when he moved closer to her, she stayed in her spot as she just looked at him. part of her wanted to be angry still and part of her felt this sense of relief that he wasn’t in a ditch somewhere. but she also felt even more worried that his recent drug use was due to deeper reasons than just having a good time. “fuck, dallas. i could never hate you but you had me worried sick over here. i didn’t know whether you were dead or alive and that ate me up so much. i was waiting for police to show up and tell me you were gone or that i was gonna have to identify your body.” she moved closer to him, her hand finding his and in that moment she felt a sense of relief flood over her body. 

green eyes have trouble focusing on his wife, and he can't tell if it's due to him being upset or if he really is still coming down. his index and thumb finger continue twisting the band on his ring finger as he sits and listens to her speak. he knows now isn't the time for arguing or speaking over mackenzie. letting her finish, eyes close as he feels eyelids grow heavy, vision blurring as he feels her hand in his. "'mack . . ." voice trails off as he lets a sigh pass through parted lips. "in that state i was in? i just didn't think you'd want to hear from me. and -- god, i think i just convinced myself you were better off. i mean, we're married and we have ki and i still made the decision to get that fucked up." he clears his throat, attempting to keep the tears at bay.

mackenzie really doesn’t understand why she is so nervous to meet kiara’s teacher but she was. with her hand intertwined with dallas’s, she glanced over at him with a small nod. if you would have told her this was how her life was going to turn out five years ago, mackenzie would have called you a liar. she always envisioned when her and dallas had kids they would do all of this stuff together: school visits, parent teacher conferences, award ceremonies, all of it. and now it was a reality as they greeted the teacher. mackenzie smiled softly, her gaze on the woman in front of her. she seemed kind like someone who was meant to do this for a career. “oh no thank you for inviting us here. i know the end of the school year is always the most hectic so no apologies.” at the mention of her own little one, she couldn’t help but smile. “how old is your little one?”

dallas smiles down at his wife, squeezing her hand a time or two for support as he senses her stress. all these years later and he still knows her signs for worry and damn if he won't do everything in his control to soothe her. it isn't that he's without his own worries and concerns; he's brand new at this, didn't have the last five years to learn and grow as a parent alongside mackenzie, but he's willing. "yeah, no, thank you. i'm pretty new at the whole parenting gig, but, um, it's nice to know she'll be in good hands." he isn't ready to go into his whole life story just yet, but can already feel a sense of trust between the three of them.

"I love that for you, Lyons, truly. Your energy has shifted in the best of ways, you know?" It was cool to see his friend enter this new season of their lives. They were all evolving as it happened in life, some better than others. "Today's a better day. It comes and goes in waves." Grieving his former life and trying to figure out what would be next for him was something he was constantly battling with. "I'll get there, though…talking about someone to rebuild another team, so we'll see where that goes. What's new with you?"

"my energy? you sayin' i had bad energy before?" he jokes, knowing exactly what his best friend meant by the compliment. dallas nods his head as he swallows, wanting only the best for grayson and true happiness in all aspects of his life. "yeah, waves are hard sometimes, man. if you ever need someone to battle 'em out with, you know i'm just a call away." smiling over at his friend, he huffs out as the incline on the trail heightens. "yeah? i'll be crossing my fingers for you. that sounds . . . really good for you." he shrugs his shoulders as he ponders the question. "married life, dad life, is definitely different. it's harder than i expected, but, um, it's all worth it. i love mack and ki and having a family is, just, one of the best parts of me now."

⌗    𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗌𝗍𝖺𝗋𝗍𝖾𝗋    ,         craft loft    . 

 ★   ˖   ⊹         𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑣𝑎𝑡𝑒   𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑒𝑟.       costco.                        ↳    𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐝    …      @mar7ini

miles's running appetite always felt grateful for these costco trips with bonnie, grabbing anything that might sound good after a game . . . or before, if he really feels like having a rough time. his hands stuff themselves into the pockets of a navy blue hooded nike sweatshirt after throwing in a box of frozen snack bites, shoulders shrugging as he looks around suspiciously. "bonnie, that wasn't me, i swear. i think it might have been . . ." he leans in close, left hand vertical against his lips. ". . . a ghost." he gasps, hands covering both sides of his cheeks as he laughs. "oh, c'mon. they can't be that bad for you. but, just to be on the safe side, better not look at the nutritional value of these bad boys too long. it might send you into a medical emergency."

it wasn’t the fact that he had gone somewhere with god knows who but it was the fact that there was no communication. and for two days, she didn’t know if he was dead or alive. part of her wondered if he thought the same thing when she vanished without a trace. if his heart ached the same way hers did this weekend. this was her karma for leaving him all those years ago. she doesn’t know if she has any right to be angry but then she thinks about their daughter and the worry that not only she experienced but ki as well. when she left dallas, he was the only one that had to worry about her leaving but this was different. their daughter didn’t deserve to have to worry and for that she was angry. 

dallas swallows, jaw clenches slightly as he listens to her speak. "i don't know, mack! i wasn't thinking!" voice cracks as he speaks, watches as she moves further away from him. there's a pit forming in his stomach and he suddenly feels like he needs some air, but he stays still on the couch. "i'm sorry." he repeats, voice quiet, barely above a whisper as he twists gold band on his ring finger. "i don't know what you want me to say."

