Teachings of LoVe
Title: Teachings of LoVe
Author: christykq
Rating: M for language and innuendos mostly, some sex
Characters/Pairings: LoVe
Word count: 10,668
Spoilers: none really, just know the series
Summary: FutureFic. Oneshot. Logan Lester is a happy guy with a lot of friends and a good job, trying to forget about his crazy life in Neptune, California. A LoVe story!
Disclaimer: I own nothing in the VM universe, it all belongs to the master RT.
A/N: Character’s thoughts are italic.
A/N2: This is my first attempt at writing with flashbacks. I hope each time the story switches, from present to past and back to present again, it’s clear. I did my best.
A/N3: All of the present time scenes occur on a Monday morning, as people arrive to work, fluttering around Logan’s desk, beginning their day and preparing for their classes.
Monday morning, sometime in October… (present)
“Dude, you’re in early this morning.” Dave says as he walks past Logan’s cubicle on his way to his expansive office, fit for a department head, with a jelly doughnut in his hand.
Professor David Monahan is a laid-back, down-to-earth guy in his early fifties who loves to live life: experience the pleasures of a walk in the park, a good glass of imported wine, some quiet time alone with his wife and twin daughters. He is a cancer survivor and has traveled the world a few times over, teaching in a few foreign lands such as West Africa and Egypt.
Dr. Monahan and Logan made an immediate connection in Logan’s acceptance interview, the summer before Logan’s first year of graduate school and has become Logan’s very good friend and father-figure in the past fifteen months. He is one of the only people at Georgetown University with knowledge of Logan’s real identity.
One year and eight months earlier than present…
“LOGAN! LOGAN!” Veronica busts into their small two-bedroom apartment near Hearst College campus, waving a piece of paper in her hand. “I got it! I got in the FBI training program!”
He walks out of their bedroom to greet his girlfriend and catches her in mid-air as she launches herself into his arms in celebration.
“I got it. We’re going to D.C., Babe. We’re going to D.C.” She cheers from his arms as he spins her around.
“I’m so proud of you, Ronnie. My girlfriend the Federal agent.” Logan kisses her lips and tightens his hold around her body. “I am so happy for you. You’ve worked so hard and you got in to the FBI agent training program. That is fuckin’ incredible. A real agent…” He shakes his head. “…none of this internship stuff anymore, Babe.”
“I guess those three unpaid internships helped coat my résumé, huh?” Veronica smiles as Logan sets her down on the ground. “Now, you just have to get into Georgetown.”
“Well…” Logan smiles and pulls a folded piece of paper out of his back pocket, unfolding it by snapping it in the air dramatically. “…Dear Mr. Echolls, we are happy to welcome you to our graduate studies program beginning this fall…”
Veronica crushes her lips to his mouth and gives him a long, wet, involved kiss. “Oh my God, you got in too! When did you find out?”
“Yesterday.” He mumbles against her lips. “I wanted to wait until you heard if you got in or not before I told you.” Logan shrugs. “I didn’t want to rub it in if you didn’t get accepted and I did.”
Veronica’s fingers touch his cheek gently. “I love you, Logan Echolls.”
He smiles and kisses the tip of her nose. “I love you, Veronica Mars.”
One year and three months earlier from present…
“Holy Fuck!” Logan yells as he stares at the television in the Java the Hut. Other customers shoot him dirty looks and Veronica races to his table.
“Logan.” She glares at him and speaks through clenched teeth. “What is your problem? This is a restaurant.”
“Look.” He nudges his chin in the direction of the television as CNN is flashing the words ‘Breaking News’ on the screen. “Copies of Lilly and Aaron’s sex tapes were found.” He says without taking his eyes off the TV screen.
Veronica grabs his arm to stabilize her wobbly knees as Logan’s cell phone rings. He looks at the caller ID as he pulls Veronica to his lap. “It’s Dick.”
Veronica’s phone vibrates in her pocket and she looks at the caller ID before answering the call. “Hi Dad …Yeah, I’m sitting here with Logan at the Hut. We just saw the report.”
Logan and Veronica share an uneasy glance as Logan sighs and puts his head in his hands, leaving his phone unanswered.
One year and two months earlier from present…
“This is it?” Veronica looks at the three-story brownstone on a narrow street in the heart of Washington D.C. “This is home?” She smiles over her shoulder as Logan climbs out of his Range Rover.
“Yep. Number 115. What do you think?” Logan smiles and takes Veronica’s hand as he approaches the front door, swinging the house keys in his hand.
“It looks just like its picture online and I love it. It’s gorgeous. It looks like home.” Veronica beams excitedly as Logan opens the door and escorts her into their newly purchased house.
They inspect the interior of their new brownstone for a half hour before returning to the Range Rover and driving to Logan’s advisor’s office on the Georgetown University campus.
“Veronica?” Logan says tentatively.
“Yeah.” She turns from gazing out the passenger-side window.
“I was thinking… I think I’m going to go by Logan Lester while I’m at Georgetown.” He glances at his girlfriend’s face quickly then returns his eyes to the road ahead. “We came to the East Coast to start over with your new position in the FBI and my grad school. I don’t want to be linked to the Echolls name, right now, if I can help it.”
“Are you going to legally change it?” Veronica asks softly.
“No. I’ll get my graduate degree with Echolls on it but only a few people will know my real name. That will stop any google searches, Tinseltown Diary updates and tabloid photos.” Logan swallows the lump in this throat. “Just when we were getting on with our lives the fuckin’ lost copies of the Lilly and Aaron sex tapes had to show up and fuck everything up again.”
Veronica nods in agreement. “Seven years of this shit and Lilly Kane’s exploits are still hurting us.” She reaches across the center console and takes Logan’s hand in hers, squeezing it tightly.
Logan brings her hand to his mouth and kisses her knuckles as he parks the Range Rover in front of the Georgetown University English Department.
A few minutes later, Veronica and Logan walk off the elevator in the basement of McCall Hall, hand-in-hand, searching for Logan’s advisor, Professor David Monahan.
They scan a long, narrow room with very few windows and a low ceiling for any sign of life when a mousey, brunette student approaches the couple.
She adjusts her backpack on her shoulder as she looks at the floor.
Logan glances toward Veronica and tightens his grip on her hand. “Um, hi. Do you know where we can find Professor Monahan?” He asks sweetly, urging the bashful student to make eye contact.
The shy coed’s eyes barely reach Logan’s when she responds timidly. “Right there, the first real office, down this walkway.”
“Thanks.” Logan grins, watching the nervous student dash to the elevator, desperate to get to the elevator without any additional delay.
Veronica smiles and rolls her eyes, tightening her hold on Logan’s hand and tugs him toward the Professor’s office. “Come on.”
Logan rubs his thumb on the back of Veronica’s hand to calm his nerves. “I don’t know why I’m so nervous. It’s not like I’m a freshmen or something. I’ve been through four fucking years of college.”
She shakes her head as they walk to the office and Logan knocks on the open door. “Excuse me, Professor Monahan?”
“Yeeesss.” Dr. Monahan sing-songs with his back to the couple, digging in the bottom drawer of his filing cabinet. “What can I do for you?” He swirls around in his aged office chair with a smile.
Logan swallows the nervous lump in his throat and steps toward the professor, offering his hand in a greeting as Veronica leans against the office doorframe.
“Hi, I’m…”
“Logan Echolls…” Dr. Monahan adds. “…my newest advisee.” He chuckles, shakes Logan’s hand and gestures for Logan to take a seat on a dusty sofa, covered with stacks of files and folders as he grabs a large tower of paperwork and plops it on the floor next to his desk, joining many other piles of miscellaneous papers scattered throughout the office.
“Yeah… um… about that…” Logan says quietly as he lowers into the worn sofa, without meeting his advisor’s eyes.
“Hold on, Logan.” Dr. Monahan says with a gentle voice in Logan’s direction as his eyes lock on Veronica. “Do you know this woman?”
Logan’s eyes follow his advisor’s extended arm and winks at Veronica with a small smirk. “Yeah.”
The professor climbs out of his chair and strides across the small office with a slight swagger, ushering Veronica into the room. “You don’t have to stand out in the hallway, Miss.” He moves the rest of the papers off the sofa and leads Veronica to a spot next to Logan. “I’m assuming you know Logan.”
Veronica nods and smiles. “Yes.”
“Professor, this is my girlfriend, Veronica.”
Ah, yes, the teenaged detective Miss Veronica Mars, if I’m not mistaken. He thinks. “Where are your manners, Echolls? I thought you finished your undergrad. Don’t you know you never leave a pretty girl standing alone on a college campus?” Professor Monahan nudges Logan’s knee with his foot playfully as he smiles at Veronica and reclines comfortably in his desk chair, studying the young couple sitting in his office. “Do you know how many creeps are on a college campus just waiting to pounce on a cute girl like Veronica?”
Veronica exhales loudly and Logan laughs out loud sarcastically.
“As a matter of fact, I do, Professor.” Logan says and drapes his arm around Veronica’s shoulders, pulling her body protectively closer to his torso. “That brings me to my original point.”
Logan glances at Veronica and is tempted to kiss the top of her head softly but decides against it, opting to squeeze her shoulder instead.
Her eyes rise to meet Logan’s as she pats his thigh with the palm of her hand while he continues.
“You’ve read my transcript and you’re not stupid, you know who my parents are. I’m sure you’ve seen Tinseltown Diaries, my past has been colorful.”
Veronica huffs in agreement and Logan’s advisor nods his head in understanding.
