CHAPTER 6
Rory fished out her cell phone from her purse after she made her purchase from Harry and David. She knew that driving to Farmington instead of Hartford would lessen the chances of her bumping into a blonde she wanted to avoid. She searched her phone book until she came upon Graham's name. She clicked on it and waited until someone on the other side picked up.
"You better have a good excuse," Graham greeted her half teasing.
"Wow, someone needs to be taught phone etiquette!" Rory bantered back.
"Oh, that's fresh coming from you. You promised to call last night. I was sick and worried!" he chided.
"I'm sorry," Rory apologized. "Things got hectic after we arrived and we were so tired," Rory continued on to explain. "So, how'd the party go after we left?"
"Got boring. I didn't realize how much I missed you guys when you left!" he admitted. "I should've just driven down with you guys."
"And then what? There really isn't much to do in our town," Rory said smiling through her phone.
"Hmm, I just wanted to be sure you guys got home safely," Graham said. "Anyway, I am glad you called. I wanted to ask you something."
"Fire away," Rory permitted.
"Would you check up on Tristin for me?" he asked.
Rory's throat suddenly went dry and she started coughing. "Why?" she asked.
"I'm not sure. Something tells me that he's not doing all that great this morning when I spoke to him," he said.
"I'm sure he's just tired. The drive to my place is a little over four hours and he had to backtrack to his parents' place which is another forty minutes or so," Rory exaggerated.
"I guess you're right. I just have this feeling that if you checked up on him, I would feel a little more assured he's not doing something stupid," Graham confided to her.
"I think he can fend for himself. Stupid and him at one point in time were synonymous, you know," Rory humored Graham.
She could hear the hesitancy on the other line. Rory did not want to come out and ask if Tristin told him about the name confusion. Truth be told, she was still reeling at herself for her stupidity.
"Tell you what," Rory ended up saying, "if I finish my errands early today, I promise to stop by and check up on him."
"You'll do that for me?" Graham asked.
"I will, okay? Bye," Rory hung up. She hated lying to Graham. Groaning, she promised herself that she's head on to the DuGrey's only when she absolutely has nothing left to do.
On the other end on the phone, Graham hung the phone on its cradle hoping that whatever transpired between the two of them after the ride back home can be rectified with her visit.
"Luke," a voice from the counter called out. "I need to talk to you."
Luke knocked his head on the shelf he was stocking. He cussed as he rubbed the lump that swelled from his head hitting the shelf. Being caught unaware is one of Luke's pet peeves. Sighing, Luke turned around from his crouched position and slowly stood up to look at the person who hurriedly needed his attention.
"Dean, haven't seen you here in a while," Luke said slowly, eyeing the man in front of him from head to toe. "Don't have to work today?"
"Luke, we need to talk," Dean said, shifting his sight between Luke and the bay window.
Luke realized Dean's urgency. He cocked his head toward the back of the store for them to communicate in private. Dean's long strides followed Luke to the storage room.
"So, what can I help you with?" Luke asked. He had a feeling what this was all about but he kept mum about it.
"When did you know that you and Nicole were over?" Dean asked bluntly.
"Whoa, Dean. What are you trying to suggest?" Luke asked with guarded words. "This doesn't have to do with a certain brunette we're associated with, right?"
Dean looked away from Luke. He huffed, shifting his weight from one foot to another. "I think Lindsey and I are through."
"What do you mean?" Luke prodded. "A marriage doesn't just work overnight, you know? It takes some work."
"I know... but I think I made a mistake by marrying Lindsey," Dean confessed.
Luke didn't like the queasy feeling that churned in the pit of his stomach. These were the moments that he wished Rory was his. He would have told Dean to step away and tackle his problems first before involving someone else.
"Isn't it too late to realize that?" Luke inquired.
Dean was losing his cool. This was one of the harder things he has done in his life. Confessing to Luke was the only option he had.
"I know," Dean admitted. "I thought I was good and ready for this step. Rory told me to think twice about it. And you tried to talk me out of it, too. But Lindsey was so happy."
"And you think you're not entitled to some of that happiness?" Luke probed, almost asking him in a whisper.
"Rory left me. What was I supposed to do?" Dean huffed.
"Grow up. Wait. You had options, Dean. You're a smart kid," Luke lectured. "You can't blame Rory for trying to expand her horizons."
"Guess I screwed that one up badly, huh?" Dean sighed. "Like what I said earlier, when did you know that it was over between you and Nicole?"
"When I wore the other man's pair of socks." Luke admitted.
