Page 19 of You Found Me (The Meadow Springs #1)

Spencer

I’ve spent the last week wondering when Emmaline would get back to me.

She text me saying she needed a little more time to think everything over, before ultimately making her choice.

I can only imagine how Mia told her everything she said and did in her drunken state that night when I took them home.

And in the meantime, I’ve still been dodging questions from my mom about when I plan on seeing Shiloh again.

Currently, I’m out at a sports bar in the city with Theo watching a few football games when my phone rings. I look down and grin at the contact photo that Mia took of me carrying Emmaline.

I get up from the table to answer and head outside. When I answer and say hello, she doesn’t say anything for a bit, causing me to huff out a laugh.

“Shortstack, you do remember that you’re the one who called me, right?”

The line is quiet for a few more seconds before I hear the sweetest “hi” I have ever heard.

“It’s nice to hear from you, Emmaline. I was getting worried I’d have to find another woman in need of help in exchange for getting my mom off my back. But as you can imagine, the list of potential women available was tragic.”

Laughter fills my ear. “Sorry. No, I still need your help. I guess it works in my favor that your list was so pitiful.” I hear her sigh. “Chance started sending me photos of dresses he thinks I’d look best in for the gala and no matter how many times I tell him no, he’s relentless. It’s maddening.”

Before I can respond, she continues on, “No one can know it’s fake. I mean besides Mia. But I need you to promise you won’t tell Theo because if he finds out, he will do something drastic and I’m trying to avoid that.”

Now probably isn’t the best time to tell her that Theo knows about everything. Her coworker, Faith, sent him a text at some point during dinner about the interaction with Chance.

After I took them home, I called to let him know they’d been dropped off safely, and he told me all about it.

I had to let him know about the bruises I saw and of her proposition slip.

I told him how I’d planned to help her out and he thought it was a good idea.

I really don’t want to lie to her since Theo already knows, but I feel like it’s not completely lying. We just both want to look out for her.

“I can do that. I really think I should drive you to and from work. Just in case he shows up again at the end of your shift, but also in case he switches it to mornings.”

“Spencer, you don’t—”

“Emmaline, I am going to do this. He didn’t care that the hospital was covered by cameras when he confronted and grabbed you.”

“Okay, fine. I need to be at the hospital by 6:45 a.m. on the days I’m scheduled to work. And um, thank you for doing this. I’ll let you get back to whatever it is you were doing.”

“No problem. And before you hang up on me,” chuckling, I add, “let’s go ahead and plan a date for some time this week. You know, to help sell the whole dating thing.”

“True. Umm, I work the first part of the week, so any time after Wednesday is good for me.”

“How about we do the typical Friday night date night?” I ask.

“We can do this first one in the city that way Chance knows. I know you’d said you blocked him on everything, but I have a feeling he’s got his own way to keep tabs on you.

Plus, if we do our first date away from town, it’s less pressure on us. ”

She nervously laughs. “All of that works for me.”

“Perfect. Goodnight, Emmaline. See you in the morning.”

She gives a quiet, “night” before hanging up.

I walk back inside and I'm not even back in my seat before Theo asks, “Is everything okay? You ran out like you were on fire.”

“Everything’s good. I have a date with Emmaline on Friday.”

“Dude, she just got out of a long relationship and the only reason it ended was because she caught him cheating.”

“You remember the talk we had after Mia’s party, right?

” When he nods I continue, “She was just double checking I was still okay with it. That’s all this is.

She made sure to say it multiple times. While we’re doing this, I’m with her 100%.

Also, you can’t ever let her find out that you know this is fake.

Emmaline said if you found out about Chance, you’d do something dramatic, and I’m inclined to believe that given your reaction to Faith’s text. ”

“I won’t say anything to her, but I’m trusting you to make sure she stays safe. If something happens to her, we will have the girls to deal with, and they take their love for one another very seriously.”

“I promise I won’t let anything happen to her, nor will I be the one to hurt her,” I assure Theo. “When she decides we’re done pretending, we’ll go back to being friends.”

“Alright. Any ideas on where to take her?”

“Not really. I figure I can ask Mia for help.”

He laughs. “You do that and you’re opening yourself up to unsolicited advice for the rest of your relationship. Mia and Colette know Em the best so if Mia gives some off the wall suggestion, go to Colette.”

I shrug. “I’ll take my chances.”

