The Matchmaker's Replacement - Rachel Van Dyken Page 0,89

firmly in place. “Come on, Ian, I tell you every day how awesome I am, now someone finally recognizes it and you’re angry?”

Ian slammed his door and glared at him. “You’re pissing me off more than usual.”

“You always say that when I’m on my best behavior. It’s confusing.”

“That’s actually true,” I agreed.

“Stop!” Ian held out his hands between us. “What the hell is this? You said you had a freaking peace treaty, but to be honest it’s scaring the shit out of me! Stop . . . smiling at each other!”

“We aren’t!” I said defensively.

“She’s still, er . . . stupid,” Lex said lamely while I tried not to groan out loud and give him a what-the-hell look.

“And Lex is an ass, he’s always an ass.”

“I really am.” Lex nodded. “She told me so this morning.”

When he caught me in the hallway and gripped my ass, but not the point!

“Hell,” Lex said as he fell into step behind us, always the third wheel. How had I never noticed that before? “She’s screamed my name more in the past three weeks than . . . well, ever.”

I told my cheeks not to heat.

Thankfully, my mom was already at the door, throwing it open and jumping out to pull Ian in for a hug. “Oh, mijo! You’ve grown!”

Ian hugged her back. She’d always been like a mom to him, the only mom he really knew. “Ha-ha, you said that last time!”

She pulled back and pinched his cheek. “It was true then too, my handsome boy. Where’s Blake?”

Ian hung his head. “Stupid volleyball game.”

“Oh.” My mom’s long black hair was pulled back in a braid. She tossed it over her shoulder and held open the door. “You need food. Food will make you feel better.”

Ian trotted off in the direction of the kitchen, leaving Lex and me on the porch.

My mom held up her hand, stopping both of us. “What’s going on here?”

Eyes wide, Lex stared at my mom, then at me. “Uhhhh . . .”

“Gabrielle Francesca Sava!”

I hid behind Lex.

“Coward!” he hissed, trying to get me off him.

“You.” She thrust a finger at Lex. “You have been . . .” She leaned in and sniffed the air above us.

“Mom!” I wailed.

“You . . .” My mom’s eyes narrowed. “You have been with my daughter.”

Lex gulped. I felt it. Was he trembling? “Yes, ma’am, but nobody knows . . . and we haven’t told Ian yet. I will tell him. But your daughter asked for time. I care about her. A lot. And I care about him too. I want to do this right, so please don’t say anything until we’re ready.”

She leaned back and smiled. “I’m happy you are doing the right thing by both Gabi and Ian. My lips are sealed. Now run along into the kitchen, young man, and find your tamales.”

Lex bolted away from me before I could stop him, leaving my mom and me staring at each other on the porch.

“Gabrielle.” She sighed, then opened her arms. “You don’t just ‘care about’ him, do you?”

I hadn’t realized how much I was holding in until I was able to sag against her. Tears flowed freely. “I really, really like him. I’ve liked him since—”

“Oh, mija. I still remember when you stormed into the house four years ago yelling about him. I know.” She patted my head a few more times, then stopped. “Ian. He will not like this.”

I stiffened up again. “I know, Mom.”

“Okay, you’ll need to be careful.” She pulled away from me. “Is Lex worth losing your best friend?”

I didn’t answer.

How could I?

It wasn’t a fair situation. Part of me was so angry that Ian had that much power over my relationships, yet another part knew it made total sense. He was, in all essence, my brother. Nobody would be good enough, and he had firsthand knowledge of how much of a whore Lex had always been.

“Mija.” My mom laughed. “Don’t hurt yourself, all will be resolved. Go eat.”

The answer to everything. A full stomach.

I rubbed mine as I made my way into the kitchen.

“Mom?” Food was everywhere. How were they able to afford it? All the money I earned was going toward groceries, but this was too much. I didn’t make enough to line the tables with hot, steaming Mexican food.

“Oh, Gabi . . .” My mom shrugged. “It was the most wonderful thing. Ian offered to do the grocery shopping yesterday. I told him I was going to go by