More on this book
Community
Kindle Notes & Highlights
“Hey,” Kip said, “he said my name.” “Who? Hunter? He actually said the word ‘Kip’?” “Yeah,” Kip said dreamily. “God, I’ll bet when he says it, it doesn’t even sound dumb.” Kip threw a strawberry at her.
Scott Hunter was, once again, wearing an absurdly tight Under Armour jacket and sweatpants. His hair was damp and mussed, and his skin was slightly flushed from exercise. Kip Grady was, once again, wearing a fucking dumb apron and a ball cap with a goddamn strawberry on it. But at least he wasn’t hungover this time.
I’m holding out for someone else right now. You probably know him—he’s the captain of the New York Admirals. You might remember him from People magazine’s “50 Most Beautiful People” issue? Yeah, I have a crush on him. He’s almost definitely heterosexual. Fingers crossed!
He used to think this was the price. He had been fortunate in so many ways and this was the trade-off. He could rise from poverty to play in the NHL—play in New York City, even—and enjoy this dream life that was so close to perfection. He just couldn’t fall in love.
“Classic black?” Scott asked, stroking his thumb along Kip’s jawline. “Or maybe midnight blue?” “Your choice, Hunter.” Scott looked away and actually blushed a little. “It’s kind of hot when you call me that,” he said, “but it’s really going to fuck me up when I’m hearing it on the ice.”
“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!”
“So what’s the plan tonight? You and Scott pretend you don’t know each other and then you go back to his place and—” “Go to town on each other? Yeah. That’s the plan.” “Kinky.” “A little.”
“Stop staring!” she hissed. “Okay! Can—can he see me? Has he spotted me yet?” “Not yet. You guys need to be a lot stealthier if you’re going to fool anyone.” “What are you talking about? I’m fine. Has he looked yet?” “No. But if he does come over here—Okay, he sees you.” “How can you tell?” “Because he just lit up like the goddamn sun. Jesus. You guys are doomed.”
“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?
“That was incredible.” “It really was,” Scott said. “I—” “It’s one-thirty,” Kip said, smiling and stroking Scott’s hair. “We can probably get another round in tonight, don’t you think?” “Yeah.” Scott smiled. He looked up at Kip, and he knew. He knew for sure. Scott Hunter was in love.
Kip flushed a little. He fiddled with the strings on the hoodie, trying to distract himself from all these damn feelings. He was in love. There was no question. He was head over heels in love with Scott Hunter. It was absurd, but it was real.
“Nothing to tell, Vaughan.” They were lingering on the ice at the end of their morning practice. Scott was watching a couple of rookies gather up the pucks. “Bullshit, Scott. You’ve been floating around with a dumb smile on your face, humming ‘How Sweet It Is’ all over the place. You got it bad.” Scott kicked at the ice. “No comment.”
“So you’re staying at my place tonight?” “Yeah. If that’s okay.” “Of course it’s okay. It was my idea!” “I know. It just…seems generous.” “Kip,” Scott sighed, “you’re my boyfriend. I’m in love with you. You can stay at my place whenever you want.”
“That was a thoughtful and generous gift you were trying to give me. And believe me, a part of me really wants to say yes to it, but I can’t.” Scott sat next to him and pulled him into his arms. “Let’s just forget about it, all right? I’m sorry. I should have gotten you flowers or something.” Kip laughed against his shoulder. “It’s always hard to decide: flowers, or fifty thousand dollars.”
“Kip,” Maria said, “you didn’t tell me that all of your cute dude friends are gay. What is even the point of me being here?” “I did tell you and, if you want, later we can go to Olive Garden or wherever straight people go.”
HAHAHAHHAHAAA
It was a picture of Scott gazing (a little too lovingly) at Kip as Kip stared up at a statue of Perseus. The scene definitely looked romantic, and the statue’s marble penis hovering between their faces didn’t help tone things down. Most people wouldn’t notice any of that, right?
“I’m serious! Don’t say a word. Promise me, okay?” “I promise! Of course I promise! But you have to tell me something. I need some details!” “One detail.” “One?” “One.” She made a face that implied that she was thinking very hard, then grabbed a cucumber out of the fridge and laid it on the counter. She picked up a knife and held it near the center of the cucumber. “Okay, you tell me when I hit the approximate length.” “No.” She moved the knife a bit. “Come on. I’m not doing this.” She moved it again and raised an eyebrow. Kip glared at her, and then rolled his eyes and said, “A bit farther.”
