Page 40 of You Found Me (The Meadow Springs #1)

Emmaline

When I walk into the apartment, I find Colette and Mia watching TV.

Instead of saying anything to them, I head to my room to decompress. To someone who doesn’t know how we work, it probably seemed a bit rude to ignore them. But those two know me through and through, and know I need a minute to myself.

Which is all I got before my door was thrown open, and my two best friends were jumping onto my bed like the impatient people they are.

“Sooo, got anything to tell us?” Mia pries, her eyes all too knowing.

“No,” I squeak out and clear my throat before saying it more confidently.

They share a look and whatever silent conversation is had, Colette’s the one who asks if everything is okay. I don’t know if it’s her voice or just that it’s her asking, but I start to cry.

I end up telling her that the entire relationship has been fake, apologizing to her for lying.

After that, I explain what happened with Spencer last night.

Even as I repeat his words back to them, it still doesn’t seem to click that he has feelings for me—for years now—until I see Mia’s face.

She knew how I felt about him just after meeting him the one time, even if she didn’t know who he was.

That feeling never went away, it just somehow got buried alongside my other desires after choosing Chance.

“What are you going to do now?” Colette asks gently.

“I’m going to take a few days without seeing him to think about it all. Though, before he walked to his apartment, I asked him to go to dinner with me on Thursday. Hopefully by then I’ll know what I want.”

Mia asks, “Are you leaning one way or the other?”

“I really like him, even more so now that we’ve gotten to know each other better. But I know I have lingering issues from all the shit Chance put me through. I’m not sure it's a good idea to start something new.”

“Whatever you decide, we support and love you,” Colette says gently before hugging me. “I’ll get out of your hair and let you relax before work tomorrow.”

“Same here,” Mia nods. “I have dinner with my parents and Theo tonight, so you’ll have peace and quiet.”

“Thank you and I love you both. Hopefully I can figure out what I want before Thursday.”

***

Two grueling days of work done and now I get to have some fun with the girls.

I’m with Cori and Piper for a girls night in Charleston, for dinner and a show. And I have to say, we look pretty incredible.

Piper’s in an emerald-green dress that hugs her figure and makes her eyes pop. Cori’s wearing her typical black slacks, a baby pink button up top with suspenders, and matching heels. I’ve got on a solid black wrap dress with green and pink jeweled hair pins keeping the waves out of my face.

After the show is over, we head to one of the restaurants close to the Arts Center and have a late dinner. Cori’s been flirting hardcore with our waitress, even going so far as to ask her when she gets off work.

“You guys are my last table,” the waitress, Finley, says. “Is there a reason you’re asking?”

“I’m hoping that when we’re all done here, you’ll want to come back to my place so I can get to know you better,” Cori says as she caresses Finley’s hand that’s at her side.

I share a look with Piper knowing that Finley will be leaving with Cori and that we’ll be on our own for the rest of the night. This is pretty common where Cori is concerned and it’s nice to see that hasn’t changed.

Where Colette gives soft and sweet, Cori gives hard and edgy.

Even in her pink top, she has this look of “don’t fuck with me.

” She’s always been a bit of a player and tends to go for women who’d ask “how high?” if she said jump.

We’re all waiting for someone to come into her life and rock her shit in the best way and have decided it will need to be someone who challenges her at every step.

When they finish flirting, Cori turns to us with a smirk on her face. “Sorry, but I’m going to have to cut the night short.”

Snorting, Piper quips, “Yeah. We figured that out when you were eye fucking one another over the dessert menu. Go have fun and try not to be too mean once you’re done.”

Cori’s hand flies to her chest in mock shock. “I can’t believe you think I’d be anything but nice. Seriously though, I make sure to tell them all the deal before it starts. Only a few went into it thinking they could change me and that’s on them.”

And with that she walks away, Finley in tow.

“How about we go to the bar across the street and get a couple of drinks before heading back home?” Piper asks. “And by drinks, I mean soda for me and a hard seltzer for you since I drove.”

“Pipes, we can just leave.”

“Nope. Colette told me some of what’s going on with you and Spencer—don’t be mad—and I just want to take your mind off of it for a bit. So come on, let’s go kick some ass at darts.”

I grab her for a quick hug. “I figured she would have told you and Cori. Thank you. I’m good with darts. As long as you don’t piss off anymore grown men. ”

She holds her hands up innocently. “I promise I won’t play with the fragile emotions of the men in that bar.”

I snort out loud. As kids, Piper actually got banned from playing against the male counselors at camp because she made them cry. I shake my head and loop my arm with hers as we head to the bar.

***

Spencer

I wake up on my couch to a continuous knock at my front door.

