Home and Heart Improvements continued
Previous part
Rating: M for language and innuendos mostly, some sex
Characters/Pairings: some Logan/Parker, LoVe, ensemble
Word Count: 9036 in this section; 34,118 total
VMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVM
“Okay, do it now.” Veronica moans.
“No, wait, Ronnie. I’m not ready yet.” Logan whines.
“Aaaaahhhh!” She screams as the very heavy, black wrought iron curtain rod in her hands pops away from the wall and sends the extremely small screw sailing across the room for the third time in the last forty minutes.
“Damn it! Veronica, I told you I wasn’t ready yet.” Logan huffs in frustration as he turns to search for the tiny dry wall screw.
Veronica drops the iron curtain rod down from above her head and lets the blood run back into her arms. Sagging her shoulders from exhaustion, she sighs and leans her forehead against the wall. “Who engineered these fucking things anyway?”
“Some moron that’s never used a screwdriver a day in his life.” Logan barks from his hands and knees on the living room floor, hunting for the lost hardware.
The first two window treatments attached to the wall quickly, without too many problems. The curtain rod the pair is currently trying to hang is not cooperating and they have been working on it for the last hour.
They have been struggling to hold the very heavy and awkward two-piece wrought iron rod in the proper place as they fumble with three extremely small screws. The hole to drill the screws through the rod into the wall are tucked in close to the base, making screwing each of the tiny screws into the wall extremely difficult, resulting in dropped hardware, stripped screw heads and multiple swear words.
“How did you manage to get these curtain rods up by yourself before?” Veronica asks quietly from her place on the stepstool.
“Different rods. These are heavier with two rods. I bought ‘em when I decided on hanging the shears and the curtains.” Logan explains. “Aha!” He holds up the small black screw. “Finally found the fuckin’ thing.”
Veronica looks at the curtain rod in her hand and then up at the wall. “Why don’t we use different screws for this rod. Those screws are too small and they are going to pull out of the wall if you tug on the curtains too forcefully.”
Logan shrugs. “Um, okay. Do we have different screws?”
She smiles a broad grin. “Yes, as a matter of fact, we do.”
“How did I know that you would have other screws with you?”
Veronica climbs down the stepstool and digs in her messenger bag.
“What else do you have in that bag of yours, Mars?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know.” Veronica explains. “I bought a pack of wall anchors just in case the walls were paper thin like the walls in my apartment.” She holds up the box of wall anchors and extra long screws.
Taking out a few longer screws, Veronica climbs up the stepstool. “Okay, why don’t you hold up the rod and I’ll do the screwin’?”
Logan playfully whines. “Why do you get to screw?”
Veronica rolls her eyes but doesn’t reply to his baited question.
“Fine.” Logan mumbles and steps up on the bottom step of the stepladder, holding the heavy wrought iron curtain rod at the perfectly marked place on the wall as Veronica places the screw in the hole and starts twisting the screwdriver.
Their bodies were very close and Logan could smell Veronica’s perfume as he moves closer to her hair and inhales her own personal Veronica scent.
Veronica’s arm grazes Logan’s shoulder as she screws the second screw in the wall and she immediately feels sparks from the contact as goose bumps appear on her skin. Oh God. He’s so close, I can feel his body heat. She moves slightly closer and subtly rubs her arm against his bicep.
As she begins screwing the last screw in the wall, Veronica adjusts her position on the ladder to maneuver the screwdriver into the tight work area and leans her body against Logan’s back and right arm. As she works the screwdriver she intentionally pushes her breast into his shoulder, rubbing his back under the disguise of attaching the curtain rod to the wall.
Logan feels Veronica’s boob touch his shoulder and he innocently tilts back against her body, enjoying the contact. He holds his breath as he feels her nipple poke his shoulder lightly and his dick hardens in his pants. She’s trying to kill me.
“Yes!” Veronica yells, breaking Logan out of his thoughts. “Their in!”
Logan exhales his breath and glances at his ex-girlfriend, still standing in his personal space, her body touching his. “Great job.” He whispers and smiles.
Their eyes meet and she returns his smile. “Thanks.” She breathes and bends closer to her ex-boyfriend, licking her lips with anticipation as Logan moves his head closer and his cell phone rings.
“Shit.” He mumbles and steps off the ladder to answer his phone, leaving Veronica on the stepstool, breathing heavily and supporting the half-hung curtain rod.
“Jesus” She says softly and shakes her head. Veronica, he has a girlfriend. Get a fuckin’ grip.
“Hello.” Logan grunts as he glances at Veronica and speaks softly into his phone. “Oh, hey.” He pauses listening the person on the phone. “Dude, I’m in the middle of something, I’ll call you back later.” He closes his phone and hangs up on Dick before his friend can complain.
He throws his phone on the countertop. “Dick.”
“Hmm.” Veronica acknowledges Logan and remains in her spot, holding the heavy curtain rod against the wall and thinking about their almost-kiss.
His eyes travel up and down her body and he breathes a deep sigh. Jesus.
“Are you okay holding that until I can get the other half of the rod and a few screws?” Logan asks as he finds the needed supplies.
“Yeah, just hurry. My arms are already asleep.” She whines.
Logan grabs the screws and the other half of the curtain rod and steps up the ladder. “Okay, you hold this and I get to screw this time.”
“What, no foreplay?” She teases.
“No, we’re both too tired for that.” He laughs and she rolls her eyes.
“And here I thought your middle name was stamina.”
“It’s endurance. How many times do I have to remind you that, Ronnie? It’s endurance not stamina.” He jokes.
“Maybe you can remind me some other time, right now, screw the damn things into the wall before my arms fall off.” Veronica gripes but Logan doesn’t miss the meaning in her statement and his heart swells with hope that maybe some day they can be together again.
Finally, both pieces of the curtain rod were screwed to the wall and the duo continued to the last two windows in the room.
