Page 66 of You Found Me (The Meadow Springs #1)

Trying to stifle my laughter, I say, “Beckett, you know you don’t have to wear those since they don’t fit, right?”

He sighs. “Your mom went through a lot of trouble to get these for us, and I think it’d be rude not to wear them.”

“I think she’d understand, given that I can clearly see both of your pierced nipples.”

His face reddens deeper while Spencer chokes on his coffee. “Nipple rings? When the hell did you get those?”

“It was one night when I had one too many drinks with some friends after the breakup with Aria. A bet might’ve been involved. We found a sketchy tattoo shop that also did piercings, walked in, and I was the only one who walked out with both done.”

“Nipple piercings aren’t for the weak. A lot of people chicken out after the first one.”

Beckett shrugs, admitting, “It really didn’t hurt. I’ve had times when I cut myself while cooking that hurt more than that. The piercer said chicks dig a guy with piercings, but I think maybe she was just saying that.”

“She definitely got her money’s worth with you drunk idiots,” Spencer says with a laugh. But not in a way that sounds like he’s being condescending, which is something I love about him.

“Spence, I hate to disagree with you, but the piercer was right. I know a lot of women that love men with piercings—no matter where they’re located. ”

Beckett smirks at Spencer and it’s almost identical to the one I love—and loathe—so much. “It’s not like any women have seen them yet. With my luck, I’ll meet someone, and she’ll hate them but honestly, I kinda dig them myself.”

I look at Spencer and we’re both smiling when the doorbell rings, causing my grin to grow and Spencer’s to turn into a smirk.

“Hey, B, can you get the door for me? I need to finish this up and Spence needs to clean the coffee he spit onto the floor before our moms get back from their walk around the neighborhood.”

He looks panicked, like maybe he wants to find a reason to say no. But because he is such a sweetie, he nods and heads to the front door. I grab Spencer’s arm, pulling him with me to watch what’s about to go down. “You’re evil, Shortstack.”

“I never got to play tricks on a sibling,” I say with a shrug.

We peek around the corner just in time to see Beckett swing the door open to find Mia there in green plaid Christmas pajamas. “Well, hello, Clark. Did your shirt stay in the dryer a few minutes too long?”

He chuckles. “It appears that way. I’m just lucky the pants are only half a size too small, otherwise I’d be really uncomfortable.”

Mia doesn’t hide the fact that she’s ogling him. “And I’d just hate for you to be uncomfortable. But—”

Whatever she plans to say is cut off when her eyes find their way back to his chest and I know she’s laid eyes on his piercings. Spencer leans in, whispering, “She’s one of the women who loved pierced men, huh?”

I can’t help but giggle. “She is. I think it’s surprising her that someone like your brother would have them. But if I know my best friend, she’s starting to think of Beckett as a potential lay.”

“Cat got your tongue, Sunshine?” Beckett says, snapping Mia out of her daze.

She straightens. “I’m here to pick up cinnamon rolls. So, if you’ll excuse me, Beckett.”

Mia comes barreling toward me and pulls me into the kitchen with her, whisper shouting through her teeth, “How come you didn’t tell me his nipples were pierced? Or that he’s got a sexy as sin happy trail and a deep V? ”

“You do realize that I’m in love with his brother, not him right? Besides, you’re telling me that you didn’t ever realize your ‘bestie’ is totally your type?”

“Ugh,” she says, clearly flustered. “Whatever. Can you give me the rolls? I feel the energy shift is not in my favor and I don’t like it.”

“He’s just another man you’d chew up and spit out if you got your hands on him. And I don’t mean that in a way to make you sound like a terrible person. I know that you know he’s different from the other men you’ve had in your life.”

Mia smiles, albeit small. “I know. His little comment threw me off is all.”

Smirking, I say, “Whatever makes you feel better. Here, these are ready to be delivered. Tell Lettie I put extra cinnamon sugar in their batch.”

“Will do, boss. Thank you for these. I’ve missed them. Merry Christmas, Ems.”

“Merry Christmas to you, too, Mia. I’ll see you at the apartment sometime this week.”

***

In my teen years, early mornings were my enemy.

My parents came up with the idea to open gifts no earlier than eleven and it’s something that stuck all these years later.

Granted, I grew out of that morning irritability with school and work, hence why I was up early to bake the cinnamon rolls.

When our parents—dads included—came back from their walk, we all sit in the living room to watch the original Grinch movie while eating breakfast.

