Kiss the Bride
Chapter 3: Rehearse, Rehearse, Rehearse
A/N: I wrote this chapter a long time ago but couldn't post it because my account was temporarily suspended. I finally remembered that it had never been put up. Here it is. Thanks, Becka.
As soon as they entered the room, Paris appeared at their side with a determined look on her face. "Hi Jess," she said tersely. "Can I borrow Rory for a second?" Before he could answer, she grabbed Rory's arm and led her away. "Great, thanks," she called over her shoulder.
Slightly dazed, Rory shot Jess an apologetic look as Paris dragged her to the other end of the restaurant's special events room. Jess widened his eyes a little, suggesting she was the one in trouble, not him. She gave him a small grin in response then disappeared into the crowd.
Steeling himself in preparation for the impending social interaction, he glanced around the room. He noticed Miss Patty hanging out with the waiters in the far left corner and immediately vetoed that as a destination. In another corner, Taylor, Luke, and Kirk seemed to be engaged in some sort of argument. He was definitely not heading that way. Quite a few feet away, he spotted Lane and her boyfriend Charlie sitting at one of the tables. Judging them as the least of the evils, he moved in their direction. He'd gotten about two feet when a pint-sized body darted in front of him. Catching himself before he tripped, he frowned. He glanced to his left in time to see Sookie's 3-year-old daughter, Ella, chasing after her brother. He rolled his eyes and made an immediate decision to stay right where he was; if people wanted to talk to him, they could talk to him, but it wasn't like he had to inflict the torture on himself.
"Good evening, Jess," a voice primly stated from behind him. He closed his eyes briefly and took a deep breath. Next time, move Mariano! he reprimanded himself.
Slowly, he turned to face Rory's grandmother. "Emily," he greeted. Then, glancing at Rory's grandfather, he added, "Richard."
"Sorry we're late," Emily said. "We couldn't seem to find the valet."
"Actually, there isn't a valet," Jess replied.
"There isn't?" Emily asked in mock-surprise. "Why, surely a fine restaurant such as this one would have a valet. How else are the drunken football fans supposed to find their cars?"
Sarcastic retort at the ready, Jess opened his mouth to respond but was cut off by Richard.
"I like this restaurant," he decided, glancing around. "A little local color is good for the soul."
"Of course you'd think so," Emily dismissed. "I suppose when I can't find you later tonight, I'll know where to look."
Richard gave Jess a knowing smile. "Maybe we should find Rory, Emily."
"Yes, I suppose we should," she agreed.
Richard nodded. "We'll see you later, Jess."
Without another word from Emily, they turned and headed away. As they left, however, Emily stage-whispered to Richard, "I hope he'll at least try to find a comb in time for the ceremony tomorrow."
Jess smiled. Mission accomplished.
- - -
After losing eye contact with Jess, Rory turned her attention to Paris.
"So," she was saying loudly. "Jess's father was interesting."
"Oh, sorry about that," Rory apologized. "You were the only one available and…"
"No, it's fine. I'm a bridesmaid," Paris argued. "It's what bridesmaids do. We wear ugly dresses and uncomfortable shoes. We march up and down a narrow aisle while complete strangers stare at us and decide that we're either smiling too much or too little. We throw parties where scantily clad Neanderthals thrust their pelvises in our faces and then get drunk and sob and whine about how they're just stripping for the money and they feel so used. As if they couldn't just suck it up and get a job at McDonald's."
"I thought you liked Harry," Rory interjected.
"Well, sure, what's not to like about a man who not only strips for money but apparently has made it his personal mission to actually become his name?"
"Hey, he admitted he was due for a wax," Rory contested.
"Could we please not discuss Harry? I'm already nauseous."
"Was Jimmy really that bad?"
"No, not at all," Paris said, shaking her head. "The whole experience was very insightful."
"It was?"
"Sure," Paris nodded. "We played the license plate game, and he regaled me with stories of his California hot dog stand. I can't imagine a better way to spend my time. Although after awhile, I did regret canceling my plans to drive shish kabob skewers into my ears."
"I'm sorry," Rory apologized again.
Paris looked at her. "Well, on the bright side, you'll be happy to know I have a new appreciation of Jess."
"Yeah?"
"It turns out if you take into account the genes he has to contend with, he's actually pretty smart."
Rory smiled. "I'll be sure to tell him that."
- - -
"Here he is!" Jimmy called, jabbing his finger in the air above Jess's head while he looked across the room. Catching his eye, Sasha nodded and started to make her way over.
Jess rolled his eyes and turned to face his father. Jimmy flashed him a wide, fake smile.
