Page 3 of You Found Me (The Meadow Springs #1)

Spencer

Howdy?!

Did I really just say that to her after all this time?

What is wrong with me?

Actually no, I do know what’s wrong with me. It’s her .

Emmaline was and is still the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.

She has this incredible wavy dark brown hair that she tries so hard to tame but struggles to keep from framing her beautiful face in a thick brunette halo.

Her brown eyes, similar to that of a Disney princess, are so big and soulful.

And she has an incredible figure, all hips with an ass I wish I could bite.

But more importantly, she is one of the kindest people that I’ve ever met. The night we met, we talked about what we wanted to do with our lives. She told me how she wanted to become a Family Nurse Practitioner and work in a small-town clinic.

I shared with her how I wanted to become an architect because the idea of designing my own buildings or homes that people will enjoy, and create lasting memories in, brings me a sense of peace. A desire to create that safe place for families to have their own happily forever kind of memories in .

Other than my family and Theo, I’d never shared that with anyone.

There was just something about her that made me comfortable enough to share my dreams for the first time in an honest way.

I’d always tell people I thought it’d be cool, like playing with Legos on a grand scale.

At best it’d get a chuckle and they’d move on.

“That’s great, but are you sure you wanna do all that math? ” is what she said to me. I distinctly remember the disgust on her face and the adorable way it scrunched when I laughed and told her that math was my favorite subject.

Brought out of my thoughts because of course Theo wasn’t going to let my hello slide without giving me shit first.

“I didn’t know you were a cowboy? I’ve been with you most of the day and you didn’t think to mention your new occupation once? I’m hurt,” Theo mocks.

My cheeks heat, something I’m not used to happening, as Emmaline and Mia burst out in a fit of giggles.

Emmaline locks eyes with me, I think she’s about to save me, but instead she taunts, “What are you doing in town, in the middle of the week? I would have thought cowboys had a busy schedule, working until the sun goes down, chasing animals and such.”

Theo and Mia snicker under their breath as Emmaline paints a look of innocence on her face. I let out a small laugh and shake my head. “I moved to town a month ago after Theo begged me to come work with him,” I exaggerate, earning me a sugar packet to the face, courtesy of my best friend.

“Oh, that’s great. Where are you living?” Emmaline asks.

“Right now, I’m staying at Wildflower Inn, but I have an apartment lined up for August.”

Emmaline looks at me with something akin to sympathy. “How many times has Ms. Clara tried to set you up with her granddaughter?”

I bark out a laugh and answer honestly, “At least twice a week since I got here. Any idea on how to make it stop?”

Mia chooses this moment to pipe in, causing my attention to finally move away from Emmaline, “You’re going to have to suck it up and go on that date.

” Shrugging she adds, “Theo goes on these dates every so often because he’s a ‘single eligible bachelor. ’ That means you must have let it slip that you’re single when you showed up. So, this one’s on you.”

“Well how was he supposed to know that would cause the old matchmakers in town to descend, Mia?” Emmaline says as she reaches over to pat my hand.

Which is when I notice the ring on her left hand. I should have known I wouldn’t catch her after this long without having moved on. I don’t see a band next to what is probably the gaudiest engagement ring I’ve ever seen, leading me to believe she hasn’t married whoever he is yet.

“Guess I’ll have to find some way to fend them off,” I say, clearing my throat before changing the subject. “You said you just came in today. Where do you live?”

“My fiancé was traded from Atlanta to Charleston in March, so I’m much closer now.”

“Football?” At her nod, I continue, “That’s cool. I’m sure everyone here is happy to have you back in the same state.”

“Everyone here , for sure.”

The way she’s phrased that makes me question if she or her fiancé aren’t happy to be close by.

But it’s not my place to ask what she means.

Instead, I pivot. “What made you come to town today? I know it can’t have been to see his ugly mug.

” I gesture over to Theo and laugh at the expression on his face.

She gives a little laugh. “My parents’ twenty-fifth anniversary party is Saturday.”

“That’s great. I know they don’t know me but give them my best.”

“Ooor . . .” Mia pipes in before Emmaline can say anything. “You could come to the party and do that yourself. Suze and Andrew would love to have you.”

There’s a bang under the table, followed by a bellow of pain from Theo, and a snort of laughter from Mia.

I look at Emmaline only to see her face is beet red.

She glances my way, catching my look of confusion before clearing her telling me, “Um, yeah. You should come! Mia is right, my parents love to meet new people. It’s tomorrow night at six at the community center. ”

“I don’t want to be an imposition. I’m sure you’ve planned for a certain number of people. ”

“You wouldn’t be, seriously,” Emmaline assures me. “When it comes to my parents, I always know to add more food than what’s actually called for, because they have the tendency to invite people without telling me.”

“What she’s really saying is if you don’t come, she will be really hurt,” Mia adds in with a grin.

Emmaline sighs, and I let out a small laugh. “Well we wouldn’t want that, would we? Count me in.”

Theo starts to fidget with his drink. Something I’ve never seen him do, and I’ve known him for ten years. “You good, man?”

My question makes him realize what he’s doing, and he nods at me before looking between the girls. “Where is the other part of your trio?”

“We were with her before coming here, she wasn’t feeling up to leaving the house,” Mia answers.

Concern flashes in his eyes. “Is she sick? Does she need anything?”

Emmaline reaches across the table placing her hand on his to calm him. “She said it’s just a hazard of working with kids. She didn’t look too great though. We made sure she had everything she needed before we left.”

