Loving the CEO (Whitley Brothers #7)

Chapter Nineteen

Tory

I'd almost forgotten that Leo had offered to talk to his family. Which was why I was surprised when my phone rang with an unknown number the next morning. I was sipping black tea, looking out my window at the sleepy street. I frowned at the screen and was really tempted not to pick up. What if it was someone from New Orleans calling to berate me about the wedding?

After the caller gave up, I received a message.

Unknown number: Hey, Tory. This is Meredith, Cade's fiancée. I talked to Leo and would love to meet up with you.

I smiled at the phone, feeling giddy. When had he even called them? It was only eight in the morning.

I immediately called her back. "Hey, Meredith. Sorry I didn't answer earlier. I've been getting some unfriendly calls lately, and I figured it was yet another one."

"No problem. Should have texted you from the beginning. I also don't answer unknown callers."

"When did Leo talk to you?"

"This morning. The girls and I are really looking forward to going out with you. Leo said you moved into a new place."

"Yes, last night. "

"We could all come by and celebrate at your place if you'd prefer. Like a housewarming party."

"That's such a great idea."

She laughed. "Sorry for inviting myself over. I just figured it would be cozier, and I know we’d all love to see your place."

"I love it. When do you want to come by?"

"Let's make it a Friday or a Saturday so we don't have to rush home or, you know, monitor our drinks with having to work the next day or something."

"I like your thinking, Meredith."

"Well, thank God you do. When you didn't call after the party in Essex, I figured maybe we'd intimidated you or something," she confessed.

I grimaced. I hadn't realized it might appear that way. "Sorry about that. I figured you offered out of politeness."

"You've known the Whitleys for a long time. You think they'd say something just for the sake of being polite?"

I started to laugh. Truth be told, I only knew Nick, Leo, and Maddox, but I could see where she was coming from. "Thank you for calling me, Meredith."

"No problem. And now you know the phone works both ways, so feel free to reach out whenever, okay? I’ll talk to the rest of the girls and see if they can do this Friday or Saturday.”

"Sure. I'm super excited!"

What a way to start my day in my new apartment. It had to be a good sign, right?

After hanging up, I texted Leo.

Tory: Meredith called. Thanks for talking to her.

Leo: No problem .

Tory: They’re going to come Friday or Saturday, but I'll tell them my door’s open anytime. No need for an invitation.

Leo: How about me?

I grinned and started typing, then stopped and considered my answer. We'd never discussed how things were going to change now that I was no longer in his house. Did we have to schedule seeing each other? Would we go on dates? Were we friends with benefits? Above all, we were still friends... right?

I wasn't even sure how that worked, but as per my first resolution, I wasn't going to overthink it.

Tory: That sexy ass is welcome here anytime.

Leo: That's more like it. How’s your first morning there?

Tory: I love it. But I have to buy a coffee machine. I'm drinking Earl Grey. Not really enough caffeine to wake me up.

Leo didn’t reply.

After finishing my tea, I jumped in the shower so I could get on with my day. I’d just rinsed my hair of shampoo and turned off the water when I heard the doorbell ring.

Oh shit, has it been ringing all this time?

I didn't hear anything more, so I wrapped my hair in a towel and threw a robe on as I dashed to the door.

I realized it wasn’t the doorbell ringing but the entrance door to the building. I let whoever it was in without even asking, then awkwardly hovered around the door. A few minutes later, there was a knock. I opened it and grinned. It was Leo.

"Good morning. I brought something for you."

My lips parted as he handed me a cup of coffee.

** *

Leo

The surprise on her face was priceless.

"You came all the way here just to bring me coffee?"

"Can I come inside?"

"Yes, of course. Oh goodness, my brain really isn’t functioning yet."

I chuckled. "That's why I thought you’d appreciate the coffee."

She took a sip and closed her eyes. "Oh yes, this is good. I've missed this while drinking my Earl Grey."

I’d missed her. Waking up today without Tory in the house had been strange. Something had shifted, and I couldn't put my finger on it.

"How was it to wake up and have the house all to yourself again?" she asked.

“Awful” was what I wanted to tell her, but that sounded insane. I didn’t want to scare her. But then I couldn't keep myself in check anymore. "I liked having you at the house."

"But I'm sure you like having your space as well."

Does she want to have her space? Was living with me too much? Did she use the excuse of moving to Boston for moving out?

I couldn't even believe my own train of thought. What the hell? I knew this was for the best. It was the smart thing to do. Of course we couldn’t live together forever. That just wasn't what this was.

And yet, I hated that she lived here. I wanted to throw her over my shoulder and take her back to my house.

"I have something for you," I said.

"Besides the coffee?"

"Yes. I left it at the door."

I hurried back to the entrance, opened the door, and brought in the huge box.

“Oh my God! That's a telescope," she said.

"I know. "

"You bought that for me?"

"Babe, I sure as hell didn't buy it for myself. Of course it's for you." Why was this so hard for her to believe?

She opened her mouth and closed it again. "But they’re exorbitant."

Ah, that's why she was so shocked. She clearly didn’t realize that these days, price was no object for me.

"Tory, enjoy it. Don't think about the price. Don't think about anything else."

She licked her lips and then looked up at me with a huge smile. "This is the best present I’ve ever gotten."

I grinned. "I'm glad I bought something that made you happy."

"This is wonderful. I want to put it together right away."

"Let's do it."

"Really?" she asked. “You want to help?”

"Hell yes. What my lady wants, my lady gets."