Page 2 of You Found Me (The Meadow Springs #1)

Mia is tall—and I’m not just saying that as someone who’s vertically challenged—I’m talking five-foot ten, slim build, would probably excel in a sport like track if she wanted.

Her sandy blonde hair is slightly longer than the last time I saw her, brushing just past her collarbones, and paired with her baby blues, she looks like a doll.

Mia is a ray of sunshine on my dark days and has been that way for all of us since we met her in the third grade after her family moved to town.

She introduced herself with the brightest smile I’ve ever seen, “I’m Amelia Elizabeth Callahan.” Told us her family calls her Bunny, but we weren’t allowed to .

Cori looked at her, face full of attitude, and asked, “So what are we supposed to call you then? Because you don’t look like an Amelia to me. I only know old ladies with that name.”

Instead of crying over Cori’s harsh words like most kids our age would have, she grinned real big and told Cori that she liked her. Deciding at that moment, we could have the honor of calling her Mia.

“So, what did he do this time? And before you ask how I know, you should know by now that I can read you like a book, Em,” she says, tilting her head.

My head falls forward and I release a breath. “Let’s go inside. I don’t really want to have to do this more than once.”

Looping my arm with hers, we walk up to the front door. But before we can even knock, the door swings open and there stands Colette.

Colette’s been my best friend for as long as I can remember.

Our parents were friends in high school and ended up moving onto the same street when we were four.

I immediately notice she downplayed how sick she is, and not just because her nose resembles one of Santa’s reindeer, but because her eyes are glassy, and her cheeks are flushed.

Though not even an atrocious cold could take away from her gorgeousness.

Lettie’s got a few inches on my five-foot two frame, and has long, straight caramel-colored locks, piercing bright green eyes, and a body to die for.

We often joke about swapping some of her boobs for some of my ass so that we would have the perfect amount of each.

She and Corinne are identical except for the fact that Cori was born with darker hair and eyes.

Which made it much easier to tell them apart.

I can’t stop myself from touching her forehead when I step into the house. Playfully swatting my hand away, she chuckles. “Okay, Nurse Emmaline, you’re not on duty right now and I’m fine. Let’s head inside and then we can talk about why your nose and eyes are so red.”

“Are you sure it’s just a snotty nose?” I ask.

“I haven’t heard of anything going around at the youth center, but I know a few kids are out.” Colette shrugs. “This is just one of the pitfalls of working with kids. ”

“True,” I answer with a laugh.

We walk into the living room, and I note that she’s put out wine and tissues. Not entirely sure this is all for my benefit, but it’s sweet. Once we sit down, I get into everything that’s been going on since I last saw them during spring break.

“My god, he’s a dick,” Mia exclaims.

A small chuckle escapes me. I can always count on Mia to make me laugh in any situation.

“Amelia Elizabeth! Not helpful,” Lettie scolds.

She looks over at Colette with a shrug, “Well he is! Bringing up Andrew was a dick move, and you can’t deny that.”

Colette shakes her head at Mia’s comment then looks at me. “What she means is that at some point you will have to figure out why, in the almost seven years you’ve been together, Chance has only visited Meadow Springs a handful of times.”

“I know, I know. I mean, it’s always football first for him. When we got engaged last year, he promised he would start putting me first, and he knew a part of that included my family and friends here .”

Worry clouds their eyes, so I add, “I’ll just have to tell my mom that he can’t make it because of work, and I’m sure they’ll understand.”

They always do.

“But enough about me. Tell me what’s been going on with y’all,” I say, hoping to move on.

Colette tells us that she’s been on a lot of dates recently with guys she met online and all of them have been disastrous. I laugh then Mia pries, “There must be one that went well. What about the guy I saw you out with last weekend? He was really cute.”

“He talked nonstop about himself. I guarantee he couldn’t tell you a single thing about me besides my name and the size of my chest.” Colette’s cheeks redden slightly as she continues, “So, at dinner I started acting like I might throw up just so we could leave.”

Mia scoffs, “Been there, done that. You’d think they’d be able to tell you're not interested.”

Colette groans, sinking further into the couch. “I’m not even to the worst of the night. Once we got in his truck to leave, he started singing old country love songs to me. I’m talking full-on singing, like I was getting a private concert. He grabbed my hand and sang into it.”

I take one look at Mia before we both double over laughing, tears streaming down our cheeks.

“At least he didn’t talk in the third person like the one before that. ‘Jonah thinks Colette could be the mother of his children,’ ” Mia says through laughter.

“Why do I keep attracting men like this?” Lettie sighs, dramatically throwing her head back on the couch.

I pat her leg. “There is someone out there for you. You just haven’t met him yet.”

“Or you’ve already dated and now hate him for some unexplained reason,” mumbles Mia.

That someone would be Theo, Mia’s older brother, who Colette had been in love with since they moved to town.

But something must have happened after they briefly dated in high school, because now she refuses to be around him unless it’s a group function.

Even then, you can see it in her eyes that she still has feelings for him—though not all of them are pleasant.

“Not helpful,” I tell Mia with a pointed glare. Looking back at Lettie, I ask, “How’s work?”

She sighs out a breath of relief before responding, “School’s out for the summer, so right now I’m working at the youth center, and it’s been great.

We’ve been planning on what fun activities we could add in around holidays.

Like a trunk or treat around Halloween and there’s a possibility that I will be taking over the planning for Santa’s Village in December. ”

“Oh, that’s right up your alley, Lettie!” Mia exclaims. “If you need help with anything, just let us know.”

