"I went to look for you everywhere—" Dad muttered angrily as they walked towards the cars that were parked next to the apartment complex where Miguel lived. "At Eli's, at Demetri's— I even went to the LaRussos—"

Dad unlocked his car and gestured for Sky to get in there. Hesitating, Sky glanced at her own car, and then back at Dad who stood staring at her, his jaw clenched tight, his whole posture tense and annoyed.

"But what about my car—?"

"It stays here," Dad snapped. "You are not allowed to drive. As you should have known."

Sulking, Sky followed Dad into his car and sat on the passenger seat, deciding it was best not to comment on the subject. Dad was, of course, right - but it still sucked to be scolded as if Sky was the only one who'd done stupid things today.

"Seatbelt," Dad stated harshly.

Sky rolled her eyes and buckled her seatbelt. "I'm not an idiot."

"Well, you weren't thinking about safety this afternoon, when you jumped into your car and started driving with a cast and a brain injury, so excuse me for reminding you about it."

Again, Sky decided it was best not to comment, even if there already was a pointed remark at the tip of her tongue. She sank into her seat, knowing very well she deserved Dad's anger, but it still made her feel like crap.

"Look, Sky," Dad said, after a couple of minutes when they stopped at the first red lights. "I understand that you freaked out. And I am sorry that you found out like this. But running away like that—" he shook his head, looking so disappointed that Sky felt like sinking into her seat just to get away. "And not answering your phone for hours, after everything that's happened—"

Sky looked down at her hands that lay in her lap. The emotions that had overtaken her when she'd seen Dad kissing that woman in his office, had slowly worn out, leaving behind only a sticky and heavy mix of shame and sadness. She realized Dad had been worried sick, that Dad had probably thought she had done something to herself again. To think that Dad had been driving around all afternoon, in search of his suicidal daughter, made Sky feel like she was a piece of shit. What kind of a daughter puts her dad through things like that, over and over again?

"I'm sorry," she said silently. "I didn't mean to make you worried."

"Of course, I worried, Sky. I always worry for you."

She didn't reply, because what was there to say? She felt rotten already, stupid and selfish and undeserving of Dad's love and care, so she said nothing as Dad kept driving and the silence fell in the car between them, heavy, awkward, and alien.

The silence had lasted for a couple of minutes when Sky's phone buzzed in her pocket. She fished it out, just to see Hawk's smirking face and spiky hair on the screen.

"It's Hawk," She said, glancing at dad. "Can I answer?"

Dad frowned, but then gave a nod. "Fine, but keep it short."

Sky pressed the green button and brought the phone to her ear, adjusting the volume down so that Dad wouldn't hear what Hawk said.

"Sky, are you okay?" Hawk asked immediately as she picked up. His voice was raspy, tense with worry.

"I'm fine. What do you mean?"

"I just came home from the dojo, and Mom says your dad came here looking for you."

"Oh," Sky glanced at Dad by her side, his clenched jaw, the long-fingered hands that gripped the wheel with a white-knuckle grip. "Shit. I'm sorry about that."

"What happened? Mom says your dad was freaking out—"

"I..." Sky hesitated. She wanted to tell Hawk everything, but not like this, not with Dad sitting next to her. "We just had a stupid argument—"

"Did he— did he find out what we—?"

Sky couldn't help the blushing of her cheeks as she gripped the phone a bit tighter in her fingers, hoping Dad couldn't hear what Hawk was saying. The memory of Hawk's hands holding her waist as he fucked her from behind, flashed through her system making her feel hot all over.

"No, it's something else," she replied, trying to keep her voice cool. "Don't worry about it. We just argued and I went to Miguel's without telling Dad where I was... and I didn't answer the phone when he called, so he got worried."

"Jesus, Sky—" Hawk groaned.

"Please don't," Sky muttered. "Dad's already yelled at me."

"I'm not gonna yell at you. I just wanna know you're okay."

"I'm okay."

"You sure?"

The worry in his voice made something clench tight in Sky's chest. She hadn't meant to make anyone worried - she had just needed to get out of the house—

—But what did I expect? After my stupid suicide stunt last summer, of course, everyone's gonna worry if I don't pick up my phone for a couple of hours.

"I'm sure," she reassured. "I'll call you later, okay?"

"Okay," he breathed, the tone of his voice raspy and low. "I love you."

"I love you too."

Sky pushed her phone back into the pocket of her jeans, and looked up. Only now she realized they weren't going home. Instead, Dad pulled the car in front of a milkshake place. Sky arched a brow - it was one of those 1950' style places, with staff dressed in costumes, and pictures of pin-up girls on the walls. They served great milkshakes, though - she had come here with Hawk a couple of times.

"Are you coming?" Dad said as he stepped out of the car, dangling the car keys in his fingers.

"But—"

"It's dinnertime. And I'm not cooking today."

"Fine," Sky replied and stood up, closing the door behind her. "But milkshakes for dinner?"

