Page 119 of Matchmaking the Rival

"What the hell?" I took my phone from my back pocket, checking the text messages. I had one from Spencer:I'll come a bit later.Fair enough. That didn't seem like he was in trouble. Although, he did have a calm way of handling things.

Back in the living room, our families had already spread out, relaxing and talking like they’d known each other forever. Meredith and her mom were at the kitchen island. Everly and her husband were sitting at one end of the dining table along with my grandparents. I couldn't help but laugh. I knew my grandmother would start her campaign for a great-grandkid again after spending time around a baby.

Natalie and Jake sat on the couch next to Gabe. They were talking in low voices, and I instantly knew something was off, so I headed over to them.

"Spill it," I said as I sat down.

“We don't know anything for certain,” Gabe qualified.

"Come on, don't bullshit around. What's happening? Is it about Spencer?"

He nodded.

“I damn well knew it."

“Remember Naomi?” Gabe asked, and I blinked.

“The woman he dated a million years ago?”

“No, not a million. It was, I’d guess, about a year ago? Probably less. Actually, way less,” Gabe corrected. “Anyway, he’s meeting her right now.”

“That doesn’t sound like a problem to me.” Spencer was meeting with his ex. Big deal. I couldn't understand why Gabe was up in arms.

"Come on, lighten up. You're going to worry the rest of the family," I said.

"No, he won't. Our grandparents aren't paying any attention," Colton said, joining us. He didn’t even ask what we were talking about, so clearly he was in the know. “They're far too entranced by Meredith’s niece. That's not boding well for the couples in our family. She's going to start nagging about great-grandkids again.”

“I agree,” I said.

Gabe waved his hand. “I think she's more into matchmaking than actually having great-grandkids.”

"Yeah, she does seem to enjoy it a lot," Colton said.

I grinned. “Worried?” He definitely sounded like he was. I liked teasing my oldest brother. I was happy Gabe managed to get him here.

“I don't even have time to breathe, let alone for Grandmother to make any other plans for me, which leaves Gabe and Spencer as well as our half brothers as possible candidates.”

"No, I'm not worried at all," Colton said. “I just don't need her interference.”

Jake snorted. “Good luck with that.”

I started to laugh. “I told her the exact same thing, and it had zero effect.”

Grandmother had made up her mind when it came to matchmaking Meredith and me. But I wasn't complaining, not in the slightest. Some people met through fate, others because Jeannie Whitley decided it was time.

Twenty minutes later, the doorbell rang. I opened the door, and Spencer and Maddox stepped in. I immediately knew something was wrong with my twin.

"What happened, dude?" I looked at Maddox, who just shook his head.

"You have something to drink?" Spencer asked.

"Yeah, what do you want?"

"Whatever’s strongest," he said.

An alarm rang in my mind. My usually relaxed brother needed a strong drink? That was a bad omen.

I went to the kitchen to make him one.

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