Page 107 of Matchmaking the Rival

Colton came to me next and clapped my shoulder.

"You honor us with your presence," I mocked him. "I didn’t think anything could get you out of the lab."

"Some things are worth coming out for," he said.

Jake and Natalie congratulated me next.

Gabe was last. "This is a fantastic evening, brother. I'm very glad for you. Word of warning: Grandmother was all about Meredith tonight. She might circle back to why she’s not here.”

“I’m not expecting anything less.”

It felt good to be here surrounded by my family. Making them proud was everything I’d wanted, but Meredith was still missing. It had been a mistake not to go talk to her tonight. She might not need it, but I did.

"Is anyone helping Grandmother?" I asked no one in particular. Since everyone was in the living room, the answer was no, so I headed to the kitchen. Spencer came with me.

"Grandmother, do you need any help?" I asked once inside. She was putting frosting on the cake.

"No. I know what I'm doing. I didn't want to put the frosting on before. I don't like the taste of it after it's been in the fridge for too long. But since you're here..."

Spencer cleared his throat. I barely bit down the urge to do the same. She was using hersternvoice.

"Why don't you tell me where Meredith is? She was very excited about tonight. I told her about my plan, and she assured me she was going to be here."

"There's been a misunderstanding," I said.

Grandmother put down the frosting and straightened up, turning to look at me. She put her hand on her hip.

Spencer groaned. "What happened?" he asked.

"A competitor told her I might not be serious about her.”

"What the fuck?" he exclaimed. "Sorry, Grandmother."

She didn't even blink. "I taught you better than that, young man."

"As I said, it was a misunderstanding. Honestly, it's ridiculous."

"Not if she believes it," Grandmother said. Her voice chilled me because she didn't sound annoyed anymore; she sounded concerned. "If it's all a misunderstanding, why isn't she here?"

Spencer shook his head. "Yeah, dude. I'm sorry to say you might have won this prize, and you're a smart-as-a-weapon businessman, but you don't act very smart when it comes to Meredith. Remember the last time we had a conversation about this in this kitchen?"

"Spencer," I warned.

"I'm just saying."

Grandmother looked at my brother. "Spencer, darling, I love you, but you're not helping. Do you mind taking the cake out? I want to have a few words alone with Cade."

"Yeah, I'm out of here," Spencer said, immediately grabbing the cake and heading to the living room.

My grandfather came in at that moment. "Jeannie, leave the man alone. He's had a big win."

"So?" Grandmother asked.

I almost laughed; she sounded unimpressed.

"You can do this later," he continued. "Don't spoil his evening."

"Let her talk, Grandfather."

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