Chapter 145

"Well, that went well, I think," Jess said, a small smile appearing on his face as he and Rory got ready for bed. She smiled back at him.

"It went really, really well. I'm so glad you guys get along."

"I mean, we're never gonna be poker buddies," Jess joked, "But…yeah. It's nice that he's always so kind about Truncheon."

"He's not just being nice, Jess," Rory said, going over to put some cups in the dishwasher, "He geniunely appreciates what you're doing here. Sure, he might be a little more old-fashioned, and…maybe even a bit elitist about it…"

"Ya think?" Jess retorted, thinking back to the recent Whiffenpoofs conversation.
"But…all that aside, he loves literature, and he believes in the power of the independent press, and I think he has a lot of respect for what you've done here, and what you're doing."

"Unlike your grandmother."

"Whose reading is fairly limited to her monthly issue of Vanity Fair," Rory said, rolling her eyes.

"Well…as it happens, I actually have something to show you tonight too."

"Dirty!"

"Not this time. Sit." Jess gestured to the chair. Rory sat down, curious.

"Jess, what's…"

"Here."

"This is a manuscript."

"Well-observed."

"…you finished it?"

"Completely. This copy is for you to read. I'm still editing, and then have to run things by Chris and Matt, but I think it'll be done in the next few months."

"Jess, that's amazing!" Rory exclaimed excitedly. Jess smiled.

"Thanks. It's the fastest the process has gone for me. Most intuitive, too."

"When did you start this one?"

"…shortly after you showed up at Truncheon." Rory stopped, and looked into Jess' eyes.

"You wrote this while we were together?"

"And immediately preceding. But yeah, I started around when you showed up."

"Jess, that's amazing," Rory said softly, flipping through the pages with a renewed interest. "You did all of this that quickly?"

"This one came easy," Jess shrugged, "Relatively, anyway."

"I've barely seen you working on it."

"Matt and Chris have given me some leeway on it, since we're not swamped right now," Jess noted. Rory nodded.

"Seriously Jess…this is amazing. I'm so proud of you."

"Well, don't be proud of me until you read it," Jess replied, pointing at the papers. "No rush, by the way."

"Oh please, you know I'm going to read it first thing tomorrow."

"…yeah, but that's because you're crazy."

"Maybe a little. Goodnight, Jess!"

"Goodnight, Rory."

The next morning Jess awoke early, blearly-eyed, to the smell of coffee, and to the sight of Rory at the kitchen counter.

"What are you doing up at…4:30? Rory, what's going on?" Jess said, standing up, worried. Rory grinned.

"Nothing's wrong, relax. I couldn't sleep and so I've been up, reading," Rory pointed at the manuscript, now on another table, clearly read through. Jess raised an eyebrow.

"Seriously? Don't tell me you stayed up all night…"

"Alright, I won't tell you," Rory said cheekily. "But…"

"But?"

"It's incredible, Jess," Rory admitted, "I know I'm biased, but I also know what's good. And this is really, really good."

"You liked it?"

"I loved it," Rory promised, walking over to give him a kiss on the cheek, "And I can't believe the time in which you were able to put it together."

"It came easy," he shrugged, "Really. Now…you should go back to sleep."

"Can't. Work soon, and I'm not tired anyway," Rory pointed out. "I'll go to bed early tonight when I get home."

"You really think you can work like this?"

"Yeah, it'll be fine," Rory shrugged, "I barely slept at all before I came here."

"You weren't sleeping well?"

"Never," Rory answered, pouring them each a cup of coffee and handing one to Jess. "I'd get a few hours a night, if I was lucky, and sleep through the weekends, totally depressed. It was nuts. At least once a week I'd have a sleepless night. Hasn't really happened much since I got here, though."

"I'm glad to hear that," Jess said, taking a big sip of coffee, "Fuck. I'm definitely up now."

"I'm sorry to have woken you. I didn't realize the coffee smell did it to you too."

"Not always. You brewed a strong pot," Jess smiled, "Plus, it's okay. I'm glad to know what you think."

"It doesn't matter though. All that matters is what you think."

"Rory, with most anybody I'd think that was true. But even regardless of being in love with you, I absolutely care what you think of my work. You're a fantastic writer, and an even more brilliant reader. Your opinion means a great deal to me. So- thank you."

