Chapter 14
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
"This isn't exactly what I meant," Tolliver said.
"What? You said I could choose where we go," I said.
"Currently questioning that decision."
As Tolliver glanced around, taking in the full shelves of snacks, the refrigerators filled with drinks lining the back wall, the hotdogs rotating in the corner next to the doughnuts, and, of course, the Slurpee machine, he shook his head.
"Kent, this is a gas station," he said as if I wasn't aware.
"That's where you're wrong," I said. "It's so much more than that."
Tolliver picked up a keychain, holding it between two fingers as if it might be radioactive. I didn't laugh, but it was a near thing.
"This is the best gas station in the world."
"Seriously?"
"Well, at least, in Chapel Hill."
Tolliver crossed his arms. "Explain. Because right now all I'm seeing is the cashier trying not to fall asleep next to the lotto tickets."
He was right, I realized. The guy behind the counter, who looked about our age, was leaning on one hand, his head bobbing as he tried to keep his eyes open.
"This"—I held out my arms—"is the Gas-n-Go on Everwood. It's my sanctuary, Stone."
Tolliver's lips twitched.
"The best, brightest, most brilliant convenience store around."
"Well, your best and brightest's bathroom seems to be out of order. So, clearly not the cleanest."
I followed his gaze to the sign, declaring the restrooms out of commission, but I was undeterred.
Gesturing for him to follow me, I walked to the third aisle, stopped about halfway down, spotted my target and snagged two round containers.
Walking to the back, I opened the correct door and reached up to get us drinks.
I got one, but the second didn't slide to the front like it was supposed to.
It was stuck, and I couldn't quite reach.
"Ramen and something in a can?" Tolliver tsked. "Come on, Kent. We can do better than this."
"Shhh," I said, hushing him. I looked around but didn't see what I needed.
"What's up?"
"Someone moved my step stool."
Tolliver tilted his head toward the front. "My money's on Sleepy."
It wasn't lost on me that Sleepy had gone from leaning on one hand to full out laying his head on the countertop. Even from here, I could see a small bit of drool trickling out of the side of his half-open mouth. I winced.
"Must be tired," I said. "We don't need to bother him."
"Yeah, from giving all that excellent customer service," Tolliver said.
I squinted at him. "Trying to decide if I like sarcastic Tolliver."
A grin.
"He's definitely an improvement over smiles-all-the-time Tolliver."
That got a full-on laugh, and I turned back to frown up at the drink. Even if I jumped, I didn't think I'd be able to get it. I tried anyway and huffed when my feet were back on the ground.
"Freya?" he said. "You need something?"
"A little help," I said begrudgingly, "would be nice."
"You got it."
As he reached past me, his other hand landed on my waist.
"How many do you want?"
I swallowed. "Just one."
"You sure?"
As his thumb caressed my hip, I shivered. "Yeah."
Tolliver nodded, brought the drink down, and held it out to me.
"Thanks," I murmured.
"Mmm," he said.
I turned to face him, wanting to weep when the hand on my waist fell away.
"What next?"
"Microwave," I said.
"So romantic," he quipped, and as we walked to the counter, I stifled a grin.
"That move with the drinks was pretty romantic, Stone."
He shrugged. "I work with what I have. Still...are you sure this is where you want to go?"
"One hundred percent," I said.
Tolliver was right. This was probably the least romantic 'out' in the history of outs.
Which was precisely why I chose it.
It would keep our relationship clear, no misunderstandings, no growth. That would hopefully keep me from doing something stupid. Like falling farther than I already had.
"This way," I said and led him to another reason this was one of my favorite places. Sliding into the booth, I pointed to the space across from me, and Tolliver joined as well. Looking around, he nodded.
"Connected to a coffee shop," he said, easing back. "Not bad."
"Right?"
"Except you don't like coffee."
True, but... "I like the smell," I said. "It wraps around you, and when you pair it with tea"—I held up my cup—"something sweet"—the can came next—"and a warm, chewy, and delicious entree"—I pointed to the ramen—"it's an unbeatable combo."
Tolliver didn't nod, but he no longer looked skeptical. I considered that a win.
"Plus, no one ever comes here," I said with a shrug. "I don't think they know about it. Which again makes it the perfect hideaway. To me anyway."
After a moment, as I was eating my noodles, Tolliver said, "Let me see if I understand."
I nodded for him to go on.
"Instead of taking us to some restaurant you've always wanted to try or the movies where we wouldn't be able to talk, you brought me here. To one of your favorite places, to share your favorite foods and your hideaway."