“We moved to the East Coast to get away from our lives in Neptune, California. Veronica has been accepted in the training program at the FBI and I’m starting here at Georgetown. We’re trying to forget all of the pain and move on with our lives. We want a fresh start and that’s why I’m going to use my mother’s maiden name here on campus, if I can.” Logan looks at Veronica and she smiles warmly.
“I don’t need to hear the whispers or get my photo taken during a test, so, Dr. Monahan, from here on out, Logan Lester will be attending Georgetown University and you’re the only one on campus that will know that… well, you and the bursar.” Logan looks his advisor square in the eye. “I hope I can trust you not to send that tidbit straight to the tabloids as soon as I leave your office.”
The professor chuckles and rests his hands on top of his head, examining Logan closely without saying a word.
After a few moments, Dr. Monahan smiles and drops his hands from his head and places them comfortably in his lap. “Well, Mr. Lester, your secret is safe with me. As for your parents…” He locks eyes with Logan and Logan sees a warm, caring man looking back. “…I think they were both crappy actors and their lives have no reflection on your academic career at Georgetown.” He pauses. “And you can call me Dave. I have to deal with all that stupid formality crap when I go to staff meetings and department lectures, I don’t need a smart ass kid, like yourself, calling me Professor all the time. Do I look like I’m stuck on Gilligan’s Island?... Although I do have a thing for women named Mary Ann.” He shifts his head and smiles.
Logan laughs inwardly with his advisor’s honest, no-holding-back opinions and he feels the tension in his muscles fade away. I think I’m going to like this guy.
“So, Logan, tell me about yourself. What are you hobbies? What’s your favorite book or TV show? How does it feel to be dating a federal agent? Why Georgetown?”
Veronica beams as the words federal agent fall from the professor’s mouth and Logan pats her shoulder lovingly, with the hand resting across the top of the sofa.
“First off, I would have to go with Ginger. You gotta love the feisty girls.” Logan grunts as Veronica elbows him in the ribs.
“Ow. And really there’s not much to tell that you can’t read online. I love to surf and I’m really going to miss the rough Pacific waves but I’m kind of excited to have a white Christmas.”
“Ha. Wait until you have to scrape the ice off your windshield at six in the morning. You’ll be wishing you were back in sunny SoCal in no time.” Dr. Monahan smiles and points to a small picture on his bookshelf of a young guy with long hair and a cigarette hanging out of his mouth, standing at the edge of a beach with a surf board tucked under his arm. “I’m originally from San Francisco and I’ve shredded a few waves in my day.”
Logan leans toward the picture to get a closer look and laughs at the ancient picture. Veronica shifts to see the photograph as Logan continues speaking. “My favorite show is Family Guy and I think it’s freaking hot that my girlfriend is going to be an FBI agent…” Logan looks directly into Veronica’s eyes as she refocuses on her boyfriend and he speaks while his hand absentmindedly strokes her hair. “…but it also scares the hell out of me to think she could be in danger every day she goes to work.”
This time, when the urge hits him, Logan kisses the top of Veronica’s head without caring what his advisor thinks.
For the next forty-five minutes, Logan, Veronica and Professor Dave Monahan chat casually about a variety of topics and fall into a comfortable conversation. When Logan and Veronica leave Dave’s office, Logan feels like he’s met a man that he can look up to and trust whole-heartedly.
Present…
“Hi Logan.” Jessica purrs over the edge of Logan’s cubicle.
Logan looks up from grading students’ papers and smiles at Jessica Monahan, one of his mentor’s twin daughters. “Jess.” A big smile grows on Logan’s face as he leans back in his chair and looks directly into the tall brunette’s dark brown eyes. “You haven’t stopped by your dad’s office in a few weeks. How’s my favorite girl?”
Jessica steps around the wall of Logan’s cube and sits on the edge of his desk, flipping her long hair over her shoulder, adjusting her books in her arms and grins. “Maybe I stop by when you’re not around and you better not let my sister hear you say that, she’ll be devastated. You know she has a huge crush on you.”
“Damn. If only I was a few years younger.” He jokes, snapping his fingers for emphasis. “Besides, she says you’re the one crushing on me.” Logan smirks flirtatiously and twists in his chair casually.
Jessica rolls her eyes and returns his smirk. “Yeah, you keep thinking that.” She sets her books on Logan’s desk and twirls her hair around her finger absent-mindedly. “You’re like five years older then us, anyway. You sound like your, like, forty or something.” She shakes her head and chuckles.
Logan mockingly gasps at the word forty. “But I like older women, Jess. It would never work out between us.” He bats his eyelashes dramatically and watches this cute freshman coed spin her hair in her fingers innocently. If I was an undergrad, you and Jennifer would totally be my type. Logan thinks as his eyes follow her twisting hair. But I’m not and I’m responsible for teaching over three hundred freshman English 101, so that’s not going to happen.
Jessica Monahan and her identical twin sister, Jennifer, are attending Georgetown University on a free ride, one of the benefits of having a university English professor as a father, and they always stop by their dad’s office when they get a chance. Since they live on campus, these visits are the only times Dave sees his daughters.
Dr. Monahan’s girls are his pride and joy and he turns to mush in the palms of their hands whenever they visit.
The Professor claims that his daughters pop in more frequently ever since strapping, young, unmarried Logan began working as his newest teaching assistant but Logan is convinced it’s the fifty bucks Dave sneaks them when he thinks no one is looking that’s the reason for their numerous visits.
Ever since Logan began working for Professor Monahan and acquired a desk just outside of his office, he has become friends with his mentor’s daughters and looks after them as if they are his younger sisters.
“So, Jess, any good parties you’ve been to lately?” Logan questions as he tucks his pen behind his ear and watches Jessica snap her gum and think.
“A few weeks back there was a really good toga party at Beta Phi house. That was fun.” She smiles at the memory. “I met this cute guy, Jeremy, and Jenny puked all over his shoes.”
“Gross. Remember not to drink anything that’s handed to you…” Logan gives her a pointed look. “…and only…”
“…drink from a closed container or a cup that you poured yourself.” Jennifer completes Logan’s sentence from over the cubicle wall, behind her twin sister’s shoulder.
Jessica turns and greets her sister with a smile.
“Logan giving you the speech again?” Jennifer asks with a roll of her eyes.
“Hey…” He points at the two identical sisters with his pen to stress his point. “…if you weren’t hanging out with horny frat guys and puking on their shoes, then I wouldn’t have to keep giving you the speech.”
“Why did you tell him about that?” Jennifer slaps Jessica’s arm.
“Tell him what?” Professor Monahan appears behind his daughters and eyes the three young people suspiciously while he stirs his coffee.
“Nothing.” The twins say in unison, meshing their identical voices to one as Logan turns back to grading his students’ papers and the Monahans disappear into Dave’s office.
A few moments after the Monahans walk away, Logan’s friend and fellow teaching assistant, in the adjoining cubicle, pops his head around Logan’s cube. “Dude, there were some seriously hot girls looking for you after your ten o’clock and four o’clock classes on Friday.”
Logan looks up from his corrections and smiles. “Oh yeah? Who was it and what did they want?”
Doug shakes his head and takes a bite out of a crème filled doughnut. “Man, there were like fifteen girls that came up to the front of the class after your ten o’clock. They all wanted to know where you were and when you were going to be back.”
Logan smiles and goes back to his paper grading.
“And your four o’clock…” Doug exhales loudly and shakes his head repeatedly. “…shit, I could barely teach with the whole front row of sorority girls sitting there in short skirts and their tits bursting out of their shirts. How the hell do you do it, Man? I don’t have any hot girls in my classes.”
Logan chuckles and leans back in his chair casually. “What can I say? I guess I see them for their brains and not their bods.” Yeah and if you believe that one, I have swampland in Florida I can sell you. He smiles.
“No. No, there’s no way you could miss these girls’ bodies. They were right there…” Doug holds his hands out in front of himself as if presenting someone a gift. “…for all the world to see and appreciate.”
Logan dismisses his friend with a wave of his hand. “You’re imagining things. You make it sound like only hot girls are enrolled in my classes.” He scoots closer to his desk and continues his work. “You just need to get laid, Dude.”
Doug laughs and shoves another bite of doughnut into his mouth. “Well, that’s true but, no, I swear all the cute girls go to your classes. I’m sure of it.”
The Monahan twins exit Dave’s office as Doug finishes his sentence and he asks their opinions. “Excuse me.”
Jennifer and Jessica turn toward Doug.
“Can I ask you guys a question?”
“Sure.”
Logan sits up and listens to Doug and the twins’ discussion more closely.
“You guys are freshman, right?” The Monahans nod yes as Doug continues. “And you take English 101, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Have you heard anything about girls going to Logan’s English classes instead of their scheduled classes?”
The girls look at each other and laugh then turn to back to Doug.
“Logan is the hottie of the English department.” Jessica says with a big grin.
“No offense.” Jennifer adds in Doug’s direction and he shrugs.
“He’s the talk of the dorms.”
Jessica squeals in a high-pitched girlie voice. “Did you see what Logan’s wearing today?... Ohmigosh, Logan totally called on me this morning…”
Jennifer continues with the same high shriek. “…Logan handed me my quiz and we touched hands… Logan’s ass looked so good in his tight jeans today…”
“See I told you.” Doug confirms his theory with a solid head nod.
“Okay. Enough.” Logan states firmly.
“…if Logan smiles at me again I’m gonna, like, die…”
“…Logan is, like, the coolest teacher ever. Logan. Logan. Logan…” Jessica rolls her eyes and sticks out her tongue in disgust. “If I have to hear one more thing about your tight jeans or your cute smile, I’m going to barf.”
