"I can't believe you'd ask me to do this, Mac! Hell, I can't believe you're doing it yourself! Why would you even consider…" She threw up her hands in frustration. "Fuck! I can't say it! I can hardly even think it!"

Veronica rolled her eyes heavenward, and if she'd been remotely religious, that might have meant she was seeking divine guidance. As it was, she was mostly just having trouble looking her best friend in the eye.

Ordinarily, she and Mac had an unbreakable "no judgment" clause to their friendship. Which Veronica had found mighty handy during the perpetual rollercoaster ride that characterized her decade-long on-again off-again relationship with a certain Logan Echolls.

Mac had tried to be supportive throughout, and when she couldn't be that she'd been… quiet. She'd never once told Veronica what an idiot she was for trying to make things work with Logan time after time after time. Nor reminded her about the old rubric that the definition of insanity was doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome.

(Although Veronica was sure there must have been at least a few moments when there were some damn deep toothmarks on Mac's tongue.)

As for Veronica returning the favor? Well, it really hadn't been that hard.

Mac was essentially a drama-free serial monogamist — a few years with this guy, a couple more with that one. And while Veronica hadn't considered any of Mac's choices exactly… stellar, neither had any of them been really objectionable. Besides which, Mac had never seemed to be all that into any ofthem.

Not that there'd even been anyone like that in Mac's life lately, since for the past few years she'd been totally focused on her work. On her business. On, as it happened, the business of which she was a co-owner.

And that was the problem.

Because the other co-owner of Mac's business was none other than the inarguably objectionable Dick Casablancas.

When Mac had first told her she was going into business with Dick, Veronica had been certain the "no judgment clause" should be suspended. After all, this wasn't a personal relationship, so surely she should strenuously caution her best friend about the dangers of going into business with such a fucking idiot.

But Mac had just laughed and patted her on the shoulder.

"I know you don't like to give people credit for changing, V, but sometimes they do. And while Dick isn't exactly a genius, he isn't the obnoxious moron he was at 15, either. I also know he did a lot of shitty things to you. He's talked about some of it, and I think he'd like a chance to apologize to you, but you'll barely stay in the same room with him, so…"

"But, Mac! He was Cassidy's brother and he treated him like crap…"

"But that's just it! Dick lost his brother, and he's spent a long time coming to terms with… everything about that. And lately… well, he's been trying to make something of his life. So when he asked if I'd help him set up the business and security stuff for his surf shops, and then said I could take my fee in shares of the business, it just…well, it seemed like too good an opportunity to pass up."

Veronica had remained skeptical.

"And you're sure this is just a… a… business arrangement? Nothing else… going on?"

Which had made Mac had laugh even harder.

"Not in a million years."

And as it turned out, Mac had been right. Surfin' Safari, with its retro ambience and its high end right-up-to-minute equipment, had hit just the right note with the surfing community, and there were now six successful shops all over Southern California. For Dick, it had apparently become a labor of love, and Mac also devoted so much of her time to their business that she had only a few outside clients left in her cybersecurity business.

So, okay, Veronica might willing to concede that maybe she'd been wrong about the business. But she'd be damned if any of that was going to change her opinion about that asshole Casablancas.

Not that she'd seen much of him lately. She knew he and Logan were still friends, of course, but her latest (and absolutely final) breakup with Logan had happened shortly before the first surf shop opened. And since Mac (thankfully) never brought Dick around, the opportunities for running into him had been mercifully limited.

But now there was this new thing. This… abomination.

She shook her head as if to rid it of cobwebs.

"So tell me again why you're doing this, Mac. Just so I can try to wrap my head around it."

Mac had come to Mars Investigations to make her request in person, and the two of them were now ensconced in Veronica's tiny office.

Mac sighed. "I've already explained it a couple of times, V, but I guess one more won't hurt. Dick and I are the sole owners of the surf shops. We had a really great year this year, which is awesome, but it also means our income taxes are going to be substantial. But there's this weird little quirk in California tax laws that gives a huge break to family-owned businesses. Like Mom-and-Pop bodegas and family-owned restaurants…"

"Or a bunch of surf shops owned by a married couple," Veronica concluded unhappily. Yep, that was just what Mac had said the first two times.

