He addressed his next words to Tolliver.
"If our daughter wants to talk to you, she can do it later, after she's had some rest."
"But I just…"
"Later," Dad said firmly, staring at my cheeks. I could feel the wetness there, knew my tears were flowing freely, but it was like I was outside my body. This couldn't possibly be real. One rogue basketball couldn't derail my greatest hopes. Right?
When I looked at Tolliver and saw the guilt mixed with sadness staring back at me, I knew that it could and had.
"Bye, Tolliver," I mumbled as we began to walk past. "Nice meeting you, I guess."
"I have some family obligations, but I'll come check on you tomorrow," he said.
I nodded but didn't really believe it.
"I will, Freya. I promise. And I never break my promises."
It wasn't until much later that I processed what he'd said.
Maybe it was the concussion. Maybe it was the grief bombarding me from all sides, sorrow for a dream that was lost before it even began. But when I went to bed later that night, it finally sunk in.
It was a small, seemingly insignificant detail.
But it was something.
Tolliver called me Freya.
He knew my name.
Even though I hadn't told him and didn't know his name before today.
After talking with Aurora—she'd done it! She got on the bus, and despite my sadness, I was still able to be happy for her, celebrate her courage, while being so depressed for myself—the wave of sadness didn't hit me again until the sky was pitch black, and only the moon and stars lit the night. My pillow was soaked with tears, and as tiredness pulled my eyes shut, I remembered the look on Tolliver's face, the sound of his deep voice as he said…
Freya, I'm sorry.
I'll find a way to make this up to you.
I'll come check on you tomorrow.
I promise.
And I never break my promises.
I smiled sadly. Despite knowing practically nothing about him—besides the facts that he sucked at basketball, couldn't really carry a tune, and was not too terrible of a driver, I wanted to believe him.
Then I remembered Lesson 2. Never expect anything of anyone, and you'll never be disappointed.
I'd already broken Lesson 1 and gotten my hopes up about the tour and HERS.
I couldn't afford to do that again.
Even if Tolliver seemed sincere.
I gave a mental scoff just before falling sleep.
Family obligations? Yeah, right.
He was a hockey player.
