Page 24 of You Found Me (The Meadow Springs #1)

She touches my forehead. “Nope. I thought you might be feverish. You’re clearly delirious since you called me baby girl and baby .”

Chuckling, I say, “No. No, fever. Just a half-naked woman trying to barge into my apartment. Your call came at the best time.”

Emmaline drops her hand, taking a step back. “What do you mean half-naked woman?”

“One of those women from the diner I told you about showed up at my door wearing a trench coat with nothing but tacky lingerie on. I’m talking neon green.”

“Oh.”

Oh.

That’s it. I’d hoped she’d find my torment a little funny.

I can’t read the expression on her face, but if I had to guess, it’s not good.

I immediately apologize, “Emmaline, I’m sorry. I didn’t want her there. Not even a little bit. You and I are dating—fake or not—and that means something to me. I just thought you’d find my awkward encounter funny. Plus, I didn’t want to keep it from you.”

Her gaze on me is as piercing as it is curious. She takes a breath in, letting it out slowly. “It’s fine. Thanks for telling me. I’m really tired though, can you take me home now?”

“Yeah, sure.”

The silence on the way home is stifling.

I can’t figure out what to do to fix it.

I have to believe it’s triggering her because of her relationship with that douchebag.

She doesn’t wait for me to open her car door, only muttering a “thank you” before taking off inside.

For half an hour after that, I feel antsy. I know something is wrong.

I’ve typed out so many messages before erasing them. My thumb hovers over my conversation with her. I mean, she said she was fine, only tired. I’m sure that’s all it was. But then I thought about it some more and when I’ve heard my mom say something was fine in the past, it really wasn’t.

Clutching my phone in my hand, I shove down the urge to apologize again and get ready for bed.

***

This blissfully warm September morning hosts the annual Meadow Springs Fall Festival.

We agreed earlier this week to meet in the hallway. And when she sees me, she starts apologizing for what happened Wednesday night.

“I actually was tired, but that’s not why I was being so weird.

” She takes a deep breath. “I want to start this off by saying I know you’re not Chance.

You two are nothing alike. But hearing about women coming up to you and throwing themselves at you, then one of them showing up all scantily clad was a punch to the gut.

Because I remember times when women would flirt with him after we first got together and instead of politely declining, he’d flirt back.

I watched him pocket numbers that were slyly given to him and then he’d say he only accepted them because he didn’t want to be rude.

I promise it was nothing against you. I seem to have issues I didn’t realize I had. ”

I feel like an idiot. Because of course that’s what was going on.

I step closer to her. “You don’t have to apologize for that.

It’s a reasonable reaction to what I told you.

Seems like I aggravated a sore spot that Chance created, and what happened with Ginger didn’t help.

I truly didn’t mean to hurt you in any way.

I thought it was crazy, but crazy enough that you’d find it funny. I’m sorry, Emmy.”

“Everything is good now,” she assures me. “I talked to Mia about it, and she basically said the same thing as you. I do appreciate you telling me before I inevitably heard it through the town grapevine. Let’s just be sure to lay it on thick today.”

“Of course, baby girl,” I say with a smirk, watching her roll her eyes but noticing a small smile forming. I place my hand out. “Shall we?”

All of Main Street is decorated with colorful leaves, twinkle lights, carved pumpkins, a few fair rides, booths with various games and stuffed animal prizes, and food vendors, to welcome the start of Fall.

Emmaline is next to me, holding my hand, while sipping on a hot apple cider we picked up on the way from Edie’s.

As we walk, we get a lot of curious glances, followed by multiple people pulling out their phones. I’m sure before the day is over, everyone in town will know for a fact that we’re together.

We’re supposed to meet everyone at the beer garden to come up with a game plan for the day. This group loves their plans and honestly, I can get behind it. Emmaline notices a stand selling fresh apple cider donuts, as well as pumpkin donuts.

As soon as she sees it, she looks up at me with pleading eyes. “I know we’re supposed to be meeting up with everyone, but I mean come on, fresh donuts. Also, I know for a fact they roll them around in cinnamon sugar.”

“You think I’d ever say no to fresh donuts? It’s like you don’t even know me at all,” I tell her with fake hurt before smirking. “How about you go sit at one of the tables while I stand in line to wait for them. It’s the gentlemanly thing to do. ”

“You are such a dork, but thank you. I need to check my email anyway.”

“Do you want a mix of both? Or . . . ?”

“Surprise me, Spence. I trust your judgment.”

And when she says that, I look at her face and actually believe she means it. I hate that we’re doing this because she’s dealing with the Chance of it all, but I am thankful that I’ve been able to get to know her better. She’s intrigued me since that first night I met her back in college.