"Exactly!" Mac smiled. "Which is why it makes so much sense for Dick and me to get married! Cliff assures us it'll save us tens of thousands in taxes, and we really need that cash for our next expansion."

"But… but… to actually be married to a man who spends all his free time picking up bimbos in bars…"

Mac frowned. "Dick has almost no free time anymore, Veronica, and he hasn't been into that kind of shit in years."

"And you're sure it's just business?" she asked again, unwilling to just… let it go. "I mean, you're not moving in together or anything?"

"No need. Tax laws aren't like immigration laws. If we're married, we're married."

Veronica nodded. "Okay, so that brings us back to, uh, my part in this fiasco."

Mac shrugged. "Dick thought it might be nice to combine this wedding thing with an actual vacation, since neither one of us has had one in ages. So we did all the paperwork and arranged to get married on this little island in the Pacific called Moa Moa…"

"Never heard of it."

"Me, neither. But Dick claims it's beautiful, and he booked us a huge two-bedroom suite at some fancy private hotel. But then this stupid malware invaded our software and I need to be on site until it gets fixed. In fact, that's where I should be right now. And before you ask, no, we can't put it off. To get the tax break, we have to be married by the the end of the calendar year, but we were so busy that we stupidly left it to the last minute. So the flight to the island is tomorrow, the 29th, and the wedding is scheduled for the next day."

Mac sighed. "But now I can't make it, so I'm asking you to be my proxy. I mean… who else was I going to ask? It's only for two nights, Veronica, so please say you'll do it."

Veronica sighed. She thought about spending two entire days in the company of the despised Dick Casablancas. Considered further the vomit-inducing idea that she would be required to actually say "I do" while proxy-marrying the man. And then regarded the expression of desperation on the face of her best friend in the world.

"Okay," she said reluctantly. "I'm in. Just let me know when and where."

Mac's smile bloomed from ear to ear. "Thanks, Veronica. If we were into hugging, I'd give you a huge hug right now."

Veronica smiled in return. "Let's not get carried away."

XXXXXXXXXX

Veronica hadn't realized she'd have to change planes until she printed off her boarding pass and found there were two of them. The first flight would take her to Hawaii, where she'd catch a connecting flight for Moa Moa. She supposed it made sense that an island that small wouldn't have an airport big enough for direct flights from San Diego.

She was surprised she hadn't been able to check in electronically with Pacific Island Airlines, but was less so when she finally located their tiny desk tucked into the remotest corner of the Honolulu International terminal. She'd brought only a carryon, since outside of the required nuptials, she was planning on doing absolutely nothing other than sitting in the sun drinking Cadillac Margaritas.

All on Dick's dime, of course. She really hoped neither Mac nor Dick had exaggerated about the spaciousness of the two-bedroom suite. Because other than the despised wedding, she planned to give Dick a wide berth.

Veronica had finally decided to think of this trip as helping out a friend while at the same time getting an unexpected tropical vacation. A definite win-win. As long as she could manage to ignore the loser in the equation.

She was waiting for the airline employee to finally look up from her damn computer screen, while idly wondering if she'd remembered to pack some sunscreen, when she heard his voice behind her.

And was certain her mind must be playing tricks on her.

Until he spoke again.

"I said… hello, Veronica."

With a gasp, Veronica whirled around to find herself looking up into the familiar brown eyes of Logan Echolls.

"What the hell are you doing here?" She heard the slight tremor in her voice and hoped to god he hadn't noted it.

He shrugged. "I imagine the same thing you are. Helping out a friend."

"But… but…"

"Can I help you, miss?"

Veronica's head whipped back toward the counter. Shit! This would be the moment the girl finally decided to provide a little customer service.

"Veronica Mars, checking in for your flight to Moa Moa." She handed the girl her boarding pass and passport. "Will the flight be leaving on time?"

The girl shrugged. "Perhaps..."

Veronica's eyes widened. "What do you mean perhaps? Is that any way to run a business… "

A hand touched her shoulder lightly.

"I think what she's trying to say, Veronica, is that she's not sure. Isn't that it?" Logan asked the staffer directly.