Checking the time, I see it’s after 1:00 a.m., and panic sets in.

What if something happened to my parents or to Beckett?

I race to the door only to find no one standing there. Maybe it was the TV since it’s still on, volume low as it plays reruns. I start to shut the door and that’s when I hear a sigh. I look down, and to the right of the door is Emmaline sitting up against the wall.

“Emmy? Are you okay?”

She turns to face me, and a lopsided smile overtakes her whole face. “SPENCIE! I’ve been out here for hours just knocking. I thought you’d never let me in.” At that she pouts. “Did you not want to see me?”

I’m struggling to stifle laughter because goddamn, she’s so fucking cute when she’s drunk. Even cuter since this is the first time I’ve seen her happy drunk side. “I take it girls night was a success?”

She huffs as she stands, rocking back in her heels.

“It was. I cried watching the same show I’ve seen a hundred times.

Cori went home with our waitress, and then Pipes and I went to a bar to play darts.

I think I had one too many drinks but that’s okay.

I don’t have to work in the morning and I’m a bit nervous about our dinner tomorrow. ”

She pushes past me into my apartment and starts taking her heels off.

Turning to face me, she says, “I wanted to come see you because I couldn’t wait until tomorrow to tell you that I do wanna be your girlfriend.

For real. You’re the sweetest guy that’s ever been into me.

And I actually like you back. Plus, you made me come. Twice.”

That last bit would be pretty hot if she wasn’t holding up three fingers. Instead, it’s adorable.

She stalks slowly toward me, grabbing at the bow that’s holding her dress together. “And since I’ve said yes to you to being my boyfriend, this means we can sleep together now. Because I’ve thought so much about having you inside me again, only for real this time.”

I don't have time to respond before she pulls on one of the ties of the dress open, letting it fall to her feet. She’s breathtaking.

The sight of her pierced nipples peeking through the sheer lace material of her bra would be enough to bring even the most saintly men to their knees.

She winks at me, turns toward my room, and I actually groan out loud at the view of her plump ass walking away from me.

I quickly follow, catching up to her just in time to see her getting irritated with the bra clasp. I grab a shirt out of my dresser because there’s no way I’m letting her get naked tonight.

“Shortstack,” I say gently and put my hand up to hers to stop her from removing it. “I’m sure you want it off, and I’ll help you, but you can’t turn around once it’s off. I have a shirt here for you that you need to put on, then we can talk.”

She peers over her shoulder with a pout. “You don’t want me? Was what happened the other night that bad?”

Whatever amusement I was feeling is quickly wiped from my face. “Last time you woke up and needed space, I just want to make sure you are 100% sure. I don’t want you waking up again and feeling any regret or getting too in your head, any more than I know you will.”

She nods, grabbing the shirt and waits for me to unhook her. When she’s covered, she walks to the bed sitting on the edge. “I’m sorry for coming here like this. ”

“I promise it’s okay.” I sit beside her.

“Emmy, you have to know that I’d gladly take you as my real girlfriend.

I’d love nothing more.” She smiles so brightly and all I can think about is how happy it makes me to know that even drunk Emmaline likes me.

“But, we should wait to do anything until you’re sober and can back up your drunken thoughts. ”

Once again, she pouts. “Are you sure?”

I huff out a laugh, “Yes. I’m sure. I’ll be right back.”

I head out to the kitchen to get her a glass of water and stop by the bathroom to grab the Tylenol. I come back and see she’s made herself comfortable in my bed. The covers pulled up under her chin, with her eyes closed. I ask her to sit up enough to take the pills.

Once she takes them, I ask, “Do you want me to walk you to your apartment?”

Yawning, she sinks back under the covers. “I think I’m too tired to walk all the way home. Is it okay if I stay here?”

I have to bite my lip to quell the laughter bubbling up because she’s literally right next door. “In that case, of course you can sleep here. I’ll sleep in the guest room. If you need anything, let me know.”

As I move to stand, she grabs my hand. “Will you please stay? At least until I fall asleep?”

Yes barely leaves my mouth before she’s pulling me down next to her. I reach over to turn off the lamp and don’t get under the blanket since I plan to get up once she’s out. I turn my head towards her, noticing she’s already falling asleep with her mouth open. I can’t help but stare.

She looks so peaceful. Her mascara is smudged, and I kick myself for not thinking to offer her some face wash. But being this close to her, able to stare at her breathtaking face, I notice how long her lashes are and how she has the tiniest mole under her right eyebrow.

I don’t know how long I stare at her face, but I feel my eyes start getting heavy and the last thing I recall thinking is, I could get used to this.