Page 5 of You Found Me (The Meadow Springs #1)

Emmaline

I thought taking a quick shower and some meds before I went to bed last night would have prevented a hangover.

Boy, was I freaking wrong.

I owe Spencer the biggest thank you for setting me up with the necessities before he left last night and a giant apology for having to deal with a drunk Mia and me.

Mia was uncharacteristically understanding with my not wanting to talk about whatever tension or awkwardness she noticed between Spencer and me at the diner Thursday, but that all went out the window this morning.

I knew it the moment I smelled coffee and fresh cinnamon rolls wafting throughout the place. Her patience had worn thin, and I felt it in my bones that she wasn’t going to let me leave until I gave her what she wanted.

Two bites into the most decadent cinnamon roll on the planet was all I managed before Mia sat across from me and asked if I’d somehow slept with Spencer before seeing him with Theo. Actually, her words were ‘‘did you climb that man like a tree to get his wood? ”

Yeah. No preamble with her. She says exactly what she thinks and it’s one of my favorite things about her. When I said the words ‘‘he’s Daredevil ,” Mia screeched and proceeded to have a mini freakout.

After she calmed down, she asked me point-blank if I thought meeting him was the catalyst to my now being engaged to Chance.

She made sure to point out that when we were talking about the party in the dorm common area, Chance was also there, and that the next day was when he asked me on a date.

I tried telling her that even if that was the case, it all worked out how it was supposed to.

The look of sympathy on her face was too much to bear, so I thanked her for letting me stay, then told her I needed to make a stop before heading back to the city.

I didn’t mention that the stop was to face Spencer.

Unfortunately, I’m not the kind of drunk who can’t recall all the stupid things they did or said.

So, the amount of embarrassment I feel this morning is enough that I want to dig a hole and hide in it for the rest of my days.

But if he’s truly going to be living here for good, seeing him when I visit my parents or friends is inevitable, and I don’t want it to be awkward between us.

It’s still crazy to me that the guy I had so much chemistry with a few years back happens to be Theo’s college best friend.

I would hear things about the elusive Spencer Hale, but nothing that was said gave me any indication that he was my Daredevil.

For someone as extroverted as Theo, he doesn’t have social media of any form, which would explain why I never put two and two together.

He mentioned in the note next to the meds that if we needed anything, he could be found at Wildflower Inn. Which is how I find myself standing in front of his open door, outright ogling his naked—and still wet—chest.

It’s not like I want to be staring, but I’m short so my gaze is automatically level with a wall of pure muscle. Sue me.

I don’t know how long I’ve been standing here, saying absolutely nothing, when I hear Spencer clear his throat. When I finally meet his eyes, it’s then that I notice the strands of wet hair falling into his eyes and the small smirk on his face .

“Sorry,” I say, mentally shaking myself. “Did you say something?”

He laughs a little before straightening. “Just your name. Is everything okay?”

My face starts to heat. “Um, hi. Everything is good. Sorry if I’m interrupting your morning, but I wanted to come by to say thank you for getting us home last night.

” I wring my hands, and continue, “I don’t know what came over me and I’m a little embarrassed that you had to deal with me like that. ”

“As I said last night, you don’t have to apologize. We all have bad or off days, and emotions were high because of the party.”

“I appreciate you being so nice about it,” I chuckle awkwardly. “I just wanted to stop by before I head back home and give my thanks. I hope you have a good day and maybe the next time we meet, I won’t have a mini meltdown.”

He smiles. “While I didn’t like seeing you upset, I enjoyed getting to hang out with you again. Be careful and hopefully I’ll see you next time.”

I head out to my car and the only thing I can think about is how hot he looked shirtless with just a baby blue towel slung around his hips. I had to stop myself from thinking too hard about the drop of water that traveled from his neck to the deep cut V of his abs.

Now I’m mentally cursing at myself because that was not okay. I’ve never once looked at another man the way that I just looked at Spencer the entire time I’ve been with Chance. That’s not fair to him.

It’s just the resurgence of old emotions, that’s all.

That’s all it can be.

***

I don’t know why I expected Chance to be home when I got there Sunday afternoon considering he didn’t call or text all weekend, yet I was still hoping he’d be around.

