Chapter 29
"Oh my god," Rory exhaled in slow motion, feeling like she was for the first time swept into the arms of luxury as she strolled into The Pierre on Logan's arm. Somehow the winter wonderland outside was only adding too the grandeur. Even traveling with her grandmother had been this grand and that too had felt like being pampered rotten. But this… this was something else.
The check-in barely took a minute, Logan's name being something that didn't require a lot of additional questions it seemed, and they were guided up to their Metropolitan Suite, where Rory got the park view she'd been dreaming of.
Champagne waited for them up in their room along with ready made coffee, a huge bouquet of flowers and a box of chocolates, and the minute the door closed behind the bellboy, her lips were on Logan's from all the excitement and gratitude.
"Considering I've seen a few of your hotel rooms, you've certainly outdone yourself this time," Rory said playfully.
"Well nothing but the best for my girlfriend," Logan replied, and Rory could just swear even he liked the sound of that.
The back of Rory's legs hit the bed as they'd made their way through the two-room suite, exploring it, Rory holding onto Logan's hand the entire time.
"Watch out," Logan warned her and caught Rory by her elbow as she was about to land on top of a dress box.
"Logan!" Rory chimed, playfully scolding him. "You didn't have to, really. I did bring a dress you know," she added, having brought one of her mother's dresses that she kind of liked but seldom wore, it being a little on the sexier side - the beige satin dress with flowers.
"You can wear that some other time. And I believe the matching boots are in the closet," Logan replied, gesturing towards the closet.
Rory opened the box and found a blue and black cocktail dress with a matching jacket inside by Chloé. She'd never had a brand new designer dress before, most of her usual dresses being something off the rack at sales or even from second hand or vintage stores along with a few of her mother's touches.
The strappy dress had an empire waist, layers of black tulle flowing over the blue, accenting it beautifully. The hem had black glittery stripes, adding the final touch.
"It's amazing Logan, thank you," Rory replied, as she hung the dress up, admiring it.
"I just thought you deserve something special for tonight," Logan added.
"Hey, I've always wondered - how does this shopping happen? Do you send them a picture of me and let them do the choosing or…?" Rory began to trail down the practical aspects, knowing he hadn't been here to pick it out personally. And considering there had also been that dress at the LDB even, this was just a recurring theme she was curious about.
"Well… I tell them the size and style - more or less. And then they send me pictures of options to choose from," Logan explained.
"Aw..," Rory melted at the thought he'd put into it. "Well, thank you," she replied, kissing him again.
"You are very easy to please," Logan smirked.
"Am I? Got to remedy that, don't we?" Rory hummed, pulling him down on top of her, aiming to make him work for saying something like that.
Logan chuckled appreciatively.
Rory couldn't get enough of him, and even though they didn't have a huge amount of time to spare before they were due at the party, they found plenty to do that required no use of money whatsoever, but still left a healthy glow on their cheeks.
The party took place at the Chatwal, a chick dark wood paneled space that reminded Rory a little of her grandfather's study. The place was packed - at least a 125 people as Logan had suggested and already as they entered, she recognized at least a dozen of them - writers, journalists, businessmen and -women.
They needed to tone down how they were here - no excessive kisses or special moments of tenderness, that would've definitely indicated something more than her being just a date. But yet Rory clung to Logan's arm, liking the feeling of his support as they made their way through the crowd.
It was incredible how many people Logan knew and introduced Rory to. Some even asked what she did but not many really focused on her. It was supposedly the downside to being on Logan's arm, getting treated as a pretty plus one instead of her own person. But right now she was fine with that, getting to tell at least three people she admired how she was a big fan despite it.
Rory allowed herself some champagne and appetizers, knowing that they'd probably need to go some place to eat later on anyway.
"Brace yourself, Ace," Logan suddenly said, taking a deep tactical breath, catching Rory just as she was swallowing a sip of champagne.
"Logan, glad to see you made it," Mitchum approached them.
"Dad," Logan nodded and shook his hand, his body language shifting in an instant and Rory could tell how he tensed up and his usual abundance of words dried up.
"And who might this lovely-looking young lady be?" Mitchum asked, catching Logan before he'd thought to introduce her himself.
"Dad, Rory Gilmore. Rory, this is my father Mitchum Huntzberger," Logan did the round quickly, almost like he was ripping off a bandage.
"It's very nice to meet you, Mr. Huntzberger," Rory replied, smilingly.
"Gilmore - any relation to Emily and Richard Gilmore?" he asked.
"They would be my grandparents, yes," Rory replied, feeling a little proud of the fact.
"Fine people, " Mitchum commented. "I thought I'd seen you somewhere, you looked familiar," he added.
"That'd more likely be at the Yale Daily News perhaps," Rory suggested, adding, "I was there a couple of times while you came to speak to our editor."
"Oh, that's right. We have a young journalist at our midst, it seems," Mitchum noted, approvingly.
"Rory, here, is a big fan of Seymoure's, you see," Logan added, gesturing at the man's direction.
"Right, we'll we've got to see if we can make an introduction in that case," Mitchum said, sounding a little intriqued by her at the very lest. His attention seemed a little unnecessary though there seemed to be a certain hierarchy in this party that even someone like Logan was not just that easily to approach the guest of honor because he seemed to be surrounded by his friends near constantly.
