She hadn't spoken to Ivy about Duncan except to tell her he was coming. So Tory assumed Ivy had made the comment for Preston's sake, because if they were a couple, Tory would've shared many of the details of their relationship with her friend.
Duncan didn't let it show if Ivy's hug made him uncomfortable. Instead, he smiled and returned the embrace. “Tory talks about you all the time. I feel like I already know you.”
Another untrue statement, but like Ivy, he'd said it for Preston's sake.
“Duncan, this is my fiancé, Preston.” Ivy slipped her arm around Preston's waist.
If Preston was anything, it was welcoming, and he extended his hand toward Duncan. “It's nice to meet you. I'm glad you could join us.”
“Where is your room?” Ivy asked once introductions were out of the way.
“We're in the Wave Rider Tower.” Tory opened the cardholder to check their room number. “Suite 1403.”
“Awesome. We're neighbors. Preston and I are in 1405. Hayden and Gab are in our tower too, but they're on the seventh floor.”
Since Hayden had also gone to college with Tory and Ivy, she'd known her the longest of all the women in the bridal party. Until a year ago, the woman had been married to her college sweetheart. Unfortunately, her frequent travel for work and her husband's inability to be faithful when she wasn't around ended their twelve-year relationship last year.
Although she rarely got involved in her friends’ relationships, Tory had introduced Hayden and Gab to each other. A coworker at Desjardin, Gab was a great guy with a heart of gold. But, unfortunately, he always seemed to attract women who abused his generosity.
When Hayden had announced she was ready to date about six months ago, Tory set up a blind date between her two friends. They'd been together ever since.
“Who else has arrived?”
Ivy had asked everyone to arrive today, but since the first scheduled event wasn't until this evening, there was still plenty of time for people to show up.
“Madeline and Ted got here yesterday. I haven't seen Carrie and Drake, but she texted me about an hour ago that they had checked in. Olivia's flight doesn't get in until four.”
Well, that took care of the bridal party and one groomsman. But what about the rest?
“Steve and his girlfriend are down at the pool. We're heading back there; we offered to grab lunch for everyone. None of us felt like anything on the menu out there. Andrew and his wife should be landing about now.”
That explained the multiple bags Preston carried.
“Grant texted Preston about ten minutes ago to let us know he checked in. He might come down to the pool after he unpacks,” Ivy continued. “Beau and his fiancée got here about half an hour ago. They're going to meet us at the pool for lunch. If they're not already there, they should be soon.” Wedding bells erupted from Ivy's cell phone, and she removed it from her coverup. “Preston, Steve wants to know if we want anything from the bar.”
“Tell him to get me whatever he's having.”
“I made a list of where everyone's room is. I just sent it to you.” After replying to Steve and sending Tory the list via text message, Ivy returned the phone to her pocket. “After you unpack, join us at the pool. We'll be there for a while.”
If Grant might join everyone out there, Tory would find something else to do. Sure, she'd have to deal with him eventually, but she'd put it off for as long as possible. “Maybe.”
“Well, if you don't come down, we'll see you at six o'clock. You got the itinerary I sent this morning, right?”
“I got the one you sent last week.” She'd glanced over it and then saved a copy on her phone. Not that she needed to do that. Knowing Ivy, she would hand out copies to everyone tonight at dinner.
“I sent you an updated one this morning when we arrived.”
She hadn't checked her email yet today. “When I get upstairs, I'll download the new one. Is dinner still at the same time and same place?”
“Yep.”
“Great. If we don't see you at the pool, we'll see you at dinner.”
Parting ways, Ivy and Preston headed in one direction while Tory and Duncan went in another.
Stepping inside the elevator, Duncan pressed the button for the fourteenth floor as a woman accompanied by two teenagers entered right after them. “What floor?” he asked.
“Looks like you already got it. We're headed to the fourteenth floor too. Are the two of you just checking in?”