Completely exhausted, Logan and Veronica step back from the walls and admire their work.
“Wow, they look great.”
“You have good taste. The curtains are beautiful and the shears will let light in without your neighbors seeing everything you’re doing.” Veronica states.
Logan holds up his hand in Veronica’s direction and she slaps his hand in a high-five celebration. “Thanks for all your help.”
“No problem. I had fun.” The edges of her mouth turn up ever so slightly in a smile.
“You know I wasn’t joking around before, the guest room is all yours. You can stay over if you want.” Logan says quietly, looking directly into Veronica’s eyes.
She meets his stare and nods. “Thanks. I really like your house. It’s warm and comfortable.” Veronica breaks their eye contact and looks out over the room, lowering her voice. “I like to be here with you.”
He smiles and his heart warms with her admission. “I like when you’re here with me.”
Logan shoves his hands in his back pockets, shuffles his feet and nervously asks just above a whisper. “You wanna stay tonight?”
“Yeah, I do.” Veronica slowly turns toward her ex-boyfriend. “In the guest room.”
He smiles. “I knew purple was your color.” Logan turns and walks up the steps, leaving Veronica standing in the middle of his living room. He stops on the fourth step and turns around, surprised she didn’t follow him up the steps. “Well, come on. The bed doesn’t make itself, you know.”
He continues up the stairs and down the hall as Veronica picks up her messenger bag and follows him to the second floor.
VMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVM
Logan swings his front door open wide, answering the forceful knocking and smiles when he sees Keith Mars’ cheesy smile looking back at him. “Hey, Keith. Come on in.”
“Thanks. Here’s a little housewarming gift for you.” Keith hands Logan a home improvement book with a bow on it and looks around the freshly painted living area and whistles. “Nice. You didn’t waste anytime getting the painters in to work their magic, did you?”
“Painters? Shit, I did it myself.” Logan looks over the same exact book Veronica gave him earlier. “Do you Mars share a brain or do you just shop at the same stores?” Logan points to Veronica’s gift on the sofa.
Keith laughs. “Two great minds.” Just how often have you been seeing my daughter?
Logan opens the refrigerator. “Beer?”
Keith eyes the young man and gives him a pointed look. “A beer sounds great. And you will be having a…”
“Soda. I have class in an hour.” Logan hands the beer to Keith and opens his soda.
Keith points to the walls with his beer bottle. “So, you did this yourself?”
“Yeah, with help.”
“Veronica?”
Logan glances at Keith, searching his face for some sort of reaction. “Yeah. She’s helped me out a lot since I moved in.”
“You two have been spending a lot of time together lately.”
“Yeah.”
“Are you two dating again?” Keith asks cautiously.
“No. I’m seeing Parker.” Logan responds quietly.
“Hmm.” Keith nods and waits a minute before speaking. “For some reason, my daughter has a soft spot in her heart for you and, I think, she always will.” He looks deep into Logan’s eyes. “She loves you and I don’t think she will ever be happy with anyone except you. She just has to realize that for herself.”
“She’s weaseled her way into my heart too.” Logan chuckles and drops his eyes to the soda in his hand.
“She has a way of doing that.” Keith laughs. “Give her some time, she’ll come around.”
“We’re working on being friends right now.”
“Good. That’s a start.” Keith smiles fades from his face as he asks his next question. “So, when she called the other night and said she was staying over…”
Logan smiles at the investigator’s not-so-subtle questions. “She slept in the guest room.”
Keith raises an eyebrow in question.
Logan smirks. “Alone.”
Keith slaps Logan on the back. “Good. Let’s keep it that way until you’re at least thirty.” He walks around the room, examining Logan’s home improvements. “Nice curtains. Did Veronica pick them out for you?”
The younger man scoffs. “No. I picked them out all by myself.”
Keith laughs as he touches the fireplace mantle with his fingers. “What are you going to be improving next?”
“I think I need to put a ceiling fan in where that light is and put a better light over there.” Logan points around the room at the ugly overhead light in the middle of the living room and the outdated light hanging over the kitchen table and chairs.
“Be careful when you play with electric. Turn off the power at the circuit breaker and double check the wires before you start messing with them.” Keith instructs. “That shit can kill you.”
“Understood.” Logan nods and smiles at Keith’s use of the minor swear word.
Keith drains his beer bottle and points it at Logan. “And make sure Veronica doesn’t do anything stupid when you’re rewiring that stuff.”
Logan nods in understanding.
“Nice place. It’s beginning to take shape.” Keith puts his empty bottle on the kitchen counter and places his gifted book under his arm, turning to leave Logan’s cottage. “I’ll take this with me since, apparently, my daughter shares my brain.”
Logan walks Keith to the door. “Okay, but I expect a replacement gift within a week.”
“Don’t hold your breath on that one, Kid. See ya.”
“Thanks for stopping by Keith.” Logan says as Keith jumps in his car and drives out the driveway.
VMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVM
“So, big plans this weekend?” Veronica asks as she bites a pile of pancakes from her fork.
“Nope. Bronson and I will probably be hiking or canoeing or something outdoors.” Mac answers sucking down a big gulp of fruit smoothie and rolling her eyes.
Veronica hitches her head to the side. “But you can’t hack government main frames when you’re outdoors. Unless, of course, you have a solar panel on your laptop.”
“Oh darn, I’m installing the solar panels next weekend.” Mac snaps her fingers in mock frustration. “How ‘bout you? Big plans?”
“I have to work a few hours on Saturday then I’ll probably…” Veronica’s voice trails off into a mumble as she shoves pancakes in her mouth.
“Probably, what?” Mac asks skeptically.
“It’s nothing.” Veronica’s eyes never meet her friend’s face.
“Uh huh. Spill it Mars. What super clandestine scheme do you have planned for this weekend? And please tell me I can help.”
“Nothing covert. I just have been helping a friend out a lot lately and I figured they might need more help. That’s all.”
