AN: I struggled a bit today whether to keep you waiting today for a chapter or give you less than half of what I had written. I just wasn't happy enough with the second part, so that'll come tomorrow.
Logan lovers - I haven't forgotten about you. He'll come to the picture, but not yet. What I like about writing this story is that I can explore more than one coupling by using flashbacks or thoughts, but it won't necessarily be every imaginable coupling. Just bare with me.
Chapter 5
November 5th, 2016
Champagne coupes clinked together along with a near-deafening cheer as the bride and groom kissed, right after both the maid of honor - Rory, and the best man - Jess, had cracked the crowd up with their speeches.
Their speeches had contained just the right amount of admiration and respect for the happy couple, but they hadn't lacked the right amount of embarrassment and teasing on top of a couple of simpler jokes. Rory's had been more emotional, Jess' more withheld, but similarly cleverly worded. Most people probably thought they'd coordinated their speeches, but they really hadn't needed to. They thought the same way when it came to the happy couple. They knew them probably better than anyone, besides their better half.
Weddings rarely made this much sense. It had made sense for more than a decade, making this wedding long overdue.
"Nice speech," Jess commented, as he stepped up to Rory's side from the back of the crowd about five minutes later, jolting Rory out of her thoughts. The crowd watched Lorelai and Luke dance their first dance as a married couple. This of course not considering the real wedding that had already taken place last night. But it was all very hush-hush as Emily would've never forgiven Lorelai if she found out. But Rory could tell Jess had been a little disappointed he hadn't been included, even if he would never admit to it.
The dance was classical - a waltz to 'Reflecting Light', but perfect in its own way, making it painfully clear to Rory how she missed having something like her mom and Luke had. She barely remembered what something like that had felt like. The ache for being with someone like that, unconditionally, all in, was allconsuming. Especially now.
"Thanks," Rory replied, swirling the glass of champagne she'd been holding, but not drinking, in her hand. She'd taken a small, demonstrative, sip, but frankly even if she could probably have had just that small glass, the sparkling liquid just didn't taste right to her. It was her body's way of saying what she should and shouldn't be consuming. "You too," Rory added, still struggling to come out of her thoughts.
Rory placed her glass on the nearest table, aiming to conveniently forget it there.
Just that morning, she'd told her mother that she was pregnant. The realization hadn't quite sunk in with her either yet. But telling Lorelai had made things much more real already. Rory still didn't know what she was going to do, not about any of it. But there had been no question about telling Lorelai, they told each other everything.
"Not much in a partying mood?" Jess noted.
"I guess I'm just a little tired," Rory commented with a weak sigh. She was always tired these days. It was a convenient excuse - she had stayed up until 8 AM after all, and to be frank this was just the after party. But nevertheless she didn't aim to ditch the party, not for a few hours at least - it was too important.
"You know I'd be happy to have one of the guys at Truncheon read over your chapters if you want, though knowing you I doubt there's much to critique," Jess suggested. After hearing how happy Rory had been about her first three chapters, he'd been happy for her. He liked seeing her like that.
And he couldn't deny that Luke's words from the day before had stuck with him too - So then you're over that, right?
"Yeah, and next you'll tell me they'll publish it," Rory replied, dubiously. She knew how the business worked, she also knew how difficult it was to get past the receptionist's desk, or rather inbox, at most publishing houses with her book. She had never much liked accepting favors - it didn't even matter if it wasn't someone with the last name Huntzberger offering it, it felt just as cheap.
"Well, I might have some say in that too, actually," Jess tilted his eyebrow, sneakily.
"You do?" Rory asked, not quite following. It didn't really change how she felt about it though.
"They made me a partner actually, and an editor-in-chief. Matthew sold his part of the company to me," Jess explained. Truncheon was still small potatoes, but it was a real company. It was respected and sustainable. Quite a milestone for someone like Jess - it was definitely something he would've liked to rub in his high school principal's nose.
"Oh my god, that's amazing," Rory said, and hugged him, intentionally diverting from his offer. "Congratulations! That's great!" she exclaimed.
Her scent filled his nostrils, making Jess hold his breath to let her fragrance wake up that part of him again, having not quite expected it to hit him this strongly. She still felt the same in his arms, even years later.
"Thanks," he replied. "I also meant to say that you look beautiful today," he whispered to her ear, still holding her for a few more seconds, unable to hold the compliment to himself.
"Aw.. Thanks," Rory replied, as she pulled away.
Rory didn't quite feel beautiful though, she felt bloated and awkward. The dark short-sleeved V-neck dress she wore didn't stand out in any way. She'd chosen it with that in mind, not wanting to draw attention to herself. But sure, it was a dress - she was wearing something else than a sports bra, she was wearing makeup and a pair of dangle pearl earrings.
But she appreciated the compliment nonetheless. It was not like she would be getting many of them in the coming months when she got fat and had ankles the size of coffee cans.
"I mean it," Jess said, needing to give her some more indication how much he meant it.
Rory felt a little apprehensive still, there were a lot of signals going off in her brain that she shouldn't even be humouring the thought of him, not in the condition she was in. But deep down she felt what she had for so long craved to feel - someone wanted her.
"Oh come on, let's go grab some food before the hotdogs run out," Jess suggested, switching their little moment into something less serious. Just simple harmless fun. Besides, it didn't hurt that they'd bonded over hotdogs before.
Throughout the evening they talked about books, their writing, simply keeping each other company. They even danced, among others to 'Build me Up Buttercup' by The Foundations and to Thurston Harris' 'Little Bitty Pretty One'.
Jess was good at not pushing her, like choosing a slow dance would've been, but whether that was in fact good, remained as a whole other question.
But what Jess had managed to achieve during that celebratory event was that he'd established a friendship that didn't just give guidance on work related topics or was just about the elementary catching up or family obligations. He'd shown her that their time together could again be fun, and that he was still there for her - that he paid attention to her.
