May 2008
They manage to stay in touch, texting each other every couple of weeks with no strings or expectations, and although he doesn't have her the way he wants, he finds comfort in their occasional check-ins and the aching hole in his chest is considerably smaller than it's been in the last two years.
He tells her Truncheon is being bought out by a much larger, stuffy corporate publishing company based out of New York City and he'll be moving to the East Village in July. So it gets her to start considering her own own future plans, though all of that is still pending while she's on the campaign trail.
R: I'm thinking about Brooklyn.
J: Like 'A Tree Grows in'?
R: Classic book, but no. The campaign ends in the fall and I have to find a place. It's close enough to New York City without the New York City prices.
J: I think you'll like Brooklyn. Just no Williamsburg and no Greenpoint.
R: How about when I start looking for a place you come with me? Make sure I don't end up next to a crack den.
J: Just say when.
And it's the first time there is any mention of seeing each other.
August 9, 2008
R: I think I'm ready to start looking for my Barbie dream house
J: Do you mean small, cramped, and barely livable, Barbie dream house?
R: Are expectations too high if I want my bathroom separate from my kitchen?
J: I see we're taking the whole "don't shit where you eat" concept very literally
R: It is nice to have the option. I'll be in New York at the end of the month.
J: I'll be there.
August 29, 2008
12:00pm
They agree to meet at a coffee shop a few blocks from Jess' apartment before heading over to Brooklyn and he almost loses his breath when he sees her from across the street for the first time in almost a year. She's casually leaning back against the bricks of the storefront in a simple loose white summer dress, skin slightly sun kissed, bangs neatly parted with half of her hair clipped up, concentrating on a magazine and completely oblivious to the city commotion around her. He almost feels bad breaking her attention because she looks so peaceful like this.
He makes his way across the street with a closed mouth smile when he reaches her, because she's still so unaware of what's going on around her and he finds it endearing.
He dips his head down to read the magazine title. "Midwest Living. Should I expect to end up on a horse before the end of the day?" She pulls her eyes up quickly, realizing it's him.
"Hey." She smiles back at him and fumbles to put the magazine in her bag. "Sorry, it's research for this thing I'm working on."
"I see." He gestures towards the shop's entrance. "Coffee?"
"Of course."
They spend some time exploring the area. He shows her his favorite lunch spot, takes her through Tompkins Square Park, and they eventually take the subway to Brooklyn ending up between Park Slope and Carroll Gardens because Jess thinks it will be the perfect spot for her. The next few hours are spent passing by coffee shops, indie music stores, and funky restaurants while talking about Rory's next steps in the writing world. She tells him of her plans to freelance for a while and shop her resume around to the larger newspapers until she finds the right place, and how she can afford to get by like that for a while from her campaign earnings. Jess tells her more about Truncheon post- acquisition and how he's been itching to get another novel under his belt, but he just hasn't been able to get it together, so for now all he has are scraps of scattered notes. He can feel happiness radiating out of her as he watches her explore this new territory, eyes wide, as she looks around taking it all in.
"We can look at some other areas if you want?" He slows down his pace as they pass by some brownstones that are holding Rory's attention.
"No way, this is perfect." Her voice is certain. "I'm going to make some calls tomorrow so I can check out a few listings."
"Ok." And he's relieved knowing that she's going to be close to him again. "We should probably head back then."
"Of course, I'm sorry. You probably have things to do and here I am rambling on and on." His lips turn up as he moves his hand from the pocket of his jeans and plays with the hem of his black t-shirt.
"My schedule is unusually clear today." He guides them back to the subway and when the train finally comes, Rory gets on first, Jess following behind her to an open seat. "How about dinner?"
"I should probably freshen up first. It's about five hundred degrees out and I'm pretty sure that's what real ladies are supposed to do before dinner."
"That, and powdering your nose, and using the bathroom in groups." He settles his hands in his lap and realizes how easy this all feels. "8 ok? Same place as earlier?"
"That works." She points her finger out in front of her. "I'm going to be honest with you. I have no plans of freshening up. I am however interested in a nap."
He stands up as they approach his stop which comes first. "You'll be ok to make it to your hotel by yourself right?"
"I'm not just a small town girl living in a lonely world." He rolls his eyes at the reference. "I'll be fine, I promise. I'll see you at 8." He gives her a nod and exits the train.
7:30pm
She's already at the coffee shop when he gets there 30 minutes earlier than planned, but this time she's sitting at an outside table reading, and the sun is setting, illuminating part of her face with a gold streak. She hasn't changed her outfit, but he notices she did fix her hair and applied a bit of makeup, and his heart sinks right down into his chest, because the way the light is hitting her right now really does make her look almost too perfect. He fixes the rolled up sleeves of his black button down, rubs his hands on his jeans, then takes a deep breath before he crosses the street to join her at the table.
"Hey again." She jumps back in surprise.
"Sorry, I was -"
"Reading." She stands and turns her lips up into a smile. "You're very punctual."
"Oh... yea, I tried a different subway line and I didn't want to be late, so I left early, and then I realized the whole point of the subway is to get you places fast, so I've been sitting here for about 30 minutes and had 2 cups of coffee." She realizes she's rambling and stops herself as she looks him up and down quickly, noticing he's dressed up less casually than earlier. "You look nice."
"You too." He gives her a half smile and signals to the street. "C'mon."
