A whole host of words came to mind in response to Grant's statement. However, none of them would improve the situation, and he didn't want to start an argument. So instead, he lifted his drink higher.
“Thanks again for the drink. Next time they're on me,” Duncan said before entering the cabana.
Accepting the glass, Tory kissed him. “I thought you got lost.”
If Duncan brought up his and Grant's conversation, it would be when they were alone. “The bar was busy.”
“I'm not surprised. It's a gorgeous day,” Tory replied before removing the fruit added to her drink.
“After we finish these, are you up for renting a raft or going for a swim?”
Guests could rent single or double-person rafts to use on the ocean or in the pools on a first-come, first-serve basis. When he'd passed the hut where you obtained towels and rented them, there still had been some stacked outside. But if they waited much longer, they probably wouldn't get one today.
Tory removed the straw from her mouth and smiled. “I was going to suggest that myself.”
TWELVE
Late Friday afternoon,Tory found Duncan outside on the balcony drinking iced tea and snacking on pretzels. “Have you been back long?”
After breakfast, Duncan had gone golfing with the men while she'd joined the women for a day of ultimate pampering at the resort's five-star spa.She was the most relaxed she’d been all month.
“We returned to the hotel about two hours ago, and then I went snorkeling for a little while. How was the spa?”
Duncan set down his drink, put his arm across her shoulders when she sat, and then kissed her temple. Whether it was holding her hand or putting an arm over her shoulders like now, Duncan liked physical contact—something she wasn't used to from past relationships but enjoyed.
“Just what I needed.” She hadn't realized how tense her body was until today's massage. “I need to find a place at home that offers shiatsu massages.” Before today, she'd never heard of that type, but there must be some place in Boston where she could get one.
“You got a massage too? That explains why you were gone for so long. I thought you were just getting facials and having your nails done.”
“Nope. Ivy wanted the works.” In addition to the massages and manicures, they’d had facials and pedicures. “How was golfing?”
Although she'd expected Grant to seek her out again this week, he hadn't. He hadn't tried to speak to Duncan alone either. And even when the group was together, like yesterday during the distillery tour, Grant barely talked to either of them, which was fine with her. Hopefully, that meant he'd accepted they were never getting back together and he was ready to move on to someone else.
“Overall, it was a good day, although I thought about sticking a golf ball in Grant's mouth a few times. He acts like he's headed for the PGA tour and never stops pointing out what everyone is doing wrong. It'd be one thing if he were an outstanding player, but he's not. I'm better than him, and I'm only average on a good day.”
“Yeah, that sounds about right. Grant's an expert at everything. We went skiing once, right after we started dating. After our third trail, I went inside the lodge and read while he skied for the rest of the afternoon.”
“At least he didn't come to the bar with us after lunch. He claimed to have work to do. I think he was upset because Preston and Drake kept bringing up during lunch that he had the worst score of the day.”
Going off to pout because the others were teasing him because he'd played poorly sounded like a Grant move. She didn't completely blame him either. No one liked to be reminded of their failures. But, at the same time, it was his own darn fault. If he didn't act like such a know-it-all, people wouldn’t enjoy needling him so much when he lost.
“I wouldn’t surprise me if Drake brings it up again tonight. Drake’s not a fan of Grant and likes to get under his skin. He only tolerates him because Grant is Carrie’s cousin.”
“Yeah, I sensed they weren’t best buds.”
“Except for Preston and Steve, who is also Grant’s cousin, he isn’t friends with anyone else in the group. He often rubs people the wrong way.”
Duncan’s eyes widened in mock shock, and his jaw fell. “We must be talking about two different people. The Grant I know is such an easygoing, friendly person. I can't imagine him not getting along with everyone.”
“I know, I know, it's hard to believe, but it's the truth,” she said, playing along. “He has trouble making friends. Maybe you should offer to be his. You can go on golfing trips together or maybe visit Vegas. Grant loves poker. Don't worry if you're not great at the game. Grant would happily give you some pointers.”
“Um, yeah, that's going to have to be a resounding no.”
“Well, if you change your mind, I can give you his phone number,” she said, patting his knee. “And as much as I'd love to stay out here with you, we need to get ready.”
The wedding rehearsal and dinner weren't formal, but she couldn't wear what she had on. And Duncan definitely couldn't go in the bathing suit and faded Harvard T-shirt he had on right now.
“Do I need a tie?”