Page 53 of You Found Me (The Meadow Springs #1)

Spencer

As the sun sets, covering the cabin in a golden glow, we agree that we’ve been bums for long enough, and get a jump on dinner.

This alone time with Emmy has been great. I mean I always have a good time with her, no matter what we’re doing, but getting away from it all and focusing only on us was needed.

She’s still had moments this weekend where she gets that frown and far away look in her eyes.

Probably overthinking things she’s said or done, and I know she prefers to have her space when she needs to process.

I still try to be there for her even as I watch her talk herself down from the spiral happening in her pretty head.

Since she refuses to touch raw meat, I’m cutting up the chicken we need for the Cajun Alfredo pasta while she starts on the salad and the bread. She actually gagged when I grabbed one of the breasts and I had to stop myself from laughing.

Instead I say, “You’ve seen people in varying states of harm, including bones protruding out of skin. But this, me touching raw chicken, is what gets you?”

“I can’t explain why but it grosses me out.”

I assure her there’s no need to explain, we all have our own icks. Just that I was surprised this was hers .

Once everything is ready, we sit down to eat, and the conversation flows easily. She tells me more about her master’s program and how busy she’ll be. “I’m not sure how much time we’ll get to spend together once it starts because I’ll still be working and I know you’re slammed with both jobs.”

“Actually, I’d been meaning to tell you, Gavin came to me before Thanksgiving and asked what it would take to work for him full time.”

“Really? Are you considering it?” Emmy asks.

“Yeah, I am. I have to go in on Tuesday for our monthly team meeting. I’d love to work here and only here, but at the same time the other firm gave me my start.”

“I get it, you feel obligated to stick with Coleman & Jenkins but it’s okay to want to move past them and on to something better for you.”

“I know,” I sigh.” It’s just that they’ve been so understanding about me moving here and working part time with them for this job.”

“I hope you know I support you either way and I know Mr. C won’t take it personally if you decline his offer.”

“Thank you, Buttercup. And just so you know, the same goes for you.”

“I don’t recall getting a job offer from my best friend’s dad,” she grins.

“You’re such a smartass,” I mutter. “I more so meant that when you finish your program, if you want to move to the city or even somewhere new, I’d support your choice.”

“Oh. Thanks.”

Shit. Whatever joy that was on her face is now gone. “I feel like that came out in a way I didn’t intend. I only meant that I don’t want to hold you back from what you want to do. We’d be okay.”

“So, if I left, you wouldn’t be hurt?”

“Nope,” I answer before quickly adding, “and do you know why?”

She shakes her head so I continue, “If you moved, that wouldn’t mean I wouldn’t miss you. But we’d definitely be doing this long distance until the day we are able to move in together. You’re not going to get rid of me so easily. Okay?”

I watch as she tries to hide a surprised smile before nodding.

We finish up and as I put away the last plate from dinner, Emmaline begins grabbing things out of the pantry and fridge.

I knew she added groceries to the cart when we were at the store, but because I was so focused on my list, I didn’t pay attention to what she got.

By the time I wipe off the table and get back to the kitchen, I realize what she’s baking.

I move quickly to her side, placing a wet kiss on her cheek, then stepping back to let her continue. “You’re the best girlfriend for making me homemade brownies.”

She turns towards me with a sweet smile. “What makes you think I’m making these for you?”

“You said before that you didn’t love caramel.”

“That was before I tasted your ice cream, I’ve become a changed woman and have been craving the flavor since then.” She looks back at the batter. “If you’re nice to me, I might let you have a bite.”

My lips pull up into a smile, I love when she lets her playful side out. “Oh, I can be very nice to you.” I slowly stalk closer before pressing against her back, placing my arms on either side of her. “If you want, I can show you just how nice I can be.”

When her cheeks pinken and she huffs, I feel like I won this round. I wait for her to say something but instead, she dips her index finger in the batter. “Will you taste this to make sure it tastes like the last batch I’d made?”

“Of course.”

Emmaline turns around, bringing the batter covered finger up. Right as I’m about to take it into my mouth, she swipes her finger across my forehead with a giant grin on her face.

For about two seconds, I’m shocked, in disbelief that she did that, then I throw my head back laughing. “Oh, you’ve done it now, Emmy.”