The girl brightened considerably as she transferred her gaze from Veronica to Logan's handsome face.

"Yes, sir, that's true. They never let us know until the last minute, and I hate giving out bad information."

"Ah. Well, that makes sense." His smile never wavered as he handed over his paperwork. "Logan Echolls, same flight."

"Still the charmer," Veronica muttered as they turned away from the counter.

Logan's lips turned up in amusement, but he remained silent as they made their way to the gate and eventually boarded the plane. And Veronica was so unnerved by his presence that it wasn't until Logan had slipped into the seat beside her that she finally thought to ask a very pertinent question.

"So… where the hell is Dick?"

"Oh, cmon, Veronica," Logan smirked as he fastened his seat belt, "would you really rather be sitting next to Dick than me?"

"I… no, but… what about the wedding?"

"Oh, yeah, that's still on," he said lightly, "but now there's gonna be two proxies instead of one."

"What!"

For a moment her mind went entirely blank, and then the new reality began to sink in. Logan would be staying in the suite with her. Logan would be saying "I do" to her.

Veronica stared up at him, making no attempt to hide her dismay. Or her confusion.

"But… Mac never said anything about… you…"

"It just happened this morning, Veronica, so Mac doesn't know. Or," he amended, "she didn't when I left. Have you checked your phone?"

Veronica fished her phone out from the satchel she used whenever she was flying.

"I've had it on airplane mode ever since San Diego…"

While Logan watched, she quickly keyed in her password and pulled up her messages. And there they were. Missed calls. Texts.

There's been a little glitch, Veronica. Call me as soon as you get this.

A glitch. Right.

Logan sighed. "Look, I'm not exactly thrilled about this either, but Dick needed me to step up at the last minute, so I did."

"So why…"

"He's sick. Some kind of virus. Can't travel. But since they allow proxies — here I am."

His face softened as he looked down at her. "It'll be all right, Veronica, I promise. We'll help out our best friends and then we'll both go home and it'll be like it never happened."

She nodded her head jerkily. "Right," she said.

She could do this. She could do this.

XXXXXXXXXX

Veronica was more thankful than ever that the two-bedroom suite Dick had booked lived up to its billing. Not only were both bedrooms spacious but they were off opposite ends of a large living area.

Logan had offered to try booking another room, but Veronica knew if he did that she'd feel like an idiot.

"I think I can survive your charms," she said drily, as they surveyed the suite.

"So it's okay if I bring back my conquests, then?" Logan's trademark smirk was fully in evidence.

She knew he was making a joke, but the discomfort she still felt at his cheeky question must have shown on her face, because he was immediately contrite.

"Fuck! I'm just kidding, Veronica. You know I'd never… I mean, I have no interest in… "

He finally broke off, sighing. "I'm sorry. That was just a… a stupid thing to say."

She shrugged. "You're free to do as you please."

His smile was wry. "I don't think I really am."

Veronica had retreated to her room to unpack when he stuck his head in the doorway to suggest they go out for some food.

"We've been traveling all day and haven't had time for a decent meal."

"I'm not really hungry," she said stiffly, still unaccountably stung by his stupid remark.

"What! You're not hungry?"

Logan was lounging against the door jamb, now in full insouciant mode.

"Who is this person who looks like Veronica Mars, and sounds like Veronica Mars, but clearly has someone else's stomach?"

Veronica rolled her eyes, but she couldn't help smiling at his idiocy.

"Okay, so I could eat. But I'm too tired to even think about finding a restaurant. Do you think this place has room service?"

"Love that idea!" he said, opening every drawer in the living area until he finally found the one that held the room service menu. "Not only are we sleeping on Dick's dime, we'll be eating on it, too. Perfect payback for him waking me up at the crack of dawn."

By the time their food arrived, Veronica was feeling a lot better about the whole situation.

Considering their history, things couldn't help but be a little awkward. But she figured she could survive the trip unscathed if they could manage to skate along on the superficial level of old acquaintances stuck together by chance.

Instead of what they actually were: ex-lovers whose history was so storied, and so potent that every word, every action — even a small joke — was liable to be fraught with meaning, ripe with innuendo, and laced with painful memories.

