"Your music is just like you. That violin is magic in your hands. I don't know how you do it, but every note makes me see you. Makes me see that fire inside you so clearly. Again, you're magic, Freya."
My eyes started to fill, but I refused to let the tears fall and ruin this moment.
"My high school years were spent hoping I could find some way to run into you. Not literally. I'm still sorry about what happened with the basketball." He took a deep breath. "I knew that, if you'd only look back at me, I would make you fall for me."
"So confident," I said.
"You know it."
"Almost cocky."
"Maybe a little bit, but you like it."
I did.
Confidence bordering on cocky looked damn good on Tolliver.
"Anyway, what I'm try to say is...I was into you then. I thought that was love. But now that I know you, I can say, without any doubt, I love you, Freya Kent."
Tears started running in rivers down my cheeks, and Tolliver wiped them away gently with his fingers.
"I'm in love with you," he said quietly as we swayed to the music. "I'm going to cheer you on at all your concerts, watch you beat all those other violinists' asses." A watery laugh escaped my lips, and he smiled. "Like I said, I want you at my games. And you can be as loud as you want."
"Careful what you wish for," I warned.
"I'm not scared."
He sent me another one of those heart-stopping smiles.
"And you shouldn't be either. Because I love you," he said.
Tolliver waited for my reply, but I had no words. I was gone, so gone. From what he told me, he was too, though. So like he said, hopefully, we were in this together.
"Say something, Kent. I'm dying over here."
I bit my lips on a grin. "And they call me the dramatic one."
"Freya."
"That was a beautiful confession," I said. "One of the best I've heard."
Tolliver arched a brow. "One of the best?"
"Well yeah, Stone, I've read tons of them. You've seen my bookshelves."
"I've reorganized them too. Multiple times," he grumbled.
Turning his face to mine, I said, "Yours was my favorite."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah," I said, moving closer. "Now, would you kiss me already? I feel like I've been waiting for this moment forever."
"Love when you tell me what to do," he murmured.
Tolliver's lips touched mine, and I pulled him closer, kissing him with all the love in my heart. Warmth filled me from where our lips connected. It felt like my body was made of sparks. They ignited whenever he was near, and I loved every second of it. Loved him so fiercely.
It was the only happy ending I wanted.
