Page 106 of Matchmaking the Rival

Meredith: I came to my parents' for the evening. Our conversation can happen another day. I don’t want to spoil anyone’s day.

Cade: You wouldn’t spoil anything. What do we need to talk about?

Meredith: Alfred implied that you’re not serious about us.

The bubbles on the screen indicated she was still typing, but I replied right away.

Cade: I absolutely didn’t. HE implied that.

Meredith: I thought that might be the case... but you and I never defined our relationship, did we?

Meredith: And SEE? Here I go, overshadowing your win.

I cut in before she could jump to any further conclusions.

Cade: I’m coming to your parents’ house.

Meredith: Please don’t. Just enjoy this, okay? I know for a fact that your grandparents are waiting for you at the house to celebrate. Don't make them wait much longer. We’ll talk tomorrow. I mean it.

This woman was amazing. She was probably reeling from the shit Alfred spewed, but she cared about my grandparents more.

I had two choices: I could go up to her parents’ home right now, or I could go to my grandparents. But if I'd learned anything about Meredith since reconnecting with her, it was that she didn't say things she didn't mean. If she wanted us to talk tomorrow, it meant she couldn't do it today. It didn't mean she wanted me to go running after her. She was a strong woman. My instincts told me to go to her parents’ house, but I wanted to do what was right for her, not for me.

***

"Welcome, brother,"Spencer said half an hour later, opening the door to my grandparents’ house.

"What are you doing here?"

“We were all on standby, waiting to see if you'd win, and then Grandmother asked us all to come over."

"Wait, who else is here?"

"Everyone."

We went straight to the living room. He was right. The whole gang was here, including my half brothers. Good. This was a moment of victory for all of us.

My grandmother came to me first. "Oh, our darling boy, congratulations." She hugged me tightly, and I hugged her right back.

Grandfather, stoic as usual, shook my hand.

"I can’t believe you organized this," I said.

"I was certain you were going to win," Grandmother said. "Honestly, if you didn't, I was thinking you could use some cheering up anyway. I baked a cake, and we've got plenty of champagne."

"She's even allowing me to drink for the occasion. Go figure," Grandfather said.

"But where's Meredith? I thought she’d come with you," Grandmother asked.

"She couldn't."

She narrowed her eyes. "I'm going to bring the cake."

"Congrats, dude." Maddox shook my hand. “Maybe you’ll get back in a winning streak at tennis too.”

"No. I was quite enjoying beating you two," Leo added.

"Congrats for winning," Nick said.

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