** *

The next morning, I knock on Emmaline’s door at 6:20 a.m. holding her favorite coffee and a cinnamon roll from Blossom Brews.

She opens the door and her eyes widen slightly at what I’m holding. “Spencer, you didn’t need to get me anything. You’re already here so early, there was no reason to get up even earlier to run to the coffee shop.”

“I wanted to do this for you,” I say, then hand her the coffee and pastry. “Are you all ready to go?”

She nods, locks the door, and we head downstairs to my truck.

The drive is a little awkward for a couple of minutes which is why I ask, “How about we play twenty questions? We don’t have to do twenty every day, but I think we should try to ask a few during our short drives.

It would help to get to know one another more, which could also help with making our relationship more believable. ”

She reluctantly agrees. “Okay, but you have to start.”

“That’s only fair. Okay, let’s start with something easy. What’s your favorite color?”

“Cobalt blue. Honestly, any deep, vibrant blue is perfect. What’s yours?”

“Red. But like a burgundy or maroon. Not bright red.” I waggle my eyebrows. “See, this isn’t so bad. Okay, what about your favorite food?”

“I could eat pizza and pasta multiple times a week, specifically from Anatoli’s in town and La Bella Vita in the city.

And you’ve obviously discovered my love of cinnamon rolls.

” She laughs and adds, “I guess I’m just big into carbs.

That’s why I try to exercise multiple times during the week.

It’s the only thing that kept me sane while staying with my parents.

They were doing it all over the place and I couldn’t deal with all the noise. ”

“Well, that’s an awful picture to put into my head—thanks a lot. As for the carbs, you’re a girl after my own heart. I will never say no to pasta or pizza. So, it looks like planning out dinner dates will be easy enough.”

Chuckling, she says, “That’s me, easy. ”

Before I get a word out, she shoves her head into her hands and groans, “ Ohmygod , forget I said that. It’s early and I haven’t finished my coffee yet.”

“Already forgotten,” I say as we pull into the hospital parking lot.

She finally raises her head once I park. “Thank you for this. It’s silly but I already feel safer.”

“It’s not silly at all. I would feel the same if I were in your shoes.”

Emmaline nods, accepting my words. “I should be done around seven tonight.”

“My day doesn’t look too crazy so if you need anything, let me know. Otherwise, I’ll see you tonight.”

“Thank you again. It means a lot that you’re willing to help me out.”

“Don’t worry about it. This is what boyfriends do, right?”

“I think so? I mean my track record isn’t the best.” Her brows unconsciously furrow. “But I need to head in. See you later.”

***

I’m outside the hospital at seven on the dot.

Rather than wait inside my truck, I stand in front of it, so she’ll be able to see me as soon as she steps out. Hopefully she’s not too tired to answer more questions. Sure, it’ll be good to know this stuff in case anyone decides to ask, but I also just like getting to know her.

Eight minutes later, she steps out with her phone in her hand, and shortly after I see her typing, I get a text.

Emmaline

Hi. I’m off now.

I know. Look up .

When she looks up, I give a small wave. “Your chariot awaits, m’lady.”

Emmaline throws her head back laughing and yells out, “You’re a dork. I hope you haven’t been waiting long.”

I wait until she’s closer to respond, not wanting to continue to shout. “I’d wait for as long as you needed. But no, I haven’t been waiting long.”

In the glow of the floodlights, I see her cheeks flush. “Are you sure? I know I said seven, but the night shift nurse was a little late which means report ran later. I promise I’ll be out on time from now on.”

Slightly confused, I shake my head. “Emmaline. Seriously, I’m not worried about it.”

She blows out a small breath. “Okay, sorry. Chance never liked when I was later than he was expecting. You’re not him—I know—it’ll just take me some time to adjust.”

I open the passenger door and nod. “Now, why don’t you climb on in so I can learn more facts about my new girlfriend.”

Emmaline rolls her eyes, while trying to hide her smile. “I’ve been thinking about what to ask you throughout the day. I hope you’re ready.”

Before I shut the door, I lean in. “I’m ready for whatever you’re going to throw at me, Shortstack.”

After I walk around and get situated, I look at her with a raised brow. “Alright! What’ve you got for me?”

She grins. “If you were to be any inanimate object, what would you be?”

“I gave you easy questions this morning, and this is the thanks I get?” I chuckle. “Right off the top of my head? A grandfather clock.”

Emmaline snorts, proving once again that snorting is actually very cute. “I’m sorry? A grandfather clock ?”