Rory's perception of the party shifted for the better when Logan stepped in, swiftly leading her away to what he dubbed a "side party," clutching a coveted golden bottle of Rum pilfered from the bartender's cart. Familiar faces greeted her, with Finn and Colin warmly acknowledging her by name. The last few months she had grown acquainted with Logan's closest friends, who embraced her wholeheartedly while playfully bantering about the palpable chemistry between Logan and Rory. Intrigued, she couldn't help but wonder what secrets Logan had shared with the duo. Finn playfully welcomes her with a playful peck on the cheek, remarking, "Seems like they're determined to auction you off to the highest bidder, eh?" The charismatic Aussie man jests.
"They said it was just a regular party," she responds.
Logan chuckles softly while uncorking the purloined bottle. "It's never truly straightforward in this town," he remarks. She had intended to elaborate further, but now feels it unnecessary. As Logan's lips brush against her cheek, she finds a seat on the couch in the pool house, feeling fully at ease. Logan takes a seat beside her, and she revels in the way he effortlessly eases her tension that she didn't know was there.
The way he makes her feel becomes something familiar, something she could easily grow accustomed to. She savors the present moment, not wanting it to end. As she listens to their banter, she finds herself chuckling at Colin's disdain for her grandfather's choice of scotch, knowing well that he will never change at his age. With a roll of her eyes, she allows Logan to refill her drink, playfully rolling her eyes at Finn's comment about the perils of drinking and his desire to be spanked. Logan throws her by surprise when he brings up the article, telling her that he read it, how she's got good style and teases her about the amount of similes.
The words came out of her mouth before she could stop herself, "I'm surprised you even bothered to read it." When she sees the look on his face, she regrets what she said.
"Are you?" The question comes out of his mouth almost sassy. He stands, "So, who is it going to be?" She makes a face to his second question, not connecting the dots to what he said. "I am thinking your grandparents are wanting you to pick someone tonight, so who is it going to be?"
Time seems to freeze for a brief moment, drowning out the clamor of multiple voices clamoring for attention. Her gaze remains fixed solely on Logan. Memories of Boston flood her mind, their shared confessions of true identities, the meaningful glances, and tender touches. Without hesitation, she responds to his question, her voice carrying a genuine conviction, "You, I'd pick you."
"Now I wake up in the night and watch you breathe…"
The words "I'd pick you" have been on constant replay in Logan's mind ever since that unforgettable night at the Gilmore's party, over a month ago. He had never been someone's boyfriend before, but with Rory, he was willing to be anything and everything she desired. Since their initial encounter in Boston, Rory Gilmore had breathed new life into his existence. Logan couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude that destiny had guided them back together in the bustling newsroom at Yale.
In his dorm room, on his bed, she appeared once again, for the second time that week. The experience was becoming familiar to Logan, the soothing comfort of her presence by his side. Though he refrained from saying it aloud, he couldn't deny that he found solace in sleeping with her nearby. Positioned against the headboard, Logan held a book in his hands, relying on the moonlight to illuminate the text on the page. His gaze drifted downwards towards the spot beside him, where she lay, her unclothed form enveloped by the warmth of the comforter, with an arm tenderly wrapped around a pillow, mere inches away from him.
"Logan," came the faint murmur from Rory's lips as her eyes gently fluttered open, locking with Logan's. "You're staring, once more."
Caught in the act, he couldn't help but jest, "I can't resist, really. I mean, how can I? I have this gorgeous woman in my bed, embraced by my blanket, right here beside me. It still feels like a dream, like I have to pinch myself to believe it's all real." A subtle blush tints Rory's cheeks in response to his words, she observes him as he stretches out to place the book that he held onto the nightside table beside the bed. "I've been contemplating..."
"Is that the reason for your sleepless night tonight?" She queries, her body remaining still while she delicately lets her arm rest upon his lap. She couldn't help but notice that he was clad in a lone garment, a pair of boxers, suggesting that he had put them on after she had drifted off to sleep.
Gazing at her arm momentarily, his eyes then return to her face as he confesses, "I want to be your boyfriend." With those words finally spoken, they are now released from the depths of his thoughts.
"You want to be my boyfriend," she responds in surprise, and she hoped that the surprise in her voice didn't hurt Logan's feelings. She never anticipated such a declaration from him, considering his reputation as someone who wasn't interested in committed relationships, he was a ladies man. Suddenly, recollections of a recent encounter with Finn resurface in her thoughts, the inebriated ramblings about Logan's transformation, how he wanted to spend his free time with him and how he was genuinely falling in love with her.
"I've never really been someone's boyfriend before, aside from those elementary school flings where we exchanged candy and cheeks before falling in love with another girl who wanted to go down the slide with you," he stammers, his words tumbling out in a ramble. "But I'm willing to give it a shot, to be your boyfriend. In fact, I'm confident that I would be an exceptional boyfriend. I can do this."
With unwavering trust, she takes him at his word. Throughout their time together, he has consistently proven himself reliable, never once letting her down. Despite this being uncharted territory for him, she firmly believes that he would excel as her boyfriend. She has witnessed his undeniable qualities and is certain that he would be exceptional in this new role."Alright," she whispered, slowly sitting up from her lying position and adjusting her legs to straddle over him. "So, that means I'm your girlfriend now."
He nodded in agreement. "Yes, it does. And that also means you're all mine, no sharing." His expression transformed into a mischievous grin as he felt her weight on top of him, and his hands caressed her bare back.
She grinned back, running her hands down his chest until they reached the waistband of his boxers. "I love that thought - just the two of us, no one else. Now, I think it's time to celebrate." Without another word, he leaned in and kissed her deeply, eager to commemorate their newfound titles for each other.