Finding Home

Chapter 30

"Colin and I just wanted to see when you'd be back in the city if you wanted to go out and get some drinks."

"Yeah, let me see what's going on and I'll let you know when I'm available, mate."

"Thanks, Finn. She's clearly crazy about you, man. Take it from a man who has loved and lost Rory Gilmore; don't do anything stupid. Talk to her," Logan instructed him before hanging up.

Finn slid his phone in his pocket and looked through the diner windows. Lorelai had moved to the counter and was leaned over talking to Luke. Rory was still at the table talking animatedly to Jess. She obviously looked very happy to see him. Finn felt like he'd been kicked in the gut as he watched them, and no matter how much he tried to remember what Logan had told him, he was still upset. He turned away from the diner and walked toward the Crap Shack, his anger building as he walked further away from Rory. By the time he got to his destination he was quite worked up. He sank down on the porch swing and stared off into space as he contemplated the nature of Jess's relationship with his girlfriend. His head told him to give her the benefit of the doubt and trust her, but his heart was terrified of being broken.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Lorelai left the diner and walked toward the Crap Shack, leaving Jess and Rory talking at the table. Finn had stepped out to take a phone call and hadn't come back, and she was more than a little worried about him. As she approached her home she saw him sitting on the porch swing, his head in his hands, obviously not happy.

"Hey, Finn. Everything okay?" she asked as she nudged him over and sat down next to him on the porch swing.

"Huh? Oh sorry, I didn't see you there," Finn answered absentmindedly.

"I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess that your current state of mind has something to do with the reunion that you just witnessed?" Lorelai prodded.

"Yeah, something like that. I have no idea who that guy is to her really, and then Logan said some things on the phone, and I just needed to not be there."

"What did Logan say?" Lorelai asked.

"He could tell I was unhappy and asked if there was trouble in paradise. When I told him about the reunion he proceeded to tell me about when he met Jess, not realizing that was who I'd just witnessed my girlfriend jumping all over."

"She loves you, Finn," Lorelai offered.

"Not Jess?"

"No, she loves Jess, but not like she loves you. They dated in high school, and then he left her without even telling her and broke her heart. Eventually they became friends. Honestly, even though they don't get to see each other super often, he's probably one of her best friends."

"It just kind of stings, you know," Finn elaborated. "I know nothing about this guys, she runs squealing into his arms when he walks in the door, and I've been gone for half an hour now and she hasn't even noticed."

"Do you love her, Finn?" Lorelai asked.

"More than anything," he answered immediately.

"Then talk to her. She and Jess have a unique relationship, and sometimes they do lose track of time or reality, but I assure you that there's nothing going on there. They just understand each other in an almost scary way. He's also the one person who can call her on her shit and get through to her when none of the rest of us can. He's the one who got her back to Yale after the whole yacht-stealing incident."

"Thanks, Lorelai," Finn offered with a small smile.

"By the way, he's sort of her cousin now," Lorelai whispered conspiratorially. "Now, go back to your girl."