I'm so glad to be back… Life has been so busy but I'm trying to find the joy again, so I'm making an effort to get back to writing! Hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer - I do not own any characters or content related to Gilmore Girls or any other entities mentioned.
I agree with a nod and turn in that direction. The pub itself is long and narrow, with dim lighting and brick walls with wooden beams running the width of the ceiling. Various beer and sports paraphernalia adorn the walls and a multitude of steins sit atop the shelving behind the bar. It is exactly what you would expect a German pub to look like, and yet I find myself almost overwhelmed with surprise. Surprised to have run into Logan at all, let alone to be having a drink with him, surprised that we seem to be handling our unexpected reunion with such ease, and surprised, though maybe more than I should be, that I am still so drawn to him after all this time. My mind momentarily shifts back to Mr. Tuchel at the museum and his enthusiasm for the cause. Talk about things that should have long been put to rest.
As we make our way through the patrons crowding around in their various groups, a waitress passes us carrying a tray of something that smells utterly delicious over her shoulder. All at once my voracious appetite rears its head, having been momentarily sated by my unexpected company. "Mmmm…" My head follows her though my feet keep moving forward, "Whatever that was, it smelled amazing." I'm practically salivating.
Logan chuckles as he inquires, "Hungry?"
Through the main room of the pub, a handful of high top tables lined the narrow hallway to the kitchen. We claimed the only one open and each sat in a slat-back stool positioned across from the table each other. I confess as I set down my glass, "Starving, actually."
"Uh, oh." Logan's face shows exaggerated concern as he hangs his coat on the back of his stool.
"What?" I wonder as I shed my own outer layers and take my seat.
He unbuttons what I'm sure is a very expensive blazer as he sits down, then proceeds to loosen the knot of his tie just a little as he settles in. One arm draped artfully on the back of his stool, the other elbow rests on the table as he lazily wraps his fingers around his pint glass as he shakes his head. He could have just stepped off the pages of a GQ spread… Trying hard not to smile he goads, "Nothing…" He takes a drink as I eye him incredulously. "Let's just get you fed before things get ugly…" He's no longer able to mask his smile.
"Hey!" He's laughing now, clearly satisfied at having paid back my friendly insult form earlier and it's my turn to feign incredulity.
"I'm just saying… I wouldn't want to be responsible for what might happen should a Gilmore go unfed." He hands me the bar menu that had previously been propped up on the edge of our table.
I give him a sideways glance as I playfully snatch it from him, "Fine... but after that bit, I'm not holding back."
He waves his hand dramatically, still laughing a little, "Have at it, we'll put it on the company card."
After we flagged down the waitress and ordered what I'm sure will be too much food for the two of us, what he said dawns on me. Company card… as in Huntzberger Publishing company card. I know he's back in the family business, that kind of news is hard to avoid in our industry. The prodigal son returned a little over a year ago, but I don't know all the details, only that it happened about the same time his grandfather passed away.
As much as I'd like to know more… I'd hate to ruin this happy-go-lucky thing we've got going for the moment. I take a sip of my beer and peer at him above the rim of my glass. He's doing the same, filling the silence left since the waitress retreated to the kitchen.
Maybe I should just ask him about it? No. It couldn't have been an easy move. Start easy… "So you might be too charming to ask it, but I'm not. What the hell are you doing in Hamburg?"
He cocks his head to the side with an eyebrow playfully raised, "So you do still think I'm charming?"
Ugh. I roll my eyes then fix him with a 'you-know-damn-well-how-charming-you-are' glare. He chuckles in response. He can be so cocky sometimes… take the rug out from under him. "You avoiding the question?"
He looks momentarily surprised by my accusation, much to my satisfaction, but his tone is still light as he shakes his head, "No, it's just not that exciting."
I raise my eyebrows expectantly, wanting for him to elaborate.
He takes a swig from his beer then replies, with what I interpret as a hint of resignation, "Just work… the usual."
"The usual?" I can't help the sarcasm in my voice, "Just the usual jaunt to Europe for a lunch meeting?"
"Yea, well Hamberg from London's a lot easier for me than from the East Coast." He was keeping things light hearted but this was news to me.
"You're back in London?"
A tightlipped smile accompanied a nod signalling… I'm not sure what… resignation maybe?
"How's that going?" I was trepidatious. He'd pushed back against working for his family so hard when we were together. Maybe some things are inevitable?
He shrugged, "It was time."
"Wow." I couldn't help vocalizing my surprise.
He furrowed his brow, "What?"
I shook my head before answering honestly, "I just never thought I'd hear those words come out of your mouth."
He tipped his head back and forth a couple of times, weighing what I'd said, "Yea, I guess that's fair. I don't know…" He trailed off for a second. "It's hard in the real world." Logan Huntzberger admitting defeat? Maybe some things have changed? "I was doing fine in California, but…" He took a long drink, finishing off his pint and turning his chair so that his elbows now rested on the table. "I came home for a while when my grandfather was sick. Mitchum… I think losing his dad shook him up."
I couldn't hide the disbelief on my face.
Logan knew exactly where my head was at. "I know. Believe me. Far be it for me to say that he's actually softening up, but I think somewhere between becoming a grandfather and his dad dying, he might have actually started to grow a heart."
"Becoming a grandfather?" My ears perked up immediately, but I tried to play it as cool as I could. Does Logan have kids? Is he married? Is it any of my business?
He nodded with a genuine smile, thankfully missing the urgency in my voice, "Honor and Josh have two boys."
I wasn't sure how to feel about the sense of relief that came when he confirmed that he didn't have kids, "You're an uncle?"
Another nod as he reached for his phone in the pocket of his coat. "I am an uncle." He swiped up to reveal the background of his phone was a picture of a well groomed, blonde toddler, proudly holding his swaddled baby brother. "Braydon and Eli"
Elias. He must be a relatively new addition to the family. His enthusiasm over them was sweet. And they were softening Mitchum up. "Your mother must be thrilled." The words were out of my mouth before I could stop them, but only slightly tinged with disdain.
Logan knew me too well, even after all this time. He chuckled at my mention of Shira. "Oh yeah, she finally has a new generation to pester about keeping their shirts tucked in and not playing ball in the house. She's a regular Grandma Walton".
"Well it's good to know you're not holding onto any bitterness about your own upbringing."
He got playfully dismissive at my sarcasm, "Hey, don't say I didn't warn you when you hear poor Braydon's been shipped off to boarding school for spilling juice on the Persian rug."
I laughed out loud, knowing full well the number of boarding schools Logan was sent to over the years. Logan smiled as he put his phone back in his pocket.
I've missed this. Like clockwork the waitress arrived at our table, interrupting my brief nostalgic reverie. What is there to miss? We're not together. I don't even know if he has a girlfriend. Get a grip.
The food was as good as it smelled. I tucked in, filling the pit in my stomach. After the waitress returned with another round of beer I finally filled Logan in on what had brought me to Hamburg.
He deadpanned, "Oh just some light reading."
I rolled my eyes at him as I pulled off a piece of the salty pretzel between us on the table. "Yea, not exactly my first choice, but…" I shrugged as I dipped it in the grainy mustard and took a bite. So good. I settled on borrowing a phrase from him to finish my thought, "It's hard in the real world."
He smirked, recognizing what I had done. I return his grin before picking up my glass for another sip of beer. He surprised me by claiming, "Can't complain too much, though…"
I cocked my head to the side as I swallowed, silently questioning what he was getting at.
He shrugged again, "It put us in the same place at the same time."