Beat the clock

Mick nods a little at Rosetta, just trying to let his mind think through this whole thing. He understood what she was saying - he did. But maybe his views were a little different, being Jade's father.

"Thanks... for supporting me. I just... I don't know. I guess I wish Dan would have come to me first. But then, I was the drunk in rehab so maybe I didn't deserve the luxury of telling him yes or no."

Sighing, he was kicking himself on the inside. He knew he really wasn't to blame... or was he? "You know... someone once said once that if a girl didn't get attention from her father... emotional... physical like hugs, kisses, that sort of thing... that she'd go looking elsewhere. Maybe in all this... me not being there for Jade to grow up... I don't know." He shrugs lamely, not quite sure what he was saying. "Maybe I'm blaming myself for her running after a guy like Dan."

Taking another sip of his tea, he gives Rosetta a sidelong glance, along with a wry grin. "You know good and well I don't approve of this whole thing. Honestly, I don't know what I want to say to them yet but... I have a feeling from what you just said that... you and I might not quite see eye-to-eye on this."


Scott shakes his head numbly at Dalton. "No... thanks, though."

Falling back into silence, he is pretty quiet the rest of the evening, though does manage to drink half a can of Mountain Dew. Curling up on the couch for the rest of the night, Domino and a blanket kept him warm, though his mind wandered too much to sleep well. It was a nightmare that woke him at three in the morning, and sleepless hours followed until he finally dropped off again only to sleep so soundly that he missed Dalton leaving for work.

Eventually he wakes to Domino licking his face, and he forces himself to get up for the day. Making it out and to his own house to get his mail and pick up his phone seems to take all morning and he doesn't even know why, but by noon, he's made it to the lake and is waiting for Hope. Domino stayed in the car while he had gotten out and sat cross-legged on the hood of his car, staring out at the lake. It was a fair day today with a light breeze blowing. Scott's eyes were far away... so far away.


Leo gets to the shop about ten minutes late the next morning, having slept through his alarm and rushed to get ready for the day. His hair was a bit messed and his clothes were wrinkled, but he was here.

Into the shop and clocking in, he heads straight for his car, barely greeting the other guys. Getting to the car to work on, he glances over to Ryan's space, remembering Cassy's words from the night before. He shakes his head... he couldn't do it. He couldn't act all tough and brave and pretend his heart hadn't just been ripped in two. Or... could he?

"Yo, Leo!" Jed hollers. "I'm putting my money on Ryan beating you to the clock today."

Leo straightens up, tossing his wrench in the air and catching it. "You kidding me?" He laughs and shakes his head. "Don't ever put your money on Ryan, bro. She cheats. It's my turn to win today."