Other Girls of Gilmore Girls: The Lindsay Lister Story

Chapter 12

View Along: S3 E19 Keg! Max!

"Let's go," Dean said to me, the anger still present. "What happened?" I asked as he led me down the street.

"That guy. I swear," is all Dean said.

"Did he hurt you?" I tried to ask more but didn't know what or how.

"No."

"He left without Rory. Did they get into a fight?"

"I don't know."

I couldn't get any more out of Dean. I let him stay silent the rest of the walk to my house.

"I need to know something, Dean."

"It's nothing. He's not a good guy, and I had enough," Dean huffed again.

"But why did you fight him right now? Why tonight?"

"I don't know, Lindsay. I just saw him, and his stupid self, and I had to get a good shove in."

I didn't want it to be because of Rory, but I had to ask. "Because of Rory?"

"What?"

"Did you fight him because of Rory?"

"What? No, I..." Dean couldn't find any other words, which made me sure it was because of Rory, and he couldn't find a way to tell me.

"I can't be with someone who is fighting the guy that took his ex." It came out of my mouth before I realized I had said it. I was so forceful and so strong.

"That's not it!" Dean paused and looked around before coming back to me. "He was rude to you tonight, and he's been a pain to everyone since he showed up. He had it coming."

"And it's not Rory?"

"No! It couldn't be," Dean almost purred as he stepped closer to me. "I need you to understand that it's you. It's only you. I love you, and I want that to get all the way through to you."

"Sometimes I worry," I whispered. It was so light and airy, I felt the idea float away as Dean reached out to hold my face. I looked at him, directly, and said, "I worry that you aren't over her, and that you hate Jess because he's with her."

"No, I hate Jess because of all the reasons everyone else does. I just didn't like the way he talked to you." Dean kissed me quickly. "Do you believe me?"

I leaned my forehead against him. I didn't know what I believed, and I told him that. He asked if I believed in us, and sure. Yes. I believe in us. Look at how it had been since we connected. Automatic. Close. Entwined. Dean grabbed my hands and lowered his body as he looked up at me. "Then marry me."