She'll never know how long they sat at that counter, just staring at each other like fools. Their hands never broke hold and she could have sat there with him forever if it were up to her.
They heard Sookie and Jackson start to get up and overheard their exchange.
"This has been really nice," Jackson remarked.
"Really nice," Sookie agreed.
"So, can I walk you home?" he asked kindly.
Sookie responded by grabbing his hand and began leading him out the door of the diner.
"Goodnight, you guys," Sookie called over her shoulder.
"Night!" Lorelai replied. "Call me later," she said with a wink.
"I will," Sookie replied with a mischievous smirk.
After the two lovebirds left to go do whatever it was that they were going to go do, Lorelai returned her attention to Luke, whose grin still hadn't left his face.
"So…" she said.
"So…" he mimicked. "When can I take you out?" he asked, anxiously.
She couldn't help but giggle at his eagerness.
"Well, I have dinner with the Gilmore's tomorrow night. But I'm free on Saturday. Think you can wait until then?" she said, mocking his impatience.
"I've waited five years for you. What's two more days?"
"That's sweet," she melted at his openness. This was a side of Luke she didn't know existed. But she couldn't wait to see more of it.
Several moments of intense gazing passed before they were interrupted by the ringing of Lorelai's cell phone. She reached into her purse to retrieve the device and pulled it out, beginning to make her way toward the door. Luke, who still had one hand
entangled with hers, pulled her back. When she felt the resistance he was giving, she pointed at his "No Cell Phones" sign mockingly, evoking an amused laugh from him.
"I think I can make an exception under the circumstances. I'm not too keen on taking my eyes off of you any time soon."
"Okay, Burger Boy. But just know that you're probably setting yourself up. I may use this against you every time someone calls me while I'm in this diner," she warned.
"That's a risk I'm willing to take," he replied, adoringly.
She flashed him a smile before flipping open her phone and lifting it to her ear.
"Hello?"
Luke watched as a confused look washed over her face.
"Mrs. Kim, slow down…"
He could hear intense shouting coming from the other end of the conversation, but couldn't make out what was being said.
"Rory and Lane what?…No, no Mrs. Kim. Listen. They're at the movies…Yes, the movies…They went to meet Dean there about 2 hours ago. I assume the movie is just about finishing up…Wait, what?...Lane didn't tell you where she was going?...Oh my, I'm so sorry...You're
going over there now?...Okay I'll meet you…Uh-huh…Bye."
She let out a long sigh as she hung up the phone and returned her attention to Luke.
She looked down at their fingers, which were still laced together and loved the feeling his touch brought to her.
"I hate to do this but I ha-"
"You have to go take care of it. I get it." he said, understandingly.
"Yea…but hey, we can continue this discussion later. If I can clear this up before it's too late, I'll come back tonight. Otherwise, you can expect me in here for coffee first thing tomorrow. And I'll call you later tonight either way."
"Sounds good," he said, looking forward to any interactions whatsoever with her.
Still holding his hand, she closed the space between them, rose up on her toes, and placed a quick peck on his cheek.
"Bye, Luke," she said.
"Bye, Lorelai."
L&L&L&L&L&L&L&L&L&L&L&L&L&L&L&L&L&L
Lorelai made her way to the outside of the Black, White, and Red movie theatre, where she was greeted by an out-of-breath, panic-ridden Mrs. Kim.
"Mrs. Kim, take a breath. This isn't healthy," she advised, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"Here," Lorelai said as she reached into her handbag and pulled out an unopened bottle of water. "Drink this. It will help."
The worried woman took the bottle and proceeded to drink, finishing all but a few ounces.
As soon as she seemed to have finally calmed down, the doors of the building opened and the movie-goers began to file out.
Rory, Lane, and Dean made their way out and Lorelai watched as the girls' faces fell when they caught sight of their mothers standing there, waiting.
"Lane Kim. Come. Now," Mrs. Kim said sternly.
After Lane reached her mother, the two walked away in silence and headed to their home.
Lorelai turned her attention to Rory, who was obviously nervous and at a loss for words.
"Mom, I'm so-"
"Not now. Not here," she interrupted. "Say goodnight to Dean."
"Goodnight Dean," Rory complied.
"Goodnight, Rory."
