Crossing my arms, I said, "You didn't have to agree to Sabrina's party."
"It sounded like fun," he said.
"Did it?"
"Yeah, plus your ex was challenging us."
"Well now, they're going to expect us to go together," I said. "Like a couple."
Tolliver's smile was really too much. "Then we better not disappoint."
CHAPTER TEN
Iwas disappointed in myself.
For so many reasons.
But my number one was probably this: I knew I was falling for Tolliver Stone.
Hard.
Elle's words brought it to my attention, but deep down, I already knew. I was just living in denial. It was a happy place. Denial. Honestly, I kinda wished I was still there.
But after that kiss—that amazingly incendiary kiss—it was impossible to ignore my feelings.
Replaying how Tolliver's mouth felt against mine, the way I melted at his touch, how my heart rate sped up when he looked at me, took up way too much of my waking hours. It was ridiculous. I was losing sight of my goal. I couldn't count how many times I'd relived the kiss and couldn't believe I hadn't even thought of the tour. I needed to get back on track.
Plus, I couldn't give my heart to another jock.
It was a promise I'd made to myself after ending my relationship with Wayne. And honestly, it hadn't been hard to keep until now.
There was also my secret crush on Ryker Cordova to consider. HERS's drummer didn't know what he was missing. I was nothing if not loyal to my imaginary, one-sided relationships. Hopefully, if by some miracle we ever met, Ryker wouldn't get jealous of my new fake boyfriend—or vice versa.
I groaned, looking up at the ceiling of my bedroom, as I pushed the sleep from my eyes.
All these thoughts had kept me up last night, and they were still here at...
I checked the time on my phone and groaned again.
It was about 20 minutes before sunrise.
My page turner/reading buddy/fake boyfriend would be here soon, and thanks to my racing mind and lack of sleep, I felt like death warmed over.
Lovely.
Tolliver and I were still on the hook to attend Sabrina's sweet 16 as a couple. And okay, I wasn't entirely naive. That kiss had been hot on both sides, and Tolliver told me point-blank that he'd wanted to kiss me for a long time. Still, how could that be if we only met last week?
He looked at me like he meant it.
Tolliver didn't seem to have an insincere bone in his body.
A part of me wanted to believe he was falling for me too.
Tolliver was kind, genuinely. And funny. Gorgeous. Smart. Talented. And, oh goodness, I'd be a fool not to want him.
But I couldn't let anything happen. It wouldn't be fair to Tolliver. My heart was closed to athletes. Period.
Taking a deep breath, I set my mind straight.
