Chapter 17
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Igot off to a good start.
My plan was going amazingly. Packing wasn't hard at all since I'd only be gone a couple days. After double-checking to make sure I had everything, as I was about to leave, I impulsively grabbed my violin case.
Couldn't hurt to bring it along.
Honestly, my wrist was feeling better. I missed playing and didn't want to leave it behind. And with just me and Viola, there would be plenty of room in the trunk.
So, violin in tow, I set out.
I was only a few minutes into my drive when my phone rang.
"Hey, Dad," I said, trying to hold back a laugh. "I thought we said every two hours."
"We did," he said, "but I forgot to ask something."
"Okay, shoot."
"Your cousins' boyfriends. They're not coming, right?"
I shook my head even though he couldn't see. "No."
"You sure?"
"Yeah, I'm sure. This is a girls only trip."
He sounded far less tense when he said, "Okay, well good."
I knew I shouldn't, but I couldn't help teasing him a little.
"Although, there will be guys at the concert. And rockstars," I said. "The guys in HERS are gorgeous."
"Freya."
"Aurora's with Felix. That leaves four completely unattached musicians to choose from—and you know how much I love those."
There was a pause.
"Just kidding," I said.
"You're the worst daughter ever," he said back.
"And yet, you love me."
Dad sounded amused despite himself. "I do. But seriously, it's just you and your cousins? Girls only, right?"
I sighed. "Yes, Dad. Like I said before, no boyfriends allowed—or rockstars."
"Alright."
"Just relax. I'll see you in a couple days."
"I'll try, and hey, remember to get gas," he said.
"About to do that now," I said as I pulled into the station.
"Okay, love you, Freya."
"Love you, Dad."
"Be safe."
"I will."
After we hung up, I shook my head. Dad was so funny sometimes. Boyfriends? Please. I knew he was still concerned about this trip, but there was no need. I'd thought of everything, even wrote out an hour-by-hour schedule to stay on track. I was focused. Nothing would divert me from the mission.
Nothing could distract me.
"Hey, Freya."
I heard someone call my name.
I knew that voice.
It sent sparks racing down my spine, and as I turned to look, Tolliver was already jogging toward me.
"Tolliver?" I said in disbelief. "What are you—"
He reached me and pulled me into a hug, wrapping his strong arms around my waist, lifting me off my feet for breathless moments.
When he set me back down, I forgot where I was for a second.
But Tolliver was here.
He was standing right in front of me, pushing his hands into his pockets, smiling that smile that made my knees weak, looking chagrined but pleased at the same time.
"Sorry about that," he said.
"It's okay," I managed.
"I just missed you."
My heart danced happily in my chest.
"Didn't expect to see you here," he added.
Coming back to myself, I shrugged. "Why not? It's my gas station," I said.
"I remember. The Gas-n-Go on Everwood. Best around."
"That's right."
Tolliver just kept staring at my face as if he hadn't seen it in years.
"How are you here?" I asked. "I thought you wouldn't be back until tonight."
His lips twitched as I blushed. "So, you remembered when I was getting back."
Since I'd already outed myself, I breezed past the embarrassment and said, "Yeah, so again. What's going on?"
"Caught an earlier flight." Tolliver gestured to the black SUV parked in front of the store. "We were driving home, and I noticed the gas was low. Hudson's inside."
"Oh."
His brows furrowed. "You're out early. Thought you'd be at home reading. I was planning to stop by and surprise you."
You did.
I can't believe you're here right now.
And you look even better than when you left.
How is that possible?
"I'm going on a road trip," I said finally.
"Oh yeah? Where to?" he asked.
"New York."
Tolliver's eyes went round. "That's...a long drive."
"Yeah." I gave him a shrug. "I'll only be gone two days. I'm going to see my cousin and HERS play tonight."
"Hmm, sounds fun."
"I hope it will be."
"Can I come?"