She clearly isn’t taking my words as the threat they are, so I dip into the mix and run my fingers down her cheek and across her bottom lip. We stand there staring at one another before what can only be described as chaos ensues .

She tosses a small handful of flour at my face and luckily, I turn my head at the right time, so it ends up in my hair.

Emmaline mockingly gasps, “You’re totally going to be a silver fox when we’re older.”

“Buttering me up won’t save you now,” I tell her as I reach for the bottle of caramel, aiming the tip at her head.

Her eyes widen. “Don’t you dare. I just washed my hair, and you know how much I hate having to do that.”

I think about it, letting my eyes roam over her, and that’s when I think how cute she’d look with a chocolate handprint over her chest. I lower the bottle back down and flick some cocoa powder at her. When she looks down, I dip my hand back into the batter.

“I’m not sure why I thought wearing a white tank was a good idea when I knew I was going to make brownies,” she says with a sigh. “Now it looks dingy.”

“Actually, I think it looks like it’s missing something,” I say as I get closer to her, trying to keep my voice even.

“Oh yeah? And what’s that?” she asks, finally looking back up in time to see my hand coming towards her.

“This,” I tell her, placing my hand on her left boob. Her gaze goes from my hand to my face in rapid succession, as if she’s not sure I really just did that.

After that, it’s a blur of powder, batter, and sauce flying everywhere. I make a move to get out of her line of fire but end up slipping on something sticky, causing me to take her down with me. Her laughter fills my ears, letting me know she’s okay and that’s when I finally let myself laugh.

We sit up, and I pull her into me, throwing an arm around her shoulder and the other holding her knee. I look around and note the cocoa powder, flour, brownie batter, and caramel sauce are all over the countertop, the floor, and us.

Emmy turns her head to look at me, and I brush strands of hair out of her face, and say, “You really didn’t want to share those brownies, huh?”

Emmaline throws her head back, the sound of her laughter so loud and free that I just sit there in awe of her. I can’t believe how lucky I am to call her mine .

And maybe that’s why when she finally calms down, I open my mouth intending to say one thing, but instead. . .

“I love you.”

The words tumble out of me.

“Wh–what did you just say?”

The panicked look on her face tells me that she knows exactly what I said. I could pretend I didn’t say it and actually said something else. Except that’s not what I want to do. I’m not going to lie to her or to myself.

“Emmy. My Buttercup. I said I love you,” her eyes widen even further, and she opens her mouth to interrupt.

“Please, just listen. I’m not expecting you to say it back, or to even feel the same way I do.

We’ve only officially been together for a few weeks but that doesn’t change a thing for me, I love you.

It’s possible I loved you from the moment I met you.

“I felt something with you in that first hour that I’d never felt with someone else and I knew I felt it again seeing you in the diner.

I stuffed those feelings down when I saw the engagement ring and even after you broke it off with him because .

. . I didn’t want to be the guy that went after the heartbroken girl.

I didn’t want people to think I was taking advantage.

“Except then he put his hands on you, and I watched you cry, sitting on that bed boldly asking me to be your fake boyfriend. And I knew as soon as the words left your lips that I’d do anything to not see you upset again.

Maybe a better man would have been able to keep his feelings separate.

But no matter how hard I tried, I found myself falling for you, desperately wishing it was all real.

I’m willing to wait for as long as you need to love me back .

. . or to decide if you can ever love me.

It won’t change how I know I feel about you. ”

She still looks surprised.

Shaking away my own doubts, I swipe a tear that’s fallen down her face. “Now, why don’t we get cleaned up and jump into the hot tub?”

“Actually, I have to tell you something.” I nod, urging her to continue.

“I, um, hate hot tubs. Tubs in general, really. If you want to get in, I’ll sit next to it and talk to you.

It’s just not my thing. Then you have to think about how often it gets cleaned—or if it even does get cleaned.

You just know people are doing dirty things in there, and I’d rather not sit in bubbling semen water. ”

“Jesus christ, Emmy,” I say in choked laughter. “Okay, no hot tub for us—or for me like ever again. We can get cleaned up and maybe lay together in the hammock? Does that sound better?”

Her cheeks flush. “Sorry. I got carried away. That actually sounds really nice, I would really like to do that. Maybe while we’re out there I can talk to you about something?”

Curious, I nod. “We can talk about anything you want, anytime.”