“Okay. I think I’ll get Edie to make me some chicken soup to take to her,” Theo says the last part more to himself than to us.

“Teddy, you know you aren’t her favorite person,” Mia tells her brother. “But if you’re set on doing that, maybe just drop it off. And I’ll call Lettie to let her know she’s food on the porch.”

He drops his head in defeat. “Thank you.”

I’m not sure who they’re talking about, but whoever she is, there’s a story there that Theo’s never told me. Which is fair since I never told him about that night with Emmaline. We’ll definitely need to have a conversation at some point.

***

Emmaline and Mia head out as soon as they finish eating, leaving Theo and I with the bill .

When they got up, Emmaline tried to leave money for her food, but neither one of us would let her.

She finally huffed and said she would find a way to slip one of us the money.

Theo laughed and when she looked at me, I shrugged, causing her to throw her hands up and walk off.

I couldn’t stop the chuckle that left me because she’s pretty cute when she's frustrated.

Theo suggests going to Blossom Brews, the coffee shop and bar on Main Street as we’re walking out of Edie’s Eats. Theo orders a gin and tonic while I ask for an old fashioned.

“Sooo,” Theo says once we’re seated. “Wanna tell me how you know Emmaline? And before you try lying, saying that you don’t, I saw your face when you looked at her. And where did Buttercup come from?”

I know this is why he wanted to grab a drink before going our separate ways. If I tell him about that night, he’s more likely to tell me who he and the girls were talking about and why he looked hurt.

Taking a big swig of my drink to calm my nerves. “You remember the Halloween frat party our junior year?”

He lets out a deep laugh. “That was the year we went as Marvel characters, right?” At my nod he continues, “I still remember how chafed I was at the end of the night. Those suits were a nightmare, but man did we look good.”

“Unfortunately for me, I also remember how chafed you were.” I fake a shiver. “But yeah, that was the night I met Emmaline—except, she never gave me her name. Only said to call her Buttercup.”

“Why Buttercup?” Theo asks with furrowed brows.

“Apparently your sister and another one of their friends were dressed as The Powerpuff Girls. When I tried telling her my name, she said it’d be more fun to go by our costume names.”

For weeks after that night I regretted not trying to get her name before she left. The only thing she would take from me was my number, and then she wouldn’t give me hers. She never called or texted.

It was like seeing a ghost today.

“Why didn’t you mention meeting her back then? I would’ve been able to help you figure out who she was,” he tells me .

“When she didn’t get in touch with me after that night, I assumed she wasn’t as into me as I was into her.”

“Wait, I’m almost positive Em started dating Chance right after that party. I remember Mia talking about how he ‘finally got off his ass and let her out of the friendzone.’ That would explain why she never got in touch with you.” Theo gives a sympathetic look.

Shrugging, I think aloud, “That’s probably exactly what happened.

I saw you had a picture with her in it a little while after that and when I asked about her, you said she was off the market.

I figured it wasn’t gonna happen and moved on.

Now, it’s your turn to be in the hot seat,” I say and watch as he rolls his eyes.

“Who is the girl you were so worried about at dinner?”

“Johanna, we’re gonna need a couple more rounds over here,” he calls out.

She nods. “Coming right up.”

“So?”

“Her name’s Colette. She’s one of their best friends . . . and also my ex-girlfriend,” Theo mumbles into his glass.

“How long ago did you date? Never heard you talk about a chick with that name.”

“We dated back in high school. My dad overheard a few of my buddies saying some typical teenage boy shit, and insisted I break it off with her. He said she was too young for those things, and I wasn’t allowed to corrupt such a sweet girl.

” Theo sighs before continuing, “We had been together almost a year. She wasn’t as upset once I explained the reason, and we stayed friends.

She was in a car wreck shortly after the breakup with her sister and mom.

“Their mom ended up in a coma and was eventually taken off life support before Christmas. We spent the night together in their old tree house and after that, she became so icy towards me, sometimes downright hostile. I tried talking to her about it, but she shut me down.”

“And when you asked her later on, after she had time to grieve her mom, she never told you the reason? ”

He drops his head back. “I, uh, never actually asked. She barely stays in the room with me unless we’re in a big group. I just try to stay out of her way—if possible.”

“Dude . . . you’re an idiot.” Theo tries to interrupt but I hold my hand up.

“You know that time you were lurking around the corner of the dorms sophomore year, waiting for me to walk by after a study session. All so you could try scaring me, and instead of it being me, it was two girls—who started to lay into your head with their giant bags and kick your shins?”

A puzzled expression overtakes his face, and he asks, “What does that have to do with anything?”

“Nothing, just knowing you’ve always been a dumbass makes me feel better about laughing so hard I cried that night,” I tell him with a smirk.

“You’re an ass, Spence,” he replies with a shake of his head, failing to hide a grin. “I just didn’t see the need to bring all that shit back up after so long.”

“You obviously still care about her.”

“I do, but mostly because I’ve known her for so long. It’s complicated.”

“Sounds like it.” Checking the time knowing I have an early conference call, I throw back the rest of my drink. “I’m going to have to head back to my room. I still have to shower and make sure everything is ready for my meeting tomorrow morning.”

Theo nods, finishing up his drink. “Are you going to be at the office at all tomorrow? Or any of the sites?”

“I doubt it. I have a few other things I have to handle and finish up with the firm in Willow Beach before Monday. I don’t think I’ll see you until the party. Meet you there?”

“Works for me. Be careful walking back. You never know when one of the eligible women in town will show up to get you.” He pretends to pounce on me, laughing out loud at my groan.