Tolliver lifted a brow as I gaped at him. "You—what?"
"I want to go too," he said. "If you have room in your car."
"I definitely have room, but—"
"Can you get me a ticket?"
"I mean, probably. Scarlett said they'd have as many as we need. But..."
"Then I'm coming. Thanks for the invite, Kent."
"Technically, you invited yourself," I said, and he grinned.
"I guess I did."
Hudson came bounding toward us with bags in his hands. "You were right, T. They have the best snacks. I couldn't choose between salty or sweet. There were these pickle-flavored barbecue chips which sounds disgusting but—oh hi, Freya. What's up?"
I didn't even know anymore.
"We are going on a road trip," Tolliver said when I stood there speechless.
"Sweet," Hudson said. "When do we leave?"
"You're not going."
"Well, that's rude."
Tolliver rolled his eyes and started jogging to the SUV, speaking over his shoulder. "Let me get my suitcase real fast. Should only take a second."
Hudson shook his head and laughed quietly.
"I don't know what you did to him," he said, "but Tolliver's been a lot more fun since you've been around."
"Hey Hudson," I said, "do you think you can help me convince him not to go?"
"I can try, but he sounded determined."
I thought so too.
Tolliver came back, suitcase in hand, and looked at me.
"You ready?" he asked.
Before I could respond, Hudson crossed his arms. "You know, Tolliver, Mom and Dad aren't going to like this," he said.
"Yeah, but you'll tell them where I went, and I'll call later."
"You'll probably still be grounded. For the rest of your life."
Tolliver nodded. "I know, but I'm doing it anyway."
"Got it." Hudson shot me a grin. "Well, I tried."
"Not very hard," I said to which he shrugged.
"You going to be okay driving?" Tolliver asked him.
"Pfft, please. I'm a better driver than you." Shoving a bag at his brother, he said, "Here are your snacks. I'll cover for you with the parents."
Tolliver rolled his eyes. "Just tell them the truth."
"Okay, if that's what you want."
After grabbing the keys, Hudson waved to us then walked away. I noticed he didn't leave the lot yet, possibly waiting for his brother to change his mind. Turning to Tolliver, I just stared at him.
"Something wrong?" he said.
"This isn't a game, Stone," I said.
"I know."
"I'm going to this show for a reason, and I have a strict schedule to follow."
"We better get on the road then."
After he opened my door, Tolliver put his suitcase in the trunk and got in on the passenger side.
"Kent?" he said, pointing to an imaginary watch. "We're losing daylight here."
Sighing, I got in then tried one last time. "Are you sure you want to come? I don't want to be the reason you get in trouble."
"I'm sure."
Tolliver shot me a smile.
"I can't think of a better reason to get in trouble."
Neither could I.
* * *
Viola was waiting by the curb with a backpack thrown over her shoulders. When I pulled up, she took one look at Tolliver, moved her gaze to me, and smiled.
"I didn't know we'd have company," she said.
"I didn't either," I said.
Tolliver threw her a smile. "Hey, I'm Tolliver," he said. "We met on the video chat."
"Oh, I remember," Viola replied.
I shook my head.
"Are you coming to the concert with us?"
Tolliver nodded. "I am."
"This trip just got so much more interesting," she said.
"Vi?" I said.
"Yeah?"
"Get in the car."
Biting back a smile, she nodded.
"Did you want to sit up front?" Tolliver said already moving.
"No, that's okay."
"I'll sit anywhere."
"You're good." As Viola slid into the seat behind him, she added, "Besides we have to wait for—"
Right then, Charlotte came barreling out of the front doors.
"—my other cousin," she finished.
"I didn't know Lottie was coming," I said.
"It was a last-minute thing."
I started to get out, but Tolliver beat me to it.
He took the stack of books from Lottie's arms, and she looked surprised at first. As they spoke, her bright smile grew, and though I couldn't hear what they were saying, it was clear by the time she got into the car that Tolliver made a good first impression.
