"Oh my God, what smells so amazing in here?" Chris had been in meetings for a good chunk of the afternoon so he was a little confused when he came into the house to smell real food cooking in his kitchen- he entered the room to see Logan next to the stove, chopping a salad and drinking wine while listening to music.
"Hey Chris, I hope you don't mind, I just sort of made myself at home- I had time and thought I'd cook food for us that didn't come from takeout cartons." He put the tomato down and checked on something in the oven and stirring something on the stove. "Would you like some wine?"
Chris walked around the room taking it all in. "I didn't know you cook Logan, it smells incredible! What are we having?"
"It's salmon barigoule- it's like salmon filets with a French artichoke kinda ragout over it. I've got some potatoes and green beans roasting, some bread and this salad to go with it. I've got a red Burgundy on the counter and an awesome Chardonnay from Chile, either would work with this, just depends on your preference." Chris helped himself to a generous glass of the red and sat at the table, watching Logan cook.
"Wow, you look really comfortable in here- do you do most of the cooking for Rory?"
"Umm, a lot of it, I guess. When she and I started dating I was always amazed- she can name the entire periodic table alphabetically and by atomic weight, but struggles to make eggs without burning them. But I like messing around in the kitchen- maybe because my mother would be horrified that I don't just hire a cook."
"Ah, classic rebellion. Lorelai used to love to sneak into the kitchen and do dishes- until she realized that her mom was firing maids who let her."
"Yeah, I think we all have our quirks that way- Colin, one of my best friends, he finds it soothing to match and bundle socks."
"Wow, that's a new one for me- are you sure he isn't just OCD or something?" Logan laughed, shaking his head.
"I'm not saying there isn't something wrong with him mentally, but he apparently finds it very soothing- like meditating." Chris snuck a taste of the artichoke concoction on the stove, surprise on his face- "Holy shit, that's delicious."
"Thanks! I went to France a few years back for a couple weeks and I fell in love with this in Provence and had to figure out how to replicate it when I came back. I must have tried like 30 different recipes until I finally got up the nerve to ask my mom to introduce me to her friend, he's this chef in New York- Eric Ripert?"
"Umm, from Le Bernardin?"
"Yeah, it's my mom's favorite place to eat- and one of the few non-steakhouse places she can get my dad to go to. He actually catered my sister's wedding last year."
"You're kidding me? I've wanted to go there for years, but I can never seem to get a table!"
"Seriously? Well hey, next time just let me know, they'll make room if I give them a call. Or better than that, maybe we could go up, the four of us, this summer. I was just talking to Rory about trying to get out of the house- maybe we could even sneak in a show or something." He was trying to push away this weird feeling he was having about her, she definitely wasn't ok, but he couldn't figure out what to do about it.
"Let me guess how that went?"
"Well, she didn't say no."
"Yeah, but did she say anything at all?" Logan looked at him, pouring a refill for both of them of the wine before asking him,
"So she's being evasive for you too?"
"Evasive would probably involve more maneuvering. She isn't exactly avoiding me or giving me the silent treatment, it's just like she won't engage, at all. She'll nod yes, shake no, say thank you, but that's pretty much it. She only comes out of the room when she wants coffee anyways. Luckily she's a Gilmore, so today alone I got to see her 8 times."
"Wait, for coffee or espresso?"
"Umm, just coffee. Why?"
"Wow, I am still constantly surprised by her caffeine tolerance, she had two espressos this morning, and I got her a Quad Venti this afternoon, plus at least 8 cups of regular coffee. I have no idea how she does it."
"Yeah, Gilmore Girls basically run on coffee and sass."
"Oh, the sass I'm very familiar with." And he would pretty much do anything to get that sass back, even just a hint of it. He took one last taste of the sauce, smiling at the result. "Well, I think dinner is just about ready, I'll go get Rory."
"Sounds good, I'll set the table." Logan left and headed to Rory's room- remembering to knock and wait for her to invite him in. She barely looked up from the computer as he came in, "Hey, dinner's ready- I made the salmon and artichoke dish you love and made sure to get that Chilean Chardonnay that you like so much."
"Oh, thanks… but I'm really kind of in the groove right now and don't want to interrupt the flow. I'll just eat later."
"Umm, no problem, why don't I put together a plate for you and just bring it to you?"
"Oh, no don't worry about it, I'm not particularly hungry right now- I think I had too much to eat at lunch."
"Are you sure? It's one of your favorites."
"God, Logan, yes- I'm sure, I think if I was hungry I would know it, don't you?" She was glaring at him at that point and he really didn't know what he did wrong.
"Yeah, sure. Ok, well I'll put a plate together for you, all you have to do is put it in the microwave for a few minutes if you want it later."
"I think I can handle reheating leftovers."
"Ok, well, I guess I'll just leave you alone. I love you." She just nodded and said,
"Yeah, love you, too."