Page 14 of You Found Me (The Meadow Springs #1)

Spencer

All morning I’ve received calls and messages from family and friends. My mom called and started crying because her “baby boy is growing up too fast.”

She’s done some variation of crying and reminiscing on my birthday for as long as I can remember.

And just like the last two years, she asked if I’m ready to settle down anytime soon, because she’d really like to be a grandma.

Dad took the phone from her because he knew where this spiel would end up and wished me a happy birthday.

“I wish I was able to make it there. I tried to find coverage, but with Luna still out, it wasn’t possible. Maybe I can try to come next weekend?”

I was about to tell him not to worry about it but then remembered something. “You know, it’s Mia’s birthday next week as well. I’m sure she’d be cool with you coming. I mean she basically called you eye candy when she met you. ”

I can almost feel the eye roll as he says, “You’re hilarious, Jay. Make sure it’s okay for me to come, then find out what her favorite dessert is, and I’ll bring it.”

“You got it, B. See you next weekend.”

When I get to work half an hour later, I find Theo sitting behind my desk with a box of donuts surrounded by the saddest balloons known to man.

The state of the balloons aren’t that surprising considering the first birthday I had after we moved in together in college, Theo filled the living room with half blown-up balloons.

He didn’t think to get a helium tank or to have the grocery store blow them up and instead did about twenty on his own. Claiming he could do no more as the balloons stole all of his air capacity, before handing me a morning beer in celebration.

Ever since we graduated, and went our separate ways, I haven’t had “sad” balloons for my birthdays, and I didn’t think I’d be so happy to have them back.

Before I can comment on them, he raises up his hand to silence me. “I wanted to bring back the tradition now that we live in the same town again.”

I let out a big laugh. “Thank you. I really like these new additions.” I point to the barely blown-up glitter filled balloons. “They add a little razzle-dazzle.”

“Those were Mia’s contributions.”

“I’ll be sure to send her a thank you text.” I walk to my desk, getting a closer look at the donuts inside. They look insanely delicious. “Where did you get these? I didn’t know anywhere in town made fancy donuts.”

“You should really be thanking me because I stopped her from adding blown up condoms to the mix. As for the donuts, I asked Rose at Blossom Brews to make them special for you.”

“Jesus,” I laugh, shaking my head. “Your sister is interesting.”

“Yep.” Clapping his hands together, he stands and says, “Alright. Let’s get to work. The crew will be showing up in fifteen.”

We end up working until six. It was as though anything that could go wrong, did.

Permit applications for one of the housing developments weren’t filed when they were supposed to be, we ran out of the wood beams for the framework of another, and one of the guys brought in cookies his wife made for everyone.

Which on its own seems very sweet, until those who ate the cookies ended up with terrible stomach issues, causing them to leave work early.

As soon as I get home, I jump in the shower to wash this hellacious day off me. I finish getting dressed and hear a knock at my front door. I thought we were meeting at the diner. Maybe I got the plan wrong?

When I open it, there stands my parents and brother, with big smiles. My mom rushes me and wraps her arms around me in the tightest hug. I attempt to hug her back within her vice grip and invite them in.

I look at Beckett. “When you were asking my plans for the day, this is why?”

He just laughs and nods. “I called Theo after we got off the phone to let him know we were coming.”

“You’re going to be staying the night, right? I hope you guys don’t plan to drive back after dinner.” I look between the three of them. “I can make up the extra room and the couch for Beckett.”

“Your dad and I are going to stay at that cute little flower themed inn. I think your brother planned to stay here as long as you don’t mind.”

“Of course I don’t mind. Though I think I’ll make him sleep on the floor for not telling me about this surprise,” I tell her while pretending to glare at B.

We talk for a little while longer before leaving. On the way out, we bump into Emmaline. And running into her is slowly becoming my favorite part of living in this town.

“Hey, Emmaline! This is my mom, June, and my dad, Bill. Family, this is Emmaline. She lives next door with Theo’s sister, Mia.”

She gives us a warm smile. “Hi. It’s nice to meet you both. And it’s good to see you again, Beckett. What brings y’all to town?”

“Oh, noth—” I’m cut off by my mom.

“It’s my baby’s birthday and we decided to surprise him.”

Emmaline looks at me, amusement sparkling in her big brown eyes. “I had no idea. Happy birthday, Spence. I’ll have to buy you a drink sometime.”

Her eyes scan my family and then me for just a second too long. “It really was nice to meet you all. But I need to go in and wash off this day. Have a good night.”

