Bold enough?

Domino waits expectantly, keeping her eyes on the stick. Watching it fly, she springs from her spot and bounds after the stick, her unending energy apparent.

Scott grins. "There's only one person she plays with like that, other than me." He watches his dog attack the stick, growling and playing before she comes back with it again, now panting from the effort.

Ignoring his food, Scott shakes his head. "Domino, do you know how silly you are?"

Domino gives a little groan and puts a paw over her face.

"It's okay, I think Hope likes it."

Domino straightens and wags her stumpy tail, giving an enthusiastic yip.

Scott smirks. "You're such a ham. Aren't you worn out?"

She pauses in thought, then topples over on her side, stretching out in the grass as if she were utterly exhausted.

"It's not bedtime yet!"

Domino hops back up and spins in a little circle before stopping, still panting and wiggling all over.

"Why don't you show Hope how tall you are?"

She lifts herself up to stand on her hind legs, balancing for several seconds before coming back down on all fours.

Scott is still grinning. "Alright, you've shown off enough."

Domino wiggles and trots up to Hope, offering a slobbery stick again.

Scott turns back to the table, letting his dog play around. He had no worries that she would run off. Leaning his elbows on the table, he pushes his food to the side, even though it only had a total of four bites from it.


Ryder sees Katie coming, but it's too late. "What the..." His words don't get any further as he's knocked over and brought to the floor.

Jason is on Carson a few feet away, picking their own fight up right where they'd left off.

"Jason, you moron!"

"Wimp!"

"Double-crosser!"

"Hot head!"

Carson shoves Jason off and gets to his own feet, making a mad dash to the living room. Jason is quick to follow, disappearing into the other room where the brawl continues.

Ryder blinks and tries to catch his breath after the wind has been knocked out of him. On his back, he stares up at Katie, wide-eyed. "What did I ever do to deserve this?" he complains, but the humor twinkles behind his eyes.

Looking at Katie for a moment he isn't sure quite what to do. Her laughter was contagious, and her eyes were bright - a contrast to the serious situation they were all in. The playfulness was different.

A mischievous glint slowly comes into Ryder's own eyes and he makes up his mind. Moving his hands, he grabs Katie's ankles, uprooting her feet from the floor and unbalancing her just enough to make her fall backward onto his legs.

Sitting up, it’s his turn to stare down at her as she lies in his lap, and he folds his arms across his chest. “Well, now that the tables are turned, what happens next? Or are you bold enough to continue this little game while your boyfriend is in the next room over?”