullo that day. He would have been distracted.”
“Yeah. Maybe.”
“When’s the next home game?”
“Wednesday,” Kip said, way too quickly.
Maria smirked. “So fucking cute. You ready for that interview today?”
“Nope. But I’m gonna do my best.”
“You think Scott Hunter will start going to the museum all the time if you start working there?”
“No. Shut up.”
“What if he did? Oh my god. That would be incredible.”
“You’re ridiculous.”
Maria lowered her voice and did a truly terrible impression of Scott Hunter. “Oh, hey, um, I just like to keep things the same when my game is going well, so I’m gonna need Kip Grady to give me another private tour of the whole museum.”
Kip couldn’t help but laugh.
* * *
“Hunter, let’s go. Lunch is on me,” Carter said. They were the last two players in the locker room.
Scott had gritted his teeth through the practice. It hurt to bend. It hurt to shoot the puck. And it really hurt when anyone so much as brushed him. “I might have to freeze it on Wednesday,” he said. “It’s not a serious injury, but it’s slowing me down.”
“I mean, you could take a night off and actually let it heal, but hey…”
“Would you?”
Carter grinned at him. “No chance.”
They went to a nearby sushi place that Carter liked.
“So,” Carter said as they waited for the way-too-many maki rolls they’d ordered, “who’s being traded, do you think?”
“I don’t know. I really don’t.”
“They’re gonna make a play for someone big. I figure we’ll lose some young talent in exchange for an experienced defenseman.”
“Well,” Scott said, “that means we’re off the hook.”
“I was thinking Burke. He’s not that young, but he’s a good winger and we’re rich with talent on the front lines right now.”
“Yeah. Maybe.”
“Who knows? Anyway, did you see? The paparazzi got us the other night. Me and Gloria. We were getting dinner at the new Nobu—have you been there yet?”
“No.”
“Well, you have to. Anyway. We were leaving Nobu and the paps fucking got us. So our little secret is blown.” Carter shrugged. “Matter of time, I guess. Turned out to not be a big deal because one of the Kardashians announced she was pregnant yesterday, so no one gives a shit about us anymore.”
“Right…”
Carter launched into a detailed description of his Nobu meal, and Scott tried to listen, but mostly he thought about what Carter had just said.
Carter had been trying to keep his new relationship a secret, but when that secret had come out it had just been another gossip column item.
Just two celebrities who had started seeing each other. People said “huh” and moved on.
That would not happen if the paparazzi caught Scott and Kip together. Sure, they could go to dinner maybe. Once. If it started to be a regular thing, it would attract attention. And what if they were caught…touching? Holding hands? Kissing? There’d be no way Scott could deny—
“They have this miso caramel sauce that—You listening, Hunter?”
“Huh? Yeah. Yeah, sorry. I’m just…hungry. Kinda hard to hear about food right now.”
“Well, we’ve talked about hockey, we’ve talked about food, we’ve talked about my love life. How about your love life?”
“No.”
“Seems like there might actually be something to talk about there.”
“There isn’t.”
Carter studied him, and probably didn’t miss the color in Scott’s face, or the way Scott couldn’t look him in the eye. “You’re the worst liar in the world, Scott.”
“I know.”
“You don’t want to tell me? Fine. I only want you to be happy. Guy like you should be with someone special.”
Scott smiled to himself. “I’m happy.”
“You bringing her to the Equinox Gala?”
“Are you going to the gala?”
“Yes, I’m going! Did you forget who I’m dating? Also, I am very famous and beloved.”
Scott laughed, but inside he fretted. He hadn’t been expecting any of his teammates to be there. That would only make things more complicated.
And, god, it wasn’t fair. He wanted to tell Carter—his best friend—that he was bringing his boyfriend to the gala.
His wonderful, gorgeous boyfriend who made him feel lighter and happier than he could ever remember feeling in his life.
He wanted to dance with Kip, and kiss him, and introduce him to everyone so they would know how lucky Scott was.
Instead, Scott said, “Maybe. We’ll see.”
Carter smiled. “I hope so. I can’t wait to meet her, man.”