“I wasn’t aware you had that many friends that needed help. Which one are you being so friendly with?” Mac taunts with a smirk and a raised eyebrow.
Veronica takes another bite of her pancakes. “Ogn.” She says with her mouth intentionally filled to capacity.
“Was that a ‘Logan’?” She lowers her voice to a whisper.
Veronica answers with only a shoulder shrug.
Mac leans in closer to her friend over their table in the food court. “I hope you’re not being too friendly with my roommate’s boyfriend, Bond.”
The blonde rolls her eyes and huffs. “We’re just friends. No friendliness going on. He is with Parker and he would never cheat on her. We’ve just been fixing up his house, that’s all.” Veronica eats another large bite of pancakes.
“Do you want to be more friendly?” Mac asks innocently.
“Maybe… in the future.” Veronica admits. “Right now, we’re having fun fixing up his house and learning how to be friends.”
“Hi guys, mind if we sit down?” Parker chirps with a tray full of food in her hands and Logan at her side.
“Go for it.” Veronica says happily and casually eyes Mac as Logan and Parker sit at the two remaining seats at the table. “We were just discussing our lack of plans all weekend.”
“You’re not going to the Pi Sig party on Saturday night? There supposed to have three bands playing.” Parker says excitedly.
“No thanks. I’ve seen the last of my Pi Sig parties, thanks.” Veronica says as she sips her drink.
“All the GHB and beer you could drink for only five dollars.” Logan mocks.
“I don’t think I’ll be going to the Pi Sig party either.” Mac says softly. “I think Bronson wants to go Frisbee golfing or something equally as pointless.”
“Aw, come on you guys. We’re in college. We need to have fun.” Parker encourages.
Mac and Veronica begin to clean up their places.
“Fun? You don’t know fun until you’ve been rocking climbing. Let me tell you.” Mac says straight-faced as she and Veronica get up from the table.
“What Jell-o shooters and frat boys aren’t your idea of fun, Mars?” Logan teases.
Veronica looks up in the air, acting as if she’s pondering Logan’s question. “No. I’m thinkin’ Psych assignment, a vanilla latte and a warm bubble bath. Now that’s fun.”
“Ewwwww, that sounds nice.” Parker coos.
“It would be more fun in a Jacuzzi tub with someone to join you.” Logan adds.
“But I don’t have a Jacuzzi tub.” Veronica says directing a pointed look at her ex-boyfriend in a challenge, knowing that Logan’s new house has a large, two-man Jacuzzi in the master bathroom.
“I do.” Logan states with a smirk, wiggling his eyebrows at Veronica.
Mac rolls her eyes. “You say that to all the girls.” She snarks as she and Veronica leave the food court on their way to their next class.
“No, only the important ones.” Logan says under his breath, unnoticed by Parker as she waves goodbye to her friends and settles in to eat her breakfast.
VMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVM
“Hey, what are you doing?”
“I’m working at my dad’s office right now. What’s up?”
“Nothing. I just thought I would offer my Jacuzzi tub if you were serious about your plans of fun this weekend.”
“Are you going to make it more fun and join me?” Veronica flirts through her cell phone to see what Logan’s answer will be.
“Is that an offer, Ronnie?” Logan asks in a low voice.
“No. I don’t think your girlfriend would appreciate you and I in your Jacuzzi together.” Veronica says with a small amount of disappointment in her voice.
“I’m not going to be there to join you tonight, maybe another time. I’ll be with my girlfriend at the Pi Sig party. You’re welcome to use the tub.”
“Can I use the guest room too?” Veronica asks softly.
Logan rolls his eyes even though his ex-girlfriend can’t see him over the phone. “Of course.”
“My dad’s not home tonight, so can I…”
“Backup is always welcome at my house. Just as long as he doesn’t poop on the floor or chew my furniture.”
“I’ll think about it.”
“Later, Ronnie. Don’t work too hard.”
“Thanks Logan. Bye.” Veronica disconnects their phone call and sits thinking through Logan’s offer. I could go home and squeeze in my little tub or I could go to his house and spread out in his huge two-man Jacuzzi. She laughs. Like there’s even a decision to make. I wonder if he’s even going to come home tonight or if he’s going to stay at Parker’s. Well, either way, Backup will be with me to protect me if I’m there alone. I hope he comes home. I don’t want him to spend the night with Parker. She’s too perky for him. Oh God, he wouldn’t bring her home for the night if he knew I was going to be there, would he? No. He wouldn’t do that.
VMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVM
“Dude, I thought there was supposed to be three fuckin’ bands playing tonight. What the fuck?” Logan looks around the lamer-than-usual Pi Sig party.
“Yeah, talk to Chip fuckin’ Diller, Dude. He totally fucked up the entertainment for the night.” Dick looks around Logan to see who he brought to the party and he’s surprised to see Parker isn’t hanging on him. “Dude, you’re here alone?”
“No, she’s dancing over there.” Logan points with his beer bottle.
Dick nods in understanding and drinks from his beer.
“Dude, I bought a big ass TV yesterday. Wait until I beat your ass in Halo on that fucker. It’s gonna be awesome.”
“Let’s go now. This party sucks.” Dick finishes his beer in one big gulp.
“No, Dude, we just got here. Parker will be pissed if we leave already. Give me an hour and we’ll leave then, okay?” Logan offers.
“Alright. One fucking hour. Later.” Dick turns and leaves Logan standing at the bar by himself as Parker flails around the dance floor with a few of her friends he doesn’t know.
VMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVM
Veronica locks the front door of her apartment as Backup leads her to her SUV with her messenger bag and overnight bag slung over her shoulder. She thinks about soaking her tired body in a nice, warm bubble bath and sipping her vanilla latte as she smiles at the thought. Mmm.
