"I'm just not sure how you'll react to it. I'm not trying to be secretive," Veronica explained. She was leading her guest into her apartment Friday evening. She had been being grilled on her love life for the entire metro ride from the airport. "We can set up the pull out when we are ready to go to bed. I figured we would want the place to sit until then," she said gesturing to the couch.
"Great. You rearranged since I was here last."
"Oh yeah, I forgot about that. I framed some new pictures, too. I'll order dinner while you shower if you still want to do that," Veronica said.
"Definitely, I feel all grimy."
"Italian, Indian, Chinese? What would you like to eat?"
"Mmm, Indian sounds good."
"Alright, I'll leave you to it and order the food." While her guest vanished into the bathroom. Veronica ordered a variety of takeout from a nearby Indian restaurant that delivered. Then, she went to her bedroom to change out of her work clothes. When she got to the bedroom, she noticed Logan's watch sitting on the nightstand by her bed. Just as she picked it up, her phone rang. "Hey."
"Hey, did I leave…"
"Your watch here? Yeah," Veronica cut Logan off. "Did you want to come get it?" she asked uncertainly.
"No, you have company. It's fine. I just wanted to check that it was there. I searched my place for it for almost thirty minutes," Logan said. "I'll see you next week. Have a good weekend." Logan was trying to sound cheerful, but the prospect of not seeing Veronica for three days made that hard. Veronica heard the disappointment in Logan's voice. Then he added, "I'll miss you."
Veronica took a deep breath. "Logan, why don't you come over? I just ordered Indian. I pretty sure I ordered enough for at least three of us. And you can get your watch."
"Are you sure?" Logan asked. He wanted to see Veronica, but he didn't want to intrude.
"Yeah, I'd like you to," Veronica was realizing that she had just been giving into fear wanting to keep Logan away for the weekend.
"Okay. I'll be there soon."
Veronica went back to the kitchen. When she heard the bathroom door open, she asked loudly, "Beer or wine?"
"A beer sounds good."
"Also, umm the guy I've been seeing is going to come over and eat with us. I hope you don't mind."
"Are you kidding me? That is great. I can't wait to meet him."
Veronica laughed somewhat nervously as she pulled two beers from the fridge and passed one to her guest. "Lets go sit in the living room and wait for the food." They spent the next ten minutes or so catching up. Then, the doorbell rang.
Veronica went to answer the door. "Hey," Logan greeted leaning in and kissing her cheek. "Dinner here yet?"
"Not yet, any minute now. Come in; there is someone who'd probably like to see you." Veronica led Logan into the living room. "So I don't think introductions are really needed here," Veronica said.
"Mac?" Logan asked quite surprised.
"Oh my god, Logan," Mac jumped up from her spot on the couch and gave him a hug. Then she turned very pointedly to Veronica her eyes wide.
"I'm going to go grab myself a beer," Logan said sensing he should probably get out of the line of fire. "You ladies need anything?"
"We're good," Veronica answered.
"I can't believe you didn't tell me," Mac said staring at Veronica. "How long have you two…?"
"Only about two weeks," Veronica said. She glanced toward the kitchen. "Mac, I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I just didn't know how people were going to react. After all the times before…"
"Veronica, I think it is wonderful. I've seen you with Logan and without. I know which is better for you and so do you."
"You get enough time to talk about me?" Logan asked as he began to reenter the room.
Mac and Veronica both laughed. "Yeah, I think so," Mac said. "I was just going to tell Veronica that I was hoping you could both stop being idiots and get it together this time."
Logan smiled at Mac and then at Veronica. Still looking at Veronica, he said, "That's my plan."
The doorbell rang again, and Veronica, grateful for the escape from what was becoming an uncomfortable conversation, went to answer it. Logan appeared at her side as she was digging through her purse for her wallet, so she could pay the deliveryman. "I got it," he said. Logan handed the deliveryman cash from his wallet and took the two bags of food; he passed one to Veronica.
"Logan," Veronica began, "you can't always pay for everything."
"Why not?" he asked as they carried the food to the kitchen where Mac joined them.
Glancing at Mac, Veronica said, "We'll continue this later."
"Did I interrupt something?" Mac asked.
"No, it's fine," Logan said. He winked at her when Veronica wasn't looking, earning him a smile from Mac.
"Let's just have dinner," said Veronica. They all dished up food, grabbed their beers from the living room, and sat down at the table. Most of dinner was spent with Logan and Mac filling each other in on their lives since college. Mac was currently living in Seattle working for a software company. Part of the reason for her visit was actually for a job interview in the Bay Area, which Veronica asked about, as they were finishing up dinner. "So tell us about the job interview?"
"It is for a small company, mainly working on stuff for tablets. I mean now that they are nearly replacing laptops in so many ways there is a lot more to do with them."
"I know some authors who write on them now rather than computers. I don't like it as much as having the buttons to type on though. I keep getting compared to the guys who insisted on using typewriters in the 90s," Logan said.
"Yeah, the Bureau uses them a lot now, too," Veronica added.
"Exactly," said Mac. "But the thing I like the best is that the company is smaller. I hate the anonymous feel of being at such a large cooperation now."
"It would be wonderful to have you closer," Veronica said. "I could see you more than three times a year."
"You said earlier you were hesitant about the move," Logan said. "Why?"
"Well…" Mac began but trailed off.
"There's a guy," Veronica answered for her. "I met him last time I went to Seattle."