"Hey, Freya," she said. "I like your boyfriend."
"Me too," Viola said.
"Shhh," I hissed, "he's coming back. And he's not my boyfriend."
They exchanged a look, but Tolliver was getting back into the car, so there was no time to argue. He looked from me to them and back again.
"So, we all set?" he asked.
"Yeah," I said then looked to Lottie in the rearview mirror. "What's with all the books?"
"I just got back from a book conference," she said happily.
"Another one?"
Lottie nodded. "It was amazing. I wish you could've been there."
"I'm jealous," Viola said while I started driving again. "Of the books, not the fact that you had to be around all those people."
She faked a shiver—or maybe it wasn't fake.
Viola wasn't a big fan of people.
"They were book lovers," Lottie said with a shrug. "So it wasn't too bad."
"If you say so."
"Did you leave any books for anyone else?" I joked.
"Ha ha," Lottie said. "You wouldn't believe how many the other people had. They were pulling these carts full of them. Hey, speaking of which, Tolliver said Elle liked the books we recommended."
I glanced at him. That must've been what they were talking about before. "Oh yeah?"
Tolliver nodded. "She even signed up for her own library card."
"That's awesome," Lottie said, clapping her hands. "I hope she loves it. The library is my happy place."
Viola threw her a smile. "Have you been back?"
"Of course. How's the animal shelter doing?"
"Good, Paris said adoption rates are up, and they had a couple more families offer to foster."
I smiled back at her. "They did? That's wonderful."
"Yeah, my parents are thinking about it," Tolliver put in.
"They are?"
He nodded. "I brought them the form. Like I said, Eli falls in love with every dog he meets."
Viola sent him a smile and said, "Sounds like my kind of kid."
"He hasn't stopped asking me about it since I told him about our trip to the shelter. Pretty sure he wants to volunteer. Even though, he's not old enough yet. I wouldn't mind signing up either, although like Freya, I think it would be hard to leave them."
I was pretty sure from the look I saw on Viola's face that Tolliver had just gained another fan.
"It is," Viola said. "Dogs are—"
"So much better than people," Lottie and I said at the same time.
"Well, they are."
We laughed, and out of the corner of my eye, I caught Tolliver watching me.
"What's in the bag, Stone?" I asked, nodding to the paper bag in his lap.
"Snacks," he said. "I got the ramen and that dragonfruit drink you like. Like I said, I was going to surprise you. "
I swallowed.
Someone in the backseat sighed.
I wasn't sure if it was Viola or Lottie or both.
I knew exactly how they felt.
"I also wasn't sure what you'd want, so I got a little of everything "
"That's nice of you," I said.
"So nice," Lottie repeated.
"The nicest," Viola said.
I rolled my eyes, but Tolliver just smiled.
"Real subtle, guys," I said then gestured to Tolliver. "Well, hand out those snacks. We've got a long drive, and I need to stay awake."
"I'll make sure you stay awake," he said.
"I was kidding."
"I wasn't."
As my cousins tittered in the back, I saw Tolliver's signature smile again and knew it would be a long trip.
And I didn't mean the time or distance. Hopefully, their presence would prevent me from doing something crazy, like confessing my undying love to the guy riding shotgun—who brought me snacks…
to surprise me…the day he got back. But he hadn't called, I reminded myself.
He wrote me one text, said he missed me.
That was it. And yet, my pulse still raced knowing he was sitting in the seat next to me, breathing the same air.
At least with Viola and Lottie in the car, nothing too earth shattering could happen.
My lips twitched as Tolliver opened the refresher for me, holding it up to my mouth so I could take a sip.
Laughing softly, I clasped the drink, trying (and failing) not to notice how our fingers slid against each other in the most distracting way. I drank quickly then set the can in the center cupholder.
"Thanks," I said.
"No problem," Tolliver said back.
It was going to be a very long trip.