To her surprise, he takes her to a local doo-wop bar in the heart of Greenwich Village and they settle into a private, tucked away corner booth on the second floor near a window overlooking Bleecker Street. The sun is almost fully down when a waiter comes by to light a candle on their table and Jess can see she's taking it all in, appreciating the arch of the ceiling, the old pictures hanging on the brick walls, the music playing at just the right volume in the background, and he loves that he can do this for her. That he can bring her to new places, show her new things, and be lucky enough to experience the wondrous look in her eyes that breathes an appreciation of life into him, reminding him that some things in life can be good.
"This is quite the place." Rory lets her eyes wander around while his stay fixed on her. "I had no idea you were into doo-wop."
"My taste spans all genres." He lifts both hands for effect. "Gotta admit this place is really cool. Not too crowded. The food is good, and more importantly, I won't have to scream so I can hear you over the music."
They look through the menu which is filled with comfort food favorites and Rory convinces him they need to order every appetizer that includes the words "beer battered". Jess allows it, but only if she agrees in return to try the double aged blended whiskies on the menu, because that's what the place is known for. She grimaces at the first few sips, but eventually gives in, and he can see her nerves are settling and she looks happy, comfortable.
"I'm seeing a few places tomorrow." She's finished eating her food and is playing with her napkin aimlessly.
"Yea? Is it the Barbie dream house you wanted?" He gets a small laugh out of her.
"No, but I figured it was more appropriate to settle for a place that screams reasonable housing accommodation for an almost out of work journalist."
They talk for another hour, drinking, laughing, discussing books and music. He notices her cheeks are flushed from alcohol and she's gone quiet, looking down to the first floor at the doo-wop group on stage.
"This is a nice place to take the ladies." The comment lands on him as intended.
"Subtle." He gives her a soft smile. "I'm not seeing anyone Rory… that's what you want to know right?" She doesn't speak, just gives him a slight nod as she taps her fingers on her glass.
"I'm not either." She quickly shoots the words out. "Seeing anyone I mean."
"Are you nervous?"
"Yeah." She takes a deep breath. "It's just that I missed you." She's not sure where to put her eyes, but places them on her hands and then gains the confidence to look at him. "Is that ok?"
"Very ok." He takes her hand from across the table. "Is it ok that I missed you too?"
"You're not just saying that because we drank through the entire whiskey section right?"
"Rory." He's still holding her hand, swaying his thumb over her knuckles. "I may be drunk, but nothing's changed from last time." She blushes into her shoulder and he opens up her hand so he can interlock their fingers. "Let's get outta here."
He pays the bill and swats her away as she tries to hand him cash with insistence, but he's not having it. He grabs her hand and guides her to the exit, and if there was any question of who was more drunk, it's answered through her clumsy walk. When they get outside, he's still holding her hand and has no destination in mind, but is at complete peace walking through the humid late summer night with her. She lifts their hands and pulls his arm around her, resting her head against the crook of his neck, still holding his hand where it meets at her shoulder.
"I haven't seen your place yet." Her voice is gentle and calm against his neck and her words send a rush of emotion through him because he's pretty sure he knows where this is going.
"You haven't." He repeats the words back flatly.
She stops them in place on an unusually quiet block and turns to face him, quickly leaning in, crashing her lips onto his, stumbling, as she guides him to the bricks behind them, forcing his back into it. This kiss isn't like the last one. This one is hungry and wild. She wants more.
"I want to see your place." She whispers in between kisses.
She's more assertive than he remembers, but it's also expected. They aren't teenagers anymore and he reminds himself how much of her life he's missed over the last few years, all the experiences and romance that has built her into the woman she is today. And he feels a pang of jealousy thinking about how anyone else has had her like this, but he lets it pass because he wants this moment to be only his.
He gains control and turns them so now her back is against the wall and captures her lips again, using one hand to hold her face and the other to press against the wall to steady him. He's trying not to be forceful, because really what he wants to do is have all of her. Instead he turns his mouth slowly, gentle, leaving her with tender kisses, but Rory has other plans and grabs the collars of his shirt, pulling him into her, pressing against him, trying to get as close as possible. He knows he needs to stop … because if he doesn't do it now, he knows he won't be able to control where this is going. So he pulls them apart and leans his forehead against hers, hands against the wall on each side of her, closing her in while she rests her hands on his waist.
" Let's get you a cab." His breath is somewhere low in his throat and it is taking all of his will to hold back.
"Jess-"
"I want to." He moves his hands down to her shoulder and starts to leave traces of his fingers up and down her arms. " You have no idea how bad I want to."
She sighs, letting out a sound of disappointment. "Me too. I really, really, want to."
"You're also really, really , drunk."
"You are too." He grins into her neck and places a kiss on her cheek.
"How about this?" He grabs her hands and locks their fingers together. "Next time I see you, if you're still interested in seeing my place, I'll give you the best grand tour of my one bedroom apartment possible." She pulls back to meet his eyes.
"So you're saying you would rather potentially wait three more months than -" He sees the confusion and disappointment on her face and cuts her off.
"No, I just want you to be sure." She nods in understanding. "And preferably sober. Or at least able to walk a straight line."
"I'm not that bad!" She smacks his chest playfully and they both smile their way into a kiss, Rory then pulling back to rest her head against Jess' collarbone. "I don't want to go."
"I don't want you to go." He whispers into her hair and leaves a soft kiss there.
Eventually, Jess hails her a cab and makes her promise to text him as soon as she makes it back to her hotel room. He opens the cab door, leaning one arm against it and placing the other around her waist before pulling her in to kiss goodnight.
"Goodnight Rory."
"Goodnight Jess."