Page 51 of You Found Me
“Why didn’t you tell us you were applying?” Mia asks.
“Just in case I didn’t get in. It would’ve been humiliating after everything else.”
“They would’ve been stupid not to accept you,” Piper adds.
“Says the college dropout,” Cori states, blowing her stepsister a kiss.
Piper laughs, flipping her off. “Bite me, Corinne.”
“Could the two of you just not today?” Colette huffs out.
From what Emmaline has told me, the three of them have only been step-siblings for about ten years but their dynamic makes it seem like their whole lives. Cori and Piper laugh, clearly enjoying the fact that Colette is over their bullshit.
“Fine, mother. I’ll stop. But only if Cori agrees to go on the Gravitron with me,” Piper says with a smirk.
Everyone starts laughing and I know I’m missing something.
Callum leans over to me and says, “Cori has thrown up every year she’s gone on that ride—which is every year because Piper pulls shit like this. It’s their thing.”
Cori points at Piper. “I’ll ride it exactlyone time. And don’t youdaretry sweet talking the attendant into starting it up again as soon as it stops.”
Piper holds up her hands. “I’d never.”
Callum snorts, then quickly stops when Piper shoots him a glare. I look at Emmaline and find her watching me. I smile at the joy written across her face. It’s obvious she’s missed being around her friends.
But what her smile really tells me is that she seems closer to being at peace than the Emmaline I ran into at the diner over the summer.
Chapter 15
Spencer
September has come and gone and thankfully without any more texts or calls from Chance.
Emmaline seems to think he’s moved on, however, I’m not so sure. Men like him bide their time, waiting for the woman they need to have control over to drop her guard. And that’s when they make their next play.
All week, she’s been saying how dating me has done what it needed to do, and we’d probably be able to break up by Halloween.
Granted, I never even told Mom that I was dating someone. I never had the time to bring it up. She’s been preoccupied with book club and working part time at the library. But I know when I eventually get the chance to tell her, she’ll want me to bring Emmaline to Willow Beach.
I’m just stepping into my apartment when I get a call from Beckett letting me know he’ll be in town in about five minutes.
“I just got home now, and I need to shower, so use your key to come in. I’m gonna go to dinner with Theo, so I hope you’re hungry.”
When I turn off the shower, I can hear Beckett talking with Theo from the living room. Once I’m dressed and ready to go,we head out. While I wouldn’t have minded cooking for the guys, I find myself mostly relying on Edie and her magical touch to keep me fed.
That woman can cook. Hell, even when she isn’t the one cooking, she’s trained her staff to cook just as well. There are a few different restaurants and businesses in Meadow Springs, but Edie’s is one of the few that doesn’t have some kind of floral name.
Despite my loyalty to Edie, when Theo mentioned going to Carnation Cantina, I quickly agreed. It’s across the street from Blossom Brews and always smells phenomenal.
We’re seated as soon as we walk in, and I notice Emmaline, Mia, Colette, Piper, Cori, and Callum in the back corner booth finishing up dinner. Mia is the first to see our little trio and waves us over.
I introduce Beckett to Callum and Cori, as they weren’t able to meet him at Mia’s birthday dinner. After everyone says hello, Mia adds, “We’re about to head to Chappy’s in Charleston forSINGO!. You should meet us there once you’re done eating.”
Theo sighs. “Mia, by the time we eat and drive there, it’ll be over. Maybe you should give us a heads up on the invite next time.”
She sticks her tongue out at him, clearly already a bit tipsy. “Well, my bad. I’ll do better next time.Butwe’re still on for the barbecue you’re having tomorrow, right?”
Without letting Theo respond, Mia looks to Beckett to say, “And Clark, you better not dip out to go save your hometown from danger.” She tosses him a flirty wink and even though he rolls his eyes, there’s a small smile paired with it.
