Chapter 12

Jess sat back in a chair in the waiting room. He'd finished the novel quicker than he expected. He almost wished Rory could read it; she did inspire him to write it. He looked down and closed his eyes. He couldn't stop thinking about her. She was always on his mind, her and Lori. He'd only met the little girl once, but he knew that if he'd had more time with her, he could love her.

"Jess", the receptionist called, "she's ready for you."

He stood up and walked into the small office.

"Good morning Mrs. Mallard", he greeted nodding his head.

"Jess", Mrs. Mallard greeted, "welcome back… I read the book. I couldn't put it down. Where'd you get your inspiration?"

"I went back to my hometown for a few days…"

"Oh so those kooky characters are based on real people", she asked serious.

"Yeah", Jess smiled, "they are…"

"Well", she said, "we're just waiting on my best editor. She'll be taking over this project. She should be getting here any minute."

'It's no problem", Jess said sitting back, "I'm not in a hurry."

---

"Bridget", Rory said running down the hall, "how late am I?"

The receptionist smiled. "Good morning, and your author just got here anyway so its not too bad. What happened to you?"

"Long story", Rory grinned, "tell you later."

"I'm shaking with anticipation."

Rory smiled brightly and knocked on her boss' office door.

"Come in", she heard the muffled response.

"I'm sorry I'm late", Rory walked in excusing herself, "traffic was terrible and I had to take my daughter to school…"

She stopped mid excuse when she saw who was in the office with her boss.

"Jess…"

"Hi Rory", Jess greeted.

"You know each other", Mrs. Mallard asked.

"Yes", they both answered.

"Good", she smiled, "it'll make working together that much easier."

"Um", Rory said, "ma'am… we can't work together… I don't… I… um…"

"What are you blubbering about", Mrs. Mallard asked, "you said you wanted me to give you the next author… You wanted the experience to be an editor… you wanted to move up… I can give the job to someone else..."

"No", Rory stopped her, "it's great. It's going to be great."

Jess smirked from his seat. Rory looked at him and rolled her eyes.

---

Rory opened her apartment and led Jess in.

"Kitchen's over there, couch is there, make yourself comfortable, I'm going to go and change."

"Okay", he said sitting on her couch.

Rory stepped into her room and it dawned on her that Jess was in her living room. She never expected to see him again and now they had to work together. She opened her closet looking for something presentable and yet comfortable. She settled on her jeans and a long sleeve blouse.

Rory walked back into the living room and saw Jess looking at her frames.

"Coffee", she offered.

"Sure", he nodded, "so how's Lori…"

"She should be home any minute", Rory answered preparing the coffee, "she's good."

"And Luke and Loralai", he continued.

"Pregnant", she smiled at the thought of her younger brother or sister.

"Yeah", he was saying, "I meant to call Luke recently, I just haven't gotten around to it."

"You should", she nodded.

"I will", he said.

They stared at each other for a moment. Rory handed Jess his cup and walked towards the couch, when she heard the door open.

"Mom", Lori called, "dad says he's going to take us to dinner at that sushi place down the street…"

Rory smiled and kissed her daughter on the forehead. Logan went to kiss her but she moved away.

"Logan", Rory said, "you remember Jess…"

Logan noticed the other person in the room then. "Oh yeah… hey man… I didn't know you were here."

"Jess", Lori yelled and hugged him.

"Hey Lori", he smiled hugging the little girl.

"He wrote a book", Rory smiled, "I'm going to edit it."

"Nice", Logan said placing his arm over Rory's shoulders, "hey we're going to dinner. You're welcome to join."

"No thanks", Jess said letting go of Lori, "I'll just leave you the book and my number and email. Just get back to me when you're done."

"Sure", she smiled.

Jess grabbed his jacket nodded his goodbye's and left.

"Well, it was good to see him again", Logan smiled and kissed Rory's cheek, "now get dressed… we have a dinner reservation."

"Sure", she smiled and went to her room to change.

