Of course Rory is the reason that Jess isn't going back. Did Luke really think that there was another reason? How can he face her, knowing, even if she doesn't, that she's the one who reduced the unflappable Jess Mariano to a drunken mess of angry tears? No, Jess still has his pride, and Liz' wedding or not, there's no reason to go back. Family obligation? With the characters he's lucky enough to be related to, that's nothing but a joke.
Still, he can't believe that Luke came, just to convince him to show up. Luke hates New York. Always has, always will. Avoids the city at all costs. Gets in a bad mood for days before a planned trip to meet with a supplier or take care of some diner business.
Out of curiousity--and since he's already leaving the apartment and, incidentally, heading the same direction as Luke--Jess follows a block or so behind Luke, keeping one eye on the blue baseball cap bobbing through the crowd. He's not sure why this is so important to him, but he just needs to know. Did Luke come alone? Did Liz put him up to it? TJ (although that would require more forethought and sensitivity than Jess thinks he possesses)? More importantly, is this combined with some sort of diner business or a meeting of some sort, or did Luke come just to talk to him?
Luke stops at a payphone, and thanks to Luke's incredible oblivion, Jess somehow manages to get in close enough to hear, standing in the facing booth, pretending to make his own call. "Still don't know why I'm crazy enough to do this," he thinks, but then again, this is New York. Even if someone who lived nearby recognized him, this is the city where anything goes. Even a leather-jacket-clad hoodlum following his plaid-flannel-wearing uncle, listening in on his phone call.
Luke plugs in the coins and makes the call. "Lane, it's Luke. Did the order come in?"
Jess shifts from foot to foot. Diner business. Of course. What did he think that Luke was going to do, anyways--run down the street in tears because Jess wouldn't come home? No, knowing Luke, he would more likely stalk down the street cursing everything in sight and cursing Jess doubly for being the what brought him to the city in the first place.
"Yes, Lane, I know that you know how to receive an order. It's not you I'm worried about, it's them. I've had some problems with this supplier the past few times they've sent something, and I just needed to know if I have to call them and kick someone's ass before their offices close." Luke laughs, more of a smirk with sound than full-out laughter. "Okay, thanks, Lane."
He pulls the receiver away from his ear, then scowls slightly at some other sound coming from the headset and replaces it, listening again.
"What are you doing on the diner phone?" Luke sighs and leans against the wall of the phone booth. "There's always coffee there. You don't need me to pour it for you."
Jess hides a grin. So now Lorelai is seeking Luke out even when he's out of town?
"Yes. It's always the same, even if Caesar makes it... Fine. If you don't like the way he makes it, then get Lane to do it for you... Later tonight. Lane and Caesar are closing for me."
Jess smirks. She's getting to Luke. Anyone else would have heard the dial tone in their ear long before now.
"New York." Luke's voice drops. "Jess... No, he's not. Dumb punk isn't planning to show up."
If he listens hard enough, Jess can hear Lorelai's indignant response. If nothing else, he can imagine, word for word, what's she's saying.
"She does. Wants him to walk her down the aisle... Of course I did, but it's her day, and she wants him to do it."
Luke is silent, and somehow, Jess knows that it's not only because Lorelai won't shut up. This is a different silence than the tolerant, slightly soft silence of indulging her non-stop babbling.
"Nah, she doesn't know. She knew it was a long shot. So did I, but stupid me had to try again. Shoulda known that it wouldn't do any good. He'd kill me if I ever said it out loud, but I want him there, too. She's finally starting to get it together--I just wish he'd be there to see it... Right. What do you think? You ever tried to reason with Jess? Convince him to do something he doesn't want to do? Damn near impossible. He's stubborn. He'll stay away just because we want him to come back. That's just the way he is. Kid should have some respect, but that would be asking far too much of him."
Luke's starting to become uncomfortable with this conversation. i Jess /i is starting to get uncomfortable. Since when is Luke so forthcoming with his feelings? Since when does he talk on the phone for so long? This is Luke, though, and there is, of course, a limit to what he can take.
"Look, Lorelai, as much as I'd love to keep discussing my rebellious nephew with you, my time is almost up, and I'm not wasting another quarter on this... Yes, tomorrow. I'll be the one with the coffee... Now, would you please get off my diner phone?"
Luke hangs up without saying goodbye and continues walking down the street, but this time, Jess doesn't follow. Instead, he steps into the booth that Luke has just vacated. Picks up the phone. Inserts a quarter. Dials.
"Adam? It's Jess. I need to book a couple of days off."