Case of the Ex (3/?) - LoVe - NC-17

Chapter 3

“I’m bored.”

“Shut. Up. Logan.” Duncan muttered for the fifth time in 20 minutes.

“DK, can’t we go do something, anything? It’s Friday night for God’s sake. Two young, good-looking, wealthy and witty young men such as ourselves cannot possibly contemplate sitting out a Friday party night.”

“I’ve already told you, like a million times, Veronica’s coming over. I wanna see my girlfriend, and I think you two still have a project to do so…”

Logan just rolled his eyes. He wasn’t sure what he was looking forward to more; having to do schoolwork on a Friday night or watching Duncan and Veronica make out. One thing was for sure though. When Veronica finally showed up, he wouldn’t be bored anymore.

As if reading his thoughts, Veronica chose that exact moment to put both boys out of their misery. As she walked in and greeted them both, she pecked Duncan on the cheek. ‘Truly a passionate relationship,’ Logan mused. He took this opportunity to revive his complaints.

“Man, I could be having sex with a really hot college chick right now, but no, I’m on my couch watching a real life version of The Brady Bunch.”

He was rewarded with a dirty glare from his ex-girlfriend, and an amused look from Duncan, clearly not understanding the attempted insult underlining his words. Veronica was about to reply when Duncan’s mobile rang.

“Uh, I’d better take this, it’s Celeste.” And with that, he slipped into the other room.

It was as though Veronica and Logan were engaged in some sort of staring competition, each daring the other to make some rude remark so they could rip into each other. Finally, Logan’s need for amusement won out, and he spoke.

“You know Veronica, if you really want me back, you’re gonna have to try harder than just wearing a sexy short skirt and giving me that ‘come hither’ stare. Before I even consider fucking you, I’m gonna need you to die your hair black and grow at least 4 inches. I’m not really interested in the short blonde type.”

“Wow Logan, could have fooled me. Before you started banging stepmoms, you seemed to have an interest for nothing but blondes. Why the sudden change of heart?”

Logan simply stared at her, unnerving her to the point where she decided to just let the topic drop. Silence settled into the hotel suite, very uncommon, especially when those two people were in the room. After a few minutes, Logan still hadn’t stopped staring at her, and she gave him an exasperated look.

“What! What the hell is your problem now? Do I have something on my face? Lipstick on my teeth? Another reason for you to ridicule me? Just spit it out Logan.”

“You’re really beautiful.”

It was now Veronica’s turn to stare. Words can’t describe the shock she felt as his words sounded in her ears and she tried to make sense of them. Whatever harsh retort or sexist comment she was expecting from him, that wasn’t it. She knew she shouldn’t, but she was unable to look away from him as he rose and made his way slowly toward her.

He stopped in front of her and leaned in really close. ‘Oh my God, he’s going to kiss me!’ The alarm bells started going off in her head, alerting her to the fact that Duncan, her boyfriend and Logan’s best friend, was in the next room talking to his Mom. She knew this shouldn’t happen, couldn’t happen, but for some unknown reason, she was unable to pull away.

His lips descended on her, coming closer and closer to their target, coming to a halt just above her ear.

“Hmm, I guess I do still have a thing for blondes,” he whispered huskily in her ear. She stood there, eyes closed, waiting for what was to happen next. The kiss. The climactic kiss that would change their lives forever. It had to be coming. He wouldn’t leave her high and dry after that would he? And then, she remembered that this isn’t Duncan, the man who will bend to her every whim, pose no challenge. This is Logan Echolls. THE challenge. For what is Logan Echolls without his abrupt confrontational skills, irrational arguments and ability to make even the least sexual act passion fuelled. And then she knew. He was playing her.

When her eyes snapped open, the first thing they came into contact with was the Echolls smirk, back in full glory. Already feeling pretty embarrassed, she figured her best option was to play the nonchalant/ignorance card.

“What’s the smirk for Echolls?” she asked, clearly annoyed, but doing her best to conceal it.

“What, this smirk?” he replied teasingly, still grinning. Nothing fired him up more than getting under her skin, figuratively or literally. And that’s where he was right now, and he knew it.

“Just admit it Mars. You know how you feel about me.”

If Veronica was uncomfortable before, now she was positively squeamish. Relationship conversations with Logan were always avoided when possible, which was often difficult considering Logan’s constant desire to bring it up. Doing her best to maintain her cool façade, she thought she’d try the shock method and give him a bit of his own medicine.

“Oh, so you think you know how I feel about you huh?” Logan’s eyes darkened with her firey response, which always acted as a form of foreplay between the explosive pair.

“You’re damn right I do. Baby, you are like an open book when it comes to me. Veronica Mars’s feelings concerning her relationship with Logan Echolls, the devilishly handsome ex-boyfriend with an aptitude for trouble; like reading a book, children’s picture book, large font.”

He was stepping towards her again, much more subtly this time, trying not to scare her into running like she always did. She stood in front of him, an amused smile playing on her lips.

“On the other hand, Veronica Mars’s personality complex and reasons for doing what she does…”

“What, too complicated for ya?” Veronica asked, still smiling. “No longer the Archie comic you envisioned?”

Logan paused, seemingly contemplating what she just said.

“Well, it’s still a book. Think, oh, I don’t know… the Bible. In Hebrew.”

With that Veronica laughed. She couldn’t help herself. Once she realized what she was doing, she immediately stopped, but the satisfaction was already his.

Unsure what to do next, Logan ran his hand up her arm, giving her a small, genuine smile, which she returned. A second later, the sizzling chemistry was back, and Veronica chewed nervously on her bottom lip. She noticed his eyes travel to her lips, and realized that this time he might not be playing her. Unable to break the intense eye-contact, but also not willing to push any further, she had nothing else to do but wait for him to either get his act together, or leave.

Standing in front of her wasn’t the jackass she was incredibly drawn to, but the body of a man holding a confused, lost boy, striving to become the man he knew she deserved. The person she fell in… like with? The way he’s staring into her eyes, she’s wondering if it was more… if it still is more. All she knows for sure is that he is the best and worst thing in her life. He has a way of complicating even the simplest things, but does it really matter. She’s tasted the end result. She knows it’s worth it. So why can’t she take the step?

‘Cause you’re chicken shit, Veronica Mars.'

The innocent look in his eyes suddenly reminds her that there was a reason she came to the suite today. She has some important news. It could break him. On her way over to the Neptune Grand, she hadn’t been fazed about the pain that this could stir. At least, she denied caring about it. But with him now standing before her, looking so open and vulnerable, she knew that she couldn’t say anything. Not until she was sure she had to.

They heard the bedroom door open and stepped away from one another. Veronica searched in vain for something else to occupy her eyes. Anything but him. He however, refused to look away, still susceptible to her, as if he was in a way, silently vowing not to give up on them. Duncan walked up to the pair, cell phone in hand.

“Pizza anyone?”

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