“Especially since I’m a Christmas fiend,” I add in excitedly.

“You can count on it. Now Mia, tell Em about your love life, that way we can move on from my pathetic one.”

Mia smiles before relenting to our curiosity. “Nothing new is going on for me. Just the casual hookup every once in a while that leaves me frustratedly unsatisfied. You know, the usual.”

Unlike me, Mia has never been in a relationship for longer than a year. She dated a guy our senior year of college and it ended badly enough that she swore off dating entirely. Only seeking out dates for hookups as a stress reliever.

“What about work, any fun new clients?” I ask, taking a sip of some chilled red wine.

“It’s been good. I love working in the apartment buildings, especially when my clients are couples buying their first home. Since they’re usually easy going, they’re always fun to work with. Oh! Did you talk to Chance about me decorating your new place?”

My stomach drops. With everything else that happened at lunch, I managed to forget that Chance and I did discuss it.

I paste a pathetic smile on my face deciding a harmless lie is the best route.

“We talked about it this morning actually, but Chance already found someone to do it. I guess a lot of the guys on his team use the same business and speak highly of it. I’m so sorry. ”

She watches me for a beat, then waves off my apology. “No biggie, Em. Hopefully it turns out cute. I’m still waiting for that one job that makes everyone want to use me for all their decorating needs.”

Colette, ever the supportive mom friend, squeezes Mia’s leg. “You will find that job. I have no doubt.”

A couple hours pass with the three of us catching up when my stomach decides to make it known that I never ate. Mia laughs at the rumbling sounds coming from me and decides we should all grab dinner before I turn into a hangry monster.

And to be fair, she isn’t wrong. I’m less than pleasant when I haven’t eaten.

Colette, who’s become paler and has a slight sheen of sweat on her forehead, winces. “I think I’m gonna have to pass on going out and focus on getting better for the party Saturday.”

“That’s totally okay. Thank you for letting me vent even when you aren’t feeling the best.” I pull her into a hug, Mia follows suit, and we head out.

Mia and I decide to go to Edie’s Eats, a diner down on Main Street, because we’re dying for a milkshake and curly fries. As soon as the bell above the door rings, the owner, Edith, is making her way over, arms wide open, and a smile on her weathered face .

“My sweet Emmaline! It has been too long since you’ve been around these parts.”

Squeezing the closest thing I have to a grandmother, I laugh. “Now why would you call me out like that, Edie? I was just here at Christmas.”

She pulls back with a chuckle. “Yeah, and it’s June now. I rest my case.”

Edie greets Mia in a similar fashion, then starts making her way back to the kitchen but not before adding, “Oh, your brother just sat down over in the corner if y’all wanna join him.”

Mia looks at me, as if to let me make the choice to sit with him or not. In lieu of answering, I hook my arm into hers and walk over to Theo.

To my surprise he’s not alone. But I can’t tell who it is. Mia calls out to catch Theo’s attention, “Oh, Teddy.”

I watch as he looks up, shakes his head while sporting a sneaky grin that rivals his sister’s, and responds, “Hey Bunny.”

When we were kids, Colette, Cori, and I thought his name was really Teddy. After pleading with us not to call him that in front of friends, we learned his name was actually Theo. Sometimes Mia chooses to be a brat and calls him Teddy when he’s out with friends.

“Emmaline! I didn’t know you were coming in today.”

Theo is a real-life Ken doll. He has the same stunning blue eyes as Mia, but where her blonde hair is the perfect sandy blend, his is golden, with a little length on top.

Teddy is one of the nicest guys I’ve ever known, the kind of man who would give you the shirt off his back before you even asked.

“Yeah. I decided to come early since I don’t have work and wanted a little extra girl time,” I say, bumping my shoulder into Mia.

Right then, the mystery man turns to greet us, and I feel like I’ve seen a ghost.

It can’t be him.

It’s been years since we met at Theo’s Halloween frat party my sophomore year of college. He must have been one of Theo’s brothers. I start to think maybe it’s not him. I could be remembering him wrong, I mean he was wearing a mask, but I know I would never forget those eyes.

A few more seconds than normal must pass because I hear a throat clearing before Theo jumps in, “Rude of me to not introduce you guys. Em, this is Spencer Hale, my old college roommate and best friend. Spence, this is Emmaline Jones, one of Mia’s best friends.”

Spencer Hale has the deepest blue eyes I’ve ever seen, with long dark lashes that would make any woman jealous.

His chestnut hair is thick and just begging for me to run my fingers through it.

There’s a scar through his left eyebrow and he has a dimple in his right cheek.

I’m not sure if he’s always had the tattoo of what looks to be a city skyline on his right arm since his costume that night was long sleeved, but it just makes the muscles and veins pop even more.

Theo invites us to join them. Mia takes a seat next to her brother, leaving me sitting beside Spencer. He smiles at me then scoots over, giving me room to sit.

When we make eye contact, he mumbles under his breath, “Buttercup?”

And that’s when I know—it’s HIM.

I watch Theo look at us, then Mia with a tilt of his head. She simply shrugs it off.

We never exchanged names. I was dressed as The Powerpuff Girls with Piper and Mia. Naturally, with my darker hair, I was Buttercup. Mia was our Bubbles and Piper, our red-headed queen, was Blossom. Spencer went as Daredevil, less comic-booky vibes and more hottie from the TV show.

He grabs his water taking a sip, then clears his throat. “Howdy, Emmaline. It’s nice to meet you.”