"We've been together for over a year now," Mac explained to Logan. "I don't know. I just don't want to leave when I don't know what it could be."
"Maybe he could move with you?" Logan suggested.
"I don't know if he would want to," Mac said hesitantly.
"Have you asked?" both Logan and Veronica asked at the same time.
Mac laughed. It had lightened the mood. "No," she replied. "I'll think about it."
"Enough about my dating life. I want to hear how this happened again." Mac gestured between Veronica and Logan with her hand.
"I ran into Logan outside my office about a week after he had moved to the city."
"When she says she ran into me, she means literally," Logan jumped in. "I was innocently walking down the street…"
"…lost," Veronica jumped in.
Mac laughed. The token Logan, Veronica banter it seemed hadn't changed at all over the years since college. Logan and Veronica continued to tell the story of how they reconnected in this manner to Mac's continued amusement.
After awhile longer, when they had moved to the living room, Logan said, "I think I'll head home and give you two some girl time." He stood up.
"Mac, do you mind if I walk Logan out?" Veronica asked.
"Not at all," Mac said. "I'm going to grab another beer. Do you want one?"
"Sure," Veronica replied.
Logan crossed and gave Mac a hug. "It was really great to see you."
"I'll see you later this weekend right?" Mac asked.
"Sure," said Logan. "That would be nice." He didn't want to encroach, but if neither Mac nor Veronica opposed his being there, why not join in.
Veronica followed Logan to the door while Mac went into the kitchen for two more beers. Once they were in the stairwell, Logan looped an arm around Veronica's shoulder and hers, in turn, moved around his waist. "I'm glad you came over," she said as they walked down the stairs.
"I'm glad you invited me." They had stopped at the bottom of the stairs, and he turned Veronica in his arms, so she was facing him.
"I'm sorry I was weird about it before. I just didn't know how it would go over. After everything we've been through, I guess I worry about how people are going to react."
"Yeah," Logan said sounding quite dejected. He knew why Veronica was worried. Dick, the only friend from Neptune he had stayed in touch with, had given him shit when he had told him about running into Veronica. "She'll crush your heart again, man," he had said. Logan knew he had done plenty to make Veronica's friends think he wasn't to be trusted with her again.
"Hey Logan, it won't happen again," Veronica said. She could see the thoughts playing on Logan's face. She didn't want him to think she was embarrassed of him. She trusted him, and she needed to let him know that. "I promise."
"Yeah?" Logan asked. "'Cause I understand."
"No. I'll even tell my dad," Veronica said with a smile.
"I don't know about that one. He still owns a gun right?" Veronica just laughed and kissed him. "Alright, well you should get back to Mac," Logan said, pulling back from the kiss.
"Yeah," replied Veronica not moving. Logan leaned in and kissed her again, pulling her into a tight hug. When they broke apart, Veronica asked, "Do you want to hang out with us on Sunday? We have some stuff planned for tomorrow, but Sunday is just touristy stuff."
"Am I enough of a local now to play tour guide?" Logan asked in playful optimism.
Veronica laughed. "We will see. I should go."
"I'll miss you," Logan said, and he pulled her in for another passionate kiss. "Night," he whispered after they stopped for breath.
"Night," Veronica replied as Logan removed his arms from around her and opened the door. He leaned back for one last peck on the lips before walking out the door and down the street.
Veronica was tempted to lean against the door to regain her bearings, but she had left Mac alone for long enough, so instead, she hurried up the stairs.
Mac was sitting on the couch waiting for her. "I soooo can't believe you did not tell me that you were dating Logan again," she said emphatically. "Why on earth…?"
"Because I didn't know if I would get a 'why on earth didn't I tell you?' or a 'why on earth am I dating him again?'" said Veronica honestly.
"I always liked Logan. I think he did some really stupid things sometimes, and I didn't like when he wasn't good to you, but overall…"
"Yeah. My dad and Wallace are going to lose it when I tell them. I guess I should have known I wouldn't need to worry about telling you."
"You haven't told your dad yet?" Mac asked. "Does Logan know that?"
"Yeah I told him tonight that I would tell him. I got myself into this mess."
"What do you mean?" Mac asked.
"Well, I was thinking that I was so quick to blame Logan for all our issues when we were younger. Of course, I have to worry what other people will think. I planted those opinions in their heads by what I said."
"We're not teenagers anymore," Mac said affirmatively.
"That's just what Logan said when we started, whatever this is, again," Veronica said with a sigh.
"And what exactly is it?" Mac questioned. "Are you guys just casual or is it something serious?"
"We haven't defined it. But then again, Logan and I never have, unless you count him announcing to a room full of people who hated me that I was his girlfriend. But, usually, we just fall together." Veronica smiled at Mac. "We spend almost every night together though."
"There is the juicy stuff I've been waiting for," Mac joked. "Seriously though, that sounds pretty serious to me. Are you falling in love with him again?"
Veronica opened her mouth, but she couldn't answer, so she closed it again. She knew both she and Mac had no doubts that she had been in love with Logan before. "I don't honestly know," she said. "It has all felt just the way it did before, but I don't know what that means."
Mac nodded knowingly. She wondered if Veronica hadn't simply been in love with Logan this entire time. They spent a while longer talking about Logan, and then Kevin, Mac's boyfriend. Finally, they decided they had better turn in and made up Mac's bed before crashing for the night.
