Game Changer

Kip and Scott tour the Met’s Arms and Armor collection. Scott wears a hat and hoodie as a disguise but remains tense, keeping his hands in his pockets to avoid touching Kip. When Kip tries to touch Scott’s arm, Scott flinches. Kip shares that his father, a high school history and English teacher, used to bring him here. He explains his passion for ensuring “marginalized groups’” stories are told correctly (241). Scott asks to read Kip’s undergraduate thesis, touching Kip with his genuine interest. Kip reveals he recently applied to local graduate programs.

In a brightly lit gallery, fans begin recognizing Scott and taking photos. Several approach for selfies and autographs. Overwhelmed, Scott insists they leave immediately, canceling their lunch plans. They return to Scott’s apartment.

That evening, Shawn texts Kip a romantic-looking photo of Kip and Scott at the museum. Kip lies, claiming they are just friends. He decides not to tell Scott about the online photos to avoid stressing him. Later, Scott asks about them, revealing his teammate Carter sent one to him. Kip pretends to have just discovered them. Scott paces anxiously, angry at himself for the risky outing and worried about appearing too affectionate. Frustrated, Kip announces he is leaving. Scott apologizes, explaining every public step is huge for him, and pleads for Kip to stay. Kip relents.

Kip watches the Admirals win their first playoff series. He reflects on his two-month relationship with Scott, noting Scott has had less time for him during the playoffs. Kip tells his parents he has been staying with friends in Manhattan to hide that he sleeps at Scott’s apartment most nights. After the game, Scott texts that he is celebrating with his teammates. Alone in Scott’s empty penthouse, Kip feels disappointed and lonely, tired of hiding their relationship and lying to loved ones.

Scott arrives late and drunk, gives Kip a quick kiss, and falls asleep immediately. Kip recalls a recent team dinner for players and their partners that Scott did not invite him to, which left him feeling low. At work, Kip sees Scott’s photo on a newspaper cover and feels guilty for being demanding, convinced their relationship cannot last. His coworker Maria announces she is quitting for a better job and considering the police academy. Kip feels both happy for her and resentful that she is moving forward while he feels “stuck.”

That evening, Scott comes home exhausted from media appearances and goes straight to bed. Kip realizes he cannot live this way long-term. He knows he must talk to Scott about their future but decides the timing is wrong. The perspective shifts to Scott in the Admirals’ dressing room, where he looks at photos of Kip on his phone before putting it away.

Elena tells Kip she is in Los Angeles for work and cannot attend upcoming games with him. At Scott’s apartment, Kip examines Scott’s Sports Illustrated cover and feels growing dread about their relationship’s future. When Scott arrives home exhausted, Kip offers support. Scott vents all evening while Kip keeps his own worries to himself.

At the next home game, the Admirals are losing badly. After being taunted by opposing player Ilya Rozanov, Scott shoves him. Referee Hal Coleman separates them. From the bench, Scott sees Kip sitting alone in the stands, looking anxious.

Days later, Kip visits Elena to watch another game. She reveals she has been promoted and is moving to Los Angeles next month. Kip is devastated but congratulates her. The next morning, he calls Scott to share the news. Their conversation is stiff and distant, with Scott seeming dismissive. The call ends abruptly, leaving Kip angry.

The perspective shifts to Scott, who returns to his empty apartment and realizes Kip is not there. Their tense text exchange makes Scott feel he is being blown off. Scott asks if Kip is mad; Kip replies he will see him at the game.

At dinner with his family, Kip’s sister, Megan, asks if he is seeing someone. Kip lies but admits he applied to graduate school. Alone in his room, Kip feels his relationship with Scott is doomed and considers ending it quickly.

Before the game, Scott is determined to win so he can have time to fix his relationship with Kip. Seeing Kip in his usual seat comforts him. After the victory, Scott returns home to find Kip absent for the second night. They agree via text to talk the next day.

When Kip arrives at Scott’s apartment, the atmosphere is awkward. Scott asks permission to kiss him. They sit down, and Scott asks what he has done wrong. Kip explains he hates hiding their relationship, calling it “the best thing in his life” but saying it feels like a “dirty secret” (271). He confesses his fear that pressuring Scott to come out will make Scott realize he is not worth the risk. Scott is devastated and denies this, but Kip says he does not know how much longer he can live this way.

Scott argues he is not ashamed but must be careful because of his public responsibilities. The conversation escalates. Kip challenges Scott to show people they are wrong about gay athletes and asks if the plan is to hide forever. Kip accuses Scott of being embarrassed to be with him. Scott shouts that Kip has no idea of the pressures he faces as a public “commodity,” while Kip retorts that Scott does not want to tarnish his brand with his “gayness” (274). Scott declares the playoffs are everything to him. Heartbroken, Kip says he is leaving. Scott lets him go, saying only “Fine.”

Days after the argument, Kip gets drunk alone at the Kingfisher. At closing, server Kyle offers to walk Kip to the subway. Though Kip knows it is a bad idea, loneliness makes him agree. On the street, Kyle compliments Kip and asks to kiss him. Confused about his relationship status, Kip hesitates. Kyle kisses him, and Kip kisses back briefly before realizing his mistake. Horrified, he shoves Kyle away and runs.

The perspective shifts to Scott on the team bus in Detroit, exhausted and miserable. He reflects that while some of Kip’s accusations were unfair, he has not adjusted his own life for their relationship. He loves Kip and wants a life with him but dreads becoming known only as “the gay hockey player” (279). During the game, after an opponent uses an anti-gay slur, Scott loses control and brutally beats the player. In the penalty box, he is filled with shame and regret.

A week after the argument, Kip runs into Kyle at a Barnes & Noble. Kyle is kind and invites Kip for coffee as a friend. Kip confides about his closeted boyfriend without naming Scott. Kyle advises that if Kip is truly in love, he must try to fix it. Kyle also tells Kip the Kingfisher is hiring.

At home, Kip is too scared to contact Scott. His father brings an envelope from New York University. Kip has been accepted to the master’s program. His father then reveals he knows Kip has been dating Scott Hunter, deduced from Kip’s reaction to Scott’s recent, brutal on-ice fight. After his father leaves, Kip breaks down, realizing even getting into graduate school cannot make him happy without Scott. He resolves to fix things.