Chapter 17
October 8th, 2022
Logan made it to Carrie Nation, a dimly lit, classy cocktail bar with what looked like a well-stocked bar, fashionably 10 minutes past the announced time. He arrived to witness Rory in the midst of generous congratulations, accepting hugs, a couple of her guests having brought her flowers - Hydrangeas and a large bouquet of peach-colored roses, and the look on her face spoke of sheer joy and grace as she thanked them. One of the women wrapped a pink feather boa around her neck, clearly as a joke, and that made Rory laugh, going along with it.
Logan had seen that look before. Once after Rory had been made the editor of Yale Daily News and they'd celebrated that night with cheap take-away Chinese and a bottle of Dom. Once when she'd seen him, waiting there with a chauffeur's cap and sign, at the Heathrow arrivals when she'd come to visit him for Christmas for the first time. Once when Rory had gotten the e-mail about getting her article published in the New Yorker, and she'd been with him in London. They'd gone out to dance that night and partied the night away, feeling free and wild - a moment she'd clearly felt like she'd done it, done it alone, like things were finally moving up.
She was happy.
Thinking back Logan was just grateful he'd been allowed to share those moments with her. There were plenty that he'd missed - most importantly the moment Rory had first met her daughter. God - that one would likely sting forever. There was no getting that back.
Almost unexpectedly, having been lost in his own thoughts, it was his turn.
"Happy Birthday, Rory," Logan said and hugged her, feeling now a little empty handed as Rory now had a bouquet of roses in hers. He'd thought long and hard about getting her something - a book, one never could go wrong with a book with her, or a gift card or something, but he'd realized it wouldn't have been personal enough, now knowing what she already owned, and since this was taking place at a cocktail bar, with a possibility for an after party as she'd said, he'd thought better not make her deal with carrying things around.
"Aw, thank you. I'm glad you could make it," Rory said, and her face at least didn't show signs of doubt.
"You look great," Logan commented, indeed seeing that not only did Rory look energetic and elated, she was also looking pretty fierce in her blue dress and brave makeup - not something he was used to seeing on her. But it suited her and she pulled it off like nobody's business.
"Thanks," she said, looking down for a second, which he hoped spoke of being at least a little flattered by his words, and then continued with the introduction round since it seemed Logan was one of the few who did not yet know the others.
Rory introduced him as an old friend from out of town, which certainly also brought back a memory of another kind - one he wasn't at all proud of, leaving him wondering whether that had been intentional from Rory's side.
Logan got to meet Angie, whom he'd already heard about, a few people from Rory's work, Otis, whose name he also recognized as a person of significance and about half-a-dozen other names. In total there were about 10 people, who soon took their seats behind a large table, conversation flowing amongst most of them effortlessly. Logan remained a little surprised not to see any of Rory's old friends - Lane or Paris there, but as he didn't consider their absence something he himself missed so he didn't ask.
The table soon filled with huge appetizer platters - crispy calamari tossed with pepperoncini, fig and prosciutto bruschetta, artisan cured meats with a selection of cheeses, crunch cauliflower with sweet chili and a selection of flatbreads and a tray of fresh oysters. There was a bottle of champagne on the table, but many had opted for cocktails or something stronger - Logan himself for scotch, Rory for a gin based cocktail of some sort that was served in a beautiful antique coupe-style glass.
Around ten minutes in, people started inquiring about him too.
"So what business are you in, Logan - was it?" Angie asked.
They were sitting in a way that Rory sat across and one over from Logan and right next to Rory there was Angie, while Otis, the guy who was very hard to miss due to his size, right next to him.
"Publishing and media ventures," Logan replied, curtly.
"Oh, right - anywhere I know?" Angie inquired, and the next second got elbowed by Rory, as if scolding here.
"It really is fine," Logan said to Rory. "It's the Huntzberger Publishing Corporation and its subsidiaries," Logan explained.
"That is big…," Angie noted.
"It is, but I'm actually in the process of pulling back a little," Logan replied.
"Um… interesting," Angie commented. "Onto greener pastures?" she asked.
"Just pastures with a better work-life balance," Logan replied.
"You know Jackie used to work for Beacon for a while," Angie noted casually, gesturing towards the end of the table to a petite auburn-haired woman.
Logan wasn't really feeling much like business talk but he humored them. After all, most people defined themselves through what they did and it was not like he was going to start dissecting Em's and his relationship right there or his recently ended marriage.
"And how do you know Rory?" came a question from next to Rory, where a man named Victor sat.
"Originally from college, but we've stayed in touch on and off," Logan replied, hoping they wouldn't ask too much.
Angie soon urged everyone to give toasts to Rory and gave one herself.
"I ask you to all raise your glasses to my girl Rory here - a spectacular friend, my BFF, for actually stepping one step closer to us 4-0-ers," Angie said teasingly, and took a generous sip of her champagne after people clinked their glasses together.
"Happy birthday," and "Here-here," were cheered amongst the guests.
