Forcing herself to move on Lorelai finished her breakfast and was out the door to work, yelling bye to Luke as she left.
The inn was bustling as she walked through the doors, Michel on the phone and checking people in and a stream of muffled yells coming from the kitchen where Sookie was no doubt creating something wondrous.
Before she knew it Lorelai was lost in the easy habits of running the inn and her Luke dilemma was replaced in her head, albeit briefly.
Hours later, after the inn was managed and the tension from her neck had moved up to her neck Lorelai decided to call it a day and headed home, making a pit stop for coffee on the way.
"Lucas!" she yells drowning out the ringing of the bell, "I need coffee!"
Heading to the counter Lorelai sets her purse down and looks around, not seeing Luke anywhere, when he doesn't appear Lorelai steps behind the counter. After very slowly takes a cup and without a sound pours a large cup of coffee.
Luke's steps startle her as she's about to take a drink and inevitably, Lorelai drops her ill-gotten gains. "Damn it!" Lorelai mutters as she squats behind the counter searching for a rag. Luke comes through the door and is startled to see Lorelai.
"What the hell? Lorelai? What are you doing?" Lorelai smiles up at him sheepishly as he bends down to help her clean the mess.
"You were hiding, so I got my own coffee, then you made me drop it." They both clean quietly for a few minutes.
Lorelai finally breaks the silence. "So the diner's pretty empty."
Luke stops and looks at Lorelai, "I closed up early, I hadn't locked the door yet."
Lorelai looks up, her blue eyes sparkling, "Hot date tonight, Lucas?"
Luke looks up at her, she feels her heart quicken in anticipation, and that bothers her. He averted eyes before answering, "Actually yes."
Lorelai's face falters slightly but she fixes one of her trademark smiles on before Luke noticed.
"Well don't I feel like an idiot, here I am trying to steal coffee when you're trying to leave. Let me get out of here and let you go." She rises quickly, leaving Luke gazing at her knees.
He stands up quickly, his mouth open to tell her it's fine, there's no rush, but by the time he's up all can see is the door shutting and her brisk walk leading her home. Bewildered Luke turns to grab his jacket and leave when he sees her purse sitting on the counter.
Lorelai's halfway home when she realizes her purse is still sitting on the counter at Luke's, she quickly blows it off, knowing she'll be there tomorrow morning.
She's walking faster than usual, her mind racing, why did she get so mad when Luke told her he had a date?
She should be happy for him, he's happy, Nicole seems nice. Maybe I'm a horrible person, I can't be happy for one of my best friends when he's in love.
When the thought of Luke being in love with Nicole enters her mind her stomach drops to the floor.
Rory can tell something is wrong with her mother as soon as she walks in the door. Her usually lively eyes seem dull and her usually smiling smile is pulled down into a stern frown.
"Mom, are you okay?" Her daughter's voice jostles Lorelai out of her thoughts and into reality.