She quickly lets herself and Backup into Logan’s cottage and sees the newest addition of furniture: the huge flat-panel television sitting in the corner of the room, sitting on a warm brown oak television stand. “Now that’s a TV.” She laughs and continues up the steps, in pursuit of her warm bubble bath.
Veronica sets her messenger bag and overnight bag in the guest room, slips her shoes off at the edge of the bed and throws her jacket on the bed coverings. She twists her hair into a messy knot on the top of her head as she walks into Logan’s master bathroom, turns on the bath water and spills a splash of bubbles into the water.
As the tub fills, she returns to the guest room and retrieves her large cup of latte and her iPod and goes back to the bathroom, closing the bathroom door behind her.
On the edge of the tub, two large, fluffy bath towels sit with a bottle of bubble bath, a silk eye mask, three pillar candles, a pack of matches and a note that simply says ‘Enjoy!’
She smiles, lights the candles, undresses and slides into the warm bath, making herself comfortable and places the iPod earphones in her ears. She sets the eye mask over her eyes, settling in the tub and relaxes peacefully under the thick layer of bubbles.
VMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVM
Logan pulls his truck into his empty driveway and feels a little bit disappointed that Veronica’s car isn’t in the driveway. Damn it. She didn’t stop by.
“Dude, hurry up. I gotta take a shit and if you don’t fuckin’ unlock the damn door, I’m gonna drop a load right on your front step.” Dick shuffles to the front porch with Logan a few feet behind him.
“I’m hurrying and you better go up to the farthest bathroom in the house so I don’t have to smell your stickin’ ass.” Logan barks as he unlocks his front door and Dick pushes past him, through the dark living room and jumps up the steps, running into the master bathroom.
Backup sleepily walks down the steps and greets the homeowner and instantly, Logan realizes that if Backup is in his house then so is Veronica. In a panicked run, he bolts up the stairs yelling. “Dick! NO!”
Just as he shouts, he hears Dick bellow. “HOLY FUCK!”
Dick’s close proximity and loud voice startles Veronica out of her relaxed state as she jerks awake and pushes the eye mask off her face. “DICK! GET OUT!” She screams as she pushes the bubbles over her breasts and tucks in close to the large tub wall.
Logan appears at the bathroom door, just over Dick’s shoulder, breathing heavily. “Jesus. Sorry Ronnie. I didn’t know you were here until I saw Backup.” Logan shoves Dick out of the bathroom by his shoulders and gives Veronica an apologetic smile, biting his lower lip. “Sorry.”
Dick stretches to see any bit of Veronica’s naked flesh as Logan shuts the door and forcefully pushes the blond surfer away from the bathroom. “Move your ass, Dick.”
“You didn’t say Ronnie was naked and in your fuckin’ bathtub, Dude.” Dick shoves Logan back lightly.
“I didn’t know she was here. Her car isn’t in the driveway.” Logan snaps. “Don’t you have to take a crap?”
“Nah, the urge left when I saw a rockin’ blonde in your fuckin’ bathroom.” Dick stretches to see through the closed wooden door as he lowers his voice and steps closer to his friend. “Dude, one question: why the fuck aren’t you in there with her?”
“We’re friends, Dick!” Logan says through clenched teeth and pushes Dick out of his bedroom. “Move! Now! Dick!”
Dick shakes his head. “Dude, you’re a fuckin’ disappointment to straight men everywhere.”
Logan follows Dick downstairs to play video games and drink beer, forgetting about the naked, blonde female in the master bathroom.
As soon as Logan shut the bathroom door and apologized, Veronica exhaled a sigh of relief and settled back into the tub comfortably. Good thing the candlelight was dim or Dick would’ve seen quite a show. She moves the last remaining bubbles around her body. I guess I should get out of the tub. I’ve been in here for a long time. She looks at her pruney fingertips. Yep, time to get out.
Veronica steps out of the bathtub, lifting the drain with her toe and towels off. She puts on an opaque sleep shirt and warm pajama pants, brushes her hair and joins the guys in the living room.
Logan can smell Veronica’s bodywash before she appears at the bottom of the steps and his dick swells in his pants.
Dick notices the tiny blonde walking across the room behind the sofa. “Damn, Ronnie, you smell good.”
She sits on the far end of the sofa and tucks her feet under her body then leans toward Dick and punches him solidly in the shoulder. “Thanks, you Douche Bag.”
Logan chuckles and kills Dick’s video character, taking advantage of Dick’s distraction.
Dick moves away from Veronica and rubs his arm. “Ow. What was that for?”
“For walking in on me and trying to see me naked, you Ass.”
“Hey, I’m a red-blooded American male. If there’s a naked female dangled in front of me, I’m lookin’ at her tits.” He shrugs with certainty. “I would of jumped in the fuckin’ tub with you if Logan wasn’t ready to beat my ass.”
Veronica grimaces. “Ew.” She shoves his leg with her foot. “Stay over there, you Perv.”
Logan restarts the video game and Dick’s attention goes to the television again.
Veronica watches the guys’ animated men run around. “Why are you guys home so early? What happened to the Pi Sig party?”
“The party was really lame so we left after about an hour and came here so I could kick Dick’s ass on my newest purchase.” Logan smiles confidently at Veronica then quickly looks back to the video game.
“Nice purchase, by the way, but I don’t think it’s big enough.”
“Shit, this bitch is awesome.” Dick states as he fights another video character.
“Where’s you car? I didn’t think you were here ‘cause the lights were out and your car isn’t in the driveway.” Logan glances at the tiny blonde on the other end of the sofa.
“It’s out on the street.” She returns Logan’s glance quickly. “Where’s Parker? She didn’t go to the party with you?”
“She was there but wanted to stay and dance with her friends when Dick and I left.”
“Oh.” Veronica says softly. He not jealous that she’s dancing at a frat party, with her friends? And he’s not there to watch over her? Hmm. Isn’t that interesting. Sounds to me like someone isn’t very vested in his relationship.
