‘OK, OK, I get it,’ Joanie said. ‘But for the record, I think thisisexciting, and that you’re amazing. And I’m here to help you figure this whole thing out. But Lorelai, if you can do what I think you can, then you won’t have to be just friends with Grayson. You could make that “just friends” brunch an actual date.’
This had been at the back of Lorelai’s mind too, but now that Joanie had said the words aloud, Lorelai allowed the twinge of excitement in her chest to grow. She had never dared explore what she could do or what it meant because she’d never had reason to. She’d avoided meaningful romantic attachments but as she recalled her conversations with Grayson, the way he looked at her sometimes, and how he made her feel, she knew that, for the first time in her life, she did have a reason and that reason was Grayson.
The Duchess felt eerily quiet when they came back to work on Tuesday morning, the absence of Riggs making itself known. Both Lorelai and Joanie were subdued, and things with Wesley were awkward and strained.
‘Well, you two,’ he said, his hands clasped behind his back. He walked towards them slowly, his head bowed. ‘Erm, thank you for what you did yesterday. Riggs is, well, we’ve got some things to work through as a family. He’s having a rough time right now so a little bit of privacy is probably for the best.’ He couldn’t meet their eyes, too ashamed to have failed his son in this way.
‘Wouldn’t having his friends around be more helpful?’ Lorelai said. ‘To show him that he’s cared about?’ The words came out more firmly than she had meant them to.
‘It’s all just a bit much for him right now. When he’s feeling stronger, we’ll arrange something. Perhaps you both can come over?’
Lorelai took in Wesley’s tired eyes, and heard the quiver in his voice. This was hard on him too. She glanced at Joanie who gave her an imperceptible nod. She was thinking the same – they needed to go easy on Wesley too.
‘That sounds like a good idea,’ Joanie said.
Lorelai nodded. ‘OK, but would you please let Riggs know that we were asking after him?’
‘Of course I will.’ Wesley gave them a nod and slowly trudged off back to his office.
‘I know I gave him a hard time but it is weird that Riggs isn’t here. It’s not like it’s left us with any more work to do as we always picked up his slack anyway, but it’s just odd, you know?’ Joanie fiddled with the straw dispenser.
‘I know what you mean. Part of it could be the way he left too.’ Lorelai gave Joanie a playful shove. ‘I think you just miss having someone to pick on. You had better not turn that attention onto me now,’ she warned.
‘Maybe I will, maybe I won’t. Now that I know your kisses aren’t going to kill me, you have no protection!’
Lorelai hurriedly shushed her. ‘Would you keep your voice down?!’
Joanie raised an amused eyebrow and then leaned in to whisper, ‘It’s time to find the bright side in all of this, Lollie. You deserve to be happy.’
The phone rang, interrupting their conversation. Joanie looked at her pointedly as Lorelai answered the call, feeling flustered.
‘Hello, The Duchess,’ she said distractedly.
‘Lorelai? Is that you? It’s Grayson.’
On hearing his happy voice, Lorelai’s cheeks flushed. One glance at Joanie’s grinning face confirmed that she had caught who was on the other end of the line.
‘Hello? Lorelai, are you there?’ Grayson laughed nervously, and the sound brought Lorelai to her senses.
‘Yes, hello. Sorry, I’m here. Hey.’
Why did she feel guilty? Lorelai hadn’t made Grayson any promises, and she had been clear they were just going to be friends. But the kiss with Riggs kept replaying in her head, and knowing that there was a chance her ability may not be what she’d always feared it was, she wished that her first kiss in years had been with Grayson. There. She admitted it. Joanie would’ve been beside herself if she could read Lorelai’s mind.
‘Hi. So, shall we say Monday? Eleven?’
‘Monday at eleven?’ Lorelai said blankly.
‘For brunch?’ Grayson’s voice faltered. He coughed.
‘No! Yes, I know! Sorry, so much has happened since I saw you last, and it’s only been a couple of days. Plus, my brain hasn’t fully woken up yet.’
‘Is everything OK?’
If only Grayson knew how loaded a question that was. Things werenotOK, but they might be eventually, and Lorelai needed time to get her head straight before she saw Grayson again.
‘Grayson, to be honest, things have become a bit… complicated all of a sudden. I might need to take a rain check on our brunch.’
Lorelai’s heart squeezed but this was the right thing to do for now. She was being pulled in so many different directions with Riggs, and Grayson, and finding out more about her abilities.She need to focus on one thing at a time, and that was figuring out more about herself and what she was able to do, before she could start moving forwards.