Doug laughs as Logan whips his chair around and gives the girls a stern look. “I’m grading your section’s papers right now, Ms. Monahan.”
The twins walk away from Logan’s desk and he can hear Jennifer speak in a low tone. “You’re one of the girls that is ogling him in class, Jess.”
“Shut up! Like you’re not down here visiting Dad like every day.” Jennifer says under her breath as they walk away from Logan and Doug’s cubes.
“Thanks ladies.” Doug yells after them then lowers his voice and continues. “See. I wasn’t exaggerating. You’re the hottie T.A. that all the girls want to sleep with.”
Logan settles back at his desk and smiles as he resumes grading English papers. There’s only one girl I want to sleep with.
Eleven months earlier from present…
“Veronica. It’s so nice to see you again.” Dave kisses Veronica’s cheek in a quick greeting, climbing out of his soft leather seat, as she and Logan approach a small booth in the back of a small Italian restaurant in Georgetown, just off the university campus. “My wife, Mary Ann.” He gestures to the older, slightly graying woman in her seat.
Veronica shakes her hand with a warm smile and slides into the booth next to the Professor’s wife as Logan shakes his friend’s hand and leans in to his mentor’s ear, speaking softly. “Professor and Mary Ann?” He chuckles and takes his place next to Veronica.
Dr. Monahan sits in his seat, rolling his eyes. “Yeah, and my kids are Skipper and Lovey.”
The two couples chit-chat and order drinks as they look over their menus. Veronica licks her lips in anticipation as she peruses the menu selection.
Logan leans into his girlfriend and whispers in her ear. “Can you keep the moans to a minimum, Babe? I’m having trouble concentrating on reading the menu.”
Veronica’s eyes widen as she realizes she was vocalizing her appreciation for the gourmet Italian variety. “Sorry.” She lowers her head and bites her lip.
Mary Ann pats her arm reassuringly and smiles. “It’s okay, Sweetie, everything looks so good, I’m ready to order the entire menu.”
Veronica blushes.
“Don’t tempt her.” Logan kisses her temple as he lowers his menu and sips his drink.
Dave places his menu on the table and clears his throat. “Logan, I asked you and Veronica here tonight because I’ve enjoyed getting to know you over the past few months and I would like to offer you a job.”
Veronica’s eyes slowly rise to meet Dr. Monahan’s eyes as she listens closely. Did he just say job? Ha! She smirks. Oh, this ought to be good.
Logan smirks at his mentor. “Aww, come on, Dave, you know I’m not into something as taxing as a job.” He dramatically rolls his eyes, stressing the last word of his sentence.
“Dude, everybody’s doing it.” Dave jokes in his best surfer voice.
Veronica’s curiosity getting the best of her, she quietly interrupts the mens’ banter. “What kind of job?”
“Teacher’s assistant.” Dr. Monahan says in Veronica’s direction, never breaking eye contact with Logan.
Veronica’s eyes sparkle and move to glance at Logan’s face.
“Do I have to get you coffee?” Logan’s lip rises with disgust.
“It would be in your best interest to keep me happy, but, no, getting me coffee is not necessary.”
“So, I’ll be, like, making copies and shit like that?” Logan smiles at his friend. “’Cause I can’t ruin these hands with paper cuts.” He spreads his hands out in front of himself, displaying his neatly manicured nails.
“And here, I thought you would jump at the chance to photocopy your ass.” Dave says with a grin to match Logan’s.
Logan shifts his head as if he’s pondering the thought and slaps his hand on the table. “I’ll take it.”
Dr. Monahan laughs and clarifies the real duties and responsibilities of the position after the foursome order their meals and enjoy a relaxing dinner together.
Nine months earlier from present…
Logan wipes his palms on his jeans, nervously and kisses Veronica on the top of the head. “I can’t believe how fuckin’ nerve-racking this is.”
She smiles and pours coffee into a travel mug, sliding it toward Logan on the kitchen counter. “Just relax. You’ll do fine. These are freshmen knuckleheads that are only in English 101 because it’s a requirement, they won’t know if you mess up. They’re probably all still drunk and high from last night. They won’t know you’re a teaching virgin. ”
“So, you’re saying I’ll be teaching a bunch of hung over, bleary-eyed punks that just rolled out of bed? And they wouldn’t care if a monkey is teaching them?”
“Exactly.” She smiles and kisses his lips gently. “I love you and you’ll do fine.”
He takes a deep breath, swats Veronica’s ass quickly and grabs his coffee as he leaves. “Love you.” He calls over his shoulder as he walks out the brownstone’s front door.
VMVMVMVMVM
Logan breathes deep to settle himself and walks into the large lecture hall at the stroke of ten o’clock. He places his backpack on the desk and pulls out notes and a stack of photocopies as he glances at the raised seating in front of him for the first time. Holy shit, there isn’t anyone in this fuckin’ class.
Sporadically sitting around the large lecture hall, a total of approximately thirty yawning, hung-over students look back at Logan.
He quickly checks his watch. It’s ten o’clock, right? Where is everyone? He huffs with a slight amount of disappointment. Okay, well, I gotta teach, no matter how many students show up. Here goes nothing.
He clears his throat and speaks loudly. “Hi. I’m Logan Lester, Dr. Monahan’s T.A. I’ll be teaching this class all semester.” He pauses, receiving very little reaction from the small amount of students attending his class. “Okay, let’s get started.”
VMVMVMVMVM
Logan walks out of the lecture room, holding the door for one of his students with his fingertips as he looks back over his shoulder and locks eyes with the blonde undergrad.
“Thanks.” The tall, shapely girl coos with a bright smile. “Great class, I’ll see you on Wednesday.”
“Wednesday.” Logan says in a monotone and nods his head in agreement as she eyes his body up and down before turning away and walking in the opposite direction.
“Dude.” Doug, Dr. Monahan’s other assistant, quickens his step and falls in stride with Logan easily.
“Hey, man.”
Doug glances over his shoulder quickly. “That chick totally wants you. Did you get her number?”
Logan scoffs and wrinkles his brow in question. “Her number? Ah, no. She’s one of my students, Dude, and I have a girlfriend.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah, like that’s ever stopped anyone from nailing a hot girl before.” Doug shakes his head and exhales loudly as he notices another student checking out Logan.
“Not interested.” Logan states firmly and sulks.
“Dude, what’s up? How your first class go?”
“Good. I guess.” Logan shrugs. “Only about twenty-five people showed up.”
“Oh.” Doug says quietly, noticing another female students ogling Logan as they pass in the hallway.
Logan is oblivious to his admirers as he broods.
“Hey, Man…” Doug whispers, leaning toward his friend. “…do you see all these hot girls checking you out?”
“Great.” Logan mopes. “Too bad they don’t come to my class.”
“Too bad.” Doug sees two more girls admiring Logan’s good looks and flashes his best smile. “’Cause it looks like you could have your pick of some seriously hot tail.” He nods in Logan’s direction and turns into a lecture hall.
“Not worth the trouble.” Logan says to himself as he strolls down the hallway. I learned my lesson the hard way, Veronica is so much more to me than a quick fuck with a hot coed. He pulls his cell phone out of his pocket and quickly dials Veronica.
“Hey, Babe.”
“Hi.” She coos. “Are you free for lunch?”
“Are you hot for teacher?”
“You have no idea.”
“I’ll be there in fifteen.” He snaps his phone shut and breaks into a jog toward his Rover.
VMVMVMVMVMVM
There better be more than thirty fuckin’ students in class today. Logan thinks as he pushes the door to the lecture hall open, walking into his Wednesday ten o’clock class and stops abruptly. Holy fuck.
Almost every seat in the lecture hall is filled with students. Lots of students.
He blinks a few times, suddenly nervous and strides to the desk at the front of the class with a smile on his face, oblivious to the whispers and giggles exchanged by the female students occupying the majority of the seats in the expansive room.
Present…
Logan picks up the one and only photo on his desk and wipes the dust off the frame as he admires the photograph.
He and Veronica were spending a nice day on Dog Beach with Mac, Max, Dick, Chip Diller, Wallace, Parker and Piz. After they were all waterlogged from swimming and surfing, they lit a bonfire on the beach and continued to party into the evening. In the photograph Parker captured, Logan, Dick and Wallace sitting on a large piece of driftwood with their arms wrapped tightly around Veronica and Mac, squishing the girls between their bodies and laughing while the sun sets in the background and the bonfire roars in the foreground.
Logan smiles as he admires the picture before he removes it from the frame and replaces it with a brand new photo.
He rotates the hooks on the back of the frame, locking the new photograph in place and sets it on his desk in the same spot the older picture sat. He chuckles to himself as he remembers when this photo was captured.
“Oh! My! God! This is sooooo good.” Suzanne coos and breaks Logan out of his reverie as she savors every morsel of chocolate covered glazed doughnut while she walks down the walkway to her desk. “Did you bring these in Logan?”
The tall woman’s eyes glisten through her square eyeglasses as she passes Logan’s and Doug’s desks en route to her own cubicle.
“Yeah, a little treat to brighten this fine Monday morning.” Logan says with a smile.
“Oh yeah? What’s so fine about this Monday morning?” Suzanne asks as she places her backpack on her chair and turns on her computer.
“Nothing. I just felt like donuts today.” Logan grins and lowers his head to hide the bright smile that fills his face, thinking back to the last time he ate a doughnut.
Eight months earlier from present (Valentine’s Day)…
Logan opens the door to the bedroom quietly and tiptoes up to the bed. “Sugarpuss, it’s time to wake up.”