The three friends play video games on Logan’s new television late into the night until Veronica stretches and leaves the room. “Goodnight.” She simply says as she retires to the guest room.
Once Dick hears the guest room door click shut, he turns to Logan with his mouth hanging open, awestruck. “Dude, is she living here?”
“Veronica?” Logan laughs. “No. Daddy Mars would never let his precious daughter live in a house, unsupervised with a guy.”
“What the hell? She’s in your fuckin’ tub, her dog is laying here like he owes the place and now she waltzes upstairs like she’s been doing that for months.”
“Jealous?”
“No, I fuckin’ want answers, Dude. Why are you holdin’ out on me?”
Logan laughs. “First of all, Veronica doesn’t waltz anywhere and, not that it’s any of your business, but she’s been staying in the guest room every once in a while when she gets too tired to drive home. That’s it. I’m not holding out on you. We’re not sleeping together. She sleeps in the guest room and I sleep in my room. We’re friends and we enjoy hanging out together. End of story.”
“Does Parker know?” Dick asks softly.
“Does Parker know what? That I’m hanging out with a friend of mine? No, there’s nothing for her to know.” Logan defends.
“Dude, Parker is going to fuckin’ flip the hell out when she finds out Ronnie has been over to your house before she has. Not to mention the fact that your ex-girlfriend has been sleeping in your house.” Dick shakes his head. “Dude, I know women. Parker is going to go ape shit on your ass.”
Logan shrugs his claims off. “She can go as ape shit if she wants, we’re not exclusive and I can do whatever I want with my friends. She’s not my mother.”
“Man, you are so dead.” Dick chuckles and turns back to their video game.
VMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVM
Veronica slowly walks down the steps, rubbing the sleep from her eyes and walks into Logan’s kitchen. She jumps a foot off the ground when she sees Logan and Dick, dressed in board shorts and surf shirts, looking back at her.
“Shit. You scared the crap out of me.” She leans against the kitchen island, yawning as Logan slides a large cup of coffee toward her.
Dick barely moves his body when he sips from his coffee, sitting on the other side of the counter, half asleep.
“Are you guys just leaving?” Veronica asks, cuddled around her hot coffee cup.
“Yeah, we just got up and Dick needed caffeine. We’re going right out back.” Logan points to the swells in the ocean in the rear of his property.
Veronica nods in understanding and sips her coffee.
“How long are you going to hang around today?”
“I have to work for a few hours this morning. Then I can come back, if you want to get something done.” Veronica says softly.
“I was thinking about having a party for Parker’s birthday next weekend, but I have to fix these two lights first.” Logan points to the two outdated overhead lights in the room.
“Can I leave Backup here while I go to work?”
Logan shrugs and nods affirmative.
“Do you have plans tonight?”
“Nothing firm. I kinda left Parker at the party last night and she’s gonna be pissed so I may have to do some damage control.”
Dick watches the couple’s interaction silently. Why don’t they just fuck and get it over with? Jesus.
“Oh.” Veronica puts her coffee cup down, preparing to run up to the guest room as soon as possible. “Then you don’t want me hanging around here tonight.”
Logan grabs her wrist and looks into her eyes. “I don’t?”
Veronica’s eyes fall to her wrist and slowly climb up his arm to his face.
He raises his eyebrows when her eyes meet his. “We’ll probably go to a movie. I told you before, you can stay as long as you like.”
Veronica releases the breath she had been holding and relaxes when Logan removes his hand from her arm. “I don’t want to get in the way of your date.”
“You’re not.” Logan cuts off her words with his with more bite in his tone than he intended.
She lowers her head and smiles internally then sips her coffee after a long moment. “I have to go get ready for work. I hope you catch a gnarly set.” Veronica smiles and holds up her hand shaking it in a surfer-like motion as she backs to the steps and retreats to the guest room.
“You are the man, Dude. You’re fuckin’ juggling two hot blondes and they both want to fuck your brains out.” Dick shakes his head. “How the fuck do you do it?”
Logan rolls his eyes and turns his back to his best friend to put Veronica’s coffee cup in the sink. There’s only one blonde that I want to fuck. He thinks and swiftly turns on his heel, pointing at Dick. “Come on, we’ve got surfin’ to do.”
The two men walk out Logan’s back door, grab two of Logan’s surfboards off his back porch and walk to the end of the beach path and through the sand to shred high tide’s biggest waves.
VMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVM
Dick jumps up from the sofa and celebrates his video volleyball team’s victory with an obnoxious dance as Logan’s cell phone rings.
Logan shakes his head and quickly answers his phone before it goes to voicemail. “Hey.”
“Hi, what are you doing today?” Parker says sweetly.
“Um, right now, I’m playin’ Xbox with Dick. What are you up to?” He says as he watches Dick continue his dance around the living room and rolls his eyes. “Oh, um, I wanted to apologize for leaving you at the lame party last night. How long did you stay after we left?”
“I stayed for a few hours. I was dancing with my friends and then we went to my friend’s boyfriends house and partied with him and his roommates.”
“Oh yeah, anyone I know?” Logan says casually.
Parker sighs. He doesn’t even care I was partying with other guys. “No, I don’t think so. They were all upper classmen.” Parker pauses. “So, do you want to get some lunch with me?”
“Nah, I have some stuff I have to get done. How ‘bout a movie tonight?”
“Do you want to get dinner too?” Parker asks shyly.
“We can, if you want.” Logan says nonchalantly.
“Okay. That sounds great.” Parker chirps.
“How’ bout I stop by your room at eight?”
“Okay. I’ll see you then.” Parker smiles at the thought of spending alone time with her boyfriend.
“Later.” Logan hangs up before Parker can respond.
Parker’s smile fades as she hears the dial tone in her ear. Gosh, could you get off the phone any quicker Logan?
Logan and Dick resume their video game for about twenty minutes when Veronica comes through the door. “Honey, I’m home.”
