Page 106 of Best Friends, Tennessee

I leaned in to kiss him, hoping it would stop me from showering him with too many compliments.

Kane came around our side of the bar again as we leaned back.

“This is a cause for celebration,” he said.

“The fact that they’re finally dating?” Max asked from behind him.

“No, Ori’sjob,” Kane protested. “Round on the house from me, guys?”

“I’ll never say no to that,” I told him.

Max’s words danced around inside me as I watched Kane prepare two whiskey shots for us.

Dating. Is that what Ori and I were doing?

“Finn’s making millions from his videos now anyway,” Max said. “I saw how popular that new one is. Can I be in one of them?”

“I am hardly makingmillions,” I told him. “But you can absolutely be in one, if you want.”

Kane pushed our shots across the bar.

The only reason I gave a damn about making some extra cash from my videos was so that I could have what I never had as a kid. Stability. I didn’t want riches or flashy cars, and if I kept making good money, the only real thing I’d spend on would be some land and some horses, one day.

And maybe, someday, a house big enough for two.

“I’ll take a shot with you guys,” Max said.

“Hell, I will, too,” Kane said.

We all lifted our whiskey shots a minute later, clinking them together.

“To Ori and Finn!” Max said before we all tossed them back. In the background, I heard Loretta Lynn come over the speakers, and all across the place I saw people bobbing their heads.

Fuck.

Ori was going tohatethis.

But I couldn’t hear “You’re Lookin’ at Country” without singing and dancing, and tonight was no exception.

“I can’t help it,” I told him, giving him a sympathetic look. “You probably hate this song, but it gets me, you know?”

Ori gave me a sly look. “I’m going to admit something to you.”

“You going to admit you’re thinking about leaving town already?” I joked before singing along. “So I hope you're likin' what you see—if you're lookin' at me, you're lookin' at country.”

Ori shook his head. “I’ll admit it. I’ve always kind of liked this song.”

I dropped my jaw. “That’s it. Get up and dance with me.”

“Finn—”

“You said it yourself. You like it. I love it. Get up and dance.” I gave him a challenging look. “You won’t do it.”

He puffed out a laugh. “Wanna bet?”

I took his hand and tugged, and finally, he moved, standing up and letting me pull him toward the dance floor. Other people were up and dancing already, including an elderly couple who were getting downright groovy. We mixed in with the group and I sang along, with Ori in my arms.

“You’re doing so well,” I said near Ori’s ear toward the end of the song. “Humoring me.”

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