Page 15 of You Found Me (The Meadow Springs #1)

“Fine,” she says, clearly annoyed with me. She switches tactics from bulldozing into my life, to Beckett and Theo. “Boys. What about you two? Going to make grandmothers of Lizzie and I?”

Theo laughs. “Lizzie knows that I do eventually want marriage and kids. Same for my sister. She seems content knowing that it’ll happen at some point. I go on dates, here and there. Just no love match yet.”

“I guess that’s good enough. Beckett, what about you? I know you keep things private, but I’d like it if you dropped me a little breadcrumb here and there. ”

He puts his fork down, wiping his mouth. “Well, I actually wanted to introduce you to someone I’ve been dating.”

“Really?” Beckett nods and she squeals, clapping her hands together.

“Did you hear that Bill? He’s got a girlfriend.

” Dad grunts, not bothering to add anything to this whole conversation as he’s too busy eating.

“At least one of our boys has a special friend. How long have you been together and when do we get to meet her?”

“Aria and I have been together for about seven and a half months now. I’ll ask her when she’s free and then let you know.”

“I’m so happy. Anytime that works for her will work for us. I’ll make sure of it.”

The rest of the dinner goes off without a hitch.

My parents, or I should say my mom, got Edie to bring out a cake, lit up with candles.

Edie, however, announced to the whole diner that they were to sing happy birthday to me or else they’d have to deal with her.

Totally embarrassing but it made Mom happy.

After the cake, Theo took off and my parents decided to head to the Inn to check in and explore.

As everyone takes their leave, I start to think about my life since moving here. I know how lucky I am to have people that love me. I don’t take that for granted. But sometimes I wonder if I made a mistake moving away from home, even if it’s only an hour and a half away.

Family is important to me, but I’d like to think I’m creating an extended family for myself here in Meadow Springs.

***

Friday morning, my mom calls me in a panic, asking if I can come over to help her with the kitchen sink.

Apparently, it started leaking and she can’t figure it out. “Your dad has gone to work, and Beckett worked late last night. I don’t want to be a bother to him this morning.”

“I’m not sure I’ll be able to do much more than turn it off, but I’ll give it a shot. I can be there around noon. ”

“That’s perfect,” she says happily. “I’ll make lunch as a thank you.”

Before I can even respond, there’s the telltale beep of the call ending. When she’s done with a conversation, she’s done. I walk through the job site to find Theo and let him know I have to go to Willow Beach. He asks me if everything is okay and I fill him in on the sink debacle.

Close to two hours later, I’m standing in the driveway of my childhood home. There’s another car in the driveway that I don’t recognize, but she always has some kind of visitor—whether it’s a friend or some of the ladies from her church group. I open the front door and walk right in.

I’m about to call out, letting her know I’m here and hear a voice that isn’t my mom’s. The owner of said voice sounds younger than my mom’s friends. When I step into the living room, there’s a woman a bit younger than me sitting next to her.

And it’s right then that I know I’ve been played again.

She agreed to let go of trying to set me up with someone at dinner, but she never said how long she’d hold back from finding me a girlfriend. She introduces me to Shiloh, a new friend from her book club and then excuses herself to go check on lunch.

We both watch her leave, then look at each other before we break out in awkward laughter.

Don’t get me wrong, Shiloh is pretty. Long, honey blonde hair, deep emerald eyes, and the biggest dimples.

If there was a word to describe her, it would be adorable.

Like a true girl next door, and she’s looking at me, sizing me up just as I’m doing to her.

“Sooo,” she draws out, “did you know about this? Because I sure didn’t.”

“I was told she had an issue with the sink, which is why I’m here.”

Her laugh is sweet and melodic. “And I thought I was coming over to drop off the next book we’re reading for book club.”

We look at one another in silence before absolutely losing it. Part of me can’t believe she pulled this on the both of us, but the other part is laughing because I’m an idiot for not expecting a set up .

She says with a smile, “I thought my mom was a meddlesome woman, but I think yours takes the cake.”

We talk for a bit more as my mom preoccupies herself with making lunch, and I learn that Shiloh is a photographer, hoping to get her break in sports photography.

I tell her about my connection with Sebastian and that if she wants, I can introduce them.

To help her get her foot in the door. She agrees, giving me her number.

Before she finishes reciting it out loud, she adds, “Just so we’re clear, I’m not coming onto you.”

Laughing, I tell her, “I like how direct you are. And same here. However, I do think we should play along today because lunch smells delicious. Plus, it will keep my mom off our case. Deal?”

She agrees and thrusts her hand out. “Deal.”

Mom spends the whole lunch telling me all about Shiloh. Like how her favorite type of books are monster smut romances.

I raise a brow and smirk at Shiloh, thinking I’ll see her embarrassed, but she just looks me dead in the eye and winks. “I like what I like, and I won’t apologize for it.”

We finish eating and begin clearing the table. I let my mom know that after cleaning up I can check the sink for her. And this crazy woman, who gave me life, looks at me as if I’ve grown a third eye.

“What’s wrong with the sink?”

I look at her and then over to Shiloh to see her stifling a laugh. “Are you serious? You called and asked me to come look at it because it was leaking. That’s why I came over on a workday.”

“Hmm. I don’t remember that,” she waves it off.

“I’m just glad you came to see me and had the chance to meet my new friend.

Maybe you guys can get together for dinner one night.

Oh, look at the time! I need to get changed.

I’m supposed to help Sally shop for her new grandbaby.

Walk Shiloh out to her car on your way out. ”

I just stand there dumbfounded, as she heads upstairs. Shiloh busts out in a fit of giggles and starts for the door. When we get to her car, Shiloh turns to me, and I watch as her eye catches something in the direction of the house .

I sigh heavily and ask, “She’s peeking out the window, isn’t she?”

She nods before saying, “It was nice to meet you, though. I’ll be waiting to hear from your cousin.”

“The season is starting up in a few weeks, so I’ll be sure to contact him right away.”

“Perfect.” She quickly glances at the house. “June’s still there. Pretend to kiss me or something. Give your mom a little bit of hope.”

“You’re insane. Don’t try sticking your tongue down my throat,” I say.

“No worries. I don’t think throwing up would give your mom the impression we’re going for.”

“Funny girl.”

We lean into one another and as our lips are about to touch, she puts her hand up, leaving us both to kiss it.

I have to fight to keep my eyes closed and not laugh. I'm really not Shiloh's type.

She pulls back, with a grin. “Sorry. I'm not actually into kissing men I just met.”

“Same here,” I tell her with a smirk. “I’ll be in touch once I talk to Bastian.”

“Thanks so much. If you follow through with that, I promise to limit the amount of smut I encourage June to read,” she says with a wicked smile.

“Sure, Shiloh.”

I watch as she gets in her car and turn back to look at the house before doing the same. Mom doesn’t bother moving from the blinds and is instead smiling.

The women in my life never give me a moment’s peace.