Page 56 of Best Friends, Tennessee

For the first time all night, Finn’s expression softened for a moment. “Why not?”

“I don’t know,” I said. “Why does it matter? He’s a great guy, but I don’t think he wants to fuck.”

“You’re kidding,” Finn said.

“Why is that so hard to believe?”

“Because whywouldn’the want to fuck you?” Finn asked, his brow knitting again.

I had to laugh. “Not every gay guy wants to fuck me, Finn.”

He ran his fingers through his hair. “Even the first night you got back to Bestens, you were asking if there were any eligible gay guys around here. Thomas should be perfect for you.”

“Between you and my mother, I swear you guys already had a whole life planned out for me and Thomas before we’d even gotten to know each other. Jesus Christ.”

“I’m sorry,” Finn said. “Still think he wants your ass, though.”

I crossed over toward the big bay window that was in Finn’s small dining area. The window was open, and a cool breeze from the backyard was blowing in. I stood there, gazing over his yard, looking at the little glowing lantern lights along the lawn.

“I feel like I need to start over,” I said. “Even though I’ve only been in Tennessee for a few weeks.”

Something in me was breaking down.

I felt my defenses lowering, like a gate finally opening up inside me.

“I need to start over, too,” Finn said.

I shook my head. “I don’t want the only kiss I get this year to be from you,” I told him, turning to face him.

“And what’s that supposed to mean?”

“A sympathy kiss? Only after Aaron was a dick to me in the bar?” I said.

“Wasn’t a sympathy kiss,” Finn said. “I wanted to do it.”

“You didn’twantit,” I said, waving a hand through the air. “Not in the way I’m talking about.”

Finn was suddenly glaring daggers at me. He stepped in close to me, giving me a little shove on the waist.

It was nothing like the type of shove that would lead us into a fight. Something had just tipped the scales between us, and we were in uncharted territory now, and I didn’t know what Finn might do.

“Say it again,” he told me. “I dare you.”

A warmth bloomed in my chest. I felt defiant, now that he was up in my face.

“You didn’t want it,” I repeated.

He was so close to me. His palm was hot on my waist, and my heart rate quickened as I let my gaze glance over his chest. I was aware of his physical presence.

He smelled like liquor and orange. It was kind of inviting, in a way I wished it wasn’t.

But I’d take his dare any day.

He was trying to prove a point, but I knew Finn had limits. He might have kissed me the other night. He might like fucking with me. But his possessive streak had to have an endpoint somewhere. If he wanted to find his limits with me, he was probably going to do it pretty fast.

“You think I didn’t want it?” he asked.

“You didn’t,” I repeated, searching his eyes. “That kiss was just a way for you to get me wrapped around your finger, just for that night, because you can’t handle—”

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