As Tolliver kept smiling at me, I tilted my head, gesturing to the stick in his hand.
"You bring that to finish the job?"
Again, instead of being offended, he choked on a laugh. "I just got done with hockey practice."
I lifted a brow.
"No, really. I help with a camp, and it just let out. The rink’s a good 30 minutes away. Came here right after."
Yeah, sure, I thought.
"Also, it may be lame, but..." For the first time, Tolliver looked unsure. The slight blush on his cheeks wasn’t endearing at all as he held out something colorful to me. "I got you these."
Wordlessly, I accepted the bouquet.
Sunflowers.
The hockey player brought me sunflowers interspersed with little blue, star-shaped buds.
Despite myself, staring at the blooms, I felt myself thaw a little.
"Didn't know they sell flowers this late at night," I said.
"They don't."
Tolliver cleared his throat.
"I picked them up earlier. The guys wouldn't stop teasing me at practice."
"Ah, was it bad?"
"Relentless."
I bit back a smile. "Good."
He laughed softly at that. "Glad you like that part."
I did.
The thought of Tolliver getting flack for buying me flowers? Oh, I loved it.
"You know, you could've gotten smaller ones," I commented, though I loved the bouquet and wouldn't change a thing. "If you wanted to hide them, I mean."
"Nah, I wanted these."
"Why?" I asked.
"Sunflowers because they're beautiful and bright—like you."
My heart stuttered.
"And forget-me-nots because, well, after yesterday, I hope your head’s okay."
My eyes snapped to his at the joke.
All the reasons I should be pissed at him flooded back into my mind.
And that hardened my heart.