Veronica promised herself none of that shit was coming out to play.

As they sat at the table to eat, she cleared her throat and prepared to engage in "old acquaintances" small talk.

"So, how are things with the US Navy, Logan?"

His small smile was accompanied by a furrowed brow.

"I imagine they're doing just fine, Veronica. Or at least as fine as they can be, considering one of their most outstanding pilots has up and left them."

Veronica paused, her forkful of fine aged beef halfway to her mouth.

"What?"

"I can't believe you didn't know," he said, putting down his own fork and staring at her in surprise. "I've been out for almost a year now. Didn't Mac tell you?"

"Mac knew?" Surprise on top of surprise.

"Course she did. These days, whatever Dick knows, Mac knows five minutes later."

But of course, Mac would never bring up the subject of Logan Echolls. She'd tried a couple of times after their most recent breakup three years earlier, but Veronica hadn't wanted to hear whatever it was she might have to say. Since then, anything Logan-related was off the table as conversational fodder.

But she could hardly tell him that.

"She didn't," Veronica said simply. "So… how come, Logan? I mean… I thought you were going to be a lifer."

She'd expected another quippy response, but instead he just shrugged lightly and took a sip of his water, not quite looking at her.

"I loved the Navy, but in… some ways, it seemed like being a lifer'd keep me from living… other parts of my life."

"Like what?" The words were faint, but she couldn't seem to stop herself from asking.

He smiled at her.

"Nothing you should worry about, Veronica. It was my choice to join…and my choice not to re-up." He picked up his fork and waved it at her plate. "Your food's getting cold."

"Right."

Veronica chewed her piece of steak thoughtfully, swallowed it, and took a sip of water before she asked her next question.

"So what are you doing now? Instead, I mean?"

Another shrug. "This and that. I've been doing some writing. Fiction. " He grinned suddenly. "A detective story, if you can believe that. I… may even have a publisher."

Veronica put down her fork, not sure if she could take many more surprises.

She narrowed her eyes at him. "It's like you're a different person."

"Don't be silly, Veronica. I'm the same stupid asshole I've always been. I've just learned to channel my need for drama into something a little less dangerous… and hopefully, a lot more profitable."

"But… are you sure that'll be enough for you? For your life. Because the Navy… it was always so important to you…"

His smile was wry. "Well, I've got… a few other things I'm working on, too. But as a profession? Yeah, if the writing works out, it'd be great. I'd love it."

"So… those other things…"

"You know, Veronica," he interrupted quickly, "I'm sure this is going to sound absolutely unbelievable, but I'm actually getting kinda sick of talking about myself. Why don't you tell me what you've been up to lately, Ms. Lawyer-turned-Private-Investigator?"

Veronica knew a deliberate change-of-subject when she heard one, and curbed her curiosity. But only for the moment, because she was certain there were things he wasn't telling her. Things that for some reason she was suddenly determined to know.

Even though a mere twenty-four hours earlier, she'd have sworn she had no interest whatsoever in Logan Echolls.

She spent the rest of meal regaling him with stories about the bizarre happenings in the world of private detection in Neptune, California — which were always plentiful.

After dinner, Logan asked if she wanted to check out the available movies on the hotel's streaming service, but Veronica was suddenly exhausted.

"I think I'll pass," she said with a smile. "I'm planning on putting in a long, hard day of sunbathing before the, um, wedding. What time is it set for again?"

"Four o'clock, just before sunset."

"Okay. Well… see you then. And, uh, sleep well."

"You, too."

She was halfway to her room when his voice stopped her.

"And, Veronica?"

"Yeah?" She turned her head.

"Not that you would, but, ah, if you were ever inclined to… worry about me, or about the changes in my life, please don't. I knew what I was doing."

"Okay." She nodded, paused. "Not, like you said, that I would worry."

"Of course not."

Of course not, she thought, as she crawled into bed a few minutes later. Why the hell would she ever worry about Logan Echolls? He was only the one man she'd never managed to get over, no matter how hard she tried.

Just because she'd chosen not to confront that fact for the past three years didn't make it any less true.