I spent most of the afternoon and evening prepping food for my work week and cleaning the apartment since he left it incredibly messy. By ten p.m. he still wasn’t home, meaning I went to bed alone, once again.

It’s now Wednesday morning and I’ve seen him once—very briefly—after work last night. He still hasn’t apologized for how he acted last week or mentioned how his scrimmages went. Though at this moment, I don’t care.

Because I’m currently dying.

I’ve felt terrible the past two days and thought it was from not sleeping well. But as I sit at the nurses’ station with my manager, Kelli, holding a thermometer under my tongue, I start to think that maybe Colette passed her sickness on to me.

“102.3 degrees. I’m sorry hun, but you’re gonna have to go home.

I need you to hand over whatever notes you’ve made about your patients and clock out.

If by some chance you still have a fever on Sunday, text or call to let me know so I can get coverage for you.

” She squeezes my arm before telling me, “Go get some rest and have that fiancé of yours pick you up some soup.”

“Okay. I think sleep will help. Hopefully it’s just one of those 24-hour bugs, but I’ll let you know.”

I grab a few extra masks, start wrapping everything up to give to Kelli, and make it to our apartment forty-five minutes later. I would have been home much sooner, but I forgot where I parked.

We’re going to blame my feverish brain for that one.

When I get inside, I can’t even drum up irritation with Chance for leaving his clothes strewn all over the floor. But then I see something that makes me pause.

A bra.

Which normally wouldn’t be concerning since I do live here, however it’s the size that confuses me.

I am a B cup at most, yet the one on the floor could fit both of my boobs into one cup—plus space to stuff it with a handful of tissue.

Why would a bra of this size be in our apartment?

Am I imagining the size of it because of my fever?

That’s when I hear it.

A moan.

Coming from the room I share with Chance.

I force one foot in front of the other. Gaslighting myself into thinking that he’s just in there watching porn.

The little voice in my head reminds me of the bra and how it was not there when I left this morning.

The closer I get, the more I hear the telltale sound of skin slapping together while the moans become louder.

I hear a groan and then something that cleaves my heart in two.

“Oh god, Chance. Harder.”

I’m frozen.

The odds of him finding a porno with a man that shares his name probably isn’t that high.

Even as I hear the headboard thumping against the wall, I can’t move.

It’s not he says, “Fuck babe. I’ll never get tired of this,” that I’m brought out of my stupor and run out like someone lit me on fire.

I get in my car and start to call Colette and Mia, but something stops me.

I can’t.

Admitting it out loud feels like a punch to the gut. I need time to deal with what I heard before talking to anyone else. I refuse to be suffocated by pity or see in their eyes that their doubts about him turned out to be valid after all.

***

I get into town in record time—honestly, I’m surprised I didn’t get pulled over.

I take a deep centering breath as I sit outside Wildflower Inn. I could have stayed at my parents’ house since they’re out of town for their second honeymoon, but they have security cameras. Which means they’d see me, worry, and I wouldn’t have a moment of peace.

So, renting a room at the Inn for a few days is the plan for now.

Behind the front desk is college kid that looks bored out of her mind. However, as soon as she sees my puffy eyes and mask, she becomes vaguely interested in me and my state of distress. “Welcome to Wildflower Inn, I’m Ashley. Do you have a reservation? ”

“I don’t, but I was hoping you had a room available for a few nights.”

“Let me check,” she says, then starts clicking away on the computer. “Yep. Looks like we have a few open and available for check in. If you give me your information, I’ll get you set up and on your way.”

I release a breath. “Thank you. Is it at all possible to have you put my name as something other than what’s on my license?

I just need a little time before people know I’m here.

” Her brows furrow, and I quickly tell her, “I’m not in trouble with the law or anything serious.

Just dealing with guy trouble while being sick. ”

“Men really are the worst sometimes. But yeah, I can def put you in as someone else. I know Ms. Clara doesn’t look at billing information unless there’s an issue brought to her by the tenant.

” She hands over a floral skeleton key. “You’re in room seven.

Breakfast and lunch are included in the price, and the hours are in the packet on your nightstand.

If you have any questions or need anything, I’m here until nine o’clock tonight. ”