Rory purged her life of Ian and took mostly clothes and personal items to Baltimore. She donated a most of the stuff that was left in her apartment. With the money she got back from the deposit, she went shopping.
She was certain Ian would have hated the new couch she picked out, which consequently made Rory love it even more. She bought a state of the art coffee maker, something she wanted when she lived with Ian, but he refused to spend the extra money on something only she would use.
Jess arrived mid-morning and helped her pick up her new bed frame and bookshelf and carry them upstairs.
"So, new job, new furniture, things are going well," he asked while putting together her new bookshelf.
"I'm just a staff writer," she shrugged.
"It's what you always talked about," he reassured her. "It's not the New York Times, but it's still a major paper in a major city."
"It is."
"Isn't this what you worked for? Isn't this why you went to school? I know you didn't read every book for pleasure?"
She looked at him for a minute, surprised at how in the short time he had been in her apartment; he summarized the issue she had with Ian. "Not all of them."
"You say that like it's a surprise that someone would know that about you," Jess questioned.
She nodded as the tears came to her eyes.
"Hey, what's the matter," his voice softened.
"I'm sorry, this is silly," she said wiping the tears from her eyes. "I didn't even love him and he still managed to hurt me."
"That's not silly," Jess said. "It hurts worse when you love them. You still have to get used to not being in each other's life."
"Exactly, it sucks," she paused, wiping her tears away. She glanced up at him for what felt like the first time in years. He looked tired, his hair was messy and not in the signature "Jess" hairdo she was accustomed to, he wore the same jeans and an old t-shirt. He had changed so much in the last few years, but he was still Jess. "You're not with your girlfriend anymore?" she asked.
"No, we aren't," he answered. "Thanks for taking care of me at the wedding."
"You looked pretty upset," she paused for a second. "You deserve better."
"You did too," he said, putting books on her shelf. "That guy let the best thing get away from him and he's an idiot," he paused, "He'll regret for the rest of his life."
"I don't think he was going to make me happy, though, our life was so…" she paused, ignoring his words and keeping them on topic before the conversation veered off course. "Boring."
"Really?" he asked. A smirk threatened to show.
"I'm starving and it's getting late, how about we get something to eat?" Rory changed the subject. "There's a burger place around the corner that looked okay. Not Luke's, but still okay."
"I'm starving," he said putting the last book away.
Rory and Jess walked to the burger joint at the end in silence. She was glad for the change of scenery. Is he saying what she thought he was saying?
It was too heavy. She could only deal with one break-up/ heartache at a time, even if they had broken up years ago and had just begun a friendship for the first time in years.
Did you hear from Emily?" He asked as their burgers were delivered.
"You could say that," she answered slyly, happy for the neutral topic.
"Did she say no? I'll respect her anonymity I just want something for our final issue."
"You really like her style that much?"
"She's the most unique voice I've ever read."
"Huh."
"So?"
"She didn't say no."
"Really? So can I call her and arrange a meeting or will this be going through you? I mean, you're starting your new job and you must be busy, I don't want you stuck playing go-between."
"I will make sure she has your information and she will send the article to you," Rory answered thinking quickly on how to best handle this. "What are you looking for," she asked.
"She can write about cement for all I care. But I should also discuss payment with her."
"I'm sure Emily will take whatever you can afford," Rory answered.
After they were done eating and walking back towards the apartment, they passed a corner bar, "You wanna go in?" Rory asked and Jess agreed.
After the second drink, Rory asked if he wanted another, "It's the least I can do for you coming all the way out here and helping me put stuff together."
"I don't want to be drunk on the train ride home," he answered.
"Then stay here tonight, sleep on the couch," she said.
"Okay," he answered with a smirk. "Next round is on me," he said and ordered another beer.
When the waitress passed around strawberry tequila shots, Rory called the waitress over to their table.
"I would never have thought you would be doing tequila shots out of a strawberry with you?" he laughed after he downed his first.
"There are lots of things you don't know about me," She said and a shiver shot down his back.
She was flirting with him.
Hadn't they both just discussed the relationships that ended very recently for the both of them? At the moment neither cared. They were having fun and didn't want it to end.
As the night wore on, they both forgot their broken hearts. They drank beer, did a few more strawberry tequila shots and debated the worst movies from the last few years. They even played a few games of pool. In fact, watching Rory Gilmore play pool was extremely hot and she was kind of good at it.
Walking home from the bar they were singing the words to Guns of Brixton with their arm around each other.
When they got into her apartment, they took one look at each other and kissed. They had been dangerously close since Jess had agreed to stay.
Jess pinned her against the wall and was running his hands up and down her back. He kissed her mouth and then went for her neck. She had her arms wrapped around his shoulder and was playing with his hair. She took his shirt off and she wrapped her leg around his torso. She walked with as their lips were attached to each into her room, shedding clothes along the way.
Rory opened her eyes to the clock on her dresser and let her eyes adjust to the light and the figure in the room moving around.
"Jess," she said sleepily.
"Morning," he answered quietly.
"You're leaving?"
"I wasn't sure you would want me here," he answered, standing still in only his boxers.
"But I don't want you to go," she said.
"I…okay," he said, sitting back on the bed.
"Well that was..." she asked shyly.
"Interesting? Regrettable?"
"Yes…no…yes to the interesting and no to the regrettable," she started rambling. "But …it was also…fun," she admitted blushing.
Jess laughed, "It was," he admitted.
"It's been a long time since I could say that," she looked up at him.
"But I don't want you to think I came here for this."
"I don't, not at all. It's well established we are both nursing a heartache," she said.
"And a hangover," he mumbled.
"Let's just call it what it is."
"And what is that?"
"Consenting adults. Last night was easy and fun. I need some easy and fun in my life."
"Okay…" he answered tentatively.
"For now," she added coyly."
"For now is good," he said, leaning back on the bed, resting his arms behind him.
She moved closer towards him. She smiled and he leaned in for a kiss and then another, he ran his hands over her stomach and kissed her again, this time deeper and with a hint of wanting more.