---

Jess walked out of the apartment building and leaned against the wall. Apparently, Rory and her ex were in fact back together. He wasn't really shocked, that guy was Lori's dad. He sighed, and realized that Rory would know who that book was about the moment she read. He jumped in his car and drove in the direction of Philadelphia.

---

Rory sat on the couch reading through Jess' book. She couldn't put it down. She recognized all the characters and who they were based on. She smiled sadly as she finished, knowing she'd just read Jess' thoughts about his life and especially about her.

She leaned over to pick up the phone. She knew it was late, but she wanted someone to talk to.

"Hello", they picked up on the other line.

Rory stepped out into the balcony for privacy. "Mom…"

"Rory", Loralai sounded concerned, "what happened? Is Lori alright?"

"Yeah, Lori's fine", Rory sniffled.

"What is it then babe", Loralai asked.

"Its Jess", Rory said, "I saw him."

"Where", Loralai sighed.

"Work", Rory answered.

"Why was he there", Loralai asked.

"He wrote a book and my editor was his editor but she passed the job down to me and I have to edit it and it's so good mom but it's about me and Logan's here and we slept together and-"

"Who slept together you and Jess or you and Logan?"

"And I'm so confused because I miss him-"

"Who do you miss", Loralai was asking, "you're making mommy nervous honey."

"I slept with Logan but I miss Jess."

"Oh sweetheart", Loralai said, "doesn't Logan have someone back home…"

"They broke it off and he missed me and he says he wants to be a family…"

"Oh no", Loralai closed her eyes tightly, "this sounds familiar…"

"What", Rory asked.

"Baby, your dad pulled the same stunt at Sookie's wedding that time", Loralai sighed.

"But that was different", Rory was making excuses, "Sherry was pregnant… he had to go back…"

"And when he finds out Lindsay's pregnant Logan's going to run back to her."

"Mom", Rory was crying, "why do I keep making the wrong decisions?"

"I think you need to figure out what it is you really want", Loralai said, "Who you want."

Rory stared at the dark sky. She knew that answer. It was just much more complicated.

---

Jess stepped into his apartment a little after midnight. He'd been driving around for hours. He even drove through Connecticut not knowing what he expected to find. He sighed when he lay on his bed. He found a comfortable position and closed his eyes. Sleep followed soon after along with dreams of Rory and Lori.

---

Logan woke up the next morning and found Rory sitting at the counter drinking her coffee.

"Good morning", he greeted.

She was quiet.

"Rory", he said stepping closer to her, "have you been up all night."

"You need to go", she answered.

"What", he asked.

"I can't be that girl", she said, "the rebound."

"Rory", Logan was saying.

"I can't be your fall back girl Logan", Rory said, "I loved you once but those feelings aren't the same anymore."

"It's Jess isn't it", Logan asked.

"Yeah", Rory sighed, "you were right. He's always had my heart."

"I can't compete with the one", Logan said softly.

"I'm sorry Logan", Rory apologized.

"You can't be sorry", Logan said, "You and he are real. I knew it the first time I saw you two together at the diner. I just didn't want to believe it. Yesterday confirmed it."

Rory smiled. He leaned in and kissed her forehead. She watched him walk to the room to gather his things. Rory jumped off the stool and went to wake up Lori.

"Baby wake up", she soothed.

"Mom", Lori mumbled, "it's Saturday."

"We're going to Stars Hollow."

"What", Lori said.

"Come on don't you want to see grandma and grandpa", Rory asked.

"Yeah", Lori said getting out of bed, "is dad coming with us?"

"No sweetie", Rory said, "your dad is going back to California."

Lori nodded. "I understand."

"You do", Rory smiled tickling her daughter.

"Yeah", Lori smiled, "I know you and dad aren't together mom."

"I'm sorry honey", Rory was apologizing a lot lately.

"Don't be", Lori smiled, "so let's go home."

"Yeah", Rory grinned.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Almost done! Two chapters left… so it'll be done posting on Friday… stay thirsty….