Veronica had chosen a bad day for her celebration party. It wasn't her fault, really, she had enough bad days to remember without this one. Mac probably wouldn't have even noticed if she hadn't had one Dick Casablancas running through her head (without permission of course) these days.
It had been almost two months since she had last seen him at Logan's party, yet she couldn't stop him from wandering into her thoughts late at night, sometimes when another man's arms were around her. She knew it was ridiculous. Everything with Dick had been a mistake, but for a few hours she had managed to recapture that feeling you have for someone when you're young, when crazy things seem inevitable and any thoughts of the future involve a narrow road of happiness next to a sunshine smile. It had been a very long time since she had felt that kind of excitement, but then again she had never been that big on sunshine anyway.
Veronica had called her the morning after Logan's party, mostly to check in on her evening with Josh. She had told her most of the details, although at the time she wasn't sure she should see him again. "It's not anything specific, I just don't know if I'm that into him," Mac had told her friend.
"C'mon Mac, you always do this. Was he bad in bed?" Well no, she couldn't fault him for that. "Then just stick with him a little longer, maybe you just need to get to know each other better before the butterflies come around! Just be glad he isn't besties with someone like Dick." Mac's ears had perked up at that.
"Any specific reason why?"
Veronica sighed, "Just bitching. Dick got shitfaced and Logan had to spend his birthday evening tucking him into bed. Some girl slapped the hell out of him after he apparently asked her to give him head in the bathroom." Mac heard more annoyed sighing as she felt her stomach twist. "All I'm saying is, until you have a valid reason to dump him you should get some yummy meals and good sex out of it!" Mac had acquiesced.
Now, eight weeks later, her and Josh had developed what had recently been defined as an exclusive relationship. She did really enjoy his company (all parts of it!) even if she still didn't have the butterflies. So even though it was a shitty day, Mac figured she and Josh could have a good time at Veronica's celebration party, especially seeing as it was Mac's handiwork that had gotten Vee the evidence she needed for this particular win.
Unfortunately she wasn't the only one who hadn't wanted to spend the evening alone with her thoughts.
Logan hadn't thought twice about inviting Dick to the party when he saw he got the call. "Dude, you wanna go out and pahr-tay? I know some hot chicas that will be at the 09er tonight!" He had obviously started pre-gaming alone. What should have triggered the warning bells was when Dick had agreed to come to Veronica's with him instead. Still… sometimes Dick had those nights where he couldn't be by himself. Logan tried not to think too much on why, and just tried to be there for the guy. At least Veronica's place was pretty small, he thought it should be pretty easy to keep an eye on him.
Mac was going to get Josh a beer when she found Dick alone in the kitchen, pouring himself a shot. She had seen him around the party but had been very good about avoiding him. Or maybe he had just been hiding by the whiskey bottle the last hour? She thought about turning tail and letting Josh get his own brew, but Dick had already looked up.
"Mackie…" he slurred slightly, "come have a birthday shot with me." She crossed over to the refrigerator and got Josh's beer, then slowly walked closer to Dick.
"Maybe later. Have you considered a birthday water, or club soda instead?" He rolled his eyes and poured her a glass, smirking slightly when she took it. "Fine. One shot, then you'll cut it out with the liquor?"
He downed his shot and reached for the beer in her hand. "Whatever you say, Mackadoodle," he said, cracking open the bottle to chase with. She slowly sipped her glass of whiskey and started back towards the fridge, only to be pulled back by his hand on hers. "Stay." Dick's voice shocked her with its sudden and frightening sobriety. "Talk to me."
At the moment Josh came through the door, looking around only to see Mac swiftly pull her hand from Dick's, her face slightly pink. "Josh… I was just grabbing you that beer…" she turned quickly back to the fridge. Josh stood silently by, probably an imposing figure to anyone not as hammered and uncaring as Dick was at that moment. Mac handed Josh the beer and looked over at Dick, who was staring bullets at her new beau. "Here you go, let's go find Veronica," Mac said swiftly while Josh looked at her and then back to Dick meaningfully, clearly asking to be introduced. Mac just tried to push him out of the room.
"Come on, Mackie," came a once again slurred voice. "Let's you and me ditch this party and head off to the Grand. Maybe we can have a birthday drink at that new rooftop bar?" His words cut into her as Josh whirled around and looked at her, his expression clearly stating his unspoken words. What the fuck?
"Seriously Dick, have some soda or something," her words were quiet and pleading.
"I don't wanna soda… I want you," he grabbed her by one of her belt loops and pulled her toward him, "to come have a drink with me."
"Dude, what the hell?" Clearly, Josh was no longer willing to ignore the way Dick was behaving. "My girlfriend is not going to some bar with you." He was a menacing figure with at least half a foot on Dick. Dick laughed and looked at Mac, completely unfazed.
"This dude's your boyfriend," he said, still not looking at Josh.
"Yes Dick, this dude is my boyfriend," she said patiently, as though talking to a child.
"No way. Definitely not your type," he replied darkly.
