"Oh, I know."
My brow furrowed. "How do you know?"
"I've seen him at school. Wayne plays sports too, so I know who he is."
I scoffed a laugh. "Yeah, he plays, but he's not good at it. Not like you."
"Was that a compliment, Freya Kent?" he said.
"Don't let it go to your head, Stone."
"Too late."
His smile grew as I shook my head.
Steeling my spine, I looked up at him. "And the other thing?"
Tolliver arched a brow.
"You know what I mean."
"The kissing you thing?"
I nodded.
"That wasn't about him."
The air grew thick between us.
"Honestly, it wasn't even about helping you."
"It wasn't?" I asked.
My pulse pounded as Tolliver shook his head. He came closer until there was barely a breath between us.
As he leaned down, placing his lips directly next to my ear, my breathing grew shallow.
"I've wanted to kiss you for a long time," he said softly.
"You have?" I breathed.
"Mmm. I imagined it so many different ways."
So did I.
His lips unintentionally brushed the shell of my ear, and I shivered.
"But the reality was better," he said.
My eyes fell closed then reopened as he leaned back.
"I want to do it again," Tolliver said, pushing his hands into his pockets, a small smile on his lips as I gaped at him. "But I'll wait until you're ready."
"You...since when did you get so confident?" I asked.
"Always have been." He sent me a wink. "It's just louder after that kiss."
My heart was a riot in my chest, but I tried not to let it show.