"Look at you," he teased his son through clenched teeth. "You look like you'd rather be anywhere but here."
"You look like a slacker version of the Joker," Jess pointed out.
"This is my 'mingling with high society' face," Jimmy explained.
"Designed to scare small children and get the rich ladies to hand over their purses?" Jess asked.
"Something like that."
"Huh. I gotta give that a try."
Jimmy nodded, the smile still plastered across his face.
"You can stop now," Jess stated.
Jimmy shook his head. "Can't. Stop."
"Fine," Jess accepted. "How about I just make it a little easier on you?" he offered, scooting around to slap Jimmy on the back.
Immediately, the smile fell from his face. "Hey, that isn't funny! You do realize that could make my face stay that way, don't you?"
"Kinda the point," Jess whispered through the side of his mouth.
"Hey now, I'm your father," Jimmy argued.
"Honey," Sasha interrupted, stopping beside him and rubbing his back. "Not always your best defense." Turning to Jess, she pulled him into a tight hug. "How the hell are you, kiddo?"
Jess awkwardly returned her hug. "Good."
She pulled away and gave him a once-over. "Yeah? You look good. Really good."
He gave her a small smile.
"Where's that fiancée of yours?"
Jess instinctively glanced around for Rory. "Probably being verbally throttled by Paris."
"Yeah, that girl's a little tightly wound," Jimmy agreed.
Jess turned his eyes to Sasha. "How bad was it?"
She shrugged. "We were on our best behavior."
"And?" Jess pushed, wanting to know how much trouble Rory was in.
"And she hated us."
"Hated or despised?" Jess tried to clarify.
"I'd say hated," Sasha hedged. She eyed Jimmy, and he nodded in agreement.
Jess shrugged. "So, not so bad then."
"Nope, not so bad," Sasha smiled.
Jess glanced behind them. "Where's Lily?"
"Coat room," Sasha answered.
Jess nodded.
There was an awkward silence, and then he added quickly, "I'm just gonna—"
Sasha nodded and stepped aside. "Go ahead. We'll track down Rory. Right, hon?"
Jimmy plastered the smile back on his face and nodded. "Sounds good."
With an amused grin, Jess walked past them and out the door.
-- -
"Ah, there you are," Lorelai exclaimed, sneaking up behind her daughter and Paris. "I was beginning to think you and Jess were off knocking boots somewhere."
Rory's cheeks reddened. "Mom."
"Oh, sorry," Lorelai apologized. "How about this?" she offered, measuring her words carefully. "I thought you two might be engaging in your last round of immoral, premarital relations. There. Better?"
"We weren't."
"I see that," Lorelai agreed. "But lemme tell you, there is a very nice coat closet right outside." She nudged Rory in the side and waggled her eyebrows. "It has the Luke Danes seal of approval."
Rory wrinkled her nose. "I did not need to know that."
"What? He's a very picky man. He doesn't just do it anywhere."
"Oh my god," Rory exclaimed, looking to Paris for some backup. She just smirked.
Lorelai held her hands up innocently. "I'm just trying to give you a little head's up."
Rory folded her arms over her chest. "Fine. Thank you."
"So you can get the big head up," Lorelai finished with a giggle.
"In two seconds, I'm going to sic Grandma on you," Rory warned.
"Fine, fine," Lorelai agreed. "But where is Beezlebub anyway?"
"Grandma is over there with Grandpa and Sookie."
"Good to know," Lorelai nodded. "But I meant your Beezlebub."
"Stop calling him that," Rory lightly reprimanded.
"He doesn't like cake, Rory. He's the devil."
"Jess doesn't like cake?" Paris asked.
"For the last time, Jess likes cake!" Rory exclaimed.
"No, he doesn't," Lorelai disagreed.
"You made him spend four hours taste-testing wedding cakes, Mom. It would make anyone sick."
"I didn't get sick," Lorelai reminded her.
"You are a freak of nature."
"You didn't get sick."
"You raised me."
"Sookie didn't get sick. Ella, a small child with a teeny-tiny stomach, did not get sick," Lorelai prattled off.
"Jess does not hate cake," Rory huffed.
"I don't know, honey. Are you sure this is the man you want to marry? You know what they say about a guy who can't hold his cake."
"What?" Rory asked. "What do they say about a guy who can't hold his cake?"
"Uh, well, they say that he hates cake," Lorelai stated, as if it were obvious.
A small smile crept across Rory's face. "That's very profound."
"Thank you," Lorelai accepted, wrapping an arm around her daughter. "God, I'm going to miss this."
"There's nothing to miss."