Mac turned pink and turned to Josh. "Can you please go find Logan or Veronica?"
"Seriously Mac? I'm not leaving you alone with this guy," Josh said protectively.
"It's fine," she replied. "He just needs to get home." She looked back at Dick. "Logan's going to take you home now, you should sleep it off." She looked at Josh pleadingly and he went off in search of Logan with a disgruntled look on his face.
Dick's face turned serious once more as he reached out for Mac's hand again, "Please… Mackie, don't-"
"Stop Dick." Mac pulled away, struggling to keep in the tears she could feel rushing to her eyes. "Just don't. I don't care what day it is, you don't get to talk to me that way." She took a deep breath to calm herself, and looked at him resolutely. "Logan's going to take you home. Just go to bed, don't drink anymore. Sleep it off and tomorrow will be a little bit better. Can you do that?"
"Yeah, ok." Dick said softly, looking at her like a puppy who had just been kicked. Whatever, it wasn't her job to babysit him, and she chastised herself for feeling guilty about it.
They both overheard Josh coming towards the kitchen. "Dude, did you forget your friend's birthday or something? He's downing shots and keeps trying to get my girlfriend to go to some bar with him for birthday drinks."
Logan's voice followed, "What? It's not Dick's birthday. He isn't - oh fuck." The footsteps came faster. "Dick? Hey man, I'm sorry," Logan looked at his friend cautiously, not sure what state he was really in.
Dick shrugged. "Whatever, let's just get out of here." Logan gave Mac an apologetic look as he walked Dick out the door. Veronica had entered behind them and now moved out of their way, Josh looking astonished at how easily Dick had agreed to leave.
Having overheard the last part of Josh and Logan's conversation, Veronica now looked at Mac with concern. "I'm sorry Mac, I had no idea. I-"
"It's fine Vee. Why would you know? It doesn't even matter to me. I seriously didn't even remember until I saw him."
Josh looked at Mac, confused. "Is someone going to let me in on what the hell just happened?" Veronica raised her eyebrows at Josh's angry reaction, but Mac did feel like he was owed an explanation. So much for a night of fun.
"Vee, I told you it's fine. Honestly." Mac repeated herself for what had to be the fifth time. "I already told Josh I wouldn't make it, he's out with his friends, I'm sure they'll have fun." Three weeks had passed since Mac had given Josh the Cliff Notes version of the bus crash saga, and he hadn't asked her to explain any more than she had told him the first night. Veronica, on the other hand, had spent many nights debating what this type of personal divulgence (which Mac had not done with any previous boyfriends) could mean for their long term couplehood. Mac's continued disinterest in the topic had eventually sent Veronica toward a different conclusion.
Veronica sighed into the phone, "I just feel bad, but I know Dad wants to look through as much info as we can get for him before he leaves… and you're sure you're not just using this to put off breaking up with him?"
Mac rolled her eyes, "I don't even know for sure I want to, just get me the files and we can girl chat over wine once I crack the encryption."
"Uploading them as we speak. I'll be over in 5 with food and wine."
Ten minutes later Veronica arrived at the office. "You look smokin'!" Veronica whistled.
"Yeah, I know, I had a hot date I canceled at the last minute," Mac replied, giving Veronica a pointed look and then smiling. "Good thing you have no idea how lazy some people are with encryption. The files should be open in the next 15 minutes and we can get your dad the stuff he wants."
"Seriously? I knew you were good but.. Ooooh does that mean we can still hit up the '09er? I mean I put on my new very berry kissyface lip gloss and everything…" Veronica gave her most excited fake girl smile.
"Why not? But I'm having another glass of wine first. Even my mad computer skills don't pay for too many '09er drinks." Veronica smiled and picked up the phone, walking out of the room.
She returned a few minutes later. "Dick and Logan will be picking us up in twenty, so another glass for me too please!"
"Dick's coming?" Mac made her question sound as innocent as she could.
"Yeah, but no worries. You know Dick, he'll disappear to start harassing poor young girls as soon as we get there and Josh won't even know he's there. He really hates him, hmmm?" Veronica asked as she took a sip of her freshly poured glass. Josh's distaste for Dick was one of the traits Veronica liked in him the most.
"He doesn't even know him, he just got really annoyed with him at your party that time." Truthfully, Josh clearly couldn't stand Dick even though they had only met the one time. Mac had of course given him a quick overview on their shared history (making a point to stop right after the college years) and Josh hadn't pushed for more info, seeing how uncomfortable Mac was discussing it. Still, it seemed he wasn't entirely convinced there wasn't more to the story and he had a special scowl for whenever Dick's name came up. Fortunately that only happened when they were out with Vee and Logan, and even then not often.
"Well, whatever, as long as you aren't planning on dumping him on his birthday, I could do without any drama tonight."
Mac sighed heavily, "No, I think I will let him please me in the boudoir at least one more time before that happens, I mean it is his birthday." She giggled, definitely noticing the effects from her wine.
Veronica laughed. "Yes, the gift of giving is really the best gift of all," she said seriously.