Page 88 of Best Friends, Tennessee

15

ORI

Was I crazy to come back?

Or crazy to ever leave?

I hit the pool cue onto the ball with a hard, satisfyingthwack,watching the last of the stripes sink into the corner pocket.

I gave Finn a challenging glance from across the pool table. He was stretching with his arms up above his head, his biceps on full display in his fitted white T-shirt. A few tables behind us, I noticed a woman staring at his back like she was ready to lick every inch of him, too.

Did he know what he was doing? How good he looked?

Was he aware he could have any woman he wanted in this whole state if he just said the word?

“You’re behind,” I told him, looking at the two solids still on the pool table. “Catch up.”

“Relax. I’ve beaten you before when I was further behind than this.”

“So show me,” I said.

We were tucked into one of the alcoves surrounded by shelves. I made my way around to his side, knowing that I could give him a quick kiss if no one was looking into the alcove. I caught his scent and instantly my body responded, like I was a drooling animal, remembering the prize I’d had last night.

But the moment I reached his side, about to slide my hand around his waist, he moved.

He stepped away, circling the table, eyeing his next shot.

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

Even the way he walked suddenly seemed sexy. I wasn’t supposed to be desperate for anything. I didn’t want to get used to this—tohavinghim—if it wasn’t going to last. I knew Finn still wanted the Tennessee golden boy life, and I knew I didn’t fit into that.

But I couldn’t lie to myself.

I was craving him like a goddamn drug.

He lined up his shot, his arm making a clean line down toward the table. He took his shot, managing to sink one of the remaining solids.

“Lucky,” I said.

He glanced up at me from under his lashes and another image of him from last night flashed through my memory.

Last night it seemed like he had been the one begging for me. Now I felt like the roles were reversed, silently, even though neither of us had said it out loud.

“Hey there, cowboy,” a voice said from behind us, and when I turned I saw the beautiful blonde woman who’d been eyeing Finn before. “Nice shot.”

“Thank you kindly,” Finn said, giving her a nice smile.

“Play me next?” she asked. “I’ll buy you a drink.”

He paused for a moment, taking a chalk and freshening his cue. “I’m not one to say no to a drink,” he mused.

I glanced up to meet his eyes right away. “Fine with me,” I said.

Fine.

Good.

Get it over with, sooner rather than later. Maybe this woman is your future wife, and you can save me from the agony of wishing things were different.

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