"Age is just a number," Otis commented, and Rory actually seemed to appreciate his words in that moment
"We couldn't do it at work without you and we wish you the very best birthday!" Jackie replied, explaining to Logan that she must've worked with her.
"Aw, thanks," Rory replied, humbly.
Logan hadn't planned on it, but here he found himself standing up and saying a few words himself. After all in his work setting and also in his family setting - he was always the one expected to do things like this and he realized just now that it was kind of in his blood. He wasn't the guy who just sat back.
"Rory - I wish you the happiest birthday. There are old friends and then there are old friends… you're a great mother, a great person, a great friend. May the year to come be the happiest yet," Logan wished.
"Oh, you guys spoil me," Rory replied, glancing around the table and briefly also meeting Logan's eyes.
Everyone continued to chat, eat and drink and Logan really just enjoyed observing what kind of conversations Rory had with her guests. They had their own jokes and memories to recall - five years really seeming like a long time hearing all of these things. Apparently they'd had some crazy party at a spa a few years ago, which Angie still looked back to dreamingly, and they were referring to their semi-weekly brunches a couple of times. There was apparently a wedding coming in a few months time, involving Victor and one of the women Rory worked with, and over all while perhaps not as joint at the hip - it kind of reminded Logan of a fairly functional and less eccentric version of Friends, or something equivalent. Logan really wasn't up his game when it came to pop culture references.
"So Logan, I hear you're new in town? What is it that keeps you busy here - besides Rory and that darling little girl," Otis commented to Logan at one point, letting on that he knew more about the whole story than most.
"I am, just a couple of weeks in. But the intention is to settle in," Logan replied, certainly hoping that his assurance would also reach Rory's ears across the table, even though she was engaged in another conversation.
"It really is an interesting city. I used to live in Palo Alto for a while myself. Coming back here, to be closer to my family, was a real change. But I've grown to love it," Otis explained, his deep tone now becoming increasingly familiar to Logan. He couldn't be sure, but he was pretty sure it was his voice that he'd heard through the phone when Rory had finished the call off with an 'I love you'.
"I was actually in San Jose for a couple of years myself… but that was more like the late 2000s," Logan explained.
"Hm-hm," Otis hummed, his tone being almost haunting.
"I'm sure a lot has changed since then," Logan found himself engaging, hoping to actually find out a little more about the guy himself. After all, if this guy was important to Rory, he wanted to know him too - even if subconsciously he was probably just wanting to make sure there was more than the voice to this guy and he wasn't milking Rory just for the money.
"It sure has, I was there for over twenty years," Otis commented.
"And as I've understood, you're a consultant of some sort?" Logan asked, trying to not sound too skeptical.
"I am. I've done a little this and that, used to work for HR for a few tech companies on the West Coast, though I first started out as a career advisor for Stanford," Otis explained.
"Hm-hm," Logan nodded, and took a sip of his drink.
"But what about in your spare time - I'm sure you must do something beyond working now that you're here… Have you been able to pick up your hobbies after the move?" Otsin inquired, and for a moment Logan considered whether Rory had put him up to asking this.
"Oh, nothing much - I mean I read and work out. Though I have not quite found the sport here yet. I might have gotten spoiled with the running trails at Hyde Park," Logan laughed at himself.
"Not the gym kind of guy?" Otsin inquired.
"No. I like the thrill, I guess. Something real, out in the real world with all the elements," Logan explained.
"So you like extremes? You run in the winter as well?" he asked.
"I guess you could say that," Logan replied. "But I am really past my crazy days, jumping out of airplanes and what not," Logan said.
"You ever do swimming?" Otis asked. He was asking an awful lot of questions but Logan didn't fight them.
"In London we had this open air place, which was cool - but mostly during the summer," Logan replied.
"I know this one guy who does this Wim Hof method based open water swimming workshops. It's kind of extreme, but more about the persistence than the shock itself," Otis explained and went on to explain how the guy was advocating for various health benefits it came with.
Logan had heard something about that guy but he wasn't sure. "Is he the Dutch guy who bathes in buckets of ice?" Logan asked, putting it intentionally rather bluntly.
"August? No… but if you meant the creator - Wim Hof, then yes," Otis replied, chuckling at his phrasing.
Logan wasn't too keen about jumping into a pool of cold water, but an idea to try out some workshops actually didn't sound like the most horrible idea. He was here to make contacts, friends - as well as recreate a relationship with his daughter, wasn't he? So maybe taking a class or trying something new wasn't the worst idea.
"Sounds interesting, I might look it up," Logan said, not promising anything.
"I can send Rory the link, if you want," Otis replied, not pushing for his e-mail address.
"I appreciate it, thank you," Logan replied.
