Fourteen
They'd been in contact all week, meeting up to grab dinner every night and coffee most mornings. He had even hung out while Rory was studying just so his friends could see him head into her suite and stay for several hours, letting them assume anything and everything that might help solidify their lie.
They'd taking turns asking and answering questions about each other: likes and dislikes, past relationships (on Rory's part at least), and overall (crazy) family dynamics. She started the task as she would any test she needed to prepare for, with pad and pen in hand, but by Wednesday she realized she didn't need to write any of it down, she remembered every answer. It wasn't lost on her. She knew viewing Logan from an intimate perspective was dangerous, still, his personality was almost infectious, his patented mischievous playboy talk made her laugh, his intelligence made her think, but it was the quiet moments in between that really made Rory pay attention.
The way he smiled when he talked of his sister Honor, how hard he laughed when he spoke of his crazy friends, and how dejected he looked when he spoke of his future under his father's thumb. It was in the rawness that sometimes overwhelmed their conversations that set the uneasy feeling in her stomach and as much as she warned herself, she couldn't help it. There was something about THAT Logan that she…
She shook the thought off immediately as her phone chimed in his patented ringtone.
'We could run away?'
She laughed as she responded.
'Our families would hunt us down.'
'Party-pooper. See you soon.'
She finished her make-up and checked everything in the mirror, nodding to herself. It was neutral but obviously not an everyday look for her, plus, it wouldn't detract from the gorgeousness of her dress. It was gold, fitted and sleek, not overly revealing, and adorned with beading and crystals. It reminded her of an up-to-date flapper dress, though it was floor length and lacked fringe. She frowned in disappointment and then laughed at herself. She kept her jewelry simple and rubbed her fingers over her Lorelei ring, pushing the sadness down immediately. God how she missed her.
There was a knock at the door just as she was slinging her heels on and she yelled.
"Be right there!"
She slipped a lipstick and her phone in her clutch, grabbed her stole, and headed for the door.
Logan stood with a million dollar smile and a small corsage.
Rory laughed, "are we going to prom?"
"I thought you'd get a kick out of it," he joked, "but no one else will approve."
"Well, I appreciate it all the same," she smiled, "let me get it in water before we go."
She headed off to the kitchen and returned just few seconds later.
"One more thing," he started, pulling a small box from his jacket pocket.
Rory gasped, hands clasped to her chest, unable to help herself.
"Oh no! No. I'm not getting down on one knee," he practically shouted, laughing at her reaction.
"Thank god," her breathed, hands relaxing.
"But, appearances," he said, opening the box to reveal a pair of diamond, drop earrings, obviously an heirloom.
"Logan…" she trailed off as he unboxed them.
"These belonged to my grandmother, obviously when things end I'll need them back, but I figured they'd send the right message tonight," he dropped them in her hand.
"They are absolutely stunning," she held them tight, removing the studs she'd opted to wear originally. They matched her dress exquisitely and she tilted her head toward him, showing them off.
"Absolutely breathtaking," he sighed, and Rory wondered if he meant the earrings or her, but he continued talking quickly. "My grandmother used to wear them to this exact gala every year, so some people will definitely notice."
"They are lovely, and thank you for always being one step ahead and planting the evidence," she smiled, heading toward the door.
"Jimmy Choo?" he questioned, glancing at her shoes.
"God you're good," she laughed as they made their way to the town car.
Other than the meet and greet with her father, Rory wasn't nervous. Not in the way she had been with him before this past week. Their time together had given her an overall sense of comfort and ease with him. He wasn't difficult to be around, he was easy to talk to, and she understood what people saw in him. Not the part of Logan Huntzberger he played, but the man himself. His sister was loving and caring because he was, his friends were steadfast and loyal because he showed them the same, and she herself was suddenly comfortable and unafraid, because he gave her every reason to be. Trust him. That's what he asked of her and, so far, he'd lived up to the request.
The car finally pulled up to a beautiful mansion, red carpet laid out, with even some press taking photos of arriving guests.
"You ready, Ace?" he smiled as a valet opened the door.
"As I'll ever be," she feigned a smile and he offered her his hand.
She gripped it and he squeezed, settling arm and arm as they made their way to the door.
"Logan, Rory, a picture if you please!" a photographer shouted, and his hand found her waist as they tucked together comfortably and smiled.
"We can do this," he whispered in her ear as they made their way inside, "together."
"Rory!" a voice shouted from up ahead and she smiled brightly at her grandparents.
Logan shook Richard Gilmore's hand as Rory kissed cheeks with her grandmother.
