Page 31 of You Found Me
We talk for a little while longer before leaving. On the way out, we bump into Emmaline. And running into her is slowly becoming my favorite part of living in this town.
“Hey, Emmaline! This is my mom, June, and my dad, Bill. Family, this is Emmaline. She lives next door with Theo’s sister, Mia.”
She gives us a warm smile. “Hi. It’s nice to meet you both. And it’s good to see you again, Beckett. What brings y’all to town?”
“Oh, noth—” I’m cut off by my mom.
“It’s my baby’s birthday and we decidedto surprise him.”
Emmaline looks at me, amusement sparkling in her big brown eyes. “I had no idea. Happy birthday, Spence. I’ll have to buy you a drink sometime.”
Her eyes scan my family and then me for just a second too long. “It really was nice to meet you all. But I need to go in and wash off this day. Have a good night.”
I watch her go into her apartment before turning to leave and I’m met with the biggest grin on my mom’s face.
“Don’t even go there. She’s just a friend.”
“Yeah, a friend you wanna kiss,” Beckett says under his breath which causes our mom to grin even wider.
“Shut up, Clark,” I tell him, making him look away. “Come on, let’s go eat.”
Mom manages to not bring Emmaline up again until Theo shows up. She’s sure to get the pleasantries out of the way quickly.
Before Theo can even return them, Mom dives right in. “What’s the deal with that cutie who lives with your sister?”
Theo looks at me, grin as wide as it can be. “Ah. I see you met Em.”
I shut it down before either of them gets carried away. “Emmaline and I are friends. Nothing more. Besides, she just broke it off with her fiancé like two months ago. I’m focused on my jobs. Which means I don’t need a girlfriend.”
“You’re not getting any younger, Spencer James. And neither are we,” she gestures between her and Dad.
“Leave me out of this, June Bug. He’s only twenty-eight. He’s got plenty of time to settle down and have kids—if that’s whathewants to do.”
She sighs dramatically. “Fine. I’ll let it go.”
Somehow, I don’t believe her.
“Man,” Theo chimes in, “you can’t catch a break with the women in your life trying to set you up and marry you off.”
“Oh?” Mom asks, her curiosity obviously piqued. “Is someone else meddling in my absence?”
I glare at Theo.
Does he not get that if my mom hears about being set up on dates that she’ll get the same idea? I’m going to find a way to make him pay for this.
“It’s nothing, Mom.” I try to make my case, but Edie walks up to our table at the same moment.
“Well, hello to my handsome boys.” She looks at my parents, sticking out her hand to each of them. “I’m Edie, the owner. I keep one of your boys regularly fed and the other I save from hormonal teenage girls.”
Mom and Dad laugh, introducing themselves. “It’s nice to meet you.”
They chit-chat for a bit longer before Edie walks toward the kitchen with our orders.
“Are you guys staying in town tonight?” Theo asks.
“We are. Beckett’s staying with Spencer, but I booked Bill and I a room at the Wildflower Inn,” Mom smiles, eyes lighting up. “Spencer seemed to like staying there and all the pictures looked so cute online.”
“It isvery cute,” Theo says in agreement. “You’ll probably meet the owner, Clara Baker.” He then looks at me before adding in, “Maybe don’t tell her you’re related to this one. I doubt she’s happy with him.”
