Page 32 of You Found Me (The Meadow Springs #1)

Spencer

I’ve been successfully dodging my mom for the last two months.

It’s not as though I’m completely ignoring her—I’m not that terrible of a son. I’m just not sure how to broach the topic of having a “girlfriend.” Possibly due to the fact that I don’t want to bring Emmaline up to my mom under the guise of a lie.

But whenever we get on a call, I keep the topic of conversation on her and if it does shift to me, I stick to work. Anytime she brings up my love life, I suddenly have an issue and need to go.

However, today of all days, I’m not paying attention and answer my phone without checking to see who it is.

“Spencer James Hale!” She adds in a few sniffles to really lay on the guilt. “You’ve barely talked to me lately. I’m so hurt.”

“Mama, we talked a few days ago. Work’s been crazy. I’m sorry.”

“We did. There’s something you forgot to tell me.”

“I’m not really sure what you’re getting at.”

“If you want to play it that way, then fine,” she huffs out. “However, I’m not going to play it with you. Why did I have to find out from your brother that not only do you have a girlfriend, but you’re taking her to Bastian’s game tomorrow? ”

I have to hold back my groan and mentally curse my blabbermouth brother.

“I’m sorry. It’s new and you’ve already met her, so I didn’t think it’d be a big deal.”

“Beckett might have told me you were with someone, but he didn’t say who. Is it Shiloh? Is that why she hasn’t been to book club?”

“That’s probably because you set her up on a blind date with your son without telling her. Either way, she’s not my girlfriend.” I let out a breath. “Do you remember my neighbor, Emmaline?”

“Oh my goodness! She was so sweet and absolutely gorgeous. I can just picture how cute my grandbabies would be. I need to meet her again.”

“I’m going to completely ignore that grandbabies comment. Did you hear that last word you said? Again. Meaning you already met her, and don’t really need to meet her again.”

“Emmaline wasn’t your girlfriend when I met her which means I have to meet her again. Now, as the mother of her boyfriend, not the mother that her neighbor so rudely ignores,” she says and I imagine if she wasn’t holding the phone, she’d have crossed her arms in a pout.

“Mam—” I’m cut off before I can protest.

“Don’t you ‘Mama’ me. You will reintroduce us. And I think it would be the perfect time to bring her home for your dad’s birthday. You either agree right now, or I will pop up unannounced to stay with you for a whole week.”

I can’t help the laugh that bubbles out of me. “Okay, okay. I’ll invite her and I’ll try to make sure she's there.”

“Good. You’re forgiven.” I hear her smile as she goes on, “Now tell me about her.”

There’s something we need to talk about and before you freak, it’s nothing bad. At least not for you.

Emmaline

Oooh, something that’s going to torture you? I’m in.

And here I was, about to offer to buy you ice cream for the trouble…

Emmaline

If I apologize, can we still get some?

Guess you’ll see when I pick you up later.

Sunflower Sundaes is fairly empty seeing as it’s after seven on a weeknight. They make all of their ice cream in house, and it’s become hard to resist stopping in a few times a week. We sit outside at the patio tables since it’s a particularly nice fall night.

Emmaline gets cookies and cream with extra cookies in a sugar cone. While I go with my new favorite, salted caramel with brownie bites. I relay everything my mom said all while she just laughs it up.

“Are you okay with me coming? I won’t go if you don’t want me to. I can even make up some excuse for why I can’t go last minute. But really, I wouldn’t mind getting to know your parents better.”

Nipping that doubt right away, I very quickly say, “Of course. I’d like to show you my hometown and the house I grew up in.”

“Yeah yeah,” she waves me off. “What I’m really after are all the embarrassing pictures I know your mom is bound to show me.”

“I’ll be lucky if she even has the patience to wait twenty minutes before pulling them out.” Emmaline isn’t even looking at me anymore, once again eyeing my ice cream, as she has been since we sat down. “Would you like to try mine?”

She smiles. “I normally don’t love the salted caramel, but I’ve also never thought to add in brownies . . . if you don’t want to share, I can try it the next time I come.”

“No, no. I offered, of course I want to share. ”

I lean forward, raising the cone up to her. She attempts to reach for it, but I pull it back, giving a small shake of my head. When I give her a playful smile in retaliation, realization dawns on her gorgeous face and she blushes.

She leans closer, gently licking the ice cream before closing her lips over the top. And fuck me if she doesn’t moan as it touched her tastebuds. Emmaline pulls away, a small smile on her face as she chews on the brownie.

That’s when I notice she’s got a little caramel sauce still on her lip. I wanted to feed her because not only is this erotic, but it’d also show any onlookers that we’re still going strong.

At least that’s what I’m telling myself.

Because as I sit here, staring at her lips, I’m not thinking of anyone or anything else except the need to lick the caramel from her plump lips.

She notices me staring and rather than lean away, she ever so slightly shifts forward. I meet her the rest of the way, placing a soft kiss against her lips. She slowly parts for me, inviting me in for more, and I take the opportunity to suck on her bottom lip.

She tastes like cookies and caramel, but the more I devour, the more it starts to taste of her .

I pull away and see her eyes are still closed, but also notice her cheeks, and all along the length of her neck is absolutely flushed.

Once again, my mind can’t help but wonder if she flushes like this everywhere.

She finally opens her eyes, and those already enchanting dark brown eyes are blown wide, resembling the color of fresh coffee, deep and unyielding.

That’s gotta mean something good, right?

She clears her throat before speaking, “You’re really selling this whole boyfriend thing, huh? Maybe once your mom sees us together, we can finally pick a good break-up date.”

I feel my body freeze. Maybe I read the situation, or her body language, wrong.

But I don’t want to lose her from my life completely, so I go along with what she wants.

This was always about her happiness and safety.

“You know me,” I shrug, playing it cool.

“Maybe after we come back from my parents.”

She gives a small nod then goes back to eating her ice cream .

We sit in somewhat comfortable silence, finishing our sweet treats.

I catch her staring at me a couple of times and it takes all I have not to smirk at her.

I never want to come across as this unbearably cocky guy, because I never want her to compare me to her douchebag ex.

It’s just . . . when she looks at me that way, I want to claim her as mine.

Which is insane since this isn’t real—as she kindly reminded us both a few minutes ago. So, for the life of me, I can’t figure out why she keeps looking at me like that.

I realize that I’ve been looking at her for too long, and I stand. “Are you ready for the game tomorrow?” Reaching out my hand to help her out of her seat.

There’s a look that passes over her face before she answers, “I am. I actually really enjoy football. Partly because of the atmosphere, mostly for the food,” she teases. “Honestly, any sporting event.”

“Emmaline, if you’re worried about him, you don’t have to go.”

“I told you before, I won’t let him rule over my life anymore. We are going to the game tomorrow with Beckett and Mia, and I don’t want to hear you give me another out, got it?”

Something about how assertive she was just now has me standing even straighter. She’s changed so much since she left him because the Emmaline I knew from a few months ago would have never agreed to go—let alone put me in my place.

“Yes ma’am,” I say with a wink. “I won’t say another word.”

As I mime zipping my lips, she gently punches me in the arm. “Shut up, you dork. Anyway, Mia said Beckett was getting her at four.”

“Yeah, I figure we can get to Charleston and just hang around downtown until we want to go into the stadium. If that doesn’t work for you guys, let me know.”

“That’s good with me. Since Mia’s known about it for a while, she’ll be ready to go by then.”

“Perfect. Well, let’s get you home because I need to get some extra beauty rest.”

And that full body laugh that rips from her unbidden, is why I will continue to say dorky things.