Private Finished Broen's Going Rate

Rory wanted to say that she hoped he wouldn't have to take this all down, but that was idealistic at best and foolish at worse. She folded her arms. Her high was gone. She knew that because she was feeling anxious again. Like she had when she first got here. Well, fuck.

Broen's passion was something to behold. Not a lot of people had that sheer fire in them. He was normally so apathetic. Lorelai was leaning forward now, hands folded and her chin rested on them. Her smile was entirely carefree now. Not dopey from a high, but relaxed anyway.

"Huh. I'd be down for that." She'd committed treason before, it just seemed natural she'd do it again, right? Fuck. She had some problems, didn't she?

She looked away from him to glance at the time on a nearby clock. Ten minutes left. Time flew. She wondered if Broen had been counting down the minutes since she got here.

If there was any doubt in mind that Broen wasn't high, that was shot when he said her name like that. Then laughed like it were some grand joke. It was a little contagious and Rory grinned in a waning sort of way that suggested deep thought.

She got off the couch and crouched in front of him, arms rested on her knees and head tilted sideways and upward to stare into his face. Definitely high. Part of her wanted to make the joke 'you're drunk, Broen, give me your keys.' But she didn't.

"Honestly, I thought you'd been the one counting down." Then she paused, reached into her pocket to get the rest of the money. "If you think I'm dying to get away from you, I gave your ability to read people far too much credit."

She tossed the money onto his lap and stood up. "Goodnight, Broen. Sleep well." And she closed the door. She had to wait to go home, but all in all it hadn't been a bad hour.