Dad shrugged and shoved the car keys into the pocket of his leather jacket. "You complaining?"

"No, I guess not."

She followed dad in, they ordered their milkshakes - plain vanilla for Dad and an extravagant cherry milkshake for Sky. It had a couple of ripe, dark red cherries balanced on top of a huge amount of whipped cream, and Sky's mouth watered at the sight. She realized she hadn't eaten anything since lunchtime - which was stupid, really, but she had been a bit distracted.

They sat in a booth and started drinking their milkshakes. The bright red fake leather seat squeaked as Sky tried to find a comfortable position while sucking the straw. But the silence that had lingered on between them in the car had followed them here, and it made Sky feel uneasy. They had sat together like this a million times, having milkshakes, but not once had it felt this awkward.

"I'm sorry that I made you worried," Sky finally said after the silence had continued for too long. "It was stupid of me to run away like that."

Dad leaned his elbows on the table and glanced at Sky while poking his milkshake with a straw. "I understand you needed some space. But Sky, after everything that's happened, all I ask is that you answer your phone."

"I know. I said I was sorry."

"It's okay," Dad replied and his frown melted. "Just don't do that again."

Sky turned her attention back to her milkshake, picked the cherries from the top, and ate them, slowly, while trying to figure out what to say next.

"So, what's the deal with this woman? Is it serious?" She finally asked.

Dad leaned back in his chair, and let out a sigh. "I don't know. What I do know, is that what happened today was unplanned. And I am sorry you had to find out like this."

"Yeah, well, I'm sorry too," Sky muttered taking a sip of her milkshake. "So, how did the two of you meet?"

"Through work," Dad shrugged. "Ages ago. I've known Lisa for a decade."

"What? For ten years? You've been sneaking around behind my back since I was a preschooler?"

"Don't be ridiculous, Sky. I said I've known her for ten years. We only started dating this summer - the time was never right before."

"And now the time is right?"

That came out harsher than Sky had meant. It was just that with everything that had happened with Kat and Matt, Sky's suicide attempt, and the school fight - well, she had thought Dad had his plate more than full. But maybe that was the point. Maybe Dad had needed something else to think about - and Sky sure as Hell couldn't blame him if he wanted distraction.

"No, but I'm tired of waiting for the right time." Dad replied bluntly. "I'm 41 years old, Sky, and I'm not getting any younger. I want to see where things can go with Lisa, and I think I have the right to pursue happiness."

Sky knew he was right, and she knew she was being childish and stupid getting upset about Dad's girlfriend. It was just like Miguel had said - she should be happy for Dad. Dad, who had always been there for her, who had watched her mess up time after time after time, who had been there to help her up every time she fell down, who had always believed in her, even when Sky hadn't even believed that the sun would rise in the morning. Dad, who had never asked for anything for himself, but instead had given her everything.

And Sky was going to ruin this one good thing in his life by being a selfish brat?

She hated the bitterness that fell on her lips at that thought and swallowed it down with a mouthful of cherry milkshake.

"You're right," she said when she felt like she could talk again. "You do deserve to be happy. And I'm sorry I freaked out - it's just that.... I guess I'm just scared that things will change."

"Hey," dad said gently and took her hand over the table. "Nothing is going to change. I promise that. You will always be the most important thing in my life. Always, and forever. The fact that I am dating someone will not change anything. This is our family, and that's the way I intend to keep it."

Dad's voice was so sincere, his hand that held hers was warm and strong, and Sky knew she could trust him. Still, she needed to ask.

"But... what if you want to marry her? Or ask her to move in or something?"

That made Dad let out a laugh. He let go of Sky's hand and ran his fingers through his blond hair. "Heavens, Sky! We just started dating a couple of months ago. You're getting ahead of things."

Sky made a face. "Well, I did walk in on the two of you making out in my home."

"Please," Nicholas noted rather dryly. "I've walked into you and Eli doing a lot more than that."

"That's totally different!" Sky's cheeks heated. She did remember the couple of times when Dad had walked in on her making out with Hawk - and also the times when they had taken stupid risks and gotten too close to be caught. Like today. If Dad had walked into her room while Hawk was fucking her, they would be having a totally different conversation now.

"And why is that different?" Dad asked, arching a brow. "Because you are a teenager and are allowed to do stupid things? It's not your privilege, you know. Adults can make mistakes too."

Sky sucked on the straw of her milkshake and swallowed the mouthful of heavenly sweetness.

"I know. Like bringing their girlfriends home in the middle of the day for makeout sessions."

"Lord," Dad groaned. "I have a feeling I'll be hearing about that for a long time to come."

"Your feeling is correct," Sky smirked. "But - I promise to behave from now on. If you promise to learn how to lock the door of your office."

"A deal," Dad said and raised his cup. "To locked doors?"

"To love," said Sky and raised her own milkshake. "Because in the end, that's all you need. Right?"

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