"I know my opinion doesn't really matter," Tolliver said with a smile, "especially when it comes to this. But you don't have to protect me. I want you to be happy—even if it's with him."
"Who are we talking about?" I said, completely at a loss.
"The drummer."
When I continued to stare, he lifted a brow.
"Ryker Cordova," he added, and I thought I saw his lips slightly curl on the name. But when I blinked, he was back to being Tolliver again. Nice, happy, carefree, yet those eyes were intense. "You told me you had a secret crush. Now that you've met, I assume those feelings are even stronger. And I'm cool with it."
"You are?" I said.
"Yeah, of course."
Tolliver's eye twitched, and I tilted my head. "You don't look totally okay with it."
"Well, I am," he said smoothly.
"You know what?" I sat back and crossed my arms. "I think you're the one acting weird."
Tolliver's gaze narrowed.
"You hinted that you liked me, and now, you say you're good with me having feelings for another guy?"
I shook my head as he started to open his mouth.
"I call B.S."
"I don't care what you call it, Kent."
"That twitch proves you're a liar."
"You want honesty?" Tolliver said, leaning forward. "Okay, here it is."
I waited.
"First, I didn't hint that I like you?—"
"But—"
"I told you point-blank."
My lips snapped shut.
"Second," he said, "I think I made it clear, several times, I wanted to be your boyfriend. Not fake, like you wanted, but real."
My breath hitched as he leaned closer.
"And third, I think you're very aware of how attracted I am to you."
Unconsciously, I licked my lips, and his eyes followed the movement.
"You are?" I breathed, feeling like the hopeful note in my voice, the way my body leaned toward his, revealed everything. Absolutely every emotion.
But when Tolliver met my eyes again, they were resigned.
"I'm trying to be the good guy here," he said roughly.
"I have no idea what that means."