Mom finally got a good look at Beckett and falls into a bout of laughter. “Sweetie, you don’t have to wear that if you’re uncomfortable. I didn’t think to look at the sizing to make sure it was right.”

He gives a little laugh. “It’s actually not too bad. I wore cutoff shirts playing ball—granted they weren’t as tight. ”

None of them comment on his nipple rings, either not noticing or not wanting to open up a can of worms. The movie ends signaling it’s time for presents.

Dad gets up, always the one to play Santa, and starts handing each of us a gift.

Spence let me know last night that his parents have a stocking filled up for each of them every year with scratch-offs, candy, and a card with money and to expect one.

My mom and dad have bought me an ornament of their choosing since I was a little girl and it’s always the first I put on the tree the following year.

This year is no different. My ornament is a wildflower field, similar to that of Meadow Springs, with the year written on it signifying my return home.

I feel myself starting to get emotional. I mean I’m so happy to be back in Meadow Springs, obviously not happy with the why but I’m back with my family and friends in a place that means so much to me. I stand, rushing over to my mom. “Thank you for this. And thank you for letting me move back in.”

“We weren’t going to let you be homeless. I wish you were still living with us though.”

I chuckle. “Walking in on you and Dad more than once was too much for me. I had to leave.”

“Suze, you dirty dog,” June laughs out before looking at her husband. “Bill, why aren’t you throwing me down around the house to have your way with me?”

“Junie, you know good and well you only like it in the bedroom or the laundry room. The last time I tried to be spontaneous, you chewed me out.”

“Oh my god. This is actually a nightmare, right?” Spencer asks.

“If it is, we’re having the same one at the same time and I’d like it to end now,” Beckett groans.

The rest of us laugh at their discomfort, making my dad toss the boys a bone. “We couldn’t not get you boys an ornament. You’re part of the family now. We don’t know you as well as we know Em, but we tried with what little knowledge we had.”

Dad hands Spencer and Beckett their small boxes.

I didn’t know they were going to get them one, but I’m not surprised.

Spencer gets his opened first, revealing a snow globe ornament with the San Francisco skyline inside.

Clearly, they saw his tattoo and figured it had a special meaning.

Spence smiles. “Thank you. Other than my tattoo, I don’t have anything related to this skyline. This is perfect.”

“Of course, hon,” Mom answers with a smile. “Okay, crop top, it’s your turn.”

Beckett shakes his head, smiling at the nickname as he opens the box. He sits there without saying anything for a minute. So long that I start to worry they’ve picked something upsetting.

“B?” Spencer calls out to him, which pulls his eyes toward us, and I see they’re wet.

“You have no idea how much this means to me. Thank you. It’s something I’ll treasure forever.”

When he gets up to hug my mom, Spencer grabs the ornament from Beckett’s hand.

And when I see it, I know why he’s so emotional.

My sweet, amazing parents heard me talking about how Beckett is a chef and wants to open his own place and got him a homemade ornament of a restaurant with the name “Beckett’s Bistro” written on the bottom.

Spence looks at me, a giant smile on his face and I know mine mirrors his.

When he sits, Spence hands him the gift we got him. “Are you serious? Tickets to see Tyler Childers?”

I nod. “A little chaos birdy told me you wanted to see him but wouldn’t buy tickets for a lame reason—her words, not mine. I brought it up to Spence and he agreed that you needed to go. And personally, I always want a concert buddy which is why we got you two.”

“I appreciate your blabbermouth bird friend, and both of you. But let’s move on from me, please. I don’t like all of this attention.”

Spencer nods at the gift from him for me to open and when I tear off the poorly wrapped gift, I smile seeing it’s the exact stethoscope I was looking at last month. “You didn’t have to get me this! I was planning to get it for myself.”

“I know. I am terrible at gifts. I just hoped you wouldn’t buy it before today.”

“Well, it’s perfect and it seems our minds are more alike than I thought.”

“Oof. That’s a scary thought,” Beckett jokes .

“Oh? So I also got a stethoscope? I hate to say it, but I think it’ll be wasted on me.”

I playfully shove his shoulder. “Don’t be cute. I meant I got you something I know you wanted because we talked about it.”

He smiles, ripping the top off of the wrapped box, and moves the tissue paper away to reveal a new leather work bag.

His old one is something he’s had since he graduated college and it shows.

It doesn’t help that he found it second hand while thrifting with June.

“This is perfect. The darker color is a nice change from the tan one I’ve been using. Thank you.”