“Uhhhhhh.” Veronica grunts from under the fluffy blankets of their king-sized bed.
“I have presents.” Logan sing-songs dropping to his knees near the edge of the bed, setting a tray on top of the covers.
“Uhhhhhh.” Veronica repeats.
“And coffee.” He continues in his overly pleasant voice.
“Coffee?” She peeks one eye out from under the bed coverings.
Logan smiles. “With cream and extra sugar and your favorite….”
“My favorite?” Veronica uncovers her head and raises an eyebrow in question.
“Chocolate glazed doughnut with chocolate icing and sprinkles.” Logan nudges the tray toward Veronica.
“Yummy.” She sits up in bed and looks over Logan’s tray. “What’s all this?”
He points to each item on the tray. “Piping hot coffee, two gaggingly sweet doughnuts one of which is for me so keep your hands off, a beautiful red rose to symbolize your beauty…” Logan flutters his eyelashes innocently at Veronica.
“Oh, give me a break.” She chuckles as he continues.
“…and…” He dramatically gasps. “…what’s this? A present?”
Veronica grins widely and reaches for the small, light blue box with a white silk ribbon bow as Logan places the gift in her palm and kisses her cheek softly, nuzzling his nose under her ear. “Happy Valentine’s Day, Veronica. I love you.”
“I love you too, Babe.” She smiles and unties the ribbon, opening the box and dropping the small ring-sized box out into her hand. Oh God, he’s proposing. Veronica glances at Logan quickly, holds her breath and opens the second, smaller interior box.
The lid flips open to reveal a stunning silver locket with the scrolling letters of the word ‘LoVe’ on the front and two small pictures of herself and Logan on the inside. She releases her held breath and smiles feeling a little disappointed.
“Thank you. This is beautiful, Logan.” She caresses his cheek with her hand and leans toward him with a soft, gentle, loving kiss.
Logan breaks the kiss and nuzzles Veronica’s neck, placing small kisses on his way to her ear. “Happy Valentine’s Day. I love you. Now, eat your doughnut.”
“Mmm. Sounds good.” She picks up her doughnut, notices a big clump of sprinkles and begins to pluck the sugary bits from the chocolate icing when she sees a very non-doughnut like sparkle. Investigating closer, Veronica digs her finger into her doughnut and pulls out a huge, emerald-cut diamond engagement ring, caked in chocolatey dough and icing. “OH! MY! GOD!” She squeals with wide eyes. “My! God! This… is… a… how did… but… the locket… we never…”
“Veronica.” Logan takes Veronica’s hand in his as she sputters incoherently, staring at the platinum and diamond ring. “Veronica.” He squeezes her hand to get her attention as her dazed eyes focus on his face.
“Sweetie, breathe.” He laughs and Veronica inhales a deep breath, never breaking eye contact with Logan.
“Veronica…” Logan shifts in his position next to the bed to rest on only one knee and looks deep into the tiny blonde’s blue eyes, caressing her hand with his fingertips. “…I’ve loved you since the moment I saw you on the soccer field when we were twelve and I’ve never stopped loving you. We’ve had some really great good times and some really shitty bad times, but we always seem to come back to each other and each time our connection is stronger…”
Tears drip from Veronica’s eyes as she listens to Logan’s voice.
“…You are my strength and my will and the love of my fucking life. You drive me to be a better person and I want to wake up each morning with you twisted around me and I want the last thing I do every night is kiss you good night, every day for the rest of our lives. Veronica, will you marry me?”
Veronica blinks a few times as Logan rubs his fingertips on her hand, waiting for her answer and getting more and more nervous with each passing millisecond.
“Ronnie, please give me an answer, Babe. You’re killin’ me.”
She smiles bright and forcefully kisses his lips with passion, finally nodding her head yes without removing her lips from his mouth. “Yes.” She squeaks. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
Logan presses a powerful kiss to her lips then leans his forehead to hers and sticks the engagement ring in his mouth.
“Eww. What are you doing, Logan?” Veronica scrunches her eyebrows together in question and wrinkles her nose in disgust.
He spits the ring out into his palm and takes Veronica’s left hand in his hand, sliding the saliva-soaked ring onto her ring finger. “Cleaning off the ring before I put it on your finger. It was caked with doughnut goo.” He smiles at his fiancé. “And now it doesn’t.”
“Gee, thanks for that, Babe.” She curls her lip and smiles at the shiny, large ring on her finger.
Present…
“Thanks for the doughnuts Logan.” Michaela, the English department’s secretary and office mother hen, says over his cubicle wall and breaks Logan out of his thoughts. “Suzanne said you brought the doughnuts in. That was nice of you.”
He smiles and nods. “No problem. It’s been a while since I had doughnuts so I thought I’d bring some in to the office.”
“Thanks. My thighs thank you.” She laughs, standing at the edge of Logan’s desk. “Now I have to use the Tredmill for an extra twenty minutes.” Michaela notices Logan’s one and only framed photograph on his desk and leans in to examine it closer.
After an extended moment of silence, Logan wonders what his friend is doing and glances over his shoulder at the short, fifty-something redhead and follows her line of vision to his newly updated picture on his desk.
“Hmm, you look nice in this picture, all dressed up.” Michaela states softly, examining each detail of the photo carefully.
“Aw, come on, Michaela, a pair of dress pants and a buttoned-up shirt don’t make you dressed up…” Logan playfully dismisses her and turns to continue marking papers. “…a tuxedo, now that’s dressed up.” He chuckles softly.
“You clean up nice.” Michaela states. “You look really happy.”
“Yeah.” Logan says quietly, not turning his attention from his paperwork as a smile graces his mouth, while Michaela makes her way back to her desk.
Six months earlier from present…
“Snookums…” Veronica purrs as she climbs on to the sofa next to Logan and begins kissing his neck.
“Yes, Dear.”
“Can I ask you to do me a favor?” She rubs her nose against his throat seductively.
“I’m listening.” Logan moans, pulling Veronica’s tiny body toward him so she’s straddling his hips.
“Can you please be extra careful with photos of me around your desk at school.” She looks directly into Logan’s eyes. “I’m beginning a high-profile undercover case and I really need to fly under the radar right now.”
“Okay.” He says skeptically. “I only have one photo on my desk and it’s of all of us at Dog Beach. You’re not singled out, Babe.”
She shakes her head in agreement as her fingers play with the top button of Logan’s shirt. Veronica slowly raises her eyes to meet Logan’s. “It’s important to keep my cover and you never know who knows someone in government.” She lightly caresses the wrinkles of his shirt and continues. “I mean, we live in the fucking capital of all things secretive with the FBI and CIA headquarters like a few blocks off campus. But I really need to stay on the down low. I can’t have you talking about me by name or draping your cube with pictures of me. Okay?” She smiles softly and glances at his face through her eyelashes.
“Damn, I have to take down the poster of you straddling the hood of a Camaro in a string bikini? Fuuuuuuck.” Logan jokes and twists his fingers through the hair falling over Veronica’s shoulder as his tone turns serious. “You know that’s no problem. I’m used to keeping everything on the down low. Anything to keep you safe.” He places a gentle kiss on her forehead, lingering there for an extended moment. “My parents were the world’s biggest secret keepers so your cover is safe with me, Sugarpuss.”
“Good. Thank you.” She kisses his lips lightly and cuddles into his chest as Logan’s strong arms wrap around her protectively.
Present…
“Dude, your classes on Friday went smoothly.” Doug gets up from his desk and puts on his coat as he speaks over the cubicle wall. “All the hotties turned in their papers…” He gestures to the piles of papers Logan is currently reading through. “…and wanted to know if you would be back today.”
“Did you tell them the next reading assignment?” Logan asks as he sips his coffee, leaning back from his desk.
“Yeah. I collected their papers, gave them this week’s reading and then we were out of there.” Doug strings his messenger bag strap over his head and places it on his shoulder. “I couldn’t fucking concentrate with all the tarts in the front row.” He shakes his head and chuckles. “So, I’m sure they’re going to have wet panties now that you’re back so soon. They’ll probably throw them at your feet.”
“I don’t want their panties.” Logan calls after Doug as he walks away from their cubicles.
“Then save them for me.” Doug yells over his shoulder as he waits for the elevator to open.
Four days earlier from present…
“Jesus, what took you so long?” Veronica huffs as she adjusts a large garment bag on the luggage cart.
“I had to park in Nevada for God’s sakes, Ronnie.” Logan snaps as he pushes the rental cart with their carry-on luggage and begins to sprint down the airport corridor.
“We have to go to Gate 6.” Veronica shouts as she runs besides her fiancé.
“We have everything? Dress? Shoes? Passports? Tickets?”
“Rings and dress pants, yeah, it’s all packed.” She breathes heavily as they approach the rather short security line.
“Good, if we forgot anything, we’ll buy it there.” He pants and kisses the top of her hair while they wait in the rapidly moving line. “We’ll make the flight, Babe. We’re almost to the front of the line already.”
Veronica smiles and leans into Logan’s kiss. “I know. I just want to get there already.”
Logan nudges her chin upward with his fingertip, looking directly into Veronica’s eyes. “I know. I’ve been waiting a long time for this.” He pecks her lips lightly. “I love you.”
“NEXT!” The security guard barks over Veronica’s shoulder.
“I love you too.” Veronica laughs and smiles, turning toward the no-nonsense guard.
