“It doesn't matter,” she said, shrugging a shoulder. “I realized I was wrong. Give Tory some time. She might too.”
He'd give her all the time she wanted, but he didn't believe she'd change her mind.
“Do you want to watch another episode or call it a night?” Duncan had answered Gianna's questions and was done with the topic.
“I'm going to bed as soon as this one is over.”
Not eager for dreams of Tory again, Duncan remained on the sofa when Alec and Gianna left. An hour later, though, his body didn't care what Duncan wanted, and he headed to his room. The cell phone on the bureau called out to him as he undressed, and he grabbed it on his way to the bathroom.
The message on the screen stopped him in his tracks.
If you’re around, can we talk?
Tory had sent the message at seven thirty. If it hadn’t been after midnight, he'd call her.
Sorry. I’m just seeing this now. I'll be around tomorrow.
He'd hear her out if she wanted to talk and then go from there.
EIGHTEEN
It hadn't takenTory long to realize the colossal mistake she'd made once she'd started writing things down. She'd like to attribute it to Grant. If not for their conversation, she wouldn't have questioned Duncan's motives. However, she couldn't blame it all on him. She'd let her insecurities prevail over her common sense, not something that usually happened to her.
Realizing she'd messed up was one thing. Getting Duncan to forgive her and give their relationship another try was something else. Honestly, she wouldn't blame him if he refused.
Or maybe he already has.
Last night, after she'd mentally kicked her butt for being such an idiot and called herself every name in the book, she'd sent him a text. With the ball in his court, she'd waited for a response—one that never came before she went to bed. Perhaps he needed time to think. It was also possible his silence was his answer, and he'd spent the night with another woman.
Although warm in bed, she needed to use the bathroom, and she was hungry. Tory, unfortunately, couldn't solve either problem from the comfort of her bed. Before she addressed the first issue, Tory pulled on the bathrobe she'd tossed on the bed last night and stuck her cell phone in the pocket.
She paused on her way through the living room, surprised by the oversized, fluffy snowflakes hitting the window. Since she had no weekend plans, she hadn't checked the forecast all week. However, a glance outside told her the snow had been falling for a little while.
Just how much were they going to get? Stepping away from the window, Tory pulled out her cell so she could check the weather app as she headed toward her original destination.
Duncan's message greeted her and kept her from looking at anything else. According to the timestamp, he'd sent it at a quarter to one this morning. Had he not seen her message until then because he'd been out with someone? If so, she only had herself to blame. Or was that just an excuse and he'd needed time to decide if he wanted to talk to her?
Does it matter?He hadn't told her to get lost. He must be open to talking if he'd said he was around today. It was a start, and she’d take it.
She wanted to call him now, but if he'd still been up at almost one o'clock, who knew when he'd gone to bed? So instead, she'd have breakfast and get ready for the day before reaching out again. Hopefully, by then, he’d be up as well and ready for a visitor.
Tory managed a bowl of oatmeal and two cups of coffee before pulling up Duncan's contact information.
Is there a good time I can see you today?
She drummed her fingertips against the table and started on her third coffee. Seconds that felt more like hours passed before a response appeared.
Whenever you want.
She took that as a promising sign.
Can I come by now?
Alec and Gi are here. I'll come to you. Give me 15.
Sounds good.
She'd prefer privacy for this conversation, and it would take him just as long to get to her as it would for her to go down to his place.