Page 97 of Best Friends, Tennessee

No, no, no.

“What?”

I gave him a serious look. “Don’t make your dreams smaller,” I said, my chest tightening. “For me or for anyone.”

He gazed at me, the wind blowing a piece of his hair to one side. “What are you talking about?”

“You don’t like Tennessee. Period. You don’t have to lie to me about it.”

“I never thought I’d be saying this, but Tennessee really isn’t that bad.”

“Don’t,” said in a warning tone.

“Finn, what’s your problem? I thought you’d be happy to hear I was thinking about it.”

“I don’t want to be the reason you regret something for the rest of your life,” I said quickly, my voice rising more than I wanted it to.

I stood up quickly, my boot slipping on the dirt. I steadied myself on the tree trunk, my hand resting just above our little carving.

I felt like the world was crumbling all around me.

It was too much. Too overwhelming. Being here, hearing Ori say that stuff, all of it.

I turned and started walking back toward the car.

Before I could make it to the passenger side door Ori had come up, standing between me and the car, blocking me.

“I can do whatever I want, and you know it,” he said. “Maybe I do want to stay here.”

My heart was pounding. I shook my head, unable to make eye contact with him. “Don’t pity me.”

“Fuck you. It isn’t pity.”

“I’ll never be able to live in a world where you don’t get to follow what you really want,” I told him.

When I looked back at him, his gaze was steadfast. “Maybe I was wrong about what I wanted. For once in my life, maybe I can accept that.”

“You’ve always chased the city. Not going to let you lie to yourself—”

“I’ve always chasedbelonging,” he corrected me. “And maybe I can belong somewhere other than the city, if I’m happy. If I belong withyou.”

Every defense inside me shattered to pieces, all at once.

I puffed out a breath of air, reaching out a hand to lean it on the side of the beetle.

“Ori,” I said.

“I hated it here because I was afraid,” he said, his voice softer now. “Finn, I’m not afraid anymore. I’ve been so—”

“Stop.”

“I’ve been so goddamnblindfor so long.”

I let out a laugh that was more of a sob. “Oh, I’ve been the blind one, and we both know it,” I said, my words coming from the back of my throat.

“Thencome here,” he said, his arms wrapping around my waist.

“God, Ori,” I said, moving in to kiss him.

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