CHAPTER EIGHT

Luke was pleased with himself. Lorelai had given him many hugs over the years and tonight he had finally given something back. He was drawn to her warmth and felt so stupid for being such a jerk. She had forgiven him in an instant and he was grateful. Plus there was the beer factor. He walked home a happy man.

It was over in an instant. Had it really happened? Maybe it was the beer, but had Luke kissed her? He had and it had been a warm moment. Now she was even more confused.

Neither Luke nor Lorelai slept much that night. Too many thoughts and mixed up feelings. Each wondered what the other was feeling.

Morning came and Rory was her usual teasing self. "So last night....Luke and Lorelai....laying groundwork here...making the towns dreams come true? Leaving poor David in the dust already?"

"Excuse me. Just good friends sharing an evening when they had nothing better to do. Just like at the diner but on the porch and with beer. David will be her later today, no dust involved, except in this house."

"I don't know. Looked pretty cozy. Looked kind of right if you ask me."

"Didn't ask. Not asking here. Looked good huh?"

"Very good mom. Natural, sweet, long time coming......"

"We can still go to the diner, right? I need breakfast-something besides the week old pizza in the frig." Rory watched for Lorelai's reaction.

"Sure babe. Give me a minute to get ready." Loreali was reluctant to go but wanted to get it over with. She checked the mirror and smiled.

When the girls entered the dinner, Luke looked up. He gave them both a smile and Lorelai that special Luke nod. She knew all was well between them. The diner was busy so after they ate she told him she'd see him later.

Luke was happy to see her. He was afraid she wouldn't come in today. Lorelai tended to avoid uncomfortable situations. But last night wasn't that way for him. It was pretty nice. So maybe it was ok with her too.

When David came, they walked all over the town. He noticed she didn't take him into the diner but he could see the diner guy looking out at them. They drove to a small place outside of town for dinner. It was quiet and they ate outside on the patio. It was a fun day and ended early with a few more intense kisses. Richard was sending him to California for two weeks and he was leaving very early the next day. He told her he would miss her and wished he didn't have to go. And she answered with the same.

When David left, Lorelai was bored. She went for a walk and of course, ended up at the diner. Coffee, that's what she needed. And some of that Luke time.

"Hey, got some coffee for your best customer? Make that your only customer."

"Best customer? Not sure about that. Sunday nights are usually slow. I was thinking of closing early and getting out for a while."

"Not before my coffee fix, buddy."

"How about a to-go cup and a drive in the country? You can tell me about the big date."

"Yes to the coffee, no to the telling part. A girl has to have some secrets.'

"That good, huh?' Luke really didn't want to know.

"I like my coffee black, and in a very big cup." Lorelai avoided the subject.

"OK, message received. Let's get out of here.'

They hopped in Luke's truck and headed out of town. The sun was low in the sky and they were both quiet. But it was nice. Luke stopped at a small park right outside of town. They sat on a bench by the lake and watched the families at play.

"Gee, I miss that. Watching a little one playing in the sand or watching the fish in the water. Good times, so simple."

"I've never had that. But they are fun to watch. Little kids are strange little creatures."

"Yeah, and then they grow into even stranger teenagers." Lorelai, thinking about this last year with Rory.

Luke thought about Jess. It had been a tough year but he was surprised how much he missed him.

"Rory, is she ok? Jess was such a jerk."

"Yeah, she's fine. It was a good experience and a bad one. She learned a lot. She knows a lot about books but she needed a shot about real life. She's fine, really."

"Good. Guess we've all had to go through that in life. It does make us stronger. It's a tough old world out there."

Lorelai looked at Luke. "Yeah, tell me bout it."

Luke laughed. He knew she had learned the hard way. She had her own jerk, Chris.

"Do you think you could do it all again? Would you want to?"

"In a minute. But the right way this time, with a guy who would stay around and share it all with me. I look at Sookie and Jackson and it makes me want it all the more."

Luke knew what she meant. It was infectious watching the two of them.

"How about you-ever think about it?

Luke looked at her, "A lot lately, after Jess. Maybe if I could do it the right way--be there from the beginning, with someone I love-maybe..."

The sun was setting now and the families were packing up to go. And all Luke and Lorelai could think about was this sort of intimate conversation they had just shared. Luke put his hand under her chain and kissed her softly and questioningly. She looked into his eyes and kissed him back. No words were spoken, but he put his arm around her and just held her. "Guess we should go." He pulled her up off the bench and held her close for a minute. They just looked at each other and then walked to the truck hand in hand.

The trip back was a quiet one. Not uncomfortable, just contemplative. Luke drove her home and kissed her goodbye. They both knew it was a turning point-the flood gates had finally been released. Luke left knowing he had finally followed the feelings he had harbored for so long. For Lorelai, the pieces were all staring to fit. And that night, they both slept and dreamed of each other.