Chapter 14 #2
"Um, everything," I said, counting off on my fingers. "He's a passionate musician, not a selfish jock. He's the heartbeat of HERS. He looks really good in a leather jacket. He's big and frowns all the time, kind of like an angry teddy bear that you just want to hug."
"And frowning is a turn on?"
"On Ryker Cordova? Hell, yes."
Tolliver was scowling now, and I had to be honest. It wasn't a bad look on him. Actually, the way his lips turned down, the intensity in his eyes, was very much working for him.
"So, who's your celebrity crush?" I asked.
"Don't have one," he said.
"Ah come on, everyone has somebody they want that's totally out of reach."
Tolliver's intense stare latched onto mine. "Famous people I've never met don't do it for me, Kent."
I blinked.
"I want something real."
Why did that suddenly make heat rise to my cheeks?
And why was his stare so hot and unwavering?
"Well, everyone wants that," I said.
"You think so?" He tilted his head. "I think some people might want the fantasy versus the reality."
"Maybe. There's definitely less chance of being hurt that way."
"Less chance of finding real love too."
I forced a laugh. "Seriously, Tolliver, you've never obsessed over someone you've never spoken to?"
He was quiet a moment, then he shrugged. "Once."
"Really?"
Another shrug.
"Care to share with the class?" I said.
"Maybe someday, but not right now." He shook his head with a laugh. "We better keep going, or we'll never get through all these questions. How many are there anyway?"
"Only a hundred," I said.
His eyes widened, and I laughed.
"Just kidding. It's more like 25."
"Sounds good."
"I tried to keep it low," I said. "It's not like we need to know everything about each other."
Tolliver shot me a grin. "Afraid if you know me better you might fall in love with me?"
I gaped at him.
"It was a joke," he said.
"I know." I gave myself a mental shake. "Where were we?"
"Favorite book?"
"That's a hard one, but I'd probably say whatever book I read last that made me laugh and-or swoon."
Tolliver gave me a look.
"Okay, okay," I said, thinking. "I can't choose an all-time favorite. But if I had to choose my favorite book I've read recently, like within the last few years, I'd probably say The Duke Takes a Lover."
Tolliver smiled. "That's the one we read together."
I nodded.
"Interesting," he said.
"What is?"
"Just out of all the books you've read—in years—your favorite is one where I was reading over your shoulder."
I rolled my eyes. "Which had absolutely nothing to do with it."
"Sure."
"If anything," I said, "the awkwardness of a strange guy reading over my shoulder should've made me like it less not more."
"And yet," Tolliver said with a self-satisfied grin, "it didn't."
Pointing to his face, I said, "Smug Tolliver is definitely my least favorite."
He barked a laugh.
"Yep, don't like him at all."
"They're all me, Freya."
"Well, you should work on that."
"Whatever that means."
I sighed.
"You know what I think," he said, dipping his head to catch my gaze. "I think you like all of me, and that's why you're so frustrated."
"Please."
"I think you like me even more than Ryker Cordova."
"You wish," I said.
"Yeah, I do."
Shaking my head, unable to wipe the smile off my face, I gestured to the paper. "Focus, Stone. We've got to get through these before the party."
Tolliver sighed long and loud. "Fine, but we're not done with this discussion."
If I had anything to say about it, we were.
"College. Where do you want to go?"
Running through my list of questions, I learned more about Tolliver.
He said he didn't have a preference of colleges.
He only hoped to end up somewhere he could be happy.
I'd always wanted to go away for school but not so far that I couldn't drive back to see my parents.
Hearing that he actually liked Brussels sprouts had me questioning his sanity.
His preference for being cold over being hot was something we actually agreed on.
When we got to the question about his favorite sibling, he said Elle...
then Eli...and finally Hudson before coming full circle and declaring he couldn't choose.
He loved them all too much. When he asked the same about my cousins, I straight up refused to pick.
My girls were my girls. They were my favorite people, and no way could I rank one over the other.
Tolliver's likes included: working out, spending time with family and friends, and playing on a team.
I liked sleeping in, preferred to go places alone, and though I loved my cousins, I equally loved performing solo.
Tolliver believed in love. I...wanted to.
We were both smiling as we slid out of the booth and walked outside.
"What are you so happy about?" Tolliver asked.
"Our first date was a success," I said.
"Date?"
Laughing at myself, I shrugged. "You paid for everything—even though I said not to, and I would've argued harder if I didn't feel bad about interrupting Sleepy's nap time."
He kept looking at me, not saying a word, and I started to feel a bit unsure.
"But you're right. Date sounds so lame, and I know this wasn't really—"
"Freya."
I looked up as he placed his knuckles under my chin.
"Call it whatever you want. I don't care."
My gaze fell to his lips as he leaned forward.
"Thanks for taking me to your hideaway," he said.
"You're welcome," I said.
His lips brushed a kiss against my temple, and my eyes closed on their own.
Did him kissing me like this make it more or less like a date?
It definitely made my heart take flight.
"I'll see you tomorrow."
I couldn't wait.