Obviously, there was a mutual attraction. We both felt it. But hearing that she’s starting to trust me brings out an entirely different feeling.

After a year of not hearing from her, I gave up on the idea of there ever being an us , chalking the whole meeting up to just a fleeting connection, and moved on to dating Kat.

That relationship was more to combat loneliness for the both of us and ended before winter break our senior year.

She understood I was focused on school because so was she.

I think the best description of our relationship would be friends with benefits .

I make it to the front of the line and go with two dozen each. They’re mini donuts and if we walk into that beer garden with only a few, the others will riot. I’ve only been around Callum a couple of times but he’s super serious about food.

Making my way back to Emmaline, I notice her staring so hard at her phone that she could burn a hole through it. “I secured the bag, aka the delicious donuts,” I tell her, bags raised in the air. She stands up but doesn’t bother to look up. “Is everything okay?”

The last thing I want is for Chance to ruin her mood again.

“Um, yeah. Everything is great actually.” She looks up right then, and I notice her eyes are watery. “I, uh, got into the master’s program at USC Charleston for spring semester.”

I sit the bags on the table and pull her into a hug, spinning her around. “I knew you could do it, Buttercup.” I place her back down and decide to be bold.

Reaching my hand up to cup her face, I lean in, giving her a chaste kiss. Much like the one she gave me on our date. Sniffling reaches my ears, and I step back from the embrace. “I’m sorry. Maybe I shouldn’t have done that.”

A weak chuckle passes her lips. “No, the kiss was unexpected but nice. I’m a little emotional because I’m proud of myself for doing this.

Chance didn’t like the idea of me continuing my education or even working because he said, ‘ when we have children, your only focus should be them .’ He’d say it in such a loving tone that I agreed every time.

He has no hold over this part of my life anymore. ”

Every part of me is mixed with anger at that asshole and immense pride for the incredible woman standing in front of me.

I lean down to kiss her forehead. “I’m so proud of you, Emmaline. Now come on, let’s dig into a few of these donuts on the way to meet our rowdy friends.”

“Thanks, Spence. It means a lot,” she says as she reaches for a bag of the donuts. “Good grief, how many did you get?”

“Four dozen. I was going to only get two, but since they’re mini and we’re meeting up with everyone, I wanted to make sure we had plenty.”

Emmaline throws her head back laughing. “I think we’ve got more than enough.”

“Guess we’ll find out,” I say as we walk into the beer garden. There’s a chorus of hellos from everyone. I’m finally able to meet Cori, and while she and Colette are definitely twins, they have very different vibes.

After we get settled at a large picnic table, I stand. “I know this isn’t a formal dinner or anything, but I’d like to propose a toast. ”

When everyone raises their preferred drink, I continue, “As you all know, Emmaline and I are dating.” I watch as Mia and Theo both make a face and then realize the other has made the same one.

“Well, this smart, beautiful woman is the newest grad student in the Family Nurse Practitioner program at USC Charleston.”

Squeals erupt from the girls as they jump up to hug her. Theo and Callum tell her they’re happy for her, with Callum adding, “If you ever need anything while you’re there, just let me know. I teach at the high school a few blocks from campus.”

She smiles. “Thanks, Callum.”

“Why didn’t you tell us you were applying?” Mia asks.

“Just in case I didn’t get in. It would’ve been humiliating after everything else.”

“They would’ve been stupid not to accept you,” Piper adds.

“Says the college dropout,” Cori states, blowing her stepsister a kiss.

Piper laughs, flipping her off. “Bite me, Corinne.”

“Could the two of you just not today?” Colette huffs out.

From what Emmaline has told me, the three of them have only been step-siblings for about ten years but their dynamic makes it seem like their whole lives. Cori and Piper laugh, clearly enjoying the fact that Colette is over their bullshit.

“Fine, mother. I’ll stop. But only if Cori agrees to go on the Gravitron with me,” Piper says with a smirk.

Everyone starts laughing and I know I’m missing something.

Callum leans over to me and says, “Cori has thrown up every year she’s gone on that ride—which is every year because Piper pulls shit like this. It’s their thing.”

Cori points at Piper. “I’ll ride it exactly one time. And don’t you dare try sweet talking the attendant into starting it up again as soon as it stops.”

Piper holds up her hands. “I’d never.”

Callum snorts, then quickly stops when Piper shoots him a glare. I look at Emmaline and find her watching me. I smile at the joy written across her face. It’s obvious she’s missed being around her friends.

But what her smile really tells me is that she seems closer to being at peace than the Emmaline I ran into at the diner over the summer.