“You’re next, Darlin’! Don’t worry, Romeo there, will be waiting for you on the other side of the metal detectors.” The guard states with authority as a small grin forms on his haggard face.
click here to continue
Author: christykq
Rating: M for language and innuendos mostly, some sex
Characters/Pairings: LoVe
Word count: 10,668
Spoilers: none really, just know the series
Summary: FutureFic. Oneshot. Logan Lester is a happy guy with a lot of friends and a good job, trying to forget about his crazy life in Neptune, California. A LoVe story!
Disclaimer: I own nothing in the VM universe, it all belongs to the master RT.
A/N: Character’s thoughts are italic.
A/N2: This is my first attempt at writing with flashbacks. I hope each time the story switches, from present to past and back to present again, it’s clear. I did my best.
A/N3: All of the present time scenes occur on a Monday morning, as people arrive to work, fluttering around Logan’s desk, beginning their day and preparing for their classes.
Monday morning, sometime in October… (present)
“Dude, you’re in early this morning.” Dave says as he walks past Logan’s cubicle on his way to his expansive office, fit for a department head, with a jelly doughnut in his hand.
Professor David Monahan is a laid-back, down-to-earth guy in his early fifties who loves to live life: experience the pleasures of a walk in the park, a good glass of imported wine, some quiet time alone with his wife and twin daughters. He is a cancer survivor and has traveled the world a few times over, teaching in a few foreign lands such as West Africa and Egypt.
Dr. Monahan and Logan made an immediate connection in Logan’s acceptance interview, the summer before Logan’s first year of graduate school and has become Logan’s very good friend and father-figure in the past fifteen months. He is one of the only people at Georgetown University with knowledge of Logan’s real identity.
One year and eight months earlier than present…
“LOGAN! LOGAN!” Veronica busts into their small two-bedroom apartment near Hearst College campus, waving a piece of paper in her hand. “I got it! I got in the FBI training program!”
He walks out of their bedroom to greet his girlfriend and catches her in mid-air as she launches herself into his arms in celebration.
“I got it. We’re going to D.C., Babe. We’re going to D.C.” She cheers from his arms as he spins her around.
“I’m so proud of you, Ronnie. My girlfriend the Federal agent.” Logan kisses her lips and tightens his hold around her body. “I am so happy for you. You’ve worked so hard and you got in to the FBI agent training program. That is fuckin’ incredible. A real agent…” He shakes his head. “…none of this internship stuff anymore, Babe.”
“I guess those three unpaid internships helped coat my résumé, huh?” Veronica smiles as Logan sets her down on the ground. “Now, you just have to get into Georgetown.”
“Well…” Logan smiles and pulls a folded piece of paper out of his back pocket, unfolding it by snapping it in the air dramatically. “…Dear Mr. Echolls, we are happy to welcome you to our graduate studies program beginning this fall…”
Veronica crushes her lips to his mouth and gives him a long, wet, involved kiss. “Oh my God, you got in too! When did you find out?”
“Yesterday.” He mumbles against her lips. “I wanted to wait until you heard if you got in or not before I told you.” Logan shrugs. “I didn’t want to rub it in if you didn’t get accepted and I did.”
Veronica’s fingers touch his cheek gently. “I love you, Logan Echolls.”
He smiles and kisses the tip of her nose. “I love you, Veronica Mars.”
One year and three months earlier from present…
“Holy Fuck!” Logan yells as he stares at the television in the Java the Hut. Other customers shoot him dirty looks and Veronica races to his table.
“Logan.” She glares at him and speaks through clenched teeth. “What is your problem? This is a restaurant.”
“Look.” He nudges his chin in the direction of the television as CNN is flashing the words ‘Breaking News’ on the screen. “Copies of Lilly and Aaron’s sex tapes were found.” He says without taking his eyes off the TV screen.
Veronica grabs his arm to stabilize her wobbly knees as Logan’s cell phone rings. He looks at the caller ID as he pulls Veronica to his lap. “It’s Dick.”
Veronica’s phone vibrates in her pocket and she looks at the caller ID before answering the call. “Hi Dad …Yeah, I’m sitting here with Logan at the Hut. We just saw the report.”
Logan and Veronica share an uneasy glance as Logan sighs and puts his head in his hands, leaving his phone unanswered.
One year and two months earlier from present…
“This is it?” Veronica looks at the three-story brownstone on a narrow street in the heart of Washington D.C. “This is home?” She smiles over her shoulder as Logan climbs out of his Range Rover.
“Yep. Number 115. What do you think?” Logan smiles and takes Veronica’s hand as he approaches the front door, swinging the house keys in his hand.
“It looks just like its picture online and I love it. It’s gorgeous. It looks like home.” Veronica beams excitedly as Logan opens the door and escorts her into their newly purchased house.
They inspect the interior of their new brownstone for a half hour before returning to the Range Rover and driving to Logan’s advisor’s office on the Georgetown University campus.
“Veronica?” Logan says tentatively.
“Yeah.” She turns from gazing out the passenger-side window.
“I was thinking… I think I’m going to go by Logan Lester while I’m at Georgetown.” He glances at his girlfriend’s face quickly then returns his eyes to the road ahead. “We came to the East Coast to start over with your new position in the FBI and my grad school. I don’t want to be linked to the Echolls name, right now, if I can help it.”
“Are you going to legally change it?” Veronica asks softly.
“No. I’ll get my graduate degree with Echolls on it but only a few people will know my real name. That will stop any google searches, Tinseltown Diary updates and tabloid photos.” Logan swallows the lump in this throat. “Just when we were getting on with our lives the fuckin’ lost copies of the Lilly and Aaron sex tapes had to show up and fuck everything up again.”
Veronica nods in agreement. “Seven years of this shit and Lilly Kane’s exploits are still hurting us.” She reaches across the center console and takes Logan’s hand in hers, squeezing it tightly.
Logan brings her hand to his mouth and kisses her knuckles as he parks the Range Rover in front of the Georgetown University English Department.
A few minutes later, Veronica and Logan walk off the elevator in the basement of McCall Hall, hand-in-hand, searching for Logan’s advisor, Professor David Monahan.
They scan a long, narrow room with very few windows and a low ceiling for any sign of life when a mousey, brunette student approaches the couple.
She adjusts her backpack on her shoulder as she looks at the floor.
Logan glances toward Veronica and tightens his grip on her hand. “Um, hi. Do you know where we can find Professor Monahan?” He asks sweetly, urging the bashful student to make eye contact.
The shy coed’s eyes barely reach Logan’s when she responds timidly. “Right there, the first real office, down this walkway.”
“Thanks.” Logan grins, watching the nervous student dash to the elevator, desperate to get to the elevator without any additional delay.
Veronica smiles and rolls her eyes, tightening her hold on Logan’s hand and tugs him toward the Professor’s office. “Come on.”
Logan rubs his thumb on the back of Veronica’s hand to calm his nerves. “I don’t know why I’m so nervous. It’s not like I’m a freshmen or something. I’ve been through four fucking years of college.”
She shakes her head as they walk to the office and Logan knocks on the open door. “Excuse me, Professor Monahan?”
“Yeeesss.” Dr. Monahan sing-songs with his back to the couple, digging in the bottom drawer of his filing cabinet. “What can I do for you?” He swirls around in his aged office chair with a smile.
Logan swallows the nervous lump in his throat and steps toward the professor, offering his hand in a greeting as Veronica leans against the office doorframe.
“Hi, I’m…”
“Logan Echolls…” Dr. Monahan adds. “…my newest advisee.” He chuckles, shakes Logan’s hand and gestures for Logan to take a seat on a dusty sofa, covered with stacks of files and folders as he grabs a large tower of paperwork and plops it on the floor next to his desk, joining many other piles of miscellaneous papers scattered throughout the office.
“Yeah… um… about that…” Logan says quietly as he lowers into the worn sofa, without meeting his advisor’s eyes.
“Hold on, Logan.” Dr. Monahan says with a gentle voice in Logan’s direction as his eyes lock on Veronica. “Do you know this woman?”
Logan’s eyes follow his advisor’s extended arm and winks at Veronica with a small smirk. “Yeah.”
The professor climbs out of his chair and strides across the small office with a slight swagger, ushering Veronica into the room. “You don’t have to stand out in the hallway, Miss.” He moves the rest of the papers off the sofa and leads Veronica to a spot next to Logan. “I’m assuming you know Logan.”
Veronica nods and smiles. “Yes.”
“Professor, this is my girlfriend, Veronica.”
Ah, yes, the teenaged detective Miss Veronica Mars, if I’m not mistaken. He thinks. “Where are your manners, Echolls? I thought you finished your undergrad. Don’t you know you never leave a pretty girl standing alone on a college campus?” Professor Monahan nudges Logan’s knee with his foot playfully as he smiles at Veronica and reclines comfortably in his desk chair, studying the young couple sitting in his office. “Do you know how many creeps are on a college campus just waiting to pounce on a cute girl like Veronica?”
Veronica exhales loudly and Logan laughs out loud sarcastically.
“As a matter of fact, I do, Professor.” Logan says and drapes his arm around Veronica’s shoulders, pulling her body protectively closer to his torso. “That brings me to my original point.”
Logan glances at Veronica and is tempted to kiss the top of her head softly but decides against it, opting to squeeze her shoulder instead.
Her eyes rise to meet Logan’s as she pats his thigh with the palm of her hand while he continues.
“You’ve read my transcript and you’re not stupid, you know who my parents are. I’m sure you’ve seen Tinseltown Diaries, my past has been colorful.”
Veronica huffs in agreement and Logan’s advisor nods his head in understanding.