Lorelai and Rory began to make their way across the square and back toward their house. As they walked, Rory explained how Lane wanted to get to know Dean's friend Todd and that Mrs. Kim never would have let her spend time with him. So, Lane had suggested
a double date and, since Rory didn't want to put her mother into a situation where she would have to lie to Mrs. Kim, she chose to lie to her mother instead.
"Wow, you really are my kid," Lorelai observed after hearing Rory's explanation.
"Rory, listen. I appreciate your intentions. But I need to know where you are at all times, especially when you're wearing my shoes."
"I know, mom. I'm sorry. It won't happen again. I swear."
"Okay. Good," Lorelai said, wrapping her arm around her daughter as they continued their walk home.
When they reached their front porch, Rory opened the door, went inside, and headed to her room to get changed into her pajamas. Lorelai did the same.
After completing her nightly routine, Lorelai made her way back downstairs and over to Rory's room.
"Come in," Rory said, after hearing a knock on the door.
Lorelai entered the room and sat down on her daughter's bed.
"Okay," Lorelai began. "There's something I have to tell you."
Rory, who knew there were very few times when her mom brought up a serious topic of conversation, gave Lorelai her full attention.
"Okay. Hit me with it."
Lorelai drew in a deep breath.
"So, you know how Sookie and Jackson had their first date tonight and Sookie was nervous so she asked me to go with her and be Jackson's cousin's date?"
Rory nodded to indicate that she remembered.
"Okay, well, you see, Jackson's cousin isn't really the warmest fella. Or the kindest fella. Or the most normal fella. Basically he's a jackass who is terrified of tall women, namely me."
"He didn't like you because you're tall?" Rory inquired, unable to contain her amusement.
"Right. But that's not the point. What I'm getting at is that Rune left in the middle of the evening and so I decided to leave Sookie and Jackson alone and went over to the counter and hung out there with Luke. He brought out a deck of cards, we played
some poker, talked a bit, and then he…" she trailed off.
"Then he what?" Rory pressed, the anticipation in her voice rising.
"He asked me out."
"He what?! He asked you out?! Oh my god! Finally! I've been waiting forever for this! Mom, I'm so happy for you!" Rory exclaimed as she lunged forward and threw her arms around her mother.
After pulling apart, Lorelai looked at Rory with a confused facial expression.
"Wait, so you're okay with this? You wouldn't mind if Luke and I dated?"
"Of course!" Rory replied. "You two are perfect for each other!"
"But what about all those things you said about how I can't date Luke? And how it would be really bad if we broke up? And how I should date Al because his food sucks?" Lorelai recalled the last time she'd had a conversation with her daughter about the
possibility of her and Luke becoming an item.
"Mom," Rory said in an utmost serious tone. "Do you like him?" Lorelai nodded. "Do you want to be with him?" Lorelai nodded again. "Then be with him. I'm old enough and wise enough to know when two people have a connection. Your connection with Luke is
undeniable. And he has never shown anything but care and consideration for me. Be with him. I am beyond fine with it."
Lorelai smiled at her daughter, placed a kiss on the top of her head, and said "I'm glad we have your blessing."
She got off the bed and made her way toward the doorway.
Turning back around, she said "Goodnight, kid. I love you."
"Goodnight, mom. I love you too," Rory replied.
Lorelai then turned off the lights and shut the door. Looking at the clock in her kitchen, she realized it was 11:00 and probably too late to go back to Luke's. So she headed toward the living room, retrieving the phone on her way, sat down on the couch,
and began dialing his number.
"Hello?" a groggy voice answered after the third ring.
"Hey. It's me. Did I wake you?"
"No, I was up."
"Luke…" she said suspiciously.
"Okay, yes, you woke me. But it's fine. I don't mind, as long as the interruption is a beautiful, blue-eyed woman who I happen to be crazy about."
Her heart jumped at his words.
"You know, for someone who doesn't say much, you sure know how to make a girl swoon." She told him.
"Yea, well, I'm quite the charmer when I want to be."
"I like it. A lot."
"I'm glad," he said. She could hear the satisfaction in his voice.
"So," she began. "I'm going to let you go back to sleep. But I'll be there in the morning for coffee and we can finalize our plans for Saturday then. Does that sound good?"
"That sounds perfect."
"Great. Goodnight, Luke."
"Goodnight, Lorelai. Sweet dreams."
"You too," she said.
She hung up the phone and made her way up the stairs. No doubt she was going to have sweet dreams tonight.