I watch her go into her apartment before turning to leave and I’m met with the biggest grin on my mom’s face.

“Don’t even go there. She’s just a friend.”

“Yeah, a friend you wanna kiss,” Beckett says under his breath which causes our mom to grin even wider.

“Shut up, Clark,” I tell him, making him look away. “Come on, let’s go eat.”

Mom manages to not bring Emmaline up again until Theo shows up. She’s sure to get the pleasantries out of the way quickly.

Before Theo can even return them, Mom dives right in. “What’s the deal with that cutie who lives with your sister?”

Theo looks at me, grin as wide as it can be. “Ah. I see you met Em.”

I shut it down before either of them gets carried away. “Emmaline and I are friends. Nothing more. Besides, she just broke it off with her fiancé like two months ago. I’m focused on my jobs. Which means I don’t need a girlfriend.”

“You’re not getting any younger, Spencer James. And neither are we,” she gestures between her and Dad.

“Leave me out of this, June Bug. He’s only twenty-eight. He’s got plenty of time to settle down and have kids—if that’s what he wants to do.”

She sighs dramatically. “Fine. I’ll let it go.”

Somehow, I don’t believe her.

“Man,” Theo chimes in, “you can’t catch a break with the women in your life trying to set you up and marry you off.”

“Oh?” Mom asks, her curiosity obviously piqued. “Is someone else meddling in my absence?”

I glare at Theo .

Does he not get that if my mom hears about being set up on dates that she’ll get the same idea? I’m going to find a way to make him pay for this.

“It’s nothing, Mom.” I try to make my case, but Edie walks up to our table at the same moment.

“Well, hello to my handsome boys.” She looks at my parents, sticking out her hand to each of them. “I’m Edie, the owner. I keep one of your boys regularly fed and the other I save from hormonal teenage girls.”

Mom and Dad laugh, introducing themselves. “It’s nice to meet you.”

They chit-chat for a bit longer before Edie walks toward the kitchen with our orders.

“Are you guys staying in town tonight?” Theo asks.

“We are. Beckett’s staying with Spencer, but I booked Bill and I a room at the Wildflower Inn,” Mom smiles, eyes lighting up. “Spencer seemed to like staying there and all the pictures looked so cute online.”

“It is very cute ,” Theo says in agreement. “You’ll probably meet the owner, Clara Baker.” He then looks at me before adding in, “Maybe don’t tell her you’re related to this one. I doubt she’s happy with him.”

“Dude, shut up,” I say through clenched teeth. “I talked to her before I moved out and we’re good. I told you that.”

“Hmm,” tapping his chin, he ponders, “I don’t recall that conversation.”

I think I might murder my best friend.

I’ll send his family the nicest condolence flowers I can get my hands on. But I will do a happy little dance on his grave for being one of the biggest gossips known to man. When I moved to town, I had forgotten that for as mischievous as Mia is, Theo is just as bad.

Beckett isn’t helping either as he actively is trying his best not to laugh at the look of panic on my face.

“Spencer James Hale!” Mom scolds. “What did you do?”

“I didn’t do anything. Theo’s exaggerating.”

“I won’t ask again,” she says with that no nonsense mom voice .

I take a deep breath and say, “It wasn’t something I knew about beforehand, but she set me up with her granddaughter. Maybe half an hour into it there was an emergency with work, and I had to leave.”

I hear a sound come from Theo and I whip my head to him so fast, daring him to say something.

“Oh Spencer, you left a date for work? You’ll never find a girlfriend if you keep putting work first.” She sighs, “Did you at least apologize to the two of them?”

Completely ignoring her dramatics. “Of course I apologized to them. I explained to Heidi right when I got the call and then to Ms. Clara when I saw her again on Sunday. Ms. Clara wasn’t upset with me for leaving the date.

She was upset with her granddaughter because before I even left the date, Heidi was texting her ex-boyfriend trying to win him back.

I promise I dodged a bullet with this one. ”

“I just wanted to make sure you weren’t rude to either of them.

I raised you better than that.” I watch as her eyes light up, dreading whatever she’s about to say next.

“If I’d known you were open to being set up, I could have helped!

I know a couple of lovely young ladies who you’d get along swimmingly with. ”

Beckett and Theo lose it, laughing loudly. Dad sighs, shaking his head.

I begin pleading with her, “Mom, no. I promise that if I wanted to have a girlfriend, I could find her on my own. I don’t want or need the women in my life to meddle in my love life. Can we please move on from this?”