“Just in time to order lunch, Honey.” Logan says with a smile. “Dick is about to eat the arm off the sofa, he’s so hungry.”
Veronica flops on the couch in between the two ‘09ers. “I could eat.”
Both guys look at the tiny blonde in amazement.
“Yeah, that’s one way of putting it.” Logan laughs.
“What? I’m a little hungry.” Veronica says innocently.
“Ronnie, you are always hungry.” Dick states. “What are we ordering? ‘Cause I gotta eat or I’m gonna die.”
“Italian.” Veronica says without hesitation and tilts her head in Dick’s direction.
Logan shrugs in agreement. “I could eat Italian.”
Dick looks at Veronica as she bats her eyelashes influentially.
He exhales loudly, glances over the blonde detective’s shoulder at his best friend smirking back at him and concedes. “Fine. Italian.”
“I knew you would see it my way.” Veronica grins.
“It’s the fuckin’ head tilt. It’s evil, Ronnie.” Dick complains.
“Alright, let’s order food then I want to replace these lights. I have to take Parker to a movie tonight so I don’t have too much time.” Logan commands.
“Order me manicotti please, I’m gonna go change real quick.” Veronica says as she jumps from the sofa and sprints up the steps.
“Can you take me back to the Grand before you guys start fucking around?” Dick whines.
“No. We’re already short on time, Dick. I’m not driving you over to the Grand until I leave tonight to pick Parker up at Hearst.”
Dick exhales loudly and sinks into the sofa. “This sucks so much. Why don’t you just pay someone to do this shit?”
“Because it’s fun and it’s gonna be sweet when it’s finished.”
“It might be fun for you, it’s your fuckin’ house, plus, Ronnie just might rub up against you while you’re painting or something.” Dick complains as he thrusts his hips lecherously.
Logan groans. “We’re just friends, Dick.”
“Yeah, whatever.”
Logan shakes his head and orders their lunch.
VMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVM
Logan, Veronica and Dick spend the remainder of the afternoon renovating the lighting fixtures in Logan’s living area and kitchen.
Replacing the ugly light over the kitchen table with a new, modern hand-blown glass fixture was a fairly easy, straightforward job that only took about an hour with few complications.
Hanging the ceiling fan in the living room was a different story. Removing the outdated overhead living room light with a contemporary ceiling fan was easier said than done. The trio of friends’ arms had been twisted and tangled, lifting and attaching the fan to the ceiling while they balanced on one stepladder for over five hours.
Veronica and Logan’s close proximity was uncomfortable at first but once they started working, touching bodies was inevitable and necessary and their contact was not considered sensual in any way. They had one goal to accomplish and they were under a time limit. Dick’s closeness to the couple and his continuous threesome innuendos may have had an adverse effect on any sexual tension between Logan and Veronica.
Veronica glances at the clock on the DVD player. “Ah, Logan?”
“Yeah.” He answers as he screws a blade on the ceiling fan, stretching his arms above his head in an uncomfortable way.
“What time are you supposed to meet Parker? ‘Cause its 8:05 right now.” Veronica says timidly.
“Oh fuck!” He barks as he clenches his teeth and twists the screwdriver more quickly. “I’m surprised she didn’t call. I’m supposed to be at her dorm room right now.”
“Uh oh. Someone is gonna have to kiss some serious ass.” Dick laughs and Veronica rolls her eyes.
“Wasn’t the movie tonight supposed to make up for leaving her at the Pi Sig party?” Dick taunts.
“Shut up, Dick.” Logan glares at his best friend and steps down the ladder to call Parker.
Veronica hides her smirk as Dick chuckles next to her. She can’t help being happy that things between Logan and Parker are currently not running smoothly.
“I don’t know why he wastes his time with her.” Dick says under his breath for only Veronica to hear. “He’s still totally in love with you.”
Veronica rolls her eyes again. “Yeah, right. That’s why he’s talking to his girlfriend right now on the phone.”
“Hey.” Logan says softly into his phone as he walks to the back door, watching the waves break in the distance. “I’m sorry. I lost track of time. I can be there in an hour.”
“Where are you? What are you doing that you lost track of time, Logan?” Parker snips.
“I was hanging a ceiling fan and replacing lights in my kitchen. The ceiling fan was not cooperating. Do you still want to go to a late movie?” Logan says sweetly.
“I guess.”
Logan doesn’t miss the disappointment in Parker’s voice as he continues. “I’ll jump in the shower and come right over.”
“Okay. I’ll see you when you get here.” Parker hangs up before Logan can reply and Logan takes a moment to calm his irritation before he slaps his phone shut.
“I gotta…”
“Just go. Dick and I will finish up here.” Veronica cuts off Logan’s explanation. They share a warm smile before Logan darts up the steps to the master bedroom.
“I guess you’re driving my ass home then.” Dick says as more of a statement than a question.
Veronica sighs. “Fine. Let’s get these last few blades on and clean up first.”
“You wanna get some dinner delivered before we leave?” Dick eyes the tiny blonde next to him on the stepladder.
“Okay. Italian?”
“No. We had Italian for lunch. I’m not watching you wolf down another whole plate of manicotti for the second meal in a row. We’re getting Chinese and that’s final.” Dick emphasizes his point with a stern head bob. “And don’t even try the head tilt ‘cause I’m not buying it this time and Logan’s not here to be take your fuckin’ side.”
Veronica smiles mischievously. “Fine. Chinese… but you’re buying.”
Dick rolls his eyes. “You’ve sucked Logan’s trust fund dry, I guess you’re gonna start working on mine now?”
Veronica punches Dick in the arm firmly and laughs as he stumbles off the last step of the ladder, grabbing his arm. “That’s it. No egg rolls for you.” Dick taunts.
“You’re risking your life if you don’t order Ronnie egg rolls, Dick.” Logan says nonchalantly as he comes down the steps and scurries around the room, collecting his car keys, phone and wallet.
