Chapter Seven
A/N: Thanks to everyone that congratulated me on my baby. My daughter was born on the 11th healthy and we are very happy. I was hoping to finish this chapter sooner, but I had family in town, and they took up a lot of my time. Thank you everyone for reading, and thanks to everyone that takes the time to leave me reviews.
My phone rang I didn't recognize the number, "Hello?"
"Hey, Emily it's Veronica. I got your number from Weevil."
"Hey, what's up?"
"I heard that you're going to the country club to golf this weekend. I was wondering if I would be able to tag along."
"Yeah, why? It probably won't be much fun."
"Besides seeing Weevil use a golf club for its intended purpose? I have a case and the person I'm keeping an eye on works there, and happens to be working the same weekend." I laughed.
"Don't you ever take a weekend off?"
"Never, it's a curse. I'm a nosy busybody."
"Felix, I can't make it Saturday."
"Why? You going to hang out in the 09?"
"Yeah." Felix shook his head.
"She must be tight 'cause you hate the 09."
"Don't talk about her like that." He threw a rag at me across the car we were working on.
"You got it bad Weevs." I bit my lip to try and prevent a smile.
"She's different man."
"She's an 09er how could she be different?"
"You'll see some time." I picked up my phone, and sent her a text message. U shud come to my place this weekend 4 a party.
"Oh really and when will that be?"
"The party this weekend." My phone beeped. Sounds fun.
"The princess is going to come to the hood? Sounds like a Disney movie that got rejected." My uncle came up behind us.
"They did, it was called Lady and the Tramp." They both laughed.
"I don't understand why you guys think it's so crazy that she would like me."
"Mijo rich girls don't marry guys like us."
"Tio." I said annoyed.
"I know you mijo, you're gonna fall hard, and she's going to hurt you."
"She's not like anyone else tio, trust me."
"Give me one reason she would understand you mijo."
"She's done more time than me." The look of shock on their faces made my day. "When she comes over this weekend you can't hint that you know."
Eli pulled up to the house. "Hey baby." I said as I gave him a hug. "Your clothes came this morning. You can go change in my room." He went upstairs and changed into the outfit that we bought the other day. He came down the stairs, and actually looked like he belonged in the 09, except for the tattoos.
"How do I look?" He asked skeptically. I wrapped my arms around him.
"You look dapper.'
"Now, now you two save the affection for the wedding." Logan said dryly behind us.
"Don't be jealous Logan I invited a friend for you too." The doorbell rang. "There she is why don't you go answer it."
"Why don't I put an apron on and make you a pot roast while I'm at it?"
"Don't be silly Logan you'd burn the house down." I said back with equal sarcasm. He walked to the door and opened it.
"Are you serious? Are we starting a charity that I don't know about? Take the disadvantaged to golf."
"Yes, because we disadvantaged are lining up to golf with your dumbass." Veronica said as she pushed passed him. "Weevil you clean up good."
"Thanks, V."
"Are you kids ready? Veronica Mars? It's been a long time."
"Hi Mr. Echolls, I hope you don't mind me coming along. I couldn't pass up an opportunity to golf."
"Of course you're welcome to come Veronica. The more the merrier." Then his attention shifted to Eli. "You're Eli?"
"Yes sir." He said politely. "It's nice to meet you."
"You too." They shook hands. I was waiting for my father to change his attitude. "Well let's go the car should be here." We slid into the limo waiting in the front.
"Nice ride Mr. Echolls." Eli said making small talk.
"He needed something like this to contain Logan's ego." Veronica whispered.
"I thought this was an occasion that merited traveling in style."
Logan rolled his eyes and whispered to me. "He just wants to intimidate Weevil."
"I wish he would be a little less obvious." I whispered back.
"So Eli what do you do, besides school of course."
"I work at my uncle's garage." My father poured a glass of bourbon. Logan grabbed the bottle and poured himself one.
"Don't get sloppy son."
"If I have to listen to you pretend to care about Emily than I'll need this drink and more."
"Don't embarrass yourself Logan." My father then turned toward Eli. "Sorry you'll have to excuse Logan he gets moody once in a while."
"It's a side I've seen before." Eli said in a mock serious tone.
"How did you meet Emily?" My father asked.
"It all started when he hung a kid from a flag pole." Logan interrupted.
"Really," my father asked impressed, "how did you manage that one?"
"Duct tape." Eli said meekly.
"Why did you do that?"
"He snitched." Eli responded. I started to get worried about what my father would say.
"So you value loyalty?" My father responded.
"Yes sir."
"So I can rest assured that you will be loyal to my daughter."
"Yes sir." We pulled up to the country club and the driver opened the door. My father arranged the game for us. We picked up the golf clubs from our storage locker, and rented Eli and Veronica some. We took two golf carts to the first hole.
"So this isn't that bad." I said hopefully.
"Cupcake you owe me big." Eli said sarcastically. Veronica leaned forward between us.
"So, wanna bet who's gonna win?"
"I got 100 on me. " I said boastfully.
"No way I'm gonna kick your ass." Eli said playfully.
"Have you ever played golf?" I asked him with my eyebrows raised.
"Sort of. Not with a golf ball, or you know the course." Veronica and I laughed.
"I think we should bet on how long it will take Logan to lose his cool." I said jokingly.
"Hole 5." Veronica said.