"Of course," Rory smiled, blushing. "Now…since we're both up…"

"Anais Nin?"

"Early bird gets the…"

"I beg you not to finish that sentence."

"Gentlemen! I have an announcement!" Chris boomed, walking into the office. Matt and Jess turned.

"Are you finally planning to straighten things out with the marketing guy?" Matt said hopefully. Chris grinned.

"Nothing quite that impressive. Come, sit."

Jess and Matt exchanged a curious look, walking over to sit on the beat up couch in the corner of the office where Chris was ushering them. Chris smiled.

"Well, my friends…my days of bachelor antics with you at the bars are over. I proposed to Hannah last night."

"What?"

"Oh my god, Chris," Jess said, excited, "Congratulations!"

"Yeah, that's great!" Matt said enthusiastically. "You're her problem now!"

"Here, here!" Jess smirked. Chris grinned.

"True enough, gentleman. True enough," he smirked. "The lucky lady will be by around closing- I figured we could celebrate."

"That sounds fantastic! Do you want…"

"Yes, you can tell your better half," Chris cut Jess off, laughing, "And of course invite her. Hannah adores Rory."

"Hannah adores everyone," Matt said petulantly, but with a grudging smile on his face, "Seriously, congrats. Do you mind if I bring Jane?"

"Of course not. The more the merrier," Chris smiled, sharing a meaningful look with Jess.

"Well, this calls for celebration, admittedly, but we're already past the lunch hour and I see Peter huffing angrily around nonfiction," Jess said, gesturing towards an angry-looking man in a button down, looking obviously out of place. "Since it's your special day, Chris, I'll do my best to get rid of him."

"No, allow me," Matt sighed, "As much as he's more Chris' problem now, I brought him in. You shouldn't suffer."

"Thanks, Matt," Jess smiled, "For that, I'll buy you a beer later."

"Awww, look at all the cameraderie and generosity my good news has brought unto us," Chris teased. Jess rolled his eyes.

"I mean, of course we're in good cheer. As Matt rightfully pointed out, you're someone else's problem now. Come to think of it, we should both buy Hannah a drink tonight, shouldn't we Matt?"

"I don't know, is that still appropriate now that she's going to be a married woman? Chris, would you perceive that as a threat on…"

"Alright, alright, enough," Chris smiled good-naturedly. "With friends like you, who needs enemies?"

"Hello?"

"Sorry to interrupt you at work," Jess said into the phone, "Got a minute?"

"Sure, what's up?"

"Chris and Hannah are engaged."

"What?!"

"He proposed last night. She's coming by after work and we're going to go out to celebrate."

"That sounds amazing. I'll try to get out of here a little early then," Rory promised, "Tell Chris congratulations for me! This is amazing! I can't believe it!"

"Me either," Jess admitted, "It seems like just yesterday he was being an ornery little shit about her moving in."

"I mean, it wasn't long ago," Rory pointed out, "But she was saying that it had really kind of evolved things for them. I mean, they'd been together for a while, but sometimes that just kind of puts things into place."

"True," Jess shrugged, "I'm really happy for him, either way. And her. Hannah's great."

"I think so too," Rory replied, "Plus, now I have an ally when you guys get all testosterone-y."

"As in, rhymes with pepperoni?" Jess asked, incredulously teasing. Rory laughed.

"Close enough," she replied, "I'm gonna get back to it now so that I can get out of here early. Thanks for telling me, Jess. And be sure to pass on my congratulations."

"Which you can do yourself in a few hours, but sure," Jess smirked, "I'll do that."

"Talk to you soon."

Jess hung up, smiling, then walked out of the office to go find Chris. He tracked him down in the nonfiction area, helping a customer, and waited until he was finished.

"Rory said congratulations. You're a very lucky guy," Jess teased. Chris smiled.

"I'm sure she and Hannah are already texting about it."

"Almost certainly," Jess nodded, "I'm glad they got along so quickly."

"Yeah, that worked out well. And even better that Matt didn't stick with fembot Mussolini."

"Something we can all be thankful for." Jess clasped Chris on the back, smiling, "Seriously though, congrats. She's gonna try to get off early so we can head out as soon as Hannah gets here."

"Thank her for me."

"Oh my god, why am I playing telephone for you guys? Thank her yourself when you see her," Jess teased.

Chris smiled. "Will do."