"You promise you're going to come over and let me torture you?"
"I promise."
"On a weekly basis?"
"If not more," Rory vowed.
"Even though you're going to be an old married woman with a husband to keep satisfied?"
"Actually," Paris interjected. "Statistically speaking, sex becomes less frequent after marriage, so Rory should have more time for other activities."
Lorelai grinned. "I love this girl," she said, wrapping her other arm around Paris.
- - -
Jess pulled open the door to the coat room and glanced inside. Immediately, he spotted Lily sitting beneath the rows of coats, her legs stretched out in front of her and a copy of 'Wuthering Heights' in her hands.
He smirked. "Haven't you read that before?"
A smile spread across her face as she looked up. "About a million times."
"There's a lot of other books out there, you know."
"Says the guy who's reread his collection of about 50 books more times than I can count."
He nodded. "You look older. I almost didn't recognize you."
She grinned proudly. "You look the same."
He shrugged.
She narrowed her eyes at him and looked him up and down. "Except happy. Really happy. It's kinda freaking me out."
He chuckled. "Me too."
"Well, I say, 'go with it.'"
"I'll keep that in mind," he agreed. "So, you don't feel the need to socialize?"
She shrugged. "I learned from the best."
"Hey, at least I'm trying," he teased.
"Which explains why you're hiding in the coat closet."
He smirked.
"I just wanted to finish this chapter," she explained. "I tried in the car, but Paris and Jimmy's arguing was kind of distracting."
"Okay, I'll leave you to it then," he promised, turning towards the door.
"Jess…," Lily called.
He glanced back at her.
"When I was little, I always wanted a brother."
He nodded. "I think I heard that once."
She bit her lip and looked down at her book. "Even though I don't see you very much, I'm glad I got you." She shrugged. "I just wanted you to know that."
He hesitated, causing her to look up.
"You're not so bad yourself," he offered.
She smiled.
"Okay," he stated. "I'll let you get back to your book."
Closing it, she rose to her feet. "On second thought, I guess if you can try, I can try," she said, trailing after him.
He waited for her to catch up. "If you can't take it anymore, let me know. I have a practically unnoticeable paperback you can borrow."
She glanced up at him. "You might want to give that to me now."
With a knowing smirk, he handed it over.
- - -
As Jess and Lily exited the coat room, they nearly ran into Rory.
"Oh," she exclaimed, catching her breath after the sudden surprise. "There you are."
"Hey," Jess said softly.
"Hi Rory," Lily greeted with a wide smile. Immediately, she stepped forward and pulled Rory into a hug.
Rory smiled and hugged her back tightly. "Did you get the books I sent you?" she asked, moving away.
"I already read them," Lily exclaimed.
"Wow! That's great."
"I loved them, especially the poetry collection."
Rory nudged Jess in the ribs and grinned. "I told you she had some taste."
He wrapped his arm around her waist but didn't say anything.
"I'm thinking of submitting a poem for this contest at school," Lily went on. "Do you think you could read it and tell me what you think?"
"Definitely," Rory agreed. "I'll make sure they put you next to me at the table, and you can show me then."
"Great," Lily cheered. She pointed at the door. "Should we go inside?"
"We'll be right there," Rory said. "I need to talk to Jess about something."
Lily glanced at the door again and then sent a desperate look in Jess's direction.
"Find Lane," he suggested. "She's your safest bet."
She nodded and darted into the room.
Once she was gone, Jess turned to Rory. "What did you nee—"
Before he could finish, her lips were pressed to his. He tightened his hold on her waist and pulled her close, taking control.
After a long moment, she pulled away and smiled.
Recognizing the look, he narrowed his eyes at her. "What's going on?"
With a small shrug, she joined their lips together again and started inching him backwards toward the door.
"Rory," he mumbled against her mouth as he felt his back smack against the wooden frame.
She reached past him, fumbling along the door for the handle. Once her hand wrapped around it, she pushed, and they stumbled backwards into the room, letting the door slip closed behind them.
Regaining his balance and then steadying Rory, Jess raised an eyebrow at her. "Seriously. What's up with you?"
She traced her fingers along the buttons of his dress shirt and, reaching the top, started to undo them. "I've heard good things about this coat room."
"Oh yeah?" he asked, turning his gaze down to where her hands were slowly and carefully unfastening each button.
Reaching the last button, she ran her hands back up along the bare skin of his chest and fluidly pushed the shirt off his shoulders. "Yeah," she whispered.
He smiled and ran his fingers along the outsides of her arms. "Guess we'll have to test it out then," he whispered back, covering her lips with his as he lowered the straps of her dress.