Page 30 of You Found Me (The Meadow Springs #1)

Emmaline

The girls and I are out to dinner tonight, finally !

We’ve all been so busy lately that we made plans to get a bite to eat and catch up. Since I’ve been craving Pauly’s fried ravioli I asked if we could meet at Anatoli’s. When I made the suggestion, Piper was the first to agree because she wanted to take a box of cannoli home for Callum.

We’ve already placed our order and have our drinks in hand when Piper looks to Colette and asks, “So what’s the plan this year for your birthday?”

Colette grins. “Unfortunately for most of the group, Cori gets to pick this year. Which means, we’re all going to end up at the Haunted House & Trail in Charleston. Costumes are mandatory.”

Mia and I share a knowing look, neither of us are too thrilled. We love our friends so much, but there are only so many scares a girl can take.

“Cori better be glad I love her, otherwise I’d be a no show,” Mia says playfully.

“Oh my gosh, Cal is going to preemptively piss himself when I tell him the plan,” Piper’s eyes twist with a mischievous gleam. “ He’s such a big chicken but for some reason lets me drag him to scary places.”

“Yeah, for some reason ,” Mia mutters under her breath low enough that only I catch it.

“Please don’t let him back out, he’s always fun to watch in spooky situations,” Colette all but begs. “I obviously invited Spencer since you two are dating. Oh! I also invited Beckett,” she looks between Mia and me. “Maybe they’ll protect you from the big bad scary clowns.”

“When I talked to Beckett last week, he mentioned you’d invited him. That was nice of you,” Mia says, ignoring Colette’s playful dig.

I, however, swat Colette’s arm. “You know damn well those clowns are scary. You and Cori are so sadistic for this. I’ll be sure to have some liquid courage and it’ll be fine.” I look back to Mia. “Wait, did you ask him if he’s taking Aria to the game?”

She nods. “I did. He said he wasn’t and then asked if I would want to go with you guys. Clark was feeling brave, I think.”

“Yay! I’ll let Spence know he doesn’t have to talk to him about it then. Did he say why Aria wasn’t going?”

“I asked him if it’d be a problem with his girlfriend and he said that there was no girlfriend anymore.”

“What? Really? Did he say what happened?” I ask, shocked.

The funny thing about Mia is that when she lies, her nose twitches. Which is how she got her family nickname of Bunny according to Theo.

“No,” Mia says, with a twitch of her nose. “I didn’t want to come off as nosey.”

Rather than call her out on it, I let it go.

When I don’t say anything, she looks at Colette. “Where is your more evil half and why isn’t she here today?”

“Work,” Lettie tells her with a sigh. “She’s been slammed with taking on some of the smaller cases while the top lawyers are dealing with a huge lawsuit against a pharmaceutical company.

I barely see her lately, and I know it’s good for her to be getting this much experience so early in her career, but I don’t want her to burn out before she’s even really started. ”

“You know we’ll make sure she has a good work life balance. I’ve gotten really good at annoying her into doing things I want. Perks of being the baby in the family,” Piper assures her.

We all chuckle at her because she’s not wrong. Piper has this way about her that makes you want to do whatever she says.

Same for Mia. Which is why we try not to let them conspire together.

It always ends in trouble.

While we’re out finishing up our dinner, I send a text to Spencer.

So, I hear you and Beckett got invited to the twins’ birthday?

Spencer

We did. I hope that’s cool with you.

I actually insist you come. I hate haunted houses and need you as a shield.

Spencer

Someone’s a big chicken huh? Don’t worry, I’ll be sure to protect you from the scary workers.

Also…was Colette serious about the costumes???

Lettie and Cori don’t play about Halloween. So yeah…better think about your costume.

Spencer

Fine. What are you doing tonight?

I’m with Piper, Mia, and Colette at Anatoli’s. We're going back to Colette’s after we eat for a movie. What about you?

Spencer

Sounds like a good time. I’m sitting at my desk drawing up a few design plans.

Oh. Well I’ll let you be then. Just wanted to see about next week. And to let you know that Beckett asked Mia to the game. See you Monday morning!

***

Working four 12-hour shifts in a row instead of three, really makes the week fly by.

Meaning that—unfortunately for me—tonight is Colette and Cori’s birthday horror night party. And instead of being productive on my first day off this week, I’ve been wasting away on the couch—watching trashy TV and snacking on trail mix.

