Chapter Ten #2
"Thank you," Nick said. "Finally, someone with a good head on his shoulders."
"Yeah," Leo remarked.
"True," Maddox agreed.
I had to laugh at how similar these guys were to my blood brothers. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
It was good that my brothers weren't here because they'd immediately pick up on why I was playing so shitty today. My family had a sixth sense when it came to that. I had to make an effort to stop them from guessing what was wrong with me, but I could relax around my half brothers, since they didn’t know me as well.
My mind was on Meredith, plain and simple. She was getting back tonight.
While my half brothers continued discussing the pros and cons of hooking up with someone at the club, I texted Meredith.
Cade: What time do you get back today?
Meredith: Six o’clock.
Cade: When and where should I pick you up?
Meredith: Can I text you later? My parents moved into their new home. I promised I’ll help them unpack or they’ll never be done. We can go out after?
Cade: I'll drop by and help.
Meredith: Really? I'm sure you have better things to do on a Sunday evening.
Cade: Nah, I’d like to spend it with your parents. I haven't caught up with them in a while. And with you. Especially with you.
She didn't reply. I was 100 percent sure she was blushing.
"Dude, I thought you couldn’t focus. But this is different. It's like you're in a trance," Nick said.
I looked up from the phone.
Leo narrowed his eyes. "I have an idea about what’s going on."
"Don't try guessing. You're going to be wrong. Besides, my focus is back," I said.
Maddox clapped his hands. "Fantastic. Then let's go and beat the hell out of these two guys."
The competitive streak was strong in the Whitley family.
But unfortunately, Maddox and I lost spectacularly.
I was too busy imagining all the things I'd do to Meredith tonight after she and I left her parents’ house.
"Dude," Maddox exclaimed. "What the hell was that? You said you were back in the game."
"Yeah, I was wrong, obviously," I said, patting his shoulder. “I'll make it up to you next week.”
He was looking at me with a stunned expression. "Tell me the truth. Did you do it on purpose so those two bozos could win?"
"No, I'm just off my game today."
"I still have an idea," Leo said loudly.
"I don't want to hear it," Nick said. "I'm too busy basking in our glory."
"If I was a betting man," Leo went on as if he hadn't heard anything.
"You are a betting man," Maddox pointed out.
"True. I'd say Cade's got some woman troubles."
I jerked my head back. Did I step into an alternate universe where my half brothers were onto me now?
"Why would you think that?" I asked out of interest.
"Spencer thinks Gran's got her eyes on you with her whole matchmaking project," Leo explained.
"She does," I confirmed.
"Good. Keep her occupied for as long as possible," Leo said. "You never know when the woman will turn her sights on us."
"Knowing Grandmother, she already has plans for each of us," I said.
Leo and Nick both looked downright horrified by that prospect.
Maddox simply chuckled. "You know, I've never been happier that there are so many Whitleys to go through. It's going to be a while until my turn comes."
"We should ask Spencer to join us next weekend for a game," Maddox suggested as we headed out of the club.
"Already thinking about replacing me?" I chuckled.
He held his palms up. "Dude, I can forgive you this once. But if you’re playing just as shitty next week, Spencer will definitely take your place."
"That's a fair deal."
Ten minutes later, I was in my car. I pulled up the address Meredith had texted me. This was insane. I was in a great mood just because I was going to spend the evening with her.
A few minutes later, Spencer called. Like Leo, I was a betting man, and I was certain he'd already heard about my spectacular loss. I answered right away.
"What's this I hear?" Spencer asked in a lazy voice. "You got your ass handed to you, and you took Maddox down with you."
"Guilty," I replied.
"Let me guess. You had Meredith on your mind."
I nearly bumped the car in front of me, barely pressing the brake on time. "This is a record, even for you," I said. "How would you even know about Meredith?"
"You think Grandmother keeps her successes to herself? The whole family is aware. Just so you know, she's already making plans about introducing Meredith to the family."
I stared at the phone. Well done, Cade. Why did I think it would appease Grandmother just to know her plan was working? Of course she'd want to ask Meredith to a family dinner.
I groaned. "I'll talk to Grandmother about that and ask her to hold off."
"Why?" Spencer asked.
I decided to fess up to my brother. "I told Grandmother she’d been successful just to get her to lay off of the whole matchmaking thing.”
Spencer burst out laughing. "Dude, you’re delusional. That will never work."
“I’m starting to realize that. Look at us talking about this. If anyone heard us talking about matchmaking, they'd think we're some weirdos, not grown men running their own companies."
"Relax. But wait! If you just said that for Grandmother's benefit, then why did you lose today? I mean, if Meredith really isn’t on your mind?”
I didn’t answer. Shit.
He laughed. "Your silence doesn’t bode well, brother. I'm starting to get ideas.”
“It's complicated," I replied.
"Damn. Grandmother's good."
"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked.
"Never mind. Anyway, do you foresee the need for me at next Sunday’s tennis match or not?"
I considered this. "Yeah, there might be."
Then I remembered what I wanted to speak to my brothers about. "Since you called, I did want to talk about Grandmother. I think she's getting cabin fever. She's spending too much time indoors. She's trying to follow the same restrictions as Grandfather, and it's starting to get to her."
"That's why you went to the theater with her?"
"Yeah," I said.
"Okay. I'll rally the troops. We need to make more of an effort. Did you already talk to Maddox, Nick, and Leo?"
"No, I haven't."
"Why not?"
"I just didn't," I said. As much as my half brothers and I tried to focus our conversations on our grandparents, sometimes family talk spilled into darker topics, like our parents. Our father. Our tennis matches were a fun time, and I wanted to keep them that way.
"I’ll ask Gabe to talk to them," Spencer said.
"Okay. Did you call to say something else, or did you just want to ride my ass?" I asked.
"No, nothing else. Just wait until Grandmother makes her next move."
"I'll talk to her before then," I said.
"Like that's ever worked."
I groaned as the call disconnected. He was 100 percent right.
I arrived at the address Meredith had given me a few minutes later. There was no moving truck in the driveway, which meant all the boxes were already unloaded. Meredith and a woman I recognized as her mother were in front of the house.
It was a good thing I’d told Spencer to join us at the club next Sunday. I had a feeling that spending more time with Meredith wasn’t going to take my mind off her.
On the contrary.