Page 37 of You Found Me (The Meadow Springs #1)

I’m trying to school my face because I’m panicking internally. Sleeping in the same room tonight has the potential to make everything awkward. Spencer notices my squirming and suggests we play board games for a little while.

June claps her hands together. “Oh yes. Y’all can decide on which game, and I’ll go grab some candles and flashlights in case the power goes back out. If any of you want to rinse off in the shower, you better do it now.”

“I’d actually like to shower,” I quietly tell Spencer. “I think it might help me relax.”

“Of course. I keep clothes here for just in case situations. Let’s go grab you some sweats and a T-shirt.

” He takes my hands, pulls me up and we walk toward his room.

“My mom keeps the bathroom stocked with products and there’s a laundry bin in the closet to put your towel. I’ll be out here whenever you’re done.”

** *

Spencer

I can tell she’s worried about staying the night here. I’d be kidding myself if I said I wasn’t feeling the same way.

However, I’m going to put on a brave face and pretend everything is fine. When she gets out of the shower, she cautiously pads into my room, placing her clothes on top of the dresser. Emmaline looks at me, unsure of what to do.

She’s wearing my clothes, and I can’t lie, she looks insanely hot in them.

The tee is one of my old high school soccer shirts.

It’s thin and falls only slightly past her hip bones.

She’s completely engulfed in my sweatpants, and I notice she’s having to hold onto them to keep them from falling down.

“Do you want a pair of shorts or boxers instead?”

“Maybe. I think the pants are too heavy.”

“Boxers and boxer briefs are in the top drawer, along with different kinds of socks. The gym shorts are in the second drawer. I’m gonna jump in the shower really quick. Feel free to hide in here until I’m out.”

She gives a little laugh. “I think I should go out there. I’ll talk to Beckett.”

I take the fastest shower, even for me, and head to the living room to see my mom lighting candles, my dad glued to the radio, while he keeps up with the live feed from his phone, and Beckett and Emmaline talking.

Beckett notices me first and takes off to go shower, leaving an open spot next to her.

Not even two minutes later, the power goes out and we hear “ oh come on ” from the bathroom. The four of us snicker before Mom tells Dad to take a candle and a flashlight to Beckett.

“I finished cleaning everything up, but I think I’m too tired to play board games. I’m just going to read in bed until I fall asleep,” June says before hugging us both. “I’ll see you two in the morning.”

Looking over at Emmaline, I notice she’s chewing on her cheek. I put my hand on her knee. “I’m sorry about all of this. I’ll sleep out on the couch.”

“Spencer, don’t be silly. I hate to break it to you, but this couch is incredibly uncomfortable. And I like you too much to force you to use this as your bed. We’re both adults, we can sleep in the same bed.”

“Oh, you like me huh?” I tease.

“Shut up. You know what I meant.”

“Yeah, yeah, I know. What’s got you so worried? You’re about to chew a hole through your cheek.”

“I didn’t realize I was doing it,” she says, touching her cheek. “Storms have always freaked me out. And maybe it is a little awkward to sleep in the bed you spent your hormone filled teen years in.”

I feel my ears become hot, and they must be because she starts laughing. We’re talking full on belly laughs.

“Okay, okay. Laugh it up,” I say as I poke her in the side. “I’m not the same out of control horny teenager that used to live here.”

“Our apartments share a wall, so I’m not too sure about that,” she mumbles.

“You do know that goes both ways, right Shortstack?”

Her eyes get impossibly wide while her neck and cheeks flush. “I was joking about hearing that . You can hear me? I’m not usually vocal but maybe I’ve changed and moa—”

“Stop!” I quickly say. “I’m only joking. Pretty sure our walls are thick enough to drown out sounds.”

Emmaline puts her head in her hands, groaning out, “Are you trying to get kicked out of your room later?”

Grabbing her wrist, I pull her closer. “I didn’t mean to embarrass you. What can I do to make it up to you?”

I swear I see her eyes darken while glancing down at my mouth before looking back to my eyes. She leans in close enough that I feel her ragged breaths against my skin. I drop her wrist to grab her by the waist, pulling her body closer to mine .

