Mishy (Scomiche)

Chapter Three

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-

Getting Bailey to let Mitch go home on Sunday night was more difficult than Scott likes to admit. She had whined and cried again, and Mitch had only been able to sneak out when Mitch had offered to read her a bedtime story, heading home when she was finally asleep.

Scott's Monday is mostly busy, allowing no time for him to think about Mitch and how good he is with Bailey, how much Bailey loves him. He can't afford to be distracted, and only lets his thoughts drift off a few times, only in the presence of Kirstin who can still hold the team without him.

The only problem is that there is a reason why he works so well with Kirstin. She knows him, like, really well. She honestly knows him better than anyone else, he thinks, and that means that she knows when something is wrong with him, like if he's distracted.

She lets it slip the first few time, allows him to zone out in the middle of their meeting, picking up his slack. It happens sometimes, and she doesn't mind. Well, until she realizes that he keeps doing it. It's around two when she finally confronts him.

"Okay, blondie," she says, leaning against his desk. "What is going on with you today?"

He bites at his lip, worries it between his teeth until it feels red. "It's Mitch," is all he has to say for Kirstin to understand. She gives him a sympathetic smile, settles into the chair that he has set up for clients - or, really, whoever needs to be in his office.

"You've still got it bad?"

He sighs, nods and plays with his fingers instead of gnawing away at his chapped lips.

"Well," she says, nestles her hand into his to stop his fidgeting. "What's it that they say? The best way to get over someone is to get under someone else?"

Scott grimaces, mumbles, "I top."

It has Kirstin giggling, squeezing his hand. "You know what I mean! Maybe it's time you go out on a date."

Scott shakes his head, pulls his hand away. "You know I can't. It's not that easy, anymore - I've got Bailey, now."

"Yeah, and you've got a nanny."

Scott frowns, locks eyes with her and notices that she's being really sincere.

"Okay," Scott swallows, "you're right. Maybe I should try dating again."

-

Kirstin sets him up on a blind date with a guy named Josh. Despite his attempt to maintain an open mind, Scott is a little surprised when he first sees him; Josh doesn't seem his type, at all. He isn't sure why Kirstin chose this guy, of all guys.

He's big, about Scott's height, and he's burly. His dress shirt is tight, strains against his thick biceps and broad chest. He's got scruff and jet black hair, but it looks greasy and doesn't seem to be clean shaven. Scott thinks his dark chocolate eyes are at least something, but other than that he's honestly not into the guy's looks.

Their conversation is awkward at first, an uncomfortable silence settling over them as they ponder their menus. The restaurant is nice, at least, and Scott thinks he'll enjoy the food, if nothing else.

Eventually Scott manages to bring up work and that seems to push Josh into conversation. At first, Scott is glad that the guy seems to become more comfortable.

That joy is quickly replaced. In his boring enthusiasm - honestly, Scott is not that interested to learn of this guy's job at a whatever - he seems to completely ignore Scott's attempts to also converse. He drawls on and on. Where Scott is normally patient, he loses all respect for Josh who seems to not give single fuck about anything Scott has to say.

When they're finally finished their meal, an endless hour and a half later of Scott listening to this guy drone on, Scott thinks he could run out the door. This date isn't going well, by any means, and it's only worsened when Josh attempts to seduce him with a question of, "want to come back to my place?"

Scott has half a mind to tell this guy to fuck off - that even if he could leave his daughter in Mitch's care until tomorrow, there's no way he would ever go home with Josh.

Instead, he remains polite, excuses himself with a, "I can't, sorry. I need to get home to my daughter." He thanks Josh for paying, thinks it's the only gentlemanly thing he's done tonight, and he almost darts to get to his car and get home.

He pulls out of the spot he had been in, gets about halfway home when he has to pull over. He presses his head gently against his steering wheel, counts to ten as he takes deep breaths to steady his thoughts, before pulling back on to the road and heading home.

-

Mitch is surprised when he walks in at a measly nine PM.

"Bailey is asleep. Back so soon?" He calls from the couch. Scott sighs, places his keys in the dish.

"Yeah," he says, toes off his shoes and pulls off his coat before he settles onto the couch near Mitch.

"How did it go?" He asks softly.

Scott presses his fingers into his temples, massages them before breathing out, "horribly."

"What? What happened?"

"He wouldn't shut up about himself, which might have been okay if he weren't completely boring."

Mitch frowns, places a soothing hand on Scott's shoulder. "I'm sorry."

"Oh, did I mention? To top it all off, he tried to invite me back to his place. As if I'd sleep with him after the first date - as if I'm such a bad dad that I'd just leave my three year old daughter to fend for herself until tomorrow!" His eyes slam shut as he presses his fingers harder into his temples, hangs his head in his palms as he leans forward to rest his elbows on his knees. "Then again, considering he wouldn't let me speak, he probably didn't fucking know I had a kid."

"Oh, Scott, I'm so sorry."

"It's fine. I should've expected it. I haven't dated in so long - everything is so different now." He lets his hands fall from his face. "I have a kid now. Everything is harder and-" he chokes, feels the tears threatening to spill, but mostly feels ashamed for being so emotional like this in front of Mitch. "what if I just don't ever find someone? What if what I have to offer isn't enough? I can't do one night stands and sex on the first date. I want a relationship, but everything is so different now." He rubs angrily at his eyes, wipes away his tears.

"Hey, no," Mitch says, runs his hand along Scott's arm and around his back as he settles closer. "Hey, Scott, look at me. Please?" Scott does, lets his teary eyes meet Mitch's pretty brown ones. He feels shameful heat tinting his cheeks. "You're a great guy - an even better father. Don't think that what you can give someone isn't enough - god, it's more than enough, probably more than anyone deserves. I promise you, anyone would be so incredibly lucky to have you."

"But-"

"No," Mitch shushes, leans forward to wrap his arms around Scott and hug him tightly. "