Page 25 of You Found Me (The Meadow Springs #1)

Spencer

September has come and gone and thankfully without any more texts or calls from Chance.

Emmaline seems to think he’s moved on, however, I’m not so sure. Men like him bide their time, waiting for the woman they need to have control over to drop her guard. And that’s when they make their next play.

All week, she’s been saying how dating me has done what it needed to do, and we’d probably be able to break up by Halloween.

Granted, I never even told Mom that I was dating someone. I never had the time to bring it up. She’s been preoccupied with book club and working part time at the library. But I know when I eventually get the chance to tell her, she’ll want me to bring Emmaline to Willow Beach.

I’m just stepping into my apartment when I get a call from Beckett letting me know he’ll be in town in about five minutes.

“I just got home now, and I need to shower, so use your key to come in. I’m gonna go to dinner with Theo, so I hope you’re hungry.”

When I turn off the shower, I can hear Beckett talking with Theo from the living room. Once I’m dressed and ready to go, we head out. While I wouldn’t have minded cooking for the guys, I find myself mostly relying on Edie and her magical touch to keep me fed.

That woman can cook. Hell, even when she isn’t the one cooking, she’s trained her staff to cook just as well. There are a few different restaurants and businesses in Meadow Springs, but Edie’s is one of the few that doesn’t have some kind of floral name.

Despite my loyalty to Edie, when Theo mentioned going to Carnation Cantina, I quickly agreed. It’s across the street from Blossom Brews and always smells phenomenal.

We’re seated as soon as we walk in, and I notice Emmaline, Mia, Colette, Piper, Cori, and Callum in the back corner booth finishing up dinner. Mia is the first to see our little trio and waves us over.

I introduce Beckett to Callum and Cori, as they weren’t able to meet him at Mia’s birthday dinner. After everyone says hello, Mia adds, “We’re about to head to Chappy’s in Charleston for SINGO! . You should meet us there once you’re done eating.”

Theo sighs. “Mia, by the time we eat and drive there, it’ll be over. Maybe you should give us a heads up on the invite next time.”

She sticks her tongue out at him, clearly already a bit tipsy. “Well, my bad. I’ll do better next time. But we’re still on for the barbecue you’re having tomorrow, right?”

Without letting Theo respond, Mia looks to Beckett to say, “And Clark, you better not dip out to go save your hometown from danger.” She tosses him a flirty wink and even though he rolls his eyes, there’s a small smile paired with it.

“Okay, come on guys. I wanna get a good table,” Colette says in an agitated voice. “Last time we were late we got stuck with the shitty table by the bathroom. And yes, pun intended.”

“Alright, alright. We’re going,” Emmaline says with a laugh before looking at me. “Don’t mind her, she and Piper take games pretty seriously. Try not to get too rowdy tonight. Beckett looks like he’s ready to get a bit crazy.”

I pull her into me, smirking. “I’m pretty sure you’re confusing Beckett with you and Mia. I won’t get too rowdy. Promise. ”

She throws her head back and the laugh that comes out of her is deep, from her belly. Something about the actual joy she got from a silly remark has a very strong part of me wanting to kiss her, to claim her lips for real.

I thought I pushed down that want back in college, but it’s started to come back up ever so slowly the more I’m around her. I need to stuff it back into the dark corner of my mind. Instead of completely giving in, I gently grasp her face and lean down to kiss her forehead.

“I’ll see you tomorrow Emmaline. Call if you need anything.”

As I sit back down, B looks confused and hurt. Theo realizes in that moment that I haven’t told Beckett about dating her and excuses himself to the bathroom.

“The last time I was here, she was ‘just your neighbor.’ Considering Mia is also your neighbor, and you don’t look at her like she hung the moon, I’m going to assume you’re dating Emmaline. But what I don’t get is why you didn’t tell me?”

“I’m sorry. I should’ve said something to you, but we’ve only been dating for a month.

It’s still relatively new and we’re getting to know one another.

” He doesn’t look any less upset after hearing this information, so I keep talking, “Look, she’s going to be at the barbecue tomorrow.

You’ll have a chance to get to know her better.

I understand you’re upset with me, just don’t take it out on her, please. ”

“I’d never take it out on her. I just wish you would’ve told me about her when this started.”

“Kinda like you told me about Aria?”

A flash of hurt spreads across his face. “Is that the real reason why you didn’t tell me?”

I quickly backpedal. “No. I swear, B. I didn’t tell you because of the reasons I already gave.