"I'll be generous and say 7." I said.
"You guys overestimate him. I say 2." Eil said. We golfed a short game and my father suggested the guys go to the cigar lounge, and Veronica and I could go to the spa. So, I gave Eli a good luck hug, and went to help Veronica with her case.
"Get ready Paco this is where shit gets real." Logan whispered to me.
"Come on boys this is where the men have conversation." Mr. Echolls led us into a fancy room where the air was filled with the smell of what I think was Cuban cigars. "Here." Mr. Echolls handed me a cigar. I clipped the end and lit it. "Not your first cigar eh?" It then dawned on me that I should have feigned innocence.
"On special occasions my uncles smoke them."
"Don't be shy dear dad doesn't care that you're lungs aren't virgin." Logan said casually while grabbing himself one.
We sat in armchairs that crowded around a small table. A waiter brought a crystal jar full of bourbon. "Care for a drink Eli."
"Thank you sir." I took the glass from his hand.
"I was hoping without the ladies that we could speak frankly."
"I agree sir."
"What are your intentions with my daughter?"
"Honestly sir I just like hanging out with her. I've left it up to her to decide how far our relationship will go."
"See dad he's diplomatic for a poor person."
"Quiet Logan." Mr. Echolls said sharply. "I just want to get this straight. I don't give a shit that you're poor, or that you're a petty criminal. Shit, my kids make you look like a saint, but the moment you embarrass me or this family publicly is the moment I will ruin you. Make no mistake you will not take advantage of my daughter to make a buck. Got it?"
"Yes sir." I tried to keep my cool, but I really didn't appreciate this asshole telling me what I already knew.
"Good. I have some business to take care of. Logan why don't you and Eli go find the girls, and meet me out front in a couple hours."
"Sure dad." Once we got out of earshot Logan spoke. "Now you've met the real Aaron Echolls."
"Yeah he's a real peach." I said dryly.
"He doesn't care about Emily, or me for that matter; he just cares about his image. Don't take it personally."
"Don't worry I expected as much."
"Listen. My sister means a lot to me. I'm not saying that you're going to hurt her, but don't fuck with her emotions Weevil."
"I don't plan to. I like her a lot."
"I know. She's just been through a lot."
"I know."
"She told you?"
"Not all of it, but enough to know that I wasn't told the whole picture."
"It was pretty ugly. I don't want her to go through that again."
"I can promise that."
"Good." He held out his hand. I shook it. "Then there's no reason for us to hate each other, privately that is. Publicly you're the poor kid my sister's slumming it with.
"Deal."
"Did you two kiss and make up?" I heard Emily call.
"No kissing. Sorry cupcake."
"How did it go with my father?" She asked sounding a little worried.
"You know; just as expected."
"Sorry." She gave me a hug.
"Let's go get drunk guys." Logan said enthusiastically.
"Not here Logan dad would kill us." Emily said warningly.
"I'll call the driver." Logan made a call and in ten minutes the driver picked us up. We popped a bottle of champagne and started sipping. I honestly could get used to alcohol that was actually smooth, and not a $5 bottle of vodka that the boys stole from the gas station. When we got to the Echolls's house we went to the pool house.
"Is mom home?" Emily asked.
"No she's on a spa weekend with Mrs. Kane." Logan said.
"So where's the booze Logan?" Veronica asked.
"That's where you come in my sneaky friend." Logan replied. "You need to pick this lock." She did rather quickly. Then Logan started handing out bottles of liquor. "Tequila for the Mexican, vodka for the sneaky blonde, whiskey for my little sister, and bourbon for me."
"Just 'cause I'm Mexican I drink tequila?" I asked him with my eyebrows raised.
"I tend to stereotype. It's faster that way." Logan said matter of fact then he took a swig. "I think we should toast this momentous occasion."
"Toast to what?" Veronica asked.
"Health, happiness, and economic intermingling." We rolled our eyes at him and held up our bottles before taking giant swigs.
"Let's play a drinking game." Veronica suggested.
"Kings!" I yelled.
"Em not that game." Logan complained.
"Just 'cause you can't hold your liquor." Veronica teased.
"Can so."
"You've never been able to. Remember that time in London." I said.
"Don't even bring that up." He warned.
"What happened?" I asked suddenly interested in their conversation.
"He got insanely drunk and tried to make those guards move. He ended up touching one and getting arrested. Dad had to fly out to London to bail him out." Veronica and I started laughing at him.
"So how do you play this game?" I asked. They explained the rules. Each card number stood for an action, and each person picked a card until they were all gone. We finished the game, and by the end everyone was considerably drunk, but Emily held her liquor surprisingly well. "Where are you putting all your booze cupcake you barely seem buzzed?"
"Emily can drink like a fish." Logan slurred. "She could easily finish that bottle if she wanted."
"It's a gift." She said sweetly. "Dad's home let's go upstairs." She said to me.
"Upstairs?"
"You're not driving home until you're sober, and I'm not trying to explain how we broke into the liquor cabinet. "
"Have fun lovebirds." Veronica called after us.
"Not too much fun." Logan called after. We started to leave the pool house, and Emily stopped me.
"Eli look." She pointed back. I looked and V was making out with Logan.
"Let's leave them alone Cupcake."
"I knew it! I totally called it."
"What?"
"I knew they would hook up sometime."