" of course ! just 'cause i'm not planning on marriage doesn't mean you shouldn't , " even if it meant that one more friend has been lost to domesticity . he's sort of fronting , selfishly almost wishing that this life change hadn't happened so nothing about their friendship would have to change . he realizes he's touched a nerve with his DUMB spaghetti comment -- realizes that maybe that's what some people find enjoyable . " oh , hey , nothing's wrong with that , " he scrambles ( although he can think of a million things he'd rather do ) , " just -- i don't know , isn't that kind of . . . boring ? " he's listening to the explanation of the living situation , working overtime to stifle any facial responses . it sounds complicated , to say the least . he can tell it's a touchy subject , a situation which held some sort of underlying animosity , which he'd like very much to stay out of . " damn , that's tough . what about kiara , though ? is she , like , confused why mom n' dad live in different houses ? "

brows furrow as dallas folds his hands in his lap. the idea of marriage, commitment, used to scare the hell out of him, enough to end his relationship with raven. "i wasn't planning on getting married. just, y'know, sort of happened." he shrugs his shoulders, hands releasing from each other and spreading apart. "don't know if i ever told you this, but that's the reason i ended things with raven. just . . . couldn't commit to forever." suddenly feeling his mouth dry, he lifts a finger and circles the air, insinuating another round. he tilts his head side to side, contemplating the question. "wouldn't call it boring, but it's different for sure. not something i've been used to in a while." smiling as the bartender sets down the glass, he winces before even taking the shot. "i mean . . ." voice trails off as he shoves a lime between his teeth. "i'm sure she is, but we've talked to her about it being a for now situation. we'll figure it out, always do."

some  women  have  a  talent  for  being  seen.  others  for  being  heard.  portia  excels  at  both.  firstly,  there's  the  famously  fiery  red  hair  and  perfectly  coordinated  clothes.  then  there's  the  sound  of  her  heels  and  her  voice,  refined  but  cold.   “     are  you  all  right?     ” she  questions  with  calm  composure,  the  sharp  clicks  of  her  heels  against  the  stone  pavement  growing  louder,  a  touch  more  decisive  with  each  new step.  there's  still  dirt  on  her  knees  from  kneeling  just  moments  prior  to  this  —  she's  been  gardening.  obviously.  “     why  were  you  driving  so  fast  in  the  first  place  ?  you  do  realize  that  kids  live  in  this   neighborhood,  right?  ” 

he doesn't expect the question, isn't even sure his first reaction would be to ask about his physical state, though nods his head regardless. "yes. i'm fine, ma'am." dallas clears his throat as he considers her follow up, gaze averting from the mailbox to the red haired woman standing before him. "i know. i, um . . . have a daughter that lives here. with my wife and i. was trying to get home and must've just lost control." hands rub together quickly, inspecting the mailbox quickly before pulling his wallet from his back pocket. "so, how much do i owe ya? for the damage."

closed starter: dallas lyons ( @mar7ini )

dallas flew back in last night, and despite the contents of the last couple days still sitting in his system, he was sound enough to know not to go home. he doesn't know what awaits him when he walks through the door, if he'll even have anyone waiting for him there. it wasn't intentional to leave for so long, had only planned to fly to los angeles for a few hours and then pop right back, but everything seemed to go wrong in that forty eight hour span. his phone was stolen a few hours into the worst high of his life, his cards and cash were taken from his wallet, and by the time he was able to get ahold of a phone, he wasn't in the right space to dial mackenzie's number. by then, it had been almost two days since he left and he wasn't sure she'd even want to hear from him.

