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"Hey, kid. How're you doing?" Jimmy Cooper was standing alone on the patio when Ryan finally left the poolhouse. Sandy, Kirsten and Seth didn't force him to join the family for dinner, instead silently acknowledging his solitude. They'd taken him a plate of food after eating together.
"Jimmy," Ryan gave him a slight nod. He sat down and lit a cigarette.
"Kirsten lets you smoke?"
He shrugged.
"I can't stop Marissa from doing what she wants either…" Jimmy sighed. He sat down beside Ryan. "Have you talked to her?"
"I haven't talked to Marissa in months," Ryan replied. "I'm sorry…"
"No, it's okay. You…you did what you had to do…"
"I tried, Mr. Cooper. When she'd call, I'd come. When she'd arrange a meeting, I'd go. She was never there. She was fucking with me. I had to make a decision. I'm sorry that I couldn't help her," Ryan said quietly.
"I know. I appreciate you trying…I always knew she was safe with you, kid. She's not doing so well."
"Summer said that she's sick," Ryan acknowledged.
"Do you think…would you try and talk to her?"
Ryan regarded Jimmy with smoke drifting from his nostrils. "I don't think I'm the model subject for mental health these days."
"I know, I'm sorry for even asking but…"
"Jimmy? Are you ready to go?" Hailey's voice startled them both from the house.
"Yeah, Hailey, just a minute," Jimmy called back.
"I don't think there's anything I can do, Mr. Cooper. It's too late."
"Just…just think about it, okay?" Jimmy said, standing up. Hailey appeared at his side, her gaze bouncing between them.
"What's going on out here?"
"Nothing. Just saying good night to Ryan," Jimmy smiled at his girlfriend.
"Oh. Good night, Ryan."
"Hailey." He whispered her name as the couple walked away from him. He inhaled off his cigarette. He should've stayed in the poolhouse.
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"What were you talking to Ryan about?" Hailey asked, trying to keep her voice level as she unlocked her apartment.
"I was hoping he'd take a shot at Marissa. Maybe she'll listen to him…"
"God, Jimmy, why would you put that on him?" Hailey asked. She couldn't believe that Jimmy would ask him to do that.
"I have to do everything I can to help my daughter, Hailey, you wouldn't understand," He sighed, closing the door behind him.
"I wouldn't understand?"
"She's my daughter and I have to try and help her," Jimmy said quietly.
"She's your daughter, she's your responsibility, not Ryan's. He's got enough on his plate…"
"Since when are you Ryan's defender?" Jimmy asked.
"He used to come by the house when I lived there. He'd have driven all the way from Chino to see her because she'd call him, and Marissa would have just left…she was playing with him, Jimmy. She's just like her mother…"
"Marissa is nothing like Julie, you don't even know her," Jimmy snapped.
"And you do? When's the last time you sat down and talked with her? She's your daughter, not an extra-curricular activity, Jimmy…"
"What's this about?"
Hailey forced herself to calm down. "It's about you taking care of your daughter without putting the blame on a kid…"
"I'm not putting the blame on Ryan, I was just seeing if he could help her…" Jimmy protested.
"He can't…"
"Hailey, you don't even know Ryan…"
"And you do? Because he used to be here to save your daughter? Do you even know what he's been through these past few months? Having to take care of Teresa and trying to be here for his family, too? Do you have any idea what he's been going through?"
When she turned to face him, she knew that she'd said too much. He was staring at her.
"What?" She asked.
"I knew there was another man, but…but…wow. Ryan? Really?" Jimmy shook his head in disbelief. It was like the pieces all came together for him.
"What are you talking about?" Hailey whispered, wishing she could stop the blush from rushing onto her cheeks.
"I knew you were cheating on me. As soon as you moved out. The first night you had me over here, I knew."
"What?"
"The first night, Hailey, I found condom wrappers in the trash. Not my brand. I knew you saw other men but…Ryan?"
"No, Jimmy," Hailey said, shaking her head. This was getting too out of control.
"Look at me," He demanded. "Tell me I'm wrong…"
All she could do was shake her head. No one was supposed to get hurt. No one was supposed to find out, it was over, she didn't want to hurt Jimmy. Finally she whispered, "No."
But Jimmy was shaking his head now. "You can't deny it, not after that little rant you just gave me…"
"I'm not cheating on you," She said. And she wasn't. Not now.
"Let's slow down for a second," Jimmy said, turning his back on her. He sighed.
She walked over to him and put a hand on his back.
"Don't…" He whispered. "Don't lie to me…"
"Jimmy…"
"You're sleeping with Ryan?" Jimmy said suddenly. "God, Hailey, he's Marissa's ex-boyfriend, he's Kirsten's son! He's seventeen!"
"Jimmy…" Hailey tried again.
"Does Kirsten know? God, she couldn't…what were you thinking?"
"You're totally overreacting. I'm not cheating on you. I'm not cheating on you with Ryan…" Hailey said seriously.
"You're lying to me," Jimmy stated flatly.
"No…"
But Jimmy stormed out of the apartment. He didn't believe her. What the hell was she going to do? She sat down and started to cry. Half an hour had passed before she opened her phone.
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