“We moved to the East Coast to get away from our lives in Neptune, California. Veronica has been accepted in the training program at the FBI and I’m starting here at Georgetown. We’re trying to forget all of the pain and move on with our lives. We want a fresh start and that’s why I’m going to use my mother’s maiden name here on campus, if I can.” Logan looks at Veronica and she smiles warmly.
“I don’t need to hear the whispers or get my photo taken during a test, so, Dr. Monahan, from here on out, Logan Lester will be attending Georgetown University and you’re the only one on campus that will know that… well, you and the bursar.” Logan looks his advisor square in the eye. “I hope I can trust you not to send that tidbit straight to the tabloids as soon as I leave your office.”
The professor chuckles and rests his hands on top of his head, examining Logan closely without saying a word.
After a few moments, Dr. Monahan smiles and drops his hands from his head and places them comfortably in his lap. “Well, Mr. Lester, your secret is safe with me. As for your parents…” He locks eyes with Logan and Logan sees a warm, caring man looking back. “…I think they were both crappy actors and their lives have no reflection on your academic career at Georgetown.” He pauses. “And you can call me Dave. I have to deal with all that stupid formality crap when I go to staff meetings and department lectures, I don’t need a smart ass kid, like yourself, calling me Professor all the time. Do I look like I’m stuck on Gilligan’s Island?... Although I do have a thing for women named Mary Ann.” He shifts his head and smiles.
Logan laughs inwardly with his advisor’s honest, no-holding-back opinions and he feels the tension in his muscles fade away. I think I’m going to like this guy.
“So, Logan, tell me about yourself. What are you hobbies? What’s your favorite book or TV show? How does it feel to be dating a federal agent? Why Georgetown?”
Veronica beams as the words federal agent fall from the professor’s mouth and Logan pats her shoulder lovingly, with the hand resting across the top of the sofa.
“First off, I would have to go with Ginger. You gotta love the feisty girls.” Logan grunts as Veronica elbows him in the ribs.
“Ow. And really there’s not much to tell that you can’t read online. I love to surf and I’m really going to miss the rough Pacific waves but I’m kind of excited to have a white Christmas.”
“Ha. Wait until you have to scrape the ice off your windshield at six in the morning. You’ll be wishing you were back in sunny SoCal in no time.” Dr. Monahan smiles and points to a small picture on his bookshelf of a young guy with long hair and a cigarette hanging out of his mouth, standing at the edge of a beach with a surf board tucked under his arm. “I’m originally from San Francisco and I’ve shredded a few waves in my day.”
Logan leans toward the picture to get a closer look and laughs at the ancient picture. Veronica shifts to see the photograph as Logan continues speaking. “My favorite show is Family Guy and I think it’s freaking hot that my girlfriend is going to be an FBI agent…” Logan looks directly into Veronica’s eyes as she refocuses on her boyfriend and he speaks while his hand absentmindedly strokes her hair. “…but it also scares the hell out of me to think she could be in danger every day she goes to work.”
This time, when the urge hits him, Logan kisses the top of Veronica’s head without caring what his advisor thinks.
For the next forty-five minutes, Logan, Veronica and Professor Dave Monahan chat casually about a variety of topics and fall into a comfortable conversation. When Logan and Veronica leave Dave’s office, Logan feels like he’s met a man that he can look up to and trust whole-heartedly.
Present…
“Hi Logan.” Jessica purrs over the edge of Logan’s cubicle.
Logan looks up from grading students’ papers and smiles at Jessica Monahan, one of his mentor’s twin daughters. “Jess.” A big smile grows on Logan’s face as he leans back in his chair and looks directly into the tall brunette’s dark brown eyes. “You haven’t stopped by your dad’s office in a few weeks. How’s my favorite girl?”
Jessica steps around the wall of Logan’s cube and sits on the edge of his desk, flipping her long hair over her shoulder, adjusting her books in her arms and grins. “Maybe I stop by when you’re not around and you better not let my sister hear you say that, she’ll be devastated. You know she has a huge crush on you.”
“Damn. If only I was a few years younger.” He jokes, snapping his fingers for emphasis. “Besides, she says you’re the one crushing on me.” Logan smirks flirtatiously and twists in his chair casually.
Jessica rolls her eyes and returns his smirk. “Yeah, you keep thinking that.” She sets her books on Logan’s desk and twirls her hair around her finger absent-mindedly. “You’re like five years older then us, anyway. You sound like your, like, forty or something.” She shakes her head and chuckles.
Logan mockingly gasps at the word forty. “But I like older women, Jess. It would never work out between us.” He bats his eyelashes dramatically and watches this cute freshman coed spin her hair in her fingers innocently. If I was an undergrad, you and Jennifer would totally be my type. Logan thinks as his eyes follow her twisting hair. But I’m not and I’m responsible for teaching over three hundred freshman English 101, so that’s not going to happen.
Jessica Monahan and her identical twin sister, Jennifer, are attending Georgetown University on a free ride, one of the benefits of having a university English professor as a father, and they always stop by their dad’s office when they get a chance. Since they live on campus, these visits are the only times Dave sees his daughters.
Dr. Monahan’s girls are his pride and joy and he turns to mush in the palms of their hands whenever they visit.
The Professor claims that his daughters pop in more frequently ever since strapping, young, unmarried Logan began working as his newest teaching assistant but Logan is convinced it’s the fifty bucks Dave sneaks them when he thinks no one is looking that’s the reason for their numerous visits.
Ever since Logan began working for Professor Monahan and acquired a desk just outside of his office, he has become friends with his mentor’s daughters and looks after them as if they are his younger sisters.
“So, Jess, any good parties you’ve been to lately?” Logan questions as he tucks his pen behind his ear and watches Jessica snap her gum and think.
“A few weeks back there was a really good toga party at Beta Phi house. That was fun.” She smiles at the memory. “I met this cute guy, Jeremy, and Jenny puked all over his shoes.”
“Gross. Remember not to drink anything that’s handed to you…” Logan gives her a pointed look. “…and only…”
“…drink from a closed container or a cup that you poured yourself.” Jennifer completes Logan’s sentence from over the cubicle wall, behind her twin sister’s shoulder.
Jessica turns and greets her sister with a smile.
“Logan giving you the speech again?” Jennifer asks with a roll of her eyes.
“Hey…” He points at the two identical sisters with his pen to stress his point. “…if you weren’t hanging out with horny frat guys and puking on their shoes, then I wouldn’t have to keep giving you the speech.”
“Why did you tell him about that?” Jennifer slaps Jessica’s arm.
“Tell him what?” Professor Monahan appears behind his daughters and eyes the three young people suspiciously while he stirs his coffee.
“Nothing.” The twins say in unison, meshing their identical voices to one as Logan turns back to grading his students’ papers and the Monahans disappear into Dave’s office.
A few moments after the Monahans walk away, Logan’s friend and fellow teaching assistant, in the adjoining cubicle, pops his head around Logan’s cube. “Dude, there were some seriously hot girls looking for you after your ten o’clock and four o’clock classes on Friday.”
Logan looks up from his corrections and smiles. “Oh yeah? Who was it and what did they want?”
Doug shakes his head and takes a bite out of a crème filled doughnut. “Man, there were like fifteen girls that came up to the front of the class after your ten o’clock. They all wanted to know where you were and when you were going to be back.”
Logan smiles and goes back to his paper grading.
“And your four o’clock…” Doug exhales loudly and shakes his head repeatedly. “…shit, I could barely teach with the whole front row of sorority girls sitting there in short skirts and their tits bursting out of their shirts. How the hell do you do it, Man? I don’t have any hot girls in my classes.”
Logan chuckles and leans back in his chair casually. “What can I say? I guess I see them for their brains and not their bods.” Yeah and if you believe that one, I have swampland in Florida I can sell you. He smiles.
“No. No, there’s no way you could miss these girls’ bodies. They were right there…” Doug holds his hands out in front of himself as if presenting someone a gift. “…for all the world to see and appreciate.”
Logan dismisses his friend with a wave of his hand. “You’re imagining things. You make it sound like only hot girls are enrolled in my classes.” He scoots closer to his desk and continues his work. “You just need to get laid, Dude.”
Doug laughs and shoves another bite of doughnut into his mouth. “Well, that’s true but, no, I swear all the cute girls go to your classes. I’m sure of it.”
The Monahan twins exit Dave’s office as Doug finishes his sentence and he asks their opinions. “Excuse me.”
Jennifer and Jessica turn toward Doug.
“Can I ask you guys a question?”
“Sure.”
Logan sits up and listens to Doug and the twins’ discussion more closely.
“You guys are freshman, right?” The Monahans nod yes as Doug continues. “And you take English 101, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Have you heard anything about girls going to Logan’s English classes instead of their scheduled classes?”
The girls look at each other and laugh then turn to back to Doug.
“Logan is the hottie of the English department.” Jessica says with a big grin.
“No offense.” Jennifer adds in Doug’s direction and he shrugs.
“He’s the talk of the dorms.”
Jessica squeals in a high-pitched girlie voice. “Did you see what Logan’s wearing today?... Ohmigosh, Logan totally called on me this morning…”
Jennifer continues with the same high shriek. “…Logan handed me my quiz and we touched hands… Logan’s ass looked so good in his tight jeans today…”
“See I told you.” Doug confirms his theory with a solid head nod.
“Okay. Enough.” Logan states firmly.
“…if Logan smiles at me again I’m gonna, like, die…”
“…Logan is, like, the coolest teacher ever. Logan. Logan. Logan…” Jessica rolls her eyes and sticks out her tongue in disgust. “If I have to hear one more thing about your tight jeans or your cute smile, I’m going to barf.”