Pausing, I looked up at him.
"This is somewhere special to you," he finished with a slow smile. "Somewhere no one else knows about."
"So?"
"So, you must be really into me. Huh, Kent?"
"You're reading too much into it."
"Maybe you didn't realize what you were doing," he said.
Tolliver was right about that. I didn't think twice about bringing him here, didn't see the significance—if there was any. I'd wanted to keep this impersonally personal. Instead, I literally took him to my spot. Good job, Freya. Total fail on that one.
"I think it's perfect," Tolliver said with a nod. "Thanks for sharing it with me."
He proceeded to dig into his noodles, eating with obvious delight. He finished it in like three bites, popped the top on his can and took a long swig. His eyes closed.
"What is this?" he asked.
"Dragonfruit lime refresher," I said.
"Tastes surprisingly good."
I bit back a smile. "Of course, it does."
"There's probably a ton of bad stuff in here though."
"Don't ruin it, Stone."
Tolliver wisely stopped trying to find fault with my sweet drink of choice.
We sat there in companionable silence as I finished my noodles, and he sipped from his can, savoring the flavor.
I had done this so many times. This booth should've had my name on it.
Whenever I needed a moment out of the house to breathe or study or decompress, I'd come here.
Having Tolliver with me should've been weird.
But it wasn't.
Clearing my throat, I removed my journal and a pen from my purse and set them on the table.
"Tomorrow," I said, "is Sabrina's party."
"I remember," Tolliver said.
"Since we'll be expected to act like..." I stumbled on what to call us, and he grinned.
Couple sounded formal.
Boyfriend, girlfriend was too juvenile—and somehow too old-fashioned at the same time.
Hookup was...just no.
In the end, I settled on, "They'll expect an us, so we have to give them one."
"Agreed." He nodded as if that wasn't confusing at all and jutted his chin at my open notebook. "What do you have there?"
"Questions," I said. "I figured we should get to know each other."
"But we already do."
"Not enough to pass as an us."
Tolliver didn't argue, but he did hold out a hand. "Let me see those," he said.
"Why?"
"Because if we're doing this, I prefer to ask the questions."
"Fine," I mumbled, passing him the book. "Who knew you could be so bossy?"
"Would we call that bossy or assertive? I just asked for what I want," he said, eyes sparkling. "You could've said no."
"Then you'd wonder what I was hiding."
"Yeah, but you say no a lot. At least to me."
"No, I don't."
He raised a brow like I'd proven his point.
"Whatever," I said.
"Okay, question one. Favorite sound?" Tolliver glanced at me. "You really think they're going to ask that?"
"They could."
"Hmmm. Well, I already know yours."
I crossed my arms, thinking he'd say the violin or something else obvious yet wrong.
"Wind blowing through the leaves," he said, and my jaw fell.
"How could you possibly know that?" I asked.
"You told me."
"When?"
"A few days ago," he said. "We were reading and got to that part with the storm.
Lady Odette said rainy days were the perfect reading weather.
But you said, they always get that part wrong.
I asked what you meant. And you said sitting under a blanket as wind moves through the leaves.
That's your favorite sound and the perfect reading weather because autumn's the best season. "
"Good memory," I said.
Tolliver looked smug, and I crossed my arms.
"Well, I bet I know yours too."
"Bet you don't."
I studied him a beat. "It's something special to you."
A nod.
"A sound you'd want to hear over and over."
"Nice reasoning," he said, "but I still think you'll get it wrong."
After a second, I smiled. "The slap of your stick hitting the puck and the buzzer going off."
Tolliver looked surprised. "How'd you know?"
"When you drove me to PT, you said there's nothing like scoring a goal, hearing that buzzer sound. You said a close second is the absolute quiet right before the sun rises—which I still think you made up."
"It's true, Kent. Pure serenity. You should watch it sometime."
"Maybe, I will," I said.
"Still can't believe you got that."
"I think I deserve bonus points for knowing your second favorite sound."
"Overachiever."
I shrugged. "I listen to you, Tolliver."
"You saying my name could've been first too," he said.
"Yeah, right."
He shrugged. "Next question, who's your celebrity crush?"
"Ryker Cordova," I said.
"He's that drummer, right?"
I nodded then sighed. "I was supposed to meet him this summer. He'd fall in love at first sight, obviously. We'd make beautiful music together. And then, we'd live happily-ever-after."
Tolliver grunted. "Sounds a little fast."
"Love's like that sometimes."
"Sorry to wreck your plans."
I shrugged.
"What do you like about him?" he asked.