They stop at a casual restaurant along the way; a waiter guides them to a table by the window and they glance over the menu.
"I'll have the steak sandwich and a coffee please." He folds the menu and hands it back. They both eye Rory as she stares at the laminate paper, biting her lip with indecisiveness.
"Can I have the cheeseburger with bacon, and fries instead of salad?"
"Sure" he nods and pencils it down. "And beverage?"
"Hmm" she bites her lip again, "I'll try the banana milkshake please."
"Okay, I'll be right back with your drinks."
They thank him simultaneously and he walks away. Rory's eyes drift to the window and up towards the sky which is morphing into an evening orange. Out the corner of her eye she sees him flex his chest forward in effort to stretch out his back and her eyes drift over to observe him better. He rests back into the chair with a satisfied sigh and her eyes roam his shirt again.
"Stop" he laughs. "Are you worried the indie hipsters will run me out the venue." He fiddles with his shirt collar and she laughs. "I left my converse back in 2005, sorry."
"Hey!" she gently nudges his shin with her foot which is enclosed with the mentioned shoe. " I was just thinking about how you're more relaxed when you're dressed casual."
"Is that a sly way of calling me uptight?"
"Here you go" the waiter returns with their drinks. Rory greedily clasps her mouth on the straw and sips until her cheeks are completely concave; she makes a very approving sound and takes another mouthful. She looks across the table and watches him stir his coffee.
"No, it wasn't, but I do remember you playing as hard as you worked. Maybe more so, actually."
"Not so much these days."
"Oh" she's surprised. "How come?"
He sips from his coffee and shrugs. "What are you doing the weekend?" he changes the subject.
Their food is brought and placed before them; she picks up the red bottle and squeezes it over the fries.
"I've got to write tonight's review and then finish up my other reviews. We're doing a last minute gift guide so I've had to read, watch and listen to a lot of stuff. Then once I've done that, I'm packing and heading to my mom's."
"You're spending Christmas at home?"
"Mhmm" she nods while her mouth is full. "What are your plans?"
"I'm not sure yet" he answers honestly. "I've got a few things to sort out. So you aren't spending the day with Paris?"
"No, are you kidding me? There is no way I'd get to sit, eat junk and watch movies all day. She left this morning to be with Doyle."
Thirty minutes later he's finishing his last bite and wipes the sides of his mouth with his napkin.
"We should leave now" he checks his watch.
"One second" she scrapes her last fry around the plate to get the remaining slither of sauce and drops it into her mouth. He rises from the chair, steps over to her side, picks her jacket up and holds it out for her to slip her arms into. "You owe me dessert though." They walk down the street and every now and again they bump shoulders. It takes about three minutes for them to get to the venue. Once inside they find a table and settle around it.
"It's quiet" he looks around at the space crowd.
"They're very up and coming. And we're unfashionably on time."
"I'll go get us something to drink" he slings his jacket over the table and heads towards to bar they passed in the lobby. Rory looks around, the room would probably fit 200, she guesses there are roughly half of that are here, most of them are standing close to the stage, waiting. She reaches up and pulls her hair to the side and off her neck; it's already getting stuffy. From her bag she grabs her notepad and starts making a few notes. Logan eventually returns and she gratefully sips from the soda with dry lips.
"I think they're about to start" he nods in the direction of the stage; the men who were sorting out wires leave the stage. Just then the room dims slightly and a light focuses centre stage as the band make their way on.
"Did I ask if they're supposed to be any good?"
"They're not terrible" she smiles.
The crowd cheers and dances as they to play. At least a hundred more must have arrived; they are deep in the crowd which now stretches to the back wall.
Half way through the set there is a quick break. Logan burrows through the wall of people to get more drinks and Rory fans herself with the coaster while she waits. When he returns he sees her talking to a group of men. He frowns. The atmosphere is a thick cloud of sweat and hot oxygen. With one hand he releases another button on his shirt and with the other takes gulps from an icy water.
"What was that?" he questions.
"Im getting some opinions" she talks over her notepad. "And what about you? Do you think they're good?"
"I'm enjoying my evening"
"Me too" she smiles. When she dabs her forehead with her wrist he gives her a bottle of water.
She takes it from him, slightly disappointed, "Water?"
"You're going to be dehydrated."
The crowd cheer as the band comes back to stage. Rory dances where she stands and he watches her, both of them lost in the moment.
When its over they hastily exit onto the street; both sigh when the air cools their heated skin.
"Do you want to get anything to eat or some coffee?" his arm casually holds her waist.
"No, I'll make some at home." she shivers.
Outside her building they sit in his car. She's not sure if she should ask, not sure if he wants her to ask. He sits quietly.
Hesitantly she turns to him. "Do you want to come in?"
He remains facing forward but his eyes dart towards her then downwards. His hesitation makes her nervous and she fiddles with a button on her coat. For a few seconds his mouth hands open before he speaks.
"Okay"
They get out the car and follow the gravel pathway. The short trip is silent but not awkward. She opens the door and flicks the light.
"It's smaller than I expected." he steps over the threshold and scans the room. The kitchen is at the back behind the living room, all open plan, and the corridor that leads to their rooms is on the right.
"It's cosy. As long as there is room for me and Paris on the couch we're happy." Her back is to him while she removes her coat and hangs is up. When she turns around he is right in front of her. She doesn't recall him being this close. She looks into his eyes as he does to her. Unable to bare it any longer she pushes into the small gap left between them and places her lips to his. To her relief he kisses her back. When he feels her tug the zip on his coat he pulls his head away and holds her by the shoulders.
"What?" she looks at him surprised. He sighs and takes a step back. "Logan?"
"I have to go" he brushes both hands through his hair.
"Loga-"
"I'm sorry" he opens the door and heads for the stairs. "It's Sadie…I have to let her out." he doesn't turn back while he explains. Before she can say anything he's gone. From the window she watches him almost run to his car. Along the way he pulls his zip back up to his neck. The whole journey home he can't focus between the road and his thoughts. He feels sick and guilty. He mentally scalds himself; of course that was going to happen at some point.
...
Hearing his car pull up Tamsym meets him in the hallway. He tries to be as normal as possible, but he can't meet her eye.
"You're earlier then I expected." She stands across the room with her arms folded.
"Im sorry." He throws his coat toward the hook.
"You don't have to apologise for being early." she frowns.
"I meant earlier. I'm sorry for how I was on the phone, I wasn't fair to you." He makes his way over to her. By slowly running his hands up and down her upper arms he relaxes her, like always, and her arms untangle and drop to her side.
"Thank you." She moves closer to him and inhales deeply though her nose.
"I haven't had a drink"
"Just checking"
"Don't you trust me?"
"No. It's only been a few weeks since you slipped, remember?" He nods. "I still don't understand" she sighs. "I checked it was non-alcoholic champagne, so you obviously went out on purpose and-" He pulls her into a hug to quiet her.
"Do you want me to apologise again?"
"It won't make much difference now, will it?" He releases her and she heads for the stairs. "Are you coming to bed?"
"In a minute" He checks his phone; one new email from Rory. He locks his phone without looking at it and climbs the stairs.