“Emmy,” I say, putting my forehead against hers, “tell me now if you don’t want this.”

“I—”

“It’d be my luck to have to shower by candlelight,” Beckett walks into the living room unaware of the sexual tension humming through the air. “I need a drink.”

Emmaline pulls back and quickly stands. “Um, yeah. Me too.” She looks down at me with rosy cheeks. “Want me to grab you one?”

“Just a beer, please. I can’t get up right now,” I tell her before grabbing a throw pillow and placing it over my lap.

“I’m so sorry,” she squeaks before scurrying off.

Maybe it’s for the best that he walked in when he did.

Kissing at the end of a date is one thing, but to do it randomly might push boundaries that we never discussed.

I want her, always have. But, I don’t know how to be in a relationship.

I had one girlfriend in high school that wasn’t serious and then one in college.

They weren’t deep, I didn’t have to try to plan any dates or meet the parents . . . I’m out of my depth with this.

Emmaline and Beckett walk back into the living room with the drinks. “Mom and Dad bailed, huh?”

“You know they did,” I reply before looking at her. “They never deviate from their schedule, even when they’re away from home.”

“So, are we playing board games or more adult games here? Like truth or dare, or two truths and a lie,” B asks.

“Oooh. Let’s do two truths and a lie. I think that’s a good way to get to know each other more than we already do. And if we get the lie wrong, we drink.” Emmaline wiggles her brows at us.

Beckett agrees, “I’ll go first. I’m left-handed, I absorbed my twin in the womb, and I can play the guitar.”

Emmaline and I blurt out, “Twin” at the same time, making B laugh.

“Nope. When we were at Grammy’s the summer I was eight, she was showing me photo albums while you and Grampy went to the store.

She was pointing things out and because she was having her adult lemonade, Grammy said, ‘ you coulda had another brother, ‘cept you absorbed him in your mama’s belly. ’ I knew even at that age that maybe she wasn’t all there when she had those lemonades,” he says with a laugh.

“I waited until the next time we visited to ask about it, and she was so upset. I had to promise not to tell Mom because it would hurt her. Of course I kept it a secret. Now, drink up.”

“Beckett, that’s awful. I’m sorry.”

He waves off Emmaline. “It’s cool.”

And I know he means that. “When did you learn to play guitar? I remember you actively avoiding instruments growing up.”

He laughs, taking a drink of his beer. “I learned about two years ago. I can’t play well, but I can play it. Your turn, Jay.”

“I wanted to be a professional dog walker when I was younger, I’m allergic to strawberries, and scary movies are my favorite.”

“Dude, it’s two truths and a lie. Singular lie.”

“I gave two truths,” I shrug. “It’s not my fault you don’t know me.”

“Fine. There’s no way you wanted to be a professional dog walker.”

Emmaline smiles. “Nope. I feel like that one’s true. It changed once you got bitten by that German shepherd. I’m gonna go with scary movies as the lie.”

Beckett busts out laughing and I don’t have to guess why. “He told you it was a German shepherd?”

“Was it not?”

I sigh. “Okay, so maybe I fib about that because I’m embarrassed. It was actually the neighbor’s demon chihuahua, Petunia.” They share a look before absolutely losing it. “Yeah yeah, laugh it up. She was a menace.”

Beckett calms down enough to add in, “She was an elderly dog, who was blind in one eye. She had a reason to be a menace. You should’ve never tried to pet her.”

“SHE CAME UP TO ME! I thought that’s what she wanted.”

That throws them into another fit of laughter, and I patiently wait for them to stop. When they do, I tell Emmaline it’s her turn.

She smiles. “Sorry. I got carried away. I played volleyball throughout junior high and high school, I’ve never broken a bone, and my favorite animal is a penguin. ”

Beckett doesn’t think too hard and blurts out, “Aren’t you a little short to play volleyball? That’s the lie.”

She turns to me, waiting for my answer. I feel like volleyball is plausible. She seems like she’d be athletic, and I’ve noticed a stuffed penguin toy at her apartment—granted, that could be Mia’s.

I take a chance. “You’ve broken a bone, so that’s the lie.”