"You look so, so lovely, dear," Emily smiled, her smile brightening even more when she took notice of the earrings.
"Doesn't she?" Logan met Rory's eyes, kissing her temple.
"We are probably seated together," Emily went on as Richard spoke with the hostess stand, giving their names and getting their seating cards.
"Actually," Logan chimed in, "I think we're seated with some friends of ours, but we'll be sure to stop by as the evening goes on."
"Oh," her grandmother frowned as Richard started leading her toward their table, "well we look forward to seeing you both on the dance floor!"
"How on EARTH did you manage to not be seated at the same table," Rory said, absolute astonishment in her voice.
Logan just winked as they got their place settings, heading over toward a table, a distracted Colin and what appeared to be a sleeping Finn, already seated.
"Didn't you both bring dates?" Logan questioned as he pulled out Rory's chair.
"They're in the restroom," Colin rolled his eyes, "did you know it's physically impossible for women to go to the restroom alone?"
"Maybe if you hadn't made your date cry on the way here, she wouldn't have needed to touch up her makeup," Finn spoke, finally sitting up.
"And maybe if you hadn't removed all of yours's lipstick," Colin jabbed in return.
"Fellas!" Logan chuckled.
"Yes, dear brother, after all, we are in the presence of a lady," Finn smiled, waggling his eyebrows.
"That shade of lipstick doesn't look so bad on you," Rory motioned to Finn's colored smeared mouth, teasing him.
"Rory, Darling! You know I'm just biding my time until you ditch Daddy Bored-bucks," he quipped back as he pulled out his handkerchief and blotted away the evidence of his little tryst.
Rory just shook her head, laughing to herself.
"Drinks?" Logan questioned and they all nodded at once, standing to head to the bar.
"Champagne for you?" he grinned, as if he was checking off boxes he'd put together during their study sessions.
She nodded, smiling as they walked away before pulling out her phone and texting her father.
'In and seated, let me know when you're here and we'll catch up.'
She scanned the room, making notes of people she would need to stop by and see before the evening was through. Live music starting at the far end turned her attention to find the Gilmore's and Huntzberger's huddled together thick as thieves and she automatically rolled her eyes. Her mind wandered, and she couldn't help but wonder. What if they hadn't pushed so hard? What if she'd naturally met Logan at an event like this? Would or could anything have come from it? She frowned a little with the truth. No. His reputation would have far exceeded an introduction and she would have never gotten a chance to see him like… like her Logan.
She sucked in a deep breath.
Danger.
She smiled seeing Logan's return and took a sip from the glass he handed her as he settled in next to her, placing his arm around her shoulders as he scanned the room sipping scotch.
"Rory!" someone exclaimed, and she recognized the voice immediately, turning to see her father walking up to their table.
She smiled widely, standing, and rushing over to give him a hug.
"Dad," she finally pulled away, turning to introduce Logan, "this is…"
"Logan Huntzberger," he finished for her, extending his hand.
"Nice to finally meet you. Christopher Hayden, but I assumed you already knew that," he smiled, the two men shaking hands.
"Rory's told me so much about you," Logan smiled, his arm falling to the small of her back.
"I look forward to hearing all about you too," her dad laughed, "and I'm sure I will, my girl's a talker."
Rory blushed at the remark and her father affectionately added, "in the best way."
"She is certainly the most entertaining woman I've ever met," Logan smiled, looking at Rory.
"But, until then, where does a guy need to go to get one of those," her dad motioned toward Logan's drink on the table and the two men chuckled.
"Luckily, I know the way." Logan gestured in the direction of the bar, "I'll walk you over there."
"Excellent!" Christopher exclaimed, "we'll be right back."
Logan turned around and winked as Rory found her seat again.
Not too bad she thought, smiling. They'd get this night over with and then it would be smooth sailing from here on out until graduation, when she and Logan would fulfil the terms of their contract and could go their separate ways.
Plenty of time, she reminded herself gently, despite the pit forming in her stomach. There was still plenty of time.
Meanwhile, across the room a bartender poured a scotch while Logan made small talk. Christopher nodded and laughed as they traded brief stories about the boarding schools they'd both attended and then been kicked out of.
"Logan," he paused, taking a sip of his drink. "I have to tell you, you remind me a lot of myself at your age. There is no doubt you have a bright future ahead of you. I can understand your desire to have the right woman on your arm for all that."
"I appreciate that, sir, though it's really important to me that Rory's happy too. She's an amazing young woman," Logan smiled, a sudden relief washing over him that he hadn't expected.
Christopher nodded, frowning, "Which is why I'm going to offer you ten million dollars right now to end things with her."