Chapter 43
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
LORELAI
Luke and I walk hand in hand next to the river. I don’t think I’ve ever been party to such a romantic moment. He stops walking and turns to look at me before kissing me again. I could really get used to this.
“Do you mind if we stop off at my apartment first? That’s where the surprise is.”
I arch an eyebrow in response. “That sounds like a line,” I tell him.
He shakes his head. “Not a line. It’s a G-rated surprise.”
“Toaster Strudel?” I tease.
“Girl, I’m going to make you real strudel one of these days and you are going to love it so much that you will never touch Toaster Strudel again.”
Crossing the bridge, Luke leads me toward the first of the two icon towers in Marina City. “I didn’t know you lived here.”
“It’s how I knew I wanted my restaurant to be on the river. You can see Capon from my place.”
Walking into the building, he leads me to the elevator and pushes the button for the twenty-fourth floor. We kiss again when the doors close and I start to think I wouldn’t mind at least a PG surprise. When the elevator stops, Luke takes me by the hand. We stop at the third door on the right and he takes his key out. Before he can put it into the lock, I hear a dog bark.
“You got a dog?” I demand. “You said that you couldn’t get a dog because you weren’t home enough.”
“I never leave her for more than three hours,” he tells me. Then he says, “But she’s not mine. I’m keeping her for a friend.”
A wave of jealousy washes over me so intensely it catches me off guard. “What kind of friend?” I ask cautiously.
“She’s a really good friend.”
“She?” Now I am simmering. “What are you doing asking me out if you have a friend like that?”
“Don’t get mad yet,” he says. Then he opens the door and we’re both assaulted by his charge.
“Penelope?” I practically burst into tears as the doodle does her happy dance around me. Then I turn to Luke. “What are you doing with Penelope?”
“I picked her up when I was in Elk Lake last week.”
“For who? Who’s your friend?”
A slow smile overtakes him. “You are my friend, Lorelai. I knew you were going to have to leave your parents’ house, and I know you wanted Penelope. I didn’t want someone else to get to her first. My parents said you could drop her off with them whenever you want.”
Honest to goodness tears start to stream down my face. “You got her for me?”
“I did.”
“My parents aren’t selling the house until next year,” I tell him.
“Doodles are hypoallergenic,” he responds.
I’m so full of emotion I swear I’m going to burst. “Noah is staying at my parents’ house now, too.”
He looks shocked. “Why?
“It’s a bit of a story,” I tell him. “But the long and short of it is that he’s the new basketball coach of the Elk Lake Crappies. ”
Luke laughs. “I keep hoping someone will change that name.”
“It is pretty bad,” I agree. “But crappies are delicious fish, so you just have to keep reminding yourself of that.”
“I cannot see your brother in Elk Lake to save my life.”
“You couldn’t see yourself there, either,” I remind him. “But now you’ve bought a restaurant there.”
He nudges into my side. “You’re there. That’s the real draw.”
That’s when I get the best idea ever. “Luke, my best friend from high school
was Allison Scott. Do you remember her?”
“Maybe? I mean, I knew you had one friend around more than any other.”
“That was Allie,” I tell him. “And Allie is back home.”
“And?” He’s clearly not putting this together.
“Allie had as big of a crush on Noah as I had on you.”
“Are you suggesting we get even with your brother for helping us get together?”
“I absolutely am,” I tell him.
“I love how karma works. And I hope it works out as well for Noah as it has for us.” And with that he kisses me again and again.
As much as I spent my childhood dreaming of a life with Luke, I never thought it would happen. And when I least expected it, he knocked on my door and swept me off my feet. I don’t know whether we’re going to live here or in Elk Lake, I just know one thing for sure. I want to be wherever Luke is.
Life is too short not to be surrounded by the people you love. And even though I’m not going to say the words yet, I love Luke. I always have, and I always will.
Now, to make sure things turn out as well for Noah and Allie.