Veronica can smell her freshly showered ex-boyfriend from across the room and she inhales deeply, embedding Logan’s scent in her brain forever as she watches him rush around the room. Damn, he smells good and looks good. Nice shirt. Simple, white t-shirt and jeans which doesn’t exactly say ‘I’m putting out an extra effort for you’ though. Maybe Dick has a point. Maybe Logan is still in love with me and Parker is just an easy lay. Logan’s voice snaps Veronica out of her thoughts.
“Are you two going to play nice without me here to referee?” Logan looks from the blonde surfer to the blonde investigator.
“I guess.” Veronica drones.
“If I have to.” Dick monotones. “We’re getting food delivered before Ronnie drops me off at the Grand.”
Logan raises his eyebrows in surprise.
“He’s buying me Chinese food. I guess I can swing by the Grand and push him out as I roll past.” Veronica shrugs, defending her actions.
“You’re not even going to stop the car?” Dick asks incredulously.
Logan laughs and Dick narrows his eyes at Veronica.
“Later.” Logan scampers out the door.
VMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVM
Logan runs his hand through his hair, nervously and knocks on Parker’s dorm room door. Why am I so fuckin’ nervous. It was a mistake. If she’s pissed at me then I just go home and hang out with Dick and Ronnie again.
Parker opens the door and gestures for Logan to enter her room. “Hi.” She says coldly.
He kisses her cheek as he passes and enters her room. “I’m really sorry. Are you ready to go? Maybe we can still make a movie.”
“Why don’t we just go to dinner, I haven’t eaten anything all day and we can talk. I feel like I haven’t seen you in days.” Parker says quietly with an unreadable facial expression.
Great. She’s giving me the cold shoulder. Wonderful. This night ought to be tons of fun. “Okay.” Logan looks around the room, trying to ignore the uncomfortable silence in the dorm as Parker gets her jacket and purse.
“I was thinking, your birthday is coming up. We should have your birthday party at my house.” Logan says as they leave Parker’s dorm room.
A small smile creeps across Parker’s face. “Really? You want to have a birthday party for me? At your new house?”
He looks into her eyes and smiles. “Sure. Why not.”
Sure. Why not? Geez Logan, don’t get too crazy now. “Wow, I’m finally going to see your place? How many people should we invite?”
Logan shrugs. “I don’t know. My house is small but we could probably invite forty or fifty people. I don’t have much furniture for people to sit on but I have a pretty big living room. It would be fun.”
“Okay. That sounds great.” Parker smiles in spite of her cold mood toward her boyfriend.
“Cool. You tell your friends and I’ll tell mine and we’ll have a party on Saturday night.”
Parker glances at Logan’s face and grabs his hand as they walk down the hall toward Logan’s SUV.
VMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVM
Logan sees the television flickering in his living room when he walks from his SUV to his front door. He opens the front door and is greeted with a sniff from Backup and a big grin from Veronica.
“You’re home early.” She whispers, lying on his sofa, cuddled under a fluffy blanket.
Logan shrugs and walks to the sofa, lifts her feet off the cushion and sits, placing her feet on his lap. He notices Dick sleeping on the floor in front of Veronica and chuckles as he begins to rub Veronica’s feet tenderly. “Yeah, we just went out to dinner. We kind of missed the movie because I was running so late.”
He notices The Big Lebowski playing on the television and watches for a moment before he speaks softly. “I thought you were dropping Dick off at the Grand after dinner.”
“Well, we got our food and started playing video games. I beat his ass, by the way, and then we saw The Big Lebowski was on and we started watching. The next thing I know, Dick is snoring and you walked through the door.” Veronica smiles warmly at her ex-boyfriend. “Do you mind if we stay over again tonight?”
Logan continues to rub Veronica’s feet as he nods negative and gathers his thoughts. He takes a deep breath and he speaks quietly. “I told you before you’re welcome to stay here whenever you want to. I love when you stay with me in my house and I would be perfectly okay with you living here if you wanted to…”
Veronica’s eyes widen with his words and Logan can hear her breath hitch.
His eyes climb to her face and he smiles, holding his hands up in a surrender gesture, he continues quickly. “…in the future.” He laughs as she exhales her breath.
“Veronica, I know we’ve had our issues in the past but I am really enjoying our friendship. We’re being civil, kind and, dare I say, mature with each other and I think we need to be friends with each other right now, Ronnie.”
Veronica gasps playfully as she listens carefully, smiling.
“…I know I screwed up and I’m glad that we’re trying to work past that one stupid night that I regret more than any other thing I’ve ever done in my entire life…” He pauses, looking at her feet in his hands and continues softly.
“…Veronica, I love you and I always will. I’m trying to improve my life so that one day you will see my good qualities and come back to me…”
“Logan-…”
“Let me finish.” He looks directly in Veronica’s eyes. “I can wait until you’re ready to be with me, Veronica. But I want you to know that no one can compare to you and no one ever will. I’ll be here for you when you’re ready and then, Veronica, some day I’m going to marry you and we’ll live a happy, normal life together.”
Veronica swallows audibly and Logan smiles warmly.
“When you’re ready, Ronnie…” He pats her legs. “…I’ll be here waiting for you.”
“Logan, I’m enjoying our friendship right now, too, and I think we need to learn how to be friends again before we start anything more than that…” She smiles and wiggles her toes into his leg. “…I could get used to staying here when my dad is out of town but we’ll see about living here.” She shakes her head, chuckling to herself. “I don’t think my dad would be too happy about that.”
Veronica pauses for a moment, biting her lower lip and speaks very softly. “Do you love Parker?”
He laughs out loud. “God, no. She’s just a placeholder.” Logan winks at his ex-girlfriend. “And I haven’t slept with her either, so you don’t have to ask.”
