"Welcome to the Casa de Casablancas" a blonder and tanner Dick said as he opened the door with a welcoming flourish. "Oh, hey, Mac," he said warmly as he noticed who was waiting outside. He looked at her, all of her, and smiled.

"What Dick? No nickname" she teased, "I'm a little hurt." She eyed him too—surfing was good to him—but scrunched up her face as she noticed him give her the once over.

"Give me time, Mac-Attack. See? There it is." Dick surprised himself, he didn't expect to give her what she wanted right away. This made him smile to himself He noticed her hair was longer, purple this time, but her sarcastic smile was still the same.

"Nice place you've got here," she said eyeing the whole suite. The place was packed with people, dancing and drinking. She thought it was strange that he was being so nice to her, but she proceeded with the chit-chat, "Logan said you've acquired some new real estate."

"Yeah, thought it was about time I settled down."

"In a hotel? Yeah, way to ground yourself."

"Hey, dude, it's a good business model," he protested. " I know what's working and what's not, you know? What better way to know if the room service is good or the pool is clean than by living right here?'

That kind of made sense. Dick was being nice to her and being logical. It was starting off as a strange night.

"So, your boyfriend's here," Dick said with a sly grin, and Mac realized the pleasantries were over.

"Yeah?" she said, looking behind him for Max, understanding his text.

"He and some dorks from his cheating company are here," still smiling like a fool.

"Okay, and?"

"And they brought like 10 hookers!"

"Oh," Mac said, a little bummed.

"Oh! That's all you say! I've been excited about telling you since the moment they walked in! " Dick said, visibly deflated, but amused. "Way to be a buzz-kill, Mackers."

"It's probably just Wendy and her friends," Mac offered.

"Yeah, I met a Wendy," Dick said remembering, "she's smokin' hot."

"Yeah, well she ain't cheap, either. Wendy is Max's ex, they're still friends."

"First of all, Dick doesn't pay. But I wouldn't kick her out of bed, if it was free."

"Yuck, Dick,"

"And second, Max's ex is a hooker! He dumped a pro for you? Wow, you have been holding out on me, Mackenzie. I didn't know you knew so many ways to please a man."

"He didn't dump her for me; it's not like that," she said, a bit exasperated, And then she smiled to herself, "and the sheer volume of things I know that you don't, Casablancas, would blow. your. mind." She walked past him in the doorway to find her boyfriend.

Dick, mouth agape, stared on.

Mac found Max easily, he was sitting on the couch with his arm casually behind Wendy's sofa cushion surrounded by other beautiful girls. Dressing to keep up with the 09ers was one thing, dressing to keep up with hookers was quite another. Despite all this, Max smiled when he saw her and stood up to greet her.

"Hey baby," he said with a kiss, "I didn't know you were coming here tonight," He pulled her to the sofa with them.

"Hey Max, Well, Logan called this afternoon, I thought I'd catch up with friends and let you off the hook tonight."

"Well it worked out great, 'cause here we are" his arms spread wide, "with friends and lovers alike."

They chatted for a while. It turned out that some of Wendy's friends knew Logan and Dick—Mac was actually eager to find out who, knowing that Veronica would request a full report—an d they were the ones who invited the guys from Max's work. Mac was glad that Max was there, she fit right in with him and didn't worry as much about the 09er snobs from high school.

"I'll be back," she told Max after a little while. "I see Logan and I'm going to get a drink."

"Mac! How long have you been here?" Logan asked when he met her at the bar they set up on the patio. Her suspicions were correct; he did look tan and rested. His hair was lighter from the sun, and he seemed to be genuinely enjoying himself. Weird, Mac thought.

"A while actually. Nice crowd," she praised looking around.

"Uh, Did Dick find you?" Logan asked while shaking his head and smirking.

"Yeah, the hooker thing? I think I disappointed him with my reaction. A shame really,"

"Hey, I know you said you wanted a night off from your beau. Just so you know, I didn't invite him."

"No, actually I'm glad someone did. I feel better with him here. But…?" Mac said with a gleam in her eye.

"Listen, don't tell that minxy little friend of yours I had a party with a bunch of call-girls! Well, tell her, but Dick's the one with all the connections. I don't want to get in trouble before Veronica even gets home." Logan nodded toward Dick.

Dick was surrounded by women and he was eating up the attention. He must have been telling a surfing story because it required him to use his arms. A lot. His entire entourage was laughing as he recounted the adventure.

"They found out he bought the hotel and everyone is clamoring for a billionaire boyfriend?"

"What? You don't think they're here for his class and breeding?" Logan said, and added, "But, um, Bingo."

"Well, you got the breeding part right. " Mac offered, "Hey, he knows not to have a bunch of little Dicks out there right?"

Logan choked on his drink and smiled, but said, "Yeah, we go over the basics again every few weeks or so though. But you'd be surprised what you're taught as a rich kid. We didn't get much in the way of bedtime stories or hugs, but we sure as hell know a divorce or a baby will mess up your income stream."

"Charming," she said. "Well, I'll head back to Max, but really, Logan, thanks for the invite. Neptune's been downright boring without everyone."

"Anytime," then he stopped her, "Hey Mac wait!" Logan pulled out his phone and snapped a picture of him and Mac. "I'll send this to Veronica right now." He did so with the caption, 'Come back quick! Mac is forced to party with 09ers and hookers and I can't find a girl as pretty as you.'

As Mac was headed back to Max, she stopped to read a text from V that said, 'Stay strong, sister'

She sent a quick one back: 'Logan is seriously sad without you. He's been blowing off girls all night. I miss you too! Kick ass and get home soon.'

When Mac looked up again, she noticed Dick was behind her. She jumped a little.

"Hey, Anti-social" he said, "Texting while at a social function is a party foul."

"Actually, you're right, that was lame. So what's my penance for one small party foul?"

Dick smiled greedily; he liked the idea of Mac owing him something, "I'll take it easy on you tonight, ma'am, seeing as how it's your first offence."

"So just a warning?" she asked smiling in mock relief. Why am I flirting with Dick Casablancas?

"Hell no," he laughed, "There are no warnings here at the Grand. One party foul is equal to one shot."

He handed her a drink, and she downed it quickly without complaint. "Impressive. Damn, Mackie, we may just end up friends after all."

She laughed, "Thanks for the drink," and she headed toward Max.

"Hey, you were right you know," Dick called after her, not wanting her to see what he just saw.

She held up her hands as if to say, For what? as she walked back towards him.

"Logan. He blew off girls the whole time in South America too. Put that in your report."

Mac laughed, realizing Dick had read her typing, and turned back toward Max. She saw that Max was playing with the hem of Wendy's skirt, high up on her thigh, but it was only for a second. Mac was not happy. There's nothing casual about that. She steadied herself and walked over to him.

Behind her, Dick fumed. He had seen it too.