Chapter Thirteen #3
And thank god Elena returned at that moment or else Scott might have done something very stupid. The pointed look Elena gave him as she handed him his beer told him that he and Kip had been standing much too close a moment ago.
“It’s time to sit for dinner,” Elena said. “Let’s get you two separated.”
Before they parted, Scott extended his hand to Kip, who stared at it for a moment before he grinned and took it, shaking it like two men might who have just met at a social function.
But Scott took the opportunity to gently brush his fingertips against the inside of Kip’s wrist. He stroked the sensitive flesh as they shook hands, and he watched Kip’s lips part. He watched his eyes ignite.
“I’ll see you later,” Scott said, “Christopher.”
The dinner went on for far too long. Between courses, Jacqueline thanked everyone for coming, and explained the importance of providing early opportunities for kids to explore STEM careers.
She talked about some of the good work the Equinox Foundation had already done in this area, and what plans she had for the future.
She announced a massive endowment to local public schools to furnish them with state-of-the-art computers and other technology.
Scott applauded along with the rest of the crowd.
He was seated with nine people he did not know. Even Carter had been placed at a different table. Scott was never particularly comfortable at these types of events, but tonight he was even more restless and distracted. It didn’t help that he couldn’t see Kip at all from where he was sitting.
As they waited for dessert and coffee, he decided he needed to get out of there for a few minutes. He excused himself and stood. He briefly scanned the room for Kip, but couldn’t find him.
Scott went to the bathroom, but didn’t feel like returning to the table afterwards.
He wandered around the area outside the main ballroom where the bathrooms were located and found an alcove that offered a third-story view of the city lights.
No one else was in it, so he took a few quiet minutes to himself, standing against the glass and watching the traffic below.
He felt Kip behind him before he saw his reflection in the glass, just over Scott’s shoulder. “Hey,” he said in a quiet voice.
Scott closed his eyes and forced the fluttering in his stomach to calm down.
He turned. “We probably shouldn’t be here together.”
“Probably not.” Kip stepped closer, invading Scott’s personal space and taking over his senses. The spicy smell of his aftershave was intoxicating.
“They did a good job with your suit,” Scott said shakily. “Really…fits you well.”
“Mm.”
Kip’s mouth was so close, and Scott’s lips parted completely on their own. It would be so easy to lean in and take what he wanted…
“Food was good,” Kip said conversationally.
“Was it? I wasn’t really paying attention.”
“Distracted?”
“Maybe.”
“You look like you’re still hungry.”
Scott shuddered out a breath. “Goddammit, Kip.”
Kip gave him one of those sexy smiles that Scott normally loved so much, but here…
Kip’s eyes darted down to Scott’s crotch, and his smile widened.
We could leave. We could leave right now…
“I should get back,” Kip said, infuriatingly casual.
Scott bit down on his tongue, hard enough to bring him back to earth. “You’re in trouble later,” he growled.
Kip’s eyes widened, but he managed a smile before turning and leaving. Scott grinned as he watched him walk away, pleased that he was able to retaliate a little.
He took a moment to compose himself, then returned to the ballroom. It looked like he had missed dessert; the tables were already being cleared away to allow more room for dancing and mingling.
He didn’t see Kip anywhere.
There was a commotion in the crowd when the lights came down and the stage Jacqueline had been speaking on before suddenly spun around to reveal a famous lounge-style singer and his orchestra.
Scott mingled for a while, chatting with A-list celebrities and some of New York’s top CEOs. He had just wrapped up a conversation with an actual astronaut when there was a tap on his shoulder.
“I believe I was promised a dance,” Elena said.
Scott smiled, genuinely glad to see her. He took her arm and they moved to the dance floor, which was quite full now. “I’m a terrible dancer,” he warned her.
“I’ll make up for it.”
She was a fantastic dancer. Scott quickly found a rhythm as they danced an easy two-step while the band played “Fly Me to the Moon.”