The tiny blonde looks away, biting her bottom lip and forcing her smile off her face.
After a moment of silence, Veronica asks another question. “Were you going to kiss me the other day when your cell phone rang?”
Logan smirks. “Maybe.”
“I wanted you to kiss me the other day when your cell phone rang...” She grins mischievously and looks at Logan through her eyelashes. “…but I’m glad you didn’t. Not yet. We’re not ready for that yet.”
“Some day, Ronnie, some day, I’ll kiss you again and you’ll know that you’re the only woman for me.” He says in a low, sultry bedroom voice and Veronica’s heart skips a beat at the intensity of Logan’s tone.
Veronica nods yes, repeatedly, to confirm Logan’s declaration. “I know.” She mutters as Logan stands up and walks to her end of the sofa, bends and tenderly kisses the blonde’s hair softly, resting there for a moment, before he continues to the kitchen and retrieves a beer.
“You want a soda?” Logan asks as he reaches into the refrigerator.
“Please.” Veronica squeaks, milling over the meaning of their conversation.
Logan returns to the sofa and hands Veronica her soda as they sit and relax, watching The Big Lebowski together.
VMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVM
Logan opens his front door and allows Parker in his seaside cottage.
“Oh. My. Gosh. Logan, this is incredible.” She skips through the large living room and kitchen area.
“Am I your first guest?” She asks hopefully.
“No.” He laughs to himself. “I’ve been here for a few weeks. I’ve had a couple of visitors.” Logan pauses. “I wanted the place to be presentable before I had a party.”
“It’s beautiful and the view is fabulous. You painted all of this by yourself?” She points to the expansive painted walls.
“Well, I had help but, yeah, I painted and hung the curtains, the light and the ceiling fan.” He says, shutting the door and stepping into his living room.
Parker studies the room, taking in every detail.
“Redoing the kitchen is probably the next project.”
“Wow, you can redo kitchens?”
“No, but I know someone that probably does.” He shrugs. “It’s can’t be that difficult.”
Parker’s eyes lock on the steps to the upstairs and Logan takes the hint. “Come on, I’ll give you a tour.”
VMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVM
Parker flutters around Logan’s living room, arranging and rearranging folding chairs and tables, placing them perfectly for her nineteenth birthday party.
Logan stands on the stepladder, hanging purple streamers from the ceiling fan, when there’s a soft knock on the front door.
Parker looks at Logan with an excited smile. “I guess that’s our first guest.” She beams.
Logan doesn’t miss Parker’s use of the word ‘our’ but doesn’t make an issue of it. Now is not the time for that. “Can you answer the door since my hands are full?” He glances at his girlfriend then returns his attention to the Scotch tape and purple paper.
“Sure. My pleasure.” Parker bounces to the front door and swings it open wide just as Veronica is about to slip her key into the lock.
“Veronica! You’re early. You’re our first guest.” Parker chirps with a big smile, gesturing for the tiny blonde to enter the house. “Welcome. Come in and make yourself comfortable. I’ll give tours of the house when more people get here.”
Jesus, now she’s giving tours like a fuckin’ cruise director. Logan shakes his head.
Veronica freezes in her hunched position, hovering near the door lock with her keys in her extended hand. “Oh, hey Parker.” She looks past the tall blonde at Logan and smiles, chuckling nervously. “I… um… I’m kind of… ah… not ready to party just yet.” Walking into Logan’s house, she holds up her bulging messenger bag and points to her grubby jeans and haggard t-shirt.
Parker’s brow furrows in confusion as she closes the door behind Veronica.
“I need to shower and change my clothes before I’m ready to boogie down.” Veronica says apprehensively, looking at Logan for reassurance before she reveals too much to Logan’s girlfriend.
“And you came to Logan’s house to shower and change your clothes?” Parker snips, challenging Veronica with her hands on her hips.
Veronica takes a deep breath and stands tall ready to defend herself when Parker continues her rant. “Do you shower at my boyfriend’s house often, Veronica?”
“I was-…”
Parker notices the house key in her hand and glares at her boyfriend quickly then turns her fierce attitude toward Veronica. “You have a key to my boyfriend’s house?” She spits.
Logan steps off the ladder and confidently walks toward his girlfriend and ex-girlfriend, ready to referee this brewing fight. “Parker.” He says in warning.
“You have a key to my boyfriend’s house!” She yells. “I guess you don’t need a tour if you have a key to his freaking house, huh? You’ve been here before, haven’t you, Veronica? Do you sleep here too?”
“Park-…”
“And here I thought it was charming that Logan wanted his house to be perfect before anyone was allowed over. You’re probably one of the friends that’s helped him paint and stuff.” Parker huffs incredulously. “Are you-…”
“STOP!” Logan shouts. “Parker! Stop for one fucking second!”
Parker purses her lips and clenches her jaw with Logan’s reprimand, looking across the room stubbornly.
Veronica jumps at the chance to defend herself against Parker’s accusations. “I do have a key to Logan’s house, Parker! As a matter-of-fact, I did help him fix everything in this place.” Veronica steps closer to the taller blonde, tenaciously. “Logan and I are friends! We hang out together! And you better get used to it because…” Veronica pokes Parker’s shoulder with every syllable. “…I’m. Not. Going. Anywhere!”
Logan beams internally at the sound of Veronica’s words.
Veronica looks over her shoulder at Logan quickly as she storms up the steps to shower and change.
Parker waits a moment before she begins her angry outburst again. “So?” She challenges.
He smirks confidently, pushing his shoulders back. “So, what?”
“So, explain yourself.” Parker demands.
“We’re friends.”
“That’s it? That’s all you’re going to say?” She huffs.
“Veronica is my friend. She has a key because I trust her. End of story.” Logan states firmly, ending their strained conversation, neglecting to answer most of his girlfriend’s questions and turns away to prepare for the birthday party, leaving Parker standing in his living room, seething.
continued...