...more
“I still don’t think you should do it.” “Noted.” “Fuck. You’re gonna do it anyway, aren’t you?” “Probably.” “Jesus Christ. I’d better re-up on my antacid pills. Just…don’t do anything without telling me, all right? Preferably, don’t do anything at all. Ever.” “Stay in the closet forever. Got it.” “What’s wrong with the closet? It’s a wonderful place crammed full of professional athletes.” “Goodnight, Todd.”
“Look, I don’t expect you guys to be okay with this right away or anything. I know it’s a shock and maybe it wasn’t fair of me to—” “Scott,” Carter said, holding a hand up. “Shut the fuck up for a second. I’m gonna process this shit, and then I am gonna give you a manly hug. But just shut it for five seconds.” Scott suppressed a grin. “All right.” Huff slapped his hands on his knees and stood. “Okay, I’m over it. And I’m happy for you, Scott. Good to hear you’ve found someone. And if anyone gives you shit about who you are, they’re gonna have to deal with me.”
“Hey,” Bennett said, after they separated, “what’s his name?” Scott grinned. “Kip.” Carter looked suddenly delighted. “Kip!” he said. “That is the cutest fucking thing I’ve ever heard! Are you kidding me with that shit?” “Thank god,” Huff said. “I thought you were gonna say you were secretly dating Rozanov.” “Rozanov wishes,” Scott said.
“There’s something I want to tell you about myself that will probably become public knowledge soon enough. I know the timing isn’t great for this, but I really do think it’s for the good of the team and for myself that I—” “Jesus Christ, Hunter,” Murdock said. “Can I get the bullet-point format of this thing?” “I’m gay.” Murdock froze, and stared at Scott like he’d just told him he was a wizard.
“Why now?” “Because I don’t want to live a lie anymore. And… I’m with someone. It isn’t fair to him.” “Ah. You’re in love. That makes sense. Love makes men do all sorts of dumbass things.” Scott gave a small smile. “I think this actually might be the smartest thing I’ve done.”
“I don’t envy you—which is not something I ever thought I’d say—but I certainly respect the hell out of you, Hunter. I’ve got your back if anyone comes for you.” “Thank you, Coach.” They shook hands, and Murdock said, “It’s not Rozanov, is it?” “Jesus. No! Why does everyone—?” “Good. I don’t need that kind of circus.”
“I’m only going to say this once, because I know it makes me sound like trash, but this place is fucking expensive.” “You know,” Scott said, “I still balk at prices like these. Even though I can easily afford them, I still instinctively look for the cheapest thing on the menu.” “There is no cheapest thing on this menu.” “Order whatever you want,” Scott said, “obviously. I think I’ll get the halibut because at least I know what that is.” “Jesus. Is it stuffed with hundred-dollar bills?”
“So you’re not a Scott Hunter fanboy. You just happened to meet him?” “Yeah. He didn’t tell you?” “Nope. Is it cute?” Kip shrugged. “It’s probably boring. One day he just came into the place I worked. It’s, uh…it’s a smoothie shop. Anyway. He got a smoothie, and then he came back the next day…and again…” “That,” Carter said with a wide grin, “is fucking cute. He picked you up at work? I didn’t think Hunter had any game!”
“I don’t think that the world was aware that you’re…” “Gay? Yes, I’m gay. I was planning on making some sort of official announcement, but what the hell, right? Everyone is here now.” The interviewer had been silent a moment, seemingly stunned, before she blinked and said, “And…are you… Is there anything you want to tell us about him?” “Absolutely. He means the world to me and I love him.”
Were they even dancing anymore, or just making out in a middle of a bunch of people? Scott didn’t care. It was madness. They were in public, safe space or not, and Scott felt completely out of control. He needed to get out of here, or make peace with the fact that he was going to fuck Kip against a wall in front of god and Ilya Rozanov.
It was maybe unimpressive in size, this little resistance group of hockey players who had chosen to join Scott tonight, but it felt like a revolution. A year ago—hell, a month ago—Scott would never have imagined this scenario. Out at a gay club with his best friends—his teammates—and his boyfriend and, uh, Ilya Rozanov.
“You’re happy,” Kip observed. Scott leaned their foreheads together. “I feel invincible right now.” “Me too. Let’s change the fucking world.” Scott kissed him, hard, because Kip had described exactly how he felt. “Yeah,” he said. “Let’s do that.”
