Page 75 of Matchmaking the Rival

"Huh?" Spencer asked innocently.

"We're not pretending about anything. I just didn't have time to update you or anyone else. And why does it matter? Couldn't you just go back to the living room when you saw we were having a moment?"

"What the hell's your problem?" He seemed stupefied.

"Didn’t you see? You've made Meredith uncomfortable."

Spencer narrowed his eyes. "Okay, let me get this straight. You think me walking in on you is why she felt uncomfortable, or the fact that I had to ask if you’re pretending?”

I blinked. "I don’t get it.” My twin was speaking in circles.

"Man, and I thought you were smart."

Gabe walked into the kitchen just then too. "Hey, is everything okay? Meredith looked a bit out of it there in the living room."

"Yes, we’re just discussing who's at fault for that," Spencer said. "Picture this. I walk in, and I find them kissing."

Gabe looked between the two of us, confused. "I thought this wasn't the real thing between you and Meredith. Did I miss a memo?"

"Jesus Christ. There is no privacy in this family. None whatsoever. None." It was getting on my last nerve.

Spencer threw up his hands. "Exactly, right? So that was my question. Meredith excused herself and went to the living room. Now this dickhead thinks it's my fault."

Gabe considered this. "I mean, it is. Why did you have to put the man on the spot?"

"Thank you, Gabe." This was unexpected support. Usually my youngest brother played devil's advocate for whomever was under scrutiny. "Now, before either of you get to question me anymore, I'm going to see what's happening in the living room. I don't want our grandmother suffocating Meredith."

"Too late, dude," Gabe said. "She was getting out family albums. Why do you think I suddenly thought the kitchen might be a better place to be? She's gotten Natalie trapped too."

We all liked to indulge Grandmother, but looking at old photos was an activity we unanimously hated, mostly because she always wanted to start with childhood ones when our family was still complete and apparently happy. That was what hurt the most—that it was all just for appearances. Everything was built on a lie as far as we were concerned. I never could figure out how our father managed to juggle two families, or why he even wanted to. I’d never asked Mom, obviously, and Grandmother only brought up the topic once and then declared she never wanted to speak of it again. The only woman who could probably have an inkling was Nancy, my half brothers' mother, but it wasn't a question I really wanted answered. It simply boggled my mind that he’d gotten away with it for so many years.

I burst out laughing when I entered the living room. Colton and Jake were with Grandfather in a corner of the room, sharing whiskey. They'd chosen the seats farthest away from Grandmother, who was on the couch with Natalie on one side and Meredith on the other. Good God, Gabe was right. She had a stack of twelve albums next to her. If she had her way, she'd hold the ladies hostage the whole evening, showing them all the albums. I needed to save Meredith. She might not know she needed saving, but she did.

I walked straight up to them. Colton and Jake called my name to deter me. "Hey, dude, we can make you a drink,” Jake said. That was their attempt to saveme, but I didn't need any of that. I needed Meredith.

"Grandmother, I'm going to have to whisk Meredith away," I announced.

"Oh, already?" she asked, and I could hear the disappointment in her voice. I loved her dearly, but this was where I drew the line.

"Yes, she and I have plans tonight."

Meredith looked at me in surprise. I winked at her. This wasn't how I planned to tell her, but I had no other choice.

"Oh, of course. I don't want to be a third wheel. Natalie, darling, do you and Jake also have plans?"

It was on the tip of my tongue to say, "Yes," just to get her out of this situation, but Natalie was too nice and cared about my grandmother far too much.

"No. I’d love to look at all of the pictures. I can't wait to see more photos of Jake when he was a kid. He definitely had a growth spurt later on, didn't he?"

"Oh, yes he did," Grandmother said confidently.

Meredith grinned, turning an album around for us all to see. "And Cade wasn't such a looker in middle school, was he?" She showed me the picture. I was scruffy and thin.

I shrugged. "Better late than never."

"I agree," Meredith replied, placing the album back in my grandmother's lap. "Jeannie, it was lovely seeing you. Thank you for welcoming me into your home."

"Of course, my girl. You're always welcome. I'm so happy my meddling worked out so fast. I have my hands full with these boys. Two down, so many more left to go."

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