Page 48 of Best Friends, Tennessee

Bestenswas so different.

When I was a teenager, could I have imagined this? My best friend defending me, but also everybody else being on my side, too? Finn cared, of course. But also, Thomas cared. Kane did, too. Even the random people on the patio were understanding.

The pain of the past had been ripped open all at once, but… I didn’t feel raw, or scared.

I didn’t instantly want to flee town.

I felt grateful. Like most of the people around me were actuallygood. And that was more cathartic than anything.

Finn sat down next to me, and the moment I felt the side of his body touch the side of mine, a tear broke off down my cheek.

“Whoa, whoa,” Finn said, his brow furrowing. “You’re okay, Ori.”

“Fuck,” I said. I used the heel of my palm to wipe away the stray tear, pulling in a breath.

It was like too many things had just happened at once.

I hadn’t had half as much confidence back in the day as I did now. I’d felt so trapped back then, and now I felt free. I had so much sorrow for my teenage self, when I truly thought I had no one on my side.

Except Finn, before we’d slowly grown apart.

“Thank you,” I whispered to him now.

I swore he looked at me with his whole soul.

“It’s nothing,” he said.

I was a little shaky as I pulled in a deep breath. “Sometimes I wish I knew what I was doing.”

“You’re doing great,” Finn assured me. “Even if you think you’re lost.”

I bit my lower lip. “And I wish I’d known what I was doing,” I said, “the years I wasn’t there for you. When I was gone.”

He puffed out a breath, waving me off. “I was fine. You know how it goes. I needed to grow up, too.”

I held his gaze. “I don’t deserve you, you know.”

He shook his head. He was silent for a moment, then leaned in, pressing a slow kiss to my forehead.

Finn had never done anything like that before. He pulled back, inches away from my face. He hung there for a moment, with a question in his eyes.

Something crackled between us.

And then Finn leaned in and pressed a kiss to my lips.

My heart lurched right back up to my throat. It was as if the rest of the world disappeared around me. All I felt was him, his lips hot against mine, and his hand, gripping the top of my thigh.

You can’t kiss me, I thought, even though I wasn’t pulling away.What the hell are you doing?

My body flooded with heat, melting against him.

My cock responded almost instantly. The kiss was light at first, but hungrier a moment later, his mouth opening to mine in desperation. Like he was quickly taking something forbidden before I reallydiddisappear.

What. The. Fuck.

His hand moved up my thigh and as we broke off for a breath, I could feel the slickness on my lips. I was dizzy, like I’d just spun into some alternate universe.

“Don’t ever get down on yourself for leaving town, Ori,” he said in a low voice. His eyes were half-lidded, and he finally pulled his hand away from my thigh. “You needed to do it. I was proud of you. Iamproud of you.”

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