A Gilmore's Return

Chapter Thirty-Four: Recovery and Chaos

Alessia dropped the bag of bagels onto the counter with a little more force than necessary. The sound echoed through Logan's apartment, and she was rewarded with simultaneous groans from Colin and Finn, who were sprawled across the couch like hungover corpses.

"Could you not?" Finn muttered, burying his face into a pillow.

"Could you not drink like a frat boy next time?" she shot back, setting down a carton of orange juice.

Colin lifted his head just enough to glare at her. "You're entirely too cheerful for someone who had to babysit us last night."

"She's probably still high on her sense of moral superiority," Logan chimed in from the kitchen, where he was making coffee. Unlike his friends, he looked relatively put together-no doubt thanks to the bottle of water and aspirin Alessia had forced on him before bed.

"Someone had to be the adult," Alessia replied, grabbing a bagel and sitting on the arm of the couch. "Besides, I wouldn't call forcing you idiots into a cab 'cheerful.'"

Finn groaned again, flopping dramatically against Colin, who grunted in protest. "Colin, save me from her judgmental tone."

Colin snorted, pushing him off. "Save yourself, idiot."

"Don't touch me," Finn shot back, though he immediately leaned into Colin's side, his head resting against Colin's shoulder.

"You literally just flopped on me," Colin said, but he didn't move Finn away, even as he rolled his eyes.

Alessia raised an eyebrow. "Do you two need a moment?"

Finn smirked without lifting his head. "Jealous, Harvard?"

"Not even a little," she replied, taking a bite of her bagel.

Logan's phone buzzed on the counter, cutting through the relative quiet. He glanced at the screen, and his relaxed demeanor immediately stiffened.

"Who is it?" Alessia asked.

Logan didn't answer right away. Instead, he sighed and swiped to answer the call. "Dad."

Alessia winced. That explained the tension.

Colin and Finn exchanged a look, their usual playful energy replaced with quiet sympathy.

"Yes," Logan said into the phone, his tone clipped. "I'm at my apartment... No, I didn't forget... Of course, I'll handle it." He paused, his jaw tightening. "Fine. I'll be there in twenty minutes."

When he hung up, Alessia studied his face, noting the slight strain in his expression. "Everything okay?"

Logan shrugged, already grabbing his jacket. "It's Mitchum. Everything's always 'fine,' as long as it's on his terms."

"That's not a no," she pointed out.

He smirked, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Don't worry about it, Harvard. Just keep these two alive until I get back."

Colin raised a hand. "Can we get that in writing? Because if I die, Finn's going to use it as an excuse to haunt you."

Finn laughed weakly. "Don't act like you wouldn't haunt her too."

Logan chuckled, tossing his keys to Alessia. "My place is yours. Try not to let them break anything."

And with that, he was out the door.

"Okay, let's talk about this couch," Finn said, stretching out across it once Logan was gone. "Why is it so uncomfortable? Logan's rich. Shouldn't he have, like, a custom leather sofa or something?"

"He probably bought it ironically," Colin said, flipping through channels on the TV with little interest.

Alessia leaned back in Logan's chair, sipping her coffee. "Or maybe he just doesn't care, unlike the two of you, who apparently can't appreciate the simple pleasures of not puking right now."

Colin groaned. "Don't say the p-word."

"Puke," Finn repeated, smirking as Colin glared at him.

"You're the worst," Colin muttered, though his arm was slung casually over the back of the couch, brushing Finn's shoulders.

Finn shifted, resting his head against Colin's chest in an exaggerated display of comfort. "Nah, you love me."

"Sure," Colin said dryly, though his hand absently ruffled Finn's hair.

Alessia watched the exchange, an eyebrow quirked. "You two are ridiculous."

"Don't be jealous, Harvard," Finn said, glancing at her with a grin. "Not everyone can find a Colin of their own."

"Yeah, I'll survive," she replied, rolling her eyes.

Colin smirked. "You're just mad we're more entertaining than your photography project."

"First of all, my project is fine," Alessia said, sitting up straighter. "Second, watching you two flirt is not 'entertaining.' It's confusing."

"It's not flirting," Finn protested, though he didn't move away from Colin.

"Sure it isn't," she said, voice laced with sarcasm.

Colin shrugged, not bothering to deny it. "Maybe we're just that close, Harvard. Not everything needs a label."

Alessia snorted. "If you say so."

By the time Logan returned, Colin and Finn had devolved into a heated debate over who would win in a fight between Batman and Iron Man, with Alessia acting as the unwilling moderator.

"Thank God," she said as Logan walked through the door. "I was about two seconds away from locking them out on your balcony."

"You'd miss us," Finn said, his feet now draped across Colin's lap.

"Doubtful," she replied, though her smile betrayed her.

Logan chuckled, tossing his jacket onto the counter. "Looks like I missed all the fun."

"Fun is a strong word," Alessia muttered.

Colin stretched, grinning lazily at Logan. "How was your 'family bonding' time?"

"Exactly as thrilling as you'd expect," Logan replied, his smirk returning. "Now, who wants pizza?"

Finn raised a hand. "Me. And make it greasy. Lots of grease."

"I hate all of you," Alessia muttered, though she couldn't help but laugh as the chaos started up again.