“You know, I was just talking to a real astronaut,” Scott said. “I wonder if he likes this song.”
Elena politely ignored his clumsy attempt at small talk. “Are you having a good evening?”
“Sure.” He lowered his voice. “How’s Kip doing?”
“I think he’s focused on the after-party.”
“Well, that makes two of us.”
She studied his face. “You like him.”
“I do. I… I really like him.”
“Good,” she said. “Because he’s nuts about you. You need to understand how unprecedented this is for him.”
“You think I’m going to hurt him?”
“I don’t know. We’ve only just met. Convince me otherwise.”
Scott sighed. He hadn’t spoken to anyone about his feelings for Kip before now. It was nice to have someone to share them with, but it was also terrifying. “I can’t explain it, because it doesn’t make sense how quickly I’ve—”
“Fallen?”
Scott felt himself blushing. “Yeah.”
She squeezed his hand. “You are asking a lot of him, you know.”
“I know. I won’t promise more than I can give, but… I’ll give him everything I possibly can.”
“In secret?”
“For now.”
She raised an eyebrow.
“Like I said, I won’t promise more than I can give. But this is new. I think, with time, I’ll be able to give more.”
She seemed to consider this. “Okay.”
Scott cleared his throat. “Do you like working for Equinox?”
“I do. I get to do what I love, they treat me with respect, and the money is obscene.”
Scott laughed. “Sounds like my job.”
When the song ended, Elena leaned in. “You can kiss me, if you want. If you want to…divert attention.”
He smiled, touched by the offer, and kissed her on the cheek. “Thank you. But I won’t do that to you.”
“Wouldn’t have been such a hardship.” Before they parted, she said, “Kip is the best person I know. And he’s happier than I’ve ever seen him these days. I’m protective of him because I love him.”
“I know.” Scott wanted to tell her that he loved him too, but he’d never said that out loud before. He hadn’t even let himself seriously consider the possibility, but as he walked Elena off the dance floor, and saw Kip sitting, relaxed in a plush chair, watching them…
…what else could this feeling be?
* * *
Scott and Elena looked stunning together, dancing, and Kip was envious. He wished he could be the one in Scott’s arms. He consoled himself by remembering that he soon would be.
But it would be nice to dance with him. Kip didn’t need people to know they were together. He wasn’t interested in showing off, or being shown off. He just…wished he could share everything with Scott.
He watched them leave the dance floor. Elena was immediately asked to dance by someone else, and Scott disappeared into a crowd of people. Kip sighed. He was getting bored. He didn’t want to drink anymore, and he felt too inadequate to engage in conversation.
He was observing the party, trying to enjoy the spectacle, when his phone buzzed.
Scott: 161912
Kip stared at his phone, confused. Maybe Scott had pocket-texted him by accident?
A second message came.
Scott: Door code. Works for the elevator too.
Kip looked up. Scott was leaning against a wall on the other side of the massive room, typing on his phone.
Scott: I’ll meet you there. Text me when you’re leaving.
Kip smiled. He was equal parts excited about moving things back to Scott’s place, and touched that Scott had given him his access code.
He wrote back, I’m leaving now. Just gonna tell Elena.
* * *
Scott was trying to leave when Carter stopped him.
“Scotty! Was that her? Was that her? I saw you, man!” He threw an arm around Scott’s neck and hauled him in. “I saw you! Fucking gorgeous lady, Scott! Nice work, my friend!”
Carter had clearly been drinking. “Don’t worry,” he said in a whisper that was louder than most people’s speaking voices. “Your secret is safe with me.”
“Uh, sure, thanks, Carter,” Scott said, pulling his arm away. “I was just heading out, so…”
“I get it, man, I get it. She leaving in another car?”
“Um.”
“I feel you. Have a good night, Hunter! A good night!”
Scott exhaled as he walked away. Things were getting complicated.
His car service was waiting for him downstairs. He let the blissful silence wash over him once he was alone in the back seat.
The driver took him home.