And by trail mix I mean only eating the peanuts and chocolates out of the mix. The rest is never wasted because Mia prefers the sunflower seeds and dried cranberries over what I eat out of it. She truly is my perfect match.

As if just thinking about Mia is enough to summon her, she walks through the front door. She’d told me last night after I got off of work that she’d be coming home early to get ready for the Haunted House & Trail.

After she sets her bags down, she plops down on the couch beside me, holding out her hands for the rest of the trail mix. “What are you going to wear for tonight?”

I shrug. “Probably just a pair of jeans with a sweater.”

She furrows her brow. “You do remember they said costumes were mandatory, right”

Shit .

I knew there was something I was forgetting, and I groan, “No, I completely spaced. It doesn’t make sense for me to go into the city to find a costume, come back to get ready, then go back to Charleston tonight.”

“You can look through my vast collection to see if there’s anything that could work. Or ask Colette since you’re closer in stature.”

“I’m sure there’s something in my closet or in the boxes I can work with. Plus, I don’t want her to know it slipped my mind. What or who are you dressing up as?”

There’s a twisted gleam in her eyes as she says, “I convinced Beckett to dress up like Clark Kent. It wasn’t super hard considering his love of the old show, but I’m still taking it as a win.”

“Of course you did. I assume that means you’ll be Lois Lane?”

She shrugs. “Maybe. You’ll have to wait until tonight to see.”

“Bless Beckett’s sweet soul,” I say jokingly.

“I’m going to go shower. Let me know if you can’t find something to wear and I’ll help you brainstorm something.”

And with that, she leaves.

Halloween is not my favorite holiday. I mean besides giving out candy to trick or treaters and pumpkin shaped Reese’s cups, I could do without it. But because the twins’ birthday is two days before, they always tend to do something Halloween related.

They started taking turns on deciding the theme and activity when we were seven years old, because they wanted vastly different things.

Their dad said that since Colette was born three minutes earlier, she got to choose how to spend that birthday.

They’ve switched back and forth every year after that and have stuck with it even into adulthood.

After sitting on the couch for twenty more minutes, I get up, heading to my room to look through the boxes I brought with me. I left a lot of stuff at my parents’ place because I knew I wouldn’t have a lot of closet space.

The first box is mostly winter stuff—thick sweaters, fleece-lined leggings and different colored tights, beanies, flannels, and a couple of shoe bags. The second box, however, I believe I meant to leave behind.

It’s filled with stuff from when I was in college.

Random flyers that were hung around campus that I thought were funny and planned to use in a scrapbook.

Spoiler alert . . . I didn’t end up making the scrapbook.

A bunch of photos of the girls and I at various events and parties.

And then there, at the bottom of the box is a bright green dress.

Before I even pull it out, I know what it is.

My Buttercup costume.

The one I was wearing when I met Spencer.

I don’t remember packing this, let alone keeping it all these years.

I guess something in the universe, or in my subconscious, made sure I kept it.

I don’t have the wig anymore, but I’m almost positive that Mia has a black bob or something similar I could use.

I throw the dress in the washer on a delicate cycle because who knows if it’s been washed since that night.

When it’s done, I dry it on a low heat setting and head to my room to start getting ready.

After I braid my hair and pin it back, I walk over to Mia’s door and knock.

“Come in,” she yells.

“Hey, do you happen to have a black bob and a . . .” The rest of my question is left unspoken when Mia turns around. “ Oh. My. God. Beckett is going to lose it when he sees you.”

She smiles. “Good. That was the intention behind this get up. Anyway, what did you need?”

“Oh, I wanted to see if you still had a black bob and a wig cap I could borrow. I found my Buttercup costume from that Halloween party, and it felt right.”

“I can’t believe you kept that.”

“Me either, honestly. I thought I’d gotten rid of it.”

“Hmm, seems like it was meant to be. Yeah, I think there’s one in the closet and I have wig caps right here,” she tells me as she opens her vanity drawer, pulling one out.

“You’re a lifesaver. Spencer and Beckett said they’d grab us at 6:30 p.m. Which means we’ve got less than half an hour to finish up.”

“I’m pretty much ready, just have to put on the final touches. Want me to make you a little drinky drink? Or I think there’s still a couple seltzers in the fridge. ”

“Great. I’m about done too. A seltzer would be good. Maybe it’ll help ease my stomach.”

Her brows furrow. “What’s wrong with your stomach?”

I start wringing my fingers. “I’m a little nervous to wear the costume. I mean, I know he remembers it. It’s just what if he thinks it’s weird?”