‘An accident?!’ Joanie was incredulous. ‘It was classic caveman behaviour, you thinking you know best.’
‘Will someone tell me what’s going on?’ Wesley demanded.
‘Riggs just soaked Lorelai with a Diet Coke – a large one, might I add – after trying to throw these two gentlemen out for absolutely no reason,’ Joanie explained.
‘I got the wrong end of the stick!’ Desperation crept into Riggs’s voice and, despite her soaking, sticky clothes and hair, Lorelai felt a pang of sympathy. Things really weren’t going Riggs’s way at the moment.
‘My office. Now,’ Wesley said, glaring at Riggs.
‘But Dad—’
‘NOW!’
‘I think an apology is in order first, don’t you?’ Joanie folded her arms.
‘He hasn’t apologised yet?!’ Wesley yelped.
‘I have!’ Riggs said, pleading.
‘Not to me,’ Lorelai said gently, before Joanie could stick the boot in again. She gestured to where Grayson and Aden were standing. ‘To them.’
Riggs shoved his hands into the pocket of his apron and turned to Grayson. ‘I’m sorry, mate. I didn’t know you knewLorelai and I thought you were coming on to her…’ He cleared his throat and added, ‘and Joanie. Obviously, I was wrong.’
‘You were. But no hard feelings, OK. Easy mistake to make.’ Grayson held out his hand. Riggs stared at it in surprise.
‘Shake it, you idiot!’ Joanie cried.
Riggs, startled, shook Grayson’s hand, not quite able to meet his eye.
‘My office,’ Wesley instructed and Riggs walked away, head bowed. ‘Grayson, was it? I can’t apologise enough. My son is… well, he’s not exactly employee of the month. I would like to offer you a refund on your tickets for tonight for you and your friend.’
‘I’m his brother,’ Aden said, stepping forward and putting a hand on Grayson’s shoulder.
‘We’d love for you to stay and enjoy the marathon if you feel like your night hasn’t been entirely ruined. Joanie and Lorelai will make sure your bucket and cups are never empty, courtesy of the cinema. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have something to take care of.’ With that, Wesley deftly took his exit, through to the back where Riggs was waiting.
‘Are you OK?’ Joanie grabbed a handful of napkins and attempted to help Lorelai dry off.
‘I’ll be fine. It’s only a bit of fizzy drink. I think it’s Riggs who isn’t OK.’ Lorelai glanced in the direction of Wesley’s office.
‘Do you have any idea what that was? What got into him?’ Joanie asked.
‘You mean he’s not usually like that?’ Grayson asked.
Joanie shook her head. ‘He’s annoying and lazy, but harmless.’ Lorelai stayed silent. She was almost certain their conversationthat morning had been the catalyst for Riggs’s behaviour, that he felt he had something to prove, but she couldn’t say that to anyone. It was too personal.
‘Maybe we should go,’ Aden said to Grayson.
‘No! Don’t go. I’d…’ Lorelai took a deep breath. ‘I’d like you to stay. But obviously I get it if you’re not feeling it.’
‘It’s not that,’ Grayson said, struggling to find the right words. ‘That guy… he seemed pretty intense. About you.’
‘We had a bit of row this morning,’ Lorelai said quietly so Joanie wouldn’t overhear. ‘I think it put him on edge. And it’s Joanie he’s got the crush on, not me.’
‘Good to know,’ Grayson said, holding her gaze again.
How can this man be a bumbling wreck one second, and then hold me completely captive the next?Lorelai frantically searched for more popcorn kernels in her hair, anything to keep her distracted, no matter how mad it made her look.
‘So that guy said free popcorn, right?’ Aden craned his neck to look at the popcorn machine that was popping away, fluffy goodness spewing out of the central silver canister and spilling down into the glass case.