Her grin is so wide. “You’re correct.” She swings her gaze to Beckett and attempts to glare. “Just because I’m short doesn’t mean I didn’t crush it on the court. Even with you being seven feet tall, I could kick your ass.”

I watch B’s eyes widen before he looks at me and loudly whispers, “Your girlfriend scares me—in a different way than how her best friend scares me.”

We play for another half an hour and in that time, I miss four, Emmaline three, and Beckett all six. I like to think I handle my alcohol pretty well considering I’ve only got a light buzz. Meanwhile, Beckett is three sheets to the wind.

We’re sitting in comfortable silence when Beckett says, “I can’t come up with any more lies, so I’m gonna drop a couple truths, free of charge. I feel like Mom and Dad will never be proud of me in the way they’re proud of you.”

“Beckett,” I say, but he continues on.

“Both of the girlfriends I’ve had in my sad, little life broke up with me because when it came time to have sex, I couldn’t do it. Not to say I have zero experience with women. I very much like to get my partner off as many times as I can because I know I won’t be able to give them more.”

“Beckett, stop.”

He’s drunk. There’s no way he’d be saying these things if he were sober. Especially not in front of Emmaline.

He makes eye contact with me before swinging his gaze over to her and I watch as his face gets alarmingly red. I’m about to suggest we all go to bed when Emmaline speaks.

“The whole time I was with my ex, I never had an orgasm that wasn’t by my own hand. And even those were hard to come by. You should be proud that you cared about their pleasure when you knew it was possible you wouldn’t find your own release. ”

I think I’ve stopped breathing. She was with him for years and he didn’t make sure she orgasmed.

Her eyes are wide but when she notices that B relaxed a bit, so does she.

Comforted by the realization that he’s less tense than before.

Proving once again how amazing she is with people.

I don’t think I’ve come across a kinder person in my entire life.

“I’ve never been in love. I’ve had crushes and thought I loved the women I’ve dated in the past, but it never felt like I’d found the one.

” I glance at Emmaline and take a calming breath before saying, “The only time it felt like I might have found that person, the timing wasn’t meant to be.

I gave up hope of having that for myself. ”

“Spence . . . I—”

“Don’t even think about it,” I interrupt her and clear my throat. “As fun as this has been, I think we need to call it a night.”

At their nod, I make sure B takes Tylenol and a glass of water up with him, before heading off to bed. I cut my eyes to Emmaline noticing the red flush on her cheeks, unsure if she’s tipsy or just embarrassed, so I ask her about it.

“Embarrassed. I only had three drinks total. But once Beckett announced he’s pretty much a virgin, I felt like I needed to say something equally embarrassing.”

“Emmy, you have nothing to be embarrassed about. That’s 100% on the men you’ve been with. They should’ve been more focused on your pleasure than their own.”

“Chance always—”

“Let’s not bring up all the things that asshole did wrong. He clearly made several mistakes along the way. That doesn’t mean you were the issue.” I brush a lock of her wild hair behind her ear. “You just need to find the right partner to put you first.”

She looks up at me through dark lashes and takes a deep breath. “Can you help me?”

It feels like the air has been completely sucked out of the room. Is she asking me what I think she is? I can’t do that. Wouldn’t that blur the lines?

This whole night is starting to blur some lines.

Then I picture it .

Emmy lying on my bed, her skin slick with sweat, and her face perfectly flushed after coming on my fingers. And fuck if that’s not the most enticing picture.

I must take too long to answer because she mumbles something I can’t make out and tries to dart past me to the room.

“Emmaline,” I grab her arm to keep her from running. “Wait. What exactly are you asking?”

She fidgets with her hands. “I thought maybe you could help me finally finish with a partner. But that’s asking too much of our arrangement. Ignore me.”

“If this is something you’re sure about, I’d be more than happy to do it.

You should know though, this will change things for me.

And if you’re sure about it, then I want you to go into my room, take off whatever clothes you feel comfortable taking off and get situated on the bed. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”

I wait with bated breath to see what she’ll do.

When she turns around to walk away, I send up a silent thank you to the universe.