Doug laughs as Logan whips his chair around and gives the girls a stern look. “I’m grading your section’s papers right now, Ms. Monahan.”
The twins walk away from Logan’s desk and he can hear Jennifer speak in a low tone. “You’re one of the girls that is ogling him in class, Jess.”
“Shut up! Like you’re not down here visiting Dad like every day.” Jennifer says under her breath as they walk away from Logan and Doug’s cubes.
“Thanks ladies.” Doug yells after them then lowers his voice and continues. “See. I wasn’t exaggerating. You’re the hottie T.A. that all the girls want to sleep with.”
Logan settles back at his desk and smiles as he resumes grading English papers. There’s only one girl I want to sleep with.
Eleven months earlier from present…
“Veronica. It’s so nice to see you again.” Dave kisses Veronica’s cheek in a quick greeting, climbing out of his soft leather seat, as she and Logan approach a small booth in the back of a small Italian restaurant in Georgetown, just off the university campus. “My wife, Mary Ann.” He gestures to the older, slightly graying woman in her seat.
Veronica shakes her hand with a warm smile and slides into the booth next to the Professor’s wife as Logan shakes his friend’s hand and leans in to his mentor’s ear, speaking softly. “Professor and Mary Ann?” He chuckles and takes his place next to Veronica.
Dr. Monahan sits in his seat, rolling his eyes. “Yeah, and my kids are Skipper and Lovey.”
The two couples chit-chat and order drinks as they look over their menus. Veronica licks her lips in anticipation as she peruses the menu selection.
Logan leans into his girlfriend and whispers in her ear. “Can you keep the moans to a minimum, Babe? I’m having trouble concentrating on reading the menu.”
Veronica’s eyes widen as she realizes she was vocalizing her appreciation for the gourmet Italian variety. “Sorry.” She lowers her head and bites her lip.
Mary Ann pats her arm reassuringly and smiles. “It’s okay, Sweetie, everything looks so good, I’m ready to order the entire menu.”
Veronica blushes.
“Don’t tempt her.” Logan kisses her temple as he lowers his menu and sips his drink.
Dave places his menu on the table and clears his throat. “Logan, I asked you and Veronica here tonight because I’ve enjoyed getting to know you over the past few months and I would like to offer you a job.”
Veronica’s eyes slowly rise to meet Dr. Monahan’s eyes as she listens closely. Did he just say job? Ha! She smirks. Oh, this ought to be good.
Logan smirks at his mentor. “Aww, come on, Dave, you know I’m not into something as taxing as a job.” He dramatically rolls his eyes, stressing the last word of his sentence.
“Dude, everybody’s doing it.” Dave jokes in his best surfer voice.
Veronica’s curiosity getting the best of her, she quietly interrupts the mens’ banter. “What kind of job?”
“Teacher’s assistant.” Dr. Monahan says in Veronica’s direction, never breaking eye contact with Logan.
Veronica’s eyes sparkle and move to glance at Logan’s face.
“Do I have to get you coffee?” Logan’s lip rises with disgust.
“It would be in your best interest to keep me happy, but, no, getting me coffee is not necessary.”
“So, I’ll be, like, making copies and shit like that?” Logan smiles at his friend. “’Cause I can’t ruin these hands with paper cuts.” He spreads his hands out in front of himself, displaying his neatly manicured nails.
“And here, I thought you would jump at the chance to photocopy your ass.” Dave says with a grin to match Logan’s.
Logan shifts his head as if he’s pondering the thought and slaps his hand on the table. “I’ll take it.”
Dr. Monahan laughs and clarifies the real duties and responsibilities of the position after the foursome order their meals and enjoy a relaxing dinner together.
Nine months earlier from present…
Logan wipes his palms on his jeans, nervously and kisses Veronica on the top of the head. “I can’t believe how fuckin’ nerve-racking this is.”
She smiles and pours coffee into a travel mug, sliding it toward Logan on the kitchen counter. “Just relax. You’ll do fine. These are freshmen knuckleheads that are only in English 101 because it’s a requirement, they won’t know if you mess up. They’re probably all still drunk and high from last night. They won’t know you’re a teaching virgin. ”
“So, you’re saying I’ll be teaching a bunch of hung over, bleary-eyed punks that just rolled out of bed? And they wouldn’t care if a monkey is teaching them?”
“Exactly.” She smiles and kisses his lips gently. “I love you and you’ll do fine.”
He takes a deep breath, swats Veronica’s ass quickly and grabs his coffee as he leaves. “Love you.” He calls over his shoulder as he walks out the brownstone’s front door.
VMVMVMVMVM
Logan breathes deep to settle himself and walks into the large lecture hall at the stroke of ten o’clock. He places his backpack on the desk and pulls out notes and a stack of photocopies as he glances at the raised seating in front of him for the first time. Holy shit, there isn’t anyone in this fuckin’ class.
Sporadically sitting around the large lecture hall, a total of approximately thirty yawning, hung-over students look back at Logan.
He quickly checks his watch. It’s ten o’clock, right? Where is everyone? He huffs with a slight amount of disappointment. Okay, well, I gotta teach, no matter how many students show up. Here goes nothing.
He clears his throat and speaks loudly. “Hi. I’m Logan Lester, Dr. Monahan’s T.A. I’ll be teaching this class all semester.” He pauses, receiving very little reaction from the small amount of students attending his class. “Okay, let’s get started.”
VMVMVMVMVM
Logan walks out of the lecture room, holding the door for one of his students with his fingertips as he looks back over his shoulder and locks eyes with the blonde undergrad.
“Thanks.” The tall, shapely girl coos with a bright smile. “Great class, I’ll see you on Wednesday.”
“Wednesday.” Logan says in a monotone and nods his head in agreement as she eyes his body up and down before turning away and walking in the opposite direction.
“Dude.” Doug, Dr. Monahan’s other assistant, quickens his step and falls in stride with Logan easily.
“Hey, man.”
Doug glances over his shoulder quickly. “That chick totally wants you. Did you get her number?”
Logan scoffs and wrinkles his brow in question. “Her number? Ah, no. She’s one of my students, Dude, and I have a girlfriend.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah, like that’s ever stopped anyone from nailing a hot girl before.” Doug shakes his head and exhales loudly as he notices another student checking out Logan.
“Not interested.” Logan states firmly and sulks.
“Dude, what’s up? How your first class go?”
“Good. I guess.” Logan shrugs. “Only about twenty-five people showed up.”
“Oh.” Doug says quietly, noticing another female students ogling Logan as they pass in the hallway.
Logan is oblivious to his admirers as he broods.
“Hey, Man…” Doug whispers, leaning toward his friend. “…do you see all these hot girls checking you out?”
“Great.” Logan mopes. “Too bad they don’t come to my class.”
“Too bad.” Doug sees two more girls admiring Logan’s good looks and flashes his best smile. “’Cause it looks like you could have your pick of some seriously hot tail.” He nods in Logan’s direction and turns into a lecture hall.
“Not worth the trouble.” Logan says to himself as he strolls down the hallway. I learned my lesson the hard way, Veronica is so much more to me than a quick fuck with a hot coed. He pulls his cell phone out of his pocket and quickly dials Veronica.
“Hey, Babe.”
“Hi.” She coos. “Are you free for lunch?”
“Are you hot for teacher?”
“You have no idea.”
“I’ll be there in fifteen.” He snaps his phone shut and breaks into a jog toward his Rover.
VMVMVMVMVMVM
There better be more than thirty fuckin’ students in class today. Logan thinks as he pushes the door to the lecture hall open, walking into his Wednesday ten o’clock class and stops abruptly. Holy fuck.
Almost every seat in the lecture hall is filled with students. Lots of students.
He blinks a few times, suddenly nervous and strides to the desk at the front of the class with a smile on his face, oblivious to the whispers and giggles exchanged by the female students occupying the majority of the seats in the expansive room.
Present…
Logan picks up the one and only photo on his desk and wipes the dust off the frame as he admires the photograph.
He and Veronica were spending a nice day on Dog Beach with Mac, Max, Dick, Chip Diller, Wallace, Parker and Piz. After they were all waterlogged from swimming and surfing, they lit a bonfire on the beach and continued to party into the evening. In the photograph Parker captured, Logan, Dick and Wallace sitting on a large piece of driftwood with their arms wrapped tightly around Veronica and Mac, squishing the girls between their bodies and laughing while the sun sets in the background and the bonfire roars in the foreground.
Logan smiles as he admires the picture before he removes it from the frame and replaces it with a brand new photo.
He rotates the hooks on the back of the frame, locking the new photograph in place and sets it on his desk in the same spot the older picture sat. He chuckles to himself as he remembers when this photo was captured.
“Oh! My! God! This is sooooo good.” Suzanne coos and breaks Logan out of his reverie as she savors every morsel of chocolate covered glazed doughnut while she walks down the walkway to her desk. “Did you bring these in Logan?”
The tall woman’s eyes glisten through her square eyeglasses as she passes Logan’s and Doug’s desks en route to her own cubicle.
“Yeah, a little treat to brighten this fine Monday morning.” Logan says with a smile.
“Oh yeah? What’s so fine about this Monday morning?” Suzanne asks as she places her backpack on her chair and turns on her computer.
“Nothing. I just felt like donuts today.” Logan grins and lowers his head to hide the bright smile that fills his face, thinking back to the last time he ate a doughnut.
Eight months earlier from present (Valentine’s Day)…
Logan opens the door to the bedroom quietly and tiptoes up to the bed. “Sugarpuss, it’s time to wake up.”