WHO: Dallas Lyons (@mar7ini) WHERE: Cedar Elm Nature Reserve

as selfish as it sounds, dallas feels lucky to have grayson back in willow glen, especially when the other drags him out into nature. he could spend an entire day indoors if given the opportunity. "still no regrets, g. plus, i trust her with everything i have, including my balls." he laughs, nudging the other slightly as they walk. "how've, uh, you been doing?"

brooks still can't tell if he's joking , but decides its not worth the effort trying to convince dallas that if mackenzie can be taken out by one olive pit , she's got BIGGER problems . " just . . . a congratulations drink . i haven't seen you in a minute and congrats are in order ! " it's simply straight tequila , a heavy pour as the bartender knows brooks will tip well , complete with a slice of lime . he clinks his glass against dallas' , downs the liquid quickly ( and concerningly easily ) and leaves the lime unused on the table . " vortex is fine , but what about a wednesday night ? what're you supposed to do , make spaghetti ? " as if domestic life , a calm dinner at home with one's family , were abhorrent . he's about to offer to charter them a plane to new york but is quickly shot down . he slaps his hands in faux frustration at dallas' refusal , " oh my god , you're no fun . . . wait , d'you guys not LIVE together ? what d'you mean , breakfast date ? "

dallas nods his head once, both exhilarated and skeptical of the drink set before him, trusts brooks enough to be more the former. "my oh my, are you, mr. copeland, actually congratulating me on getting married?" joking around with brooks is one of his favorite activities, especially when he can attempt to get under his skin even just slightly. lifting his glass, he watches as his friend unwaveringly takes the shot, following him shortly after with a wince and a lime between his teeth. this was going to be quite the night. "and what's wrong with spaghetti on a wednesday night?" the question comes out a bit harsher than he means it to, but he can't help but feel as if the other was taking a dig at dallas. at his friend's question, dallas finds himself twisting his gold wedding band out of habit, touchy subject and all. "we're still living separately until we decide where to live. mack's all attached to the house she's been living in since she got back and, yeah, i just can't see myself giving up mine. been there pretty much my whole life, you know? feels kinda fucked giving it up."

she let out her own frustrated sigh as she ran her fingers through her hair. god he was so stubborn and while she loved it, she also hated it. “just leave, dallas. you don’t want to be here and frankly, i don’t want to fight with you anymore.” she stands now, pacing back and forth in front of the couch. “i understand where you are coming from, i do. i wish you could also understand where i am coming from. i never said that we wouldn’t eventually move but I feel like i’m not given much of a choice in whether or not in the end it would be best to move.” after a minute, she headed to the kitchen, emotions getting the best of her and she just needed to breathe. she didn’t know how long she had been in there before she comes out and throws her hands in the air. “fine. we will try it out but i cannot guarantee that i am going to feel at home but you’re right, we should at least give it a go. tomorrow we will move some of our things in okay?” 

fight, they were officially in a fight. it isn't their first as a married couple and won't be their last, dallas is a realist and a cynic at his core and knows that much. he watches as his wife paces in the living room, wanting desperately to reach out and pull her into him, but finds himself standing still. before a response can leave his lips, mackenzie is out of the room, leaving him standing in the living room with his hands on his head. "god." he huffs, hands coming down as he begins a step toward the kitchen, stopped in his tracks at her voice. "if you hate it there, we'll figure something else out. i promise." he smiles, walking closer to her and wrapping his arms around her waist, eyes looking down at her. "as much as i love my house, i love you more."

" dude . . . " he's unsure if dallas is joking , pretending he doesn't know what would be sexy about a woman drinking a classic cocktail and making eyes at him across the table . " imagine mackenzie drinking it . . . " he offers , not picturing the image himself , but thinking that it might illucidate the sexiness of the beverage for dallas . he was impressed that dallas had ponied up for MARRIAGE ⸺ brooks could think of a thousand things that were higher on his priority list , like pressure - washing the public sidewalk . he watches , however , as his buddy taps his nose , a wicked grin splitting across his lips as he claps dallas on the shoulder . " hey , that's what i'm talking about , " he agrees , and luckily he's come prepared for the evening . his eyes glance around the room as if to scope out anyone who might be . . . offended , to say the least . he catches the eye of a server who's bringing their drinks over , and brooks offers her a charming smile and a mumbled thank you , his eyes watching her leave . " i wish there was a good fuckin' CLUB here . i miss that about new york ⸺ you can party all night if you want to , then continue into the daytime . here , it's different . "

it isn't hard picturing mackenzie in this rather alluring scenario brooks has created for him, head tilting to the side a few times as if understanding. "guess i see it now, but does it have to be a martini? what if she chokes on an olive? i'd become, like, a man-widow." a laugh escapes him, his stomach rising slightly with each chuckle. moments spent around brooks always made for a good time, and even better memories, though he's not entirely sure how mackenzie is going to react to their antics tonight. it's not like he's ever had to answer to a wife before. hands rub together playfully as the bartender drops off the drinks. "ah, and what has mr. investment banker ordered for the table tonight?" he teases, lifting his drink to his nose in an act of inspection. "vortex isn't that bad, b. it's just a weekends only kinda thing. but, yeah, i know what you mean. i'd sell my kidney be in new york right now with you." holds up his index finger as if to pause any plans brooks might be ready to make. "and before you get any ideas, i am not taking a flight to new york tonight. mack would probably kill me for missing our breakfast date tomorrow."