Not so good

Actually, the fall from the couch had jarred just about every recently-healed injury, leaving Tal in quite a bit of pain. He wouldn't let on though... not and spoil that smile on Ryan's face he'd missed seeing lately. 

Grinning from ear to ear, he laughs too as his face flushes. "Yeah... yeah, I'm okay." Seeing Eli approach, he gives him a sheepish look and lifts a hand. "Wipe that stupid smirk off your face and help me up." 

Swallowing a laugh, Eli reaches down and pulls Tal up, knowing that the fall must have hurt if he was asking for help. "That'll teach you to be making out with my sister." 

Tal quirks an eyebrow and looks down at Ryan. "Naw... it just means we should start out on the floor instead."

Eli's eyes widen and he threatens to whack Tal over the head. 

Tal raises his hands and backs up a step while laughing. "I was just kidding, big brother, just kidding." 

"Uh-huh." 

"Say what are you doing here anyway?" 

"When I decided to get some lunch, I realized I'd forgotten this." Eli holds up his wallet. "So I had to come back here and get it. Glad I did too..." He gives his sister a dry sort of glance, but ends it with a wink. He trusted her and Tal both, probably more than he trusted himself, but he still liked to give them a bad time. "Me and my own babe can't decide what to do tonight - do I have to come back here and babysit?" 

Tal smirks. "I happen to be taking your baby sister out to dinner tonight, so you and Scarlet are welcome to the couch." 

Eli grins. "Maybe it'll be her couch tonight."

Tal glances to Ryan again. "I think we should just 'happen' to drop by there at the most opportune time tonight, what do you think?"


Relief sweeps through Carson as Dalton welcomes him rather than throwing him out. At least now he had two people that would talk to him. That was a start, right? 

Easing down in the extra chair, he shrugs at Dalton's question. "I'm... not so good," he admits. "I thought I'd been to hell and back before... but that wasn't even as bad as this." He glances down, his fingers fiddling in his lap. "I'm surviving though. Mostly trying to find people who will forgive me for the lies and be my friend again. I'm finding that more difficult than I thought it would be too." 

He couldn't help the depressive tone of his voice - he was depressed and he knew it. He didn't want to live without Misty... but she wasn't giving him any choice. He didn't want to forget about all his friendships... but the relationships seemed to have vanished. 

Looking back up again, he forces a small smile. "I came to see you though. Thought for a while there I mighta lost my future brother-in-law."