“Uhhhhhh.” Veronica grunts from under the fluffy blankets of their king-sized bed.
“I have presents.” Logan sing-songs dropping to his knees near the edge of the bed, setting a tray on top of the covers.
“Uhhhhhh.” Veronica repeats.
“And coffee.” He continues in his overly pleasant voice.
“Coffee?” She peeks one eye out from under the bed coverings.
Logan smiles. “With cream and extra sugar and your favorite….”
“My favorite?” Veronica uncovers her head and raises an eyebrow in question.
“Chocolate glazed doughnut with chocolate icing and sprinkles.” Logan nudges the tray toward Veronica.
“Yummy.” She sits up in bed and looks over Logan’s tray. “What’s all this?”
He points to each item on the tray. “Piping hot coffee, two gaggingly sweet doughnuts one of which is for me so keep your hands off, a beautiful red rose to symbolize your beauty…” Logan flutters his eyelashes innocently at Veronica.
“Oh, give me a break.” She chuckles as he continues.
“…and…” He dramatically gasps. “…what’s this? A present?”
Veronica grins widely and reaches for the small, light blue box with a white silk ribbon bow as Logan places the gift in her palm and kisses her cheek softly, nuzzling his nose under her ear. “Happy Valentine’s Day, Veronica. I love you.”
“I love you too, Babe.” She smiles and unties the ribbon, opening the box and dropping the small ring-sized box out into her hand. Oh God, he’s proposing. Veronica glances at Logan quickly, holds her breath and opens the second, smaller interior box.
The lid flips open to reveal a stunning silver locket with the scrolling letters of the word ‘LoVe’ on the front and two small pictures of herself and Logan on the inside. She releases her held breath and smiles feeling a little disappointed.
“Thank you. This is beautiful, Logan.” She caresses his cheek with her hand and leans toward him with a soft, gentle, loving kiss.
Logan breaks the kiss and nuzzles Veronica’s neck, placing small kisses on his way to her ear. “Happy Valentine’s Day. I love you. Now, eat your doughnut.”
“Mmm. Sounds good.” She picks up her doughnut, notices a big clump of sprinkles and begins to pluck the sugary bits from the chocolate icing when she sees a very non-doughnut like sparkle. Investigating closer, Veronica digs her finger into her doughnut and pulls out a huge, emerald-cut diamond engagement ring, caked in chocolatey dough and icing. “OH! MY! GOD!” She squeals with wide eyes. “My! God! This… is… a… how did… but… the locket… we never…”
“Veronica.” Logan takes Veronica’s hand in his as she sputters incoherently, staring at the platinum and diamond ring. “Veronica.” He squeezes her hand to get her attention as her dazed eyes focus on his face.
“Sweetie, breathe.” He laughs and Veronica inhales a deep breath, never breaking eye contact with Logan.
“Veronica…” Logan shifts in his position next to the bed to rest on only one knee and looks deep into the tiny blonde’s blue eyes, caressing her hand with his fingertips. “…I’ve loved you since the moment I saw you on the soccer field when we were twelve and I’ve never stopped loving you. We’ve had some really great good times and some really shitty bad times, but we always seem to come back to each other and each time our connection is stronger…”
Tears drip from Veronica’s eyes as she listens to Logan’s voice.
“…You are my strength and my will and the love of my fucking life. You drive me to be a better person and I want to wake up each morning with you twisted around me and I want the last thing I do every night is kiss you good night, every day for the rest of our lives. Veronica, will you marry me?”
Veronica blinks a few times as Logan rubs his fingertips on her hand, waiting for her answer and getting more and more nervous with each passing millisecond.
“Ronnie, please give me an answer, Babe. You’re killin’ me.”
She smiles bright and forcefully kisses his lips with passion, finally nodding her head yes without removing her lips from his mouth. “Yes.” She squeaks. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
Logan presses a powerful kiss to her lips then leans his forehead to hers and sticks the engagement ring in his mouth.
“Eww. What are you doing, Logan?” Veronica scrunches her eyebrows together in question and wrinkles her nose in disgust.
He spits the ring out into his palm and takes Veronica’s left hand in his hand, sliding the saliva-soaked ring onto her ring finger. “Cleaning off the ring before I put it on your finger. It was caked with doughnut goo.” He smiles at his fiancé. “And now it doesn’t.”
“Gee, thanks for that, Babe.” She curls her lip and smiles at the shiny, large ring on her finger.
Present…
“Thanks for the doughnuts Logan.” Michaela, the English department’s secretary and office mother hen, says over his cubicle wall and breaks Logan out of his thoughts. “Suzanne said you brought the doughnuts in. That was nice of you.”
He smiles and nods. “No problem. It’s been a while since I had doughnuts so I thought I’d bring some in to the office.”
“Thanks. My thighs thank you.” She laughs, standing at the edge of Logan’s desk. “Now I have to use the Tredmill for an extra twenty minutes.” Michaela notices Logan’s one and only framed photograph on his desk and leans in to examine it closer.
After an extended moment of silence, Logan wonders what his friend is doing and glances over his shoulder at the short, fifty-something redhead and follows her line of vision to his newly updated picture on his desk.
“Hmm, you look nice in this picture, all dressed up.” Michaela states softly, examining each detail of the photo carefully.
“Aw, come on, Michaela, a pair of dress pants and a buttoned-up shirt don’t make you dressed up…” Logan playfully dismisses her and turns to continue marking papers. “…a tuxedo, now that’s dressed up.” He chuckles softly.
“You clean up nice.” Michaela states. “You look really happy.”
“Yeah.” Logan says quietly, not turning his attention from his paperwork as a smile graces his mouth, while Michaela makes her way back to her desk.
Six months earlier from present…
“Snookums…” Veronica purrs as she climbs on to the sofa next to Logan and begins kissing his neck.
“Yes, Dear.”
“Can I ask you to do me a favor?” She rubs her nose against his throat seductively.
“I’m listening.” Logan moans, pulling Veronica’s tiny body toward him so she’s straddling his hips.
“Can you please be extra careful with photos of me around your desk at school.” She looks directly into Logan’s eyes. “I’m beginning a high-profile undercover case and I really need to fly under the radar right now.”
“Okay.” He says skeptically. “I only have one photo on my desk and it’s of all of us at Dog Beach. You’re not singled out, Babe.”
She shakes her head in agreement as her fingers play with the top button of Logan’s shirt. Veronica slowly raises her eyes to meet Logan’s. “It’s important to keep my cover and you never know who knows someone in government.” She lightly caresses the wrinkles of his shirt and continues. “I mean, we live in the fucking capital of all things secretive with the FBI and CIA headquarters like a few blocks off campus. But I really need to stay on the down low. I can’t have you talking about me by name or draping your cube with pictures of me. Okay?” She smiles softly and glances at his face through her eyelashes.
“Damn, I have to take down the poster of you straddling the hood of a Camaro in a string bikini? Fuuuuuuck.” Logan jokes and twists his fingers through the hair falling over Veronica’s shoulder as his tone turns serious. “You know that’s no problem. I’m used to keeping everything on the down low. Anything to keep you safe.” He places a gentle kiss on her forehead, lingering there for an extended moment. “My parents were the world’s biggest secret keepers so your cover is safe with me, Sugarpuss.”
“Good. Thank you.” She kisses his lips lightly and cuddles into his chest as Logan’s strong arms wrap around her protectively.
Present…
“Dude, your classes on Friday went smoothly.” Doug gets up from his desk and puts on his coat as he speaks over the cubicle wall. “All the hotties turned in their papers…” He gestures to the piles of papers Logan is currently reading through. “…and wanted to know if you would be back today.”
“Did you tell them the next reading assignment?” Logan asks as he sips his coffee, leaning back from his desk.
“Yeah. I collected their papers, gave them this week’s reading and then we were out of there.” Doug strings his messenger bag strap over his head and places it on his shoulder. “I couldn’t fucking concentrate with all the tarts in the front row.” He shakes his head and chuckles. “So, I’m sure they’re going to have wet panties now that you’re back so soon. They’ll probably throw them at your feet.”
“I don’t want their panties.” Logan calls after Doug as he walks away from their cubicles.
“Then save them for me.” Doug yells over his shoulder as he waits for the elevator to open.
Four days earlier from present…
“Jesus, what took you so long?” Veronica huffs as she adjusts a large garment bag on the luggage cart.
“I had to park in Nevada for God’s sakes, Ronnie.” Logan snaps as he pushes the rental cart with their carry-on luggage and begins to sprint down the airport corridor.
“We have to go to Gate 6.” Veronica shouts as she runs besides her fiancé.
“We have everything? Dress? Shoes? Passports? Tickets?”
“Rings and dress pants, yeah, it’s all packed.” She breathes heavily as they approach the rather short security line.
“Good, if we forgot anything, we’ll buy it there.” He pants and kisses the top of her hair while they wait in the rapidly moving line. “We’ll make the flight, Babe. We’re almost to the front of the line already.”
Veronica smiles and leans into Logan’s kiss. “I know. I just want to get there already.”
Logan nudges her chin upward with his fingertip, looking directly into Veronica’s eyes. “I know. I’ve been waiting a long time for this.” He pecks her lips lightly. “I love you.”
“NEXT!” The security guard barks over Veronica’s shoulder.
“I love you too.” Veronica laughs and smiles, turning toward the no-nonsense guard.
“You’re next, Darlin’! Don’t worry, Romeo there, will be waiting for you on the other side of the metal detectors.” The guard states with authority as a small grin forms on his haggard face.
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