"Seymour! There's someone I'd like you to meet," Mitchum called the man over, making Rory rather awkward, having not expected that.
The exchange was not entirely comfortable either - but they did exchange a few lines, some out of politeness and some more substantial about some of his latest opinion pieces. Mitchum's attention span had been shorter than that, however and soon enough Mitchum excused himself to talk to some of his other friends along with the guest of honor, leaving Rory and Logan alone.
"Oh, my god, I can't believe I just did that," Rory said, her voice still shaking a little.
"And you did well, Ace," Logan commented. "My dad definitely watched you too, I could tell he was a little impressed," he added.
"You really think so?" Rory asked.
"I know so," Logan said.
Rory wasn't yet sure if that was a good thing or not, but she felt moved either way that Logan had said that about her. She always appreciated compliments on her brain, her knowledge or skill more than just her looks and Logan was making her stomach flutter even with such comments.
"It's a relief my mom isn't here today," Logan commented, sounding relieved.
"Oh, that's too bad..," Rory said, in part out of politeness but also curiosity.
"Really, Ace?" Logan asked, raising his eyebrows.
"What?" Rory asked confusedly.
"My dad can be a self centered bully, but he at least appreciates brains. My mom, however - if she'd have her way she'd probably make comments to your face about some ditsy date she set me up with three years ago. She can be the vicious one. My dad just says whatever he wants and doesn't care what people do with that information, my mother - she intends to hurt. It'd be for the better if you never meet her," Logan said, sounding a little ashamed and upset, but at the same time clearly not quite realizing what he had said.
Rory was quiet, not knowing what to think, and as Logan just saw some people he knew, she followed him, simply going through the motions.
As they made it out of there, craving for some real food, Rory was still pretty quiet.
"Are you tired?" Logan asked, having now noticed her quietness too, as they walked down the street. Room service would have always been an option.
"No, just a little hungry... And I guess a little confused by what you said before," Rory admitted, a passing truck interrupting them for a moment.
"Uh?" Logan asked, not quite realizing what she was talking about.
"About your mom. I mean… how's this ever going to work if she's bound to hate me? Why am I not good enough?" Rory asked, definitely hitting a cord in both of them by saying it out loud.
Logan was quiet - thoughtful.
They hadn't exactly talked about their future much, but this was definitely something that would influence their future.
"I just meant that I didn't want to rush that part and that out of the two, my dad's the easier one to impress. My mom has ridiculous - impossible standards and I honestly think she feels threatened by anyone who can put together a decent thought. It's ridiculous since she was not from some high society family herself," Logan explained.
"She wasn't?" Rory reflected, having not expected that piece of news.
"Nope..," Logan replied. "My dad married her because she got pregnant with my sister - from what I've heard the early years were not easy on her and I don't know how she thinks… Why would someone want to put someone else through something equally rough like that, I don't know?" Logan discussed.
"Oh, I'm plenty tough. You don't have to worry about me," Rory assured, switching back to a lighter and more playful tone. The question - why wasn't she good enough - remained unaswered.
"Oh, you're tough, are you?" Logan teased, lifted her chin and kissed her in the middle of the street.
"It just felt so final, like you didn't ever want me to meet them as your girlfriend..," Rory explained, after the kiss broke.
"It's not that I am ashamed of you - far from it. You're by far the smartest, funniest, most interesting girl I've ever met. You look amazing," Logan assured. "I care about you a lot and I just want to protect you from everything irrelevant for as long as I can," Logan assured and pulled her close for another kiss.
"And I never thought these would be the issues I'd have to worry about… I never thought I'd fall for someone like you..," Rory said, biting her tongue for having let that slip out.
The smile on Logan's face was priceless - he'd definitely like hearing it, and while he didn't have a snappy comeback for it in that moment, the feeling of his arm wrapping around her shoulders as she snuggled into his side even more as they continued to walk, felt pretty close.
Suddenly Rory's phone rang, jolting them out of their cozy moment.
"Mom?" Rory picked up, sensing it might be something urgent if she was calling her this time of the day.
"Guess what?" Lorelai replied, sounding almost giddy.
"What?" Rory asked. "Everything okay?" she asked.
"My mom and dad are getting back together. They're having a vow renewal next weekend and everything!" Lorelai laughed.
"Really? That's great! What happened!" Rory inquired.
"Well I don't know the details but they did mention a lot of reconciliation taking place at least three times since last night… which is very gross.. But you should've seen them…," Lorelai explained.
"Wow… impressive," Rory commented.
"And grandpa wants you to be his best man, he's going to call you himself," Lorelai added.
"Me - a best man?" Rory reflected, sounding a little confused and so was Logan as he observed her and followed the one-sided phone call.
"Yeah!" Lorelai confirmed. "How's your night going?" she asked.
"It's pretty, great. Any chance we could talk more tomorrow?" Rory said, glancing already back at Logan, just wanting to return to their little bubble.
As their eyes met right then, Lorelai still finishing up their call on the other end, Rory was already lost in his gaze. Her head got all fuzzy and her stomach swarmed with a kaleidoscope of butterflies. No matter the challenges, he was hers and she was his and there wasn't a better feeling than that in the world. It was then it hit her that her former statement had been just scraping the surface. She loved him - didn't she?