Thanks for you story favorites and especially to my review writers. You rock! I'm glad there's still someone out there interested to see where this is going.
Let's get on with the story, a full dose of Logan and Rory this time. The first part is a flashback to their evening in New York, and then we move on. Have fun!
10. Escape (no need for Pina Coladas)
It had become dark by now, but Rory and Logan kept walking through the snow-covered streets of New York. They had reached Central Park a while ago, and away from the hustling and bustling of the city, the day seemed even more magical.
Logan had bought her a second cup of coffee – gingerbread latte this time - and insisted on her getting a large chocolate chip cookie to go. Rory was in heaven!
"How are the guys doing?" she asked. She had heard a lot about Logan's work, and about his life since they had split up (though he had deliberately avoided anything about women in general and his fiancée in particular). He had just mentioned seeing Colin and Finn at a recent Yale Alumni event.
"Finn is still pretty much Finn." Logan laughed. "Though he spends most of his time home in Australia by now. His father has insisted on giving him a position in the family business, but whatever it is still leaves plenty of time to go surfing and enjoy his bachelor life with exotic beauties. And for the occasional visit stateside as well, of course. He's still trying to get Rosemary to go home with him one day."
Rory laughed. "That sounds like Finn." But the mentioning of her old friend Rosemary hurt a bit. She hadn't been as good as Logan in keeping in touch with friends from school. Apart from Paris and Doyle, she didn't know where any of them had ended up.
"And Colin?" she asked to distract herself from any regrets.
Logan smiled. If he was being honest, Colin was the one who had made the best life decisions post-graduation. "Actually, Colin just welcomed his second baby in October. With Steph."
"Colin and Stephanie got married?!" Rory squealed. She hadn't met the blonde LDB member very often, but one time would have been enough to see the sparks flying between her and Colin. Still, she had known from Logan that they had never acted on it, both too scared of real commitment.
Logan smiled at her enthusiastic reaction. "They did. And they are as happy as a couple can be. Colin quit working for his dad only a few months after graduation and escaped to Europe to figure out what he wanted to do with his life, away from any family obligations. He ran into Steph at a hotel in Rome, they spent the night together, and have been happy ever since." Logan tried his best to keep the jealousy out of his voice. Who would have guessed that his stiff friend Colin of all people would be the one to leave his destined life behind?
"That sounds like a fairytale." Rory gushed.
"I'm not one to romanticize anything, but there's no other word to describe the two. Their baby girl Ava is just the perfect little angel, and their son Simon, who is four now, is the spitting image of Steph, and he luckily has his mother's temper as well." Logan smiled as only a loving friend could. "And he recently discovered his love for painting, so they're over the moon."
Rory sent him a questioning look.
"They own an art gallery in San Francisco. Steph started working there as a curator after her return from Europe, and when they encountered financial trouble, Colin used his trust fund and bought the place. They keep discovering new artists, host all kinds of events, it's insane, but also kind of cool."
"Wow. I can't picture Colin as part of an art community."
"We should go visit them some time." Logan only realized what he had said after the words left his mouth. For the first time that night, an uncomfortable silence surrounded them. Logan wanted to apologize for his slip but couldn't bring himself to say anything. He was too entrapped in his own regrets, the ones he always had when talking about Colin's perfect life. It was the stark contrast to his own way in life, who had returned to the family business after leaving and was about to marry the perfect socialite.
Unless… maybe this snowy night in Central Park was his own version of his friend's Rome encounter?
Then and there, he decided to jump. "Rory? What are you doing next weekend?"
Rory stopped, but didn't dare looking at him. He's engaged, she kept reminding herself. "What about your fiancée?" she asked in a whisper.
Logan sighed softly. "I know it's complicated, but… Can you spend the weekend with me? I promise I will never make you the other woman, but…" he trailed off, waiting for her to finally look at him.
Rory had to muster up all her courage to look him in the eyes. But when she did, she wondered how she could have lived over six years without losing herself in this incredible chocolate brown. God, she had missed him so much!
"I feel like this could be the start of something new and… I just don't want to wake up years from now wondering what could have been if I only had the courage to listen to my heart."
Rory was convinced she would never hear more perfect words. "I know what you mean."
Logan smiled at her warmly. "Then please, give us a second chance. Escape with me next weekend."
And without missing a beat, Rory nodded. "Let's jump." She whispered.
Rory nervously sat on her couch and thought back to her deal with Logan a week ago. There had been no hesitation, she had agreed right away, and she still was convinced it had been the right decision. Unfortunately, that didn't stop her from being nervous.
For the second time that month Rory had left work early to pack and be ready for Logan when he came to pick her up. She had no idea what he had planned, but she hadn't bothered to ask either. Three years with Logan Huntzberger were enough to know he wouldn't tell her. And six years apart weren't enough to start mistrusting him.
At 5pm sharp, the doorbell rang. With a deep breath she got up, took her trolley with her and opened the door.
"Are you ready, Ace?" Logan asked with a smirk.
"Actually I am." she replied smugly, fully aware how he expected her to be right in the middle of packing.
"Rory Gilmore learned how to be punctual, who would have guessed." He laughed.
Rory pulled her coat off the hanger and Logan, all gentleman, helped her put it on. "It came with the job. I covered all kind of events for a while and learned pretty quickly that it helps to be actually there for stuff you're supposed to write about."
Logan chuckled. "How did Lorelai take that you've abandoned one of the signature Gilmore girl habits?"
"I still drink coffee and eat a lot of junk food, so she forgave me after a while." Rory replied quick-witted.
Smiling Logan looked at her suitcase. "That's it?"
"Don't you dare mock me, Huntzberger! If I don't know where we're going, I have no other option than to pack a lot!" Rory pouted.
Happy how easy it was to banter with Rory, Logan decided to mock her a little despite her words. "Well, then I hope you didn't forget anything. You've got the Pina Coladas?"
"Funny." Rory rolled her eyes at him. "And why would I pack a cocktail, Pina Colada or any other sort?!"
"Well, this is an escape, right?" Rory didn't get it until he started to hum the refrain of the Pina Colada song. In spite of herself, she had to laugh.
"Nice pop culture reference. But if you keep singing there better be actual alcohol at this place we're going." She retorted.
Logan grinned. "Have we met?" he said in his best Finn-voice. The start of their weekend was even more perfect than he had imagined it would be. Unfortunately, Rory chose this moment to get him back to earth.
"Logan, what have you told your fiancée about this weekend?" She didn't like it any more than he did, but she wanted to get the topic out in the open before getting in his car. She needed to know where they stood.
Logan looked uncomfortable but replied honestly: "I told her I was going to meet an old friend. She's away herself, at a Spa with Honor." He decided it was better not to tell Rory that he had planned both his escape and Rebecca's. "I swear, I will tell her immediately after we get back." In case there is something to tell, he added silently.
Rory nodded. While she would have preferred to spend the weekend with a man who wasn't engaged, she understood that he didn't break it off before knowing if him and Rory had a future together. After all, she wasn't sure about him herself yet. Was it just the flaring up of old feelings, or something real?
"Okay, let's go!" She said and closed her apartment door behind her.
"Didn't you mean come with me and escape?" Logan sang and reached for her trolley.
"You're unbelievable, Huntzberger!" Rory said with an eyeroll and a bright smile. When she followed him to the elevator, she had to refrain from spinning around like a little girl. She hadn't felt this carefree in forever.
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