Page 104 of Best Friends, Tennessee

What if my dream was just a fantasy, after all?

“I’m nervous,” Ori finally admitted, looking over and giving me a sheepish grin.

“What for?”

He chewed on his lower lip. “Because I really liked it. And now I’m suddenly afraid I won’t be able to get the position here. It’s paid, and I even got rejected from avolunteerspot at the other place.”

Relief crashed down on me like a fucking avalanche.

All at once I realized the truth: Ori wasn’t getting cold feet.

Hereally wantedthis.

I leaned over from the driver’s seat and immediately pulled him into a kiss. “I love you,” I said against his lips. “And that’s why I’m going to say what I’m about to say, okay?”

I kissed him once more, and he smiled. “What?”

“Shut the fuck up.”

His smile got wider. “Finn—”

“Shut,” I said firmly, “the fuck. Up.”

He was laughing now, finally breaking the nervous tension he’d had since he left the museum.

“What are you trying to say?”

“I know you’re going to get this position,” I said. “That tour guide got along with you so well I swore she was going to give you the job on the spot. And I know that even if you don’t get it, you’re going to find something even better.”

“She did say the director was going to love me,” Ori said, looking out the front window again.

“Damn right.”

“You want to know something?” I asked him. “That video I had go viral last week has over two million views now, and it’s still rapidly growing.”

“Whoa,” he said, his brow furrowing. “Finn, that’s seriously good. I didn’t know it had that many.”

“But you know what?” I said. “I didn’t think it was a good video. I almost didn’t post it.”

“No way.”

I nodded. “Thought the angle was weird, and my voiceover narration was too talkative. But people are loving it. All I’m trying to say is that sometimes the best things come out of nowhere.”

“You’re tellin’ me,” Ori said, reaching over and squeezing my thigh. “Finn, I think I could even be happy working at the diner forever, if it meant I get to suck your dick whenever I want.”

I burst out laughing, leaning back in my seat. “Me too, Ori.”

“Nothing is ever going to be guaranteed,” he said. “But I’m still happy. I’m so happy, and it’s been so fucking long since I could truly say that.”

We gazed out the window for a moment, looking at the cloud-dappled blue sky. It was like a painting in itself, with fluffy white clouds and sweeping views of the far-off mountain range.

I let out a long sigh. “My life really was like black-and-white before you got back. Now it’s all in full color.”

“You’re so kind to me,” he said.

“It’s real,” I told him. “All my days felt the same. The color is back, now, Ori.”

He leaned against my shoulder and I pulled him in close, pulling in the scent of his shampoo.

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