I only said that because it feels a little hypocritical considering how long it took for you to tell us about Aria.

I know you don’t like talking about your personal life, and I’ve always been respectful of the things you’ve kept private.

I’ll never push you to tell me anything you don’t want to.

But please just try to understand this from my side. ”

“You’re right, I’m sorry. Are you happy with her? ”

I answer honestly, “I am. She’s . . . amazing. And so beautiful, inside and out. It’s been fun.”

He nods. “Then I’m happy for you.”

Theo comes back and senses a shift in the tension that was building between us. “Are we back to being cool? Ya? Great, cause I’ve been dying for a life update from you man,” he says to Beckett. “How’s it been going?”

“Life has been pretty good. I do actually miss having my brother around all of the time . . . which is why I’ve thought about moving here. But I know if I move here, our mom will want to move here as well.”

Theo asks, “Would you not miss being in the same town as your friends? And what would you do about work?”

I’m glad Theo is asking these questions because I’m shocked Beckett’s thought about moving here. I mean, I’d love for him to be near me. But he’s never said anything about leaving our hometown ever, even when he came back from culinary school.

Beckett sighs. “I found something out that makes me question if I have true friends or not. So no, that wouldn’t be an issue.”

“What do you mean?” I ask him.

Beckett waves me off. “I don't really want to talk about it right now. But I’ve been taking business classes at night so that I can figure out that side of things for when I take the plunge for the restaurant.”

“When did you start those?” I ask, actually shocked to hear about this.

“I’ve been taking them for the last year actually,” he tells me.

“The last year? Have you told Mom and Dad?”

“I’d rather show them how wrong they are about my silly dreams once I succeed. Bastian and I have talked and he thinks with his popularity in the NFL, a restaurant that he co-owns would do really well. He’s even offered to foot a good chunk of the money I’d need to get started.”

Theo sits there for a minute. “I think that is a great idea. Would you do it in the city or say, a small town like Meadow Springs? Because I’ve been thinking about taking an idea to my dad that involves a sort of co-op building with multiple businesses inside.

And I think a brand-new restaurant would work really well for it. ”

“Are you serious? I’d love something like that. I haven’t decided the type of cuisine or style I want it to be, but Sebastian told me he’d get behind whatever.”

“I think this will be great for you,” Theo tells him, clapping him on the back. “When the time comes, if you need any help in the kitchen with desserts, Piper is actually an amazing baker.”

“Thanks. I’ll keep that in mind. I do like to bake but it’s not my favorite. Maybe I’ll talk to her tomorrow about it.” Beckett smiles, it’s small but genuine, and I feel happy for him, despite the obstacles that keep getting in his way.

***

Emmaline

The car ride to Chappy’s was filled with Piper telling Callum he’s twenty-seven, not eighty-seven, and to push on the gas.

They bicker like an old married couple and it’s incredibly entertaining. We’ve all started placing bets on how long it’ll take him to gather up enough courage to finally ask her out on a date.

Considering that she is absolutely oblivious to Callum’s true feelings for her, I told the others my bet is: it won’t be until Piper’s awful dates finally stop and she finds someone who’s not a loser.

I feel like that’s the only way he’d do it.

He won’t risk showing his heart until he feels like he has to.

We get to the bar and before we’re even completely parked, Piper and Colette jump out to go grab a table. They both take SINGO! very seriously. It’s bingo, but instead of calling out numbers, the emcee plays a song, and the audience is supposed to know the title and hope it’s on their board.

Mia and I walk in with Callum and Cori close behind. Piper and Lettie have already managed to get the boards for everyone, a beer for Callum, and a pitcher of margaritas for us .

Walking up to the table, I hear Piper ask Colette, “Care to explain why anytime Spencer’s brother has been mentioned, no one said anything about how hot he is?”

Callum rolls his eyes. “He’s not even that hot.”

Mia and I look at one another before laughing. Cori raises one eyebrow, looking pointedly at him. “Dude, I’m a lesbian and I think he’s hot. He looks so much like that guy who played Clark Kent on TV—”

Mia cuts in excitedly, "Exactly!"

“—and I know for a fact that that’s exactly your type in guys. At least his build. He seems too shy, and that just wouldn’t do it for you, huh?” Cori taunts. Causing Callum to scoff, quickly finishing off his beer.

“He is the perfect height to wear my favorite four-inch high heels and still feel like a dainty princess.” Mia pretends to sigh dreamily.