Page 107 of Loving the CEO

I snorted. “Yeah, it is. I mean, obviously, you know your grandmother better, but Jeannie Whitley wouldn’t forget something that was important to her.”

“See, even Tory knows that,” Leo said, putting an arm around my shoulders.

Nick shook his head. “Once you have a date, you don’t side with the bachelors anymore, huh?”

“Bachelor. Singular,” Leo said, clapping his shoulder. “You’re the only one left.”

My heart somersaulted. Leo almost spoke as if he saw us more than just a passing flame between friends. And yet, just half an hour ago, he’d insisted that he was first and foremost my best friend.

“You just enjoy rubbing salt in my wounds, huh?” Nick turned to me. “Tory, nothing against you. I’ve always liked you, you know that.”

“Will you eventually let us come in?” Leo asked.

Nick huffed. “I’m debating on closing the door in your face. But come in. Only because I like Tory so much.”

“How very gallant of you,” I said.

“Who else is here?” Leo asked as we went deeper inside the house.

I kept looking around with a huge smile. This place fit the Whitleys. It wasn’t overly grand, but it was spacious enough. Their voices carried throughout the house.

“Just about half the group.”

“What’s the mood?”

“You’ll be surprised,” Nick said.

“Come on, man. Give me a heads-up,” Leo said.

“No. Payback for not helping me out.”

Leo just shook his head.

“Nick can hold a grudge, huh?” I whispered.

“You have no idea.”

As we stepped into the living room, I immediately saw Spencer and Penny with Ben. Penny was sitting down, and Spencer was standing while holding Ben’s hands so he could walk. The little guy was moving very fast. Colton and Zoe were here, too, along with Cade and Meredith, who winked at me. To my surprise, she also winked at Leo.

I looked up at him. “What was that about?”

“Meredith is a bit smug because she figured stuff out the second I asked her to knock off things from your wish list.”

“I still can’t believe you did that,” I confessed in a whisper. “Or that they went along with it.”

“Darlings, you’re here,” Jeannie said, coming up to us. She kissed my cheek first and then Leo’s. She was all smiles. “I was wondering if you two would come tonight.”

“What are you talking about?” Leo asked. “I confirmed that I’d be here.”

“Yes, but I wasn’t sure if you were actually going to bring Tory.”

Meredith hurried over to us. “It’s a rite of passage—attending the first official Whitley dinner.”

Jeannie smiled. “See, Meredith knows. The girls convinced me once again to get a company to cater this dinner, which means I can dedicate my time to the family.”

Leo looked at his grandmother incredulously.

“I’m glad you found a silver lining in that,” Nick said. He was clearly not thrilled with the idea of Jeannie focusing on him. So damn adorable.

---