Page 38 of Pity Play

LORELAI

It turns out Sandra Bullock movies are just what the doctor ordered. It doesn’t matter if that woman is twenty-six or fifty-six, she’s the perfect romcom star. I spent the whole night dreaming I was playing the heroine in one of her movies. And while I don’t remember the plot, I do remember the happy ending—me and Luke together.

Rolling over in bed, I catch a whiff of something delicious in the air. Is that sausage? After sitting up, I scoot off the mattress and follow my nose down the stairs. Luke is standing in front of the stove stirring a pot. Before I can stop myself, I tell him, “If whatever that is tastes as good as it smells, I’m going to drop to one knee and propose to you.” The horror of speaking my mind so plainly leaves my face hot with embarrassment.

Before I can run out of the room and hide, Luke laughs. “I’ve gotten more than one proposal because of my sausage and mushroom crepes.”

Walking past him, I take a mug out of the cabinet and pour myself a cup of coffee. Even the coffee smells better than normal. I take a sip, and groan, “Did you go to Starbucks to fill the pot?”

He points to a bag sitting on the counter. “Arabica dark roast.”

“Even your coffee is gourmet, huh?”

“It takes the same amount of time to brew as the more commercial kind. It just tastes better.”

He’s not wrong about that. Taking another sip, I realize that I’d better not develop a taste for expensive coffee now that I’m going to have to pay rent somewhere. “My parents are moving,” I blurt out.

“To Florida?” Even he doesn’t sound surprised.Am I the only one who didn’t see this coming?

“Yeah.” I probably shouldn’t complain to him, but I can’t seem to help myself. “I’m not sure what that means for me.”

Luke flips a crepe in the omelet pan he’s holding. “I suppose it means you’re going to move too.”

“To where though?”

“Where were you before?”

“Madison,” I tell him. “But I don’t want to go back there.”

“Bad breakup?” he asks before hurrying to add, “I didn’t mean to ask that. Noah said I shouldn’t mention it.”

“Noah said not to mention what?”

“That you and your boyfriend just broke up. I’m sorry.” He pulls two plates down from the cabinet and puts them in the microwave.

“That was over two years ago,” I tell him. “And it wasn’t a particularly bad break up. I just realized Michael wasn’t the guy for me.”

“Really? Noah said it just happened.” He’s back to looking nervous.

What is my brother up to? But then it hits me. “You didn’t happen to just break up with your girlfriend, too?” I ask him.

“What girlfriend?”

“The girlfriend Noah said you recently parted ways with.”

Luke raises an eyebrow. “Your brother has some explaining to do.”

Picking up my phone, I push the button beside Noah’s picture, then I put the call on speaker. It rings three times before I hear him say, “Lorelai, what’s up? You feeling any better about Mom and Dad’s move?”

“No, I’m not,” I tell him plainly. “But that’s not why I’m calling. I’m wondering why you told Luke that Michael and I just broke up.”

“What?” He sounds guilty. “Luke must have misheard me. I didn’t say …”

Luke joins the conversation. “What exactly did I mishear?”

“Oh, hey, Luke.” Noah’s caught now and I half expect him to make up an excuse that he has to go.

Before he can, I volunteer, “Luke says he didn’t break up with anyone, either.”

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