Little by little the laughter around the table was growing louder and Rory was looking more and more tipsy - not in a bad way - just less inhibited, which was good to see. He always loved how alcohol melted away her boundaries a little and she became flirtier and not that he was going to say it - but also a lot more sexually liberal. It was an interesting memory in this context, and he couldn't deny that watching her through the night as she opened up, her body moved more freely and she watched less what she said, mixing in with her hauntingly gorgeous laughter, was quite an attractive sight, even if he really was just teasing himself.
Because the bar seemed to have a performance program upcoming - some energetic blues and a few decent stand up comics, the group decided against going anywhere else that night. But that too was fine - the food was good and the servers kept the drinks coming. Alcohol was loosening him up a lot too, and Logan also found numerous things to talk about with a few of the other people, getting among other things tips for great bookstores that were a little off the beaten path and about a bouldering club not too far from where he lived. Logan joined some of the guys for a round of pool, which was kind of refreshing - not all of this night was just about Rory, and she didn't seem to mind, looking quite happy as it was.
Angie made an earlier exit than the rest, saying she had some early morning engagement with her kids, and little by little the crowd began to disperse, until Rory finally got around to paying for the group and saying her genuine thank-you-s to everyone who'd come.
"I'll walk you home?" Logan suggested, catching Rory perhaps a little by surprise.
"It's just ten minutes," Rory said. She'd walked the path a hundred times, it was a pretty safe area and she had been planning on putting an app on just to be on the safe side anyway.
"We're going in the same general direction anyway," Logan shrugged, unsure if this was her being her, not wanting to be a bother, or was she genuinely avoidant about walking home with him.
"Oh, alright," Rory exhaled, her heavily painted eye-lids fluttering a couple of times, as she pulled her coat on. Logan really wasn't sure if that was intentional. There was definitely some flirtiness in that, but then again she was probably more drunk than Logan was.
After offering to help her carrying her flowers, they walked in silence, Rory just making an occasional observation about their surroundings. About halfway there Rory tripped on some uneven pavement, not that she would've actually fallen - she didn't even have her heels to blame on this time - but enough to steady herself on his arm for a second. The touch was so familiar, yet foreign at the same time in this new context.
"Sorry," Rory said, releasing her grip on his forearm.
"It's fine," Logan soothed. He felt like this might've been a good moment to maybe talk, as she certainly didn't seem so uptight and defensive, but the few short minutes did seem like too short of a time to get too deep into heavier things, so he held off, hoping for other, a little more sober, moments to come.
Rory looked happy, a little giggly, and that even without him saying anything too entertaining.
"You looked happy tonight," Logan said.
"Aw, thanks," Rory chimed, not too seriously.
"I mean it. I like seeing you like this …. Not just this, not just out and partying and a little tipsy, but just… how you've rebuilt your life. It fits you. Your friends all seem nice and genuine," Logan explained.
Rory just giggled, finding him amusing.
"I'm not perfect, Logan… Sure - I think I'm a lot happier than I was.. But my life is not perfect - nobody's is," Rory replied, laughingly.
"So, what's missing from perfect?" Logan found himself asking, not even quite consciously having realized he was going to ask that before he had.
"This and that...," Rory replied, not wanting to elaborate.
"Well… just know that I think it's great," Logan said, indeed feeling like he was getting more and more assurance about the fact that setting his condition on leaving Rory with the baby had been the right thing to do - even if there were parts he regretted. Whether that had been just one of the many reasons for her to pull herself together and get help or not, didn't even matter.
"I do know, I think it's pretty great myself," Rory chuckled, coming to halt in front of the familiar doorway. "I believe this is me," Rory said, turning to him.
"Thanks for inviting me," Logan said, and handed over the flowers he'd been carrying for her.
"Thanks for coming, and the walking…," Rory replied, smilingly.
He hadn't expected it, but the next second she wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him - not sexually per se, but definitely intimately - her state being less than entirely sober for sure. "Hm.. you smell nice," Rory hummed to his ear, barely audibly, causing his entire body to tingle, waking even his arousal inside his pants. Thankfully they weren't too close for her to sense it.
He was pretty sure she hadn't meant that as such, maybe she hadn't even realized she'd said it and even then surely it was just a drunken observation, an old-time familiarity that was easy to slip into. Logan certainly wasn't going to push it, laugh about it or make her feel bad about it. It was cute. Kind of hot. An in the current context awkward as well. There was no need to rub that in right now.
"Well, alright then," Logan said, as the hug broke, struggling to hide the amused smile on his lips.
"Good night," Rory chimed and slipped inside.
There was definitely that attraction still there that seemed to be not linked to age or time passed. And as Logan got home, after another couple of minutes of walking, he most definitely still felt that throbbing in his pants. And it didn't even matter if in part it was his own drunkenness that didn't ward himself off ffrom thinking about her - but as he showered that night, he took matters into his own hands, not caring if the train of thought accompanying him - glimpses of Rory, naked, horny and gorgeous in her slightly tipsy and giggly state - was a dangerous one.
AN: for the next week I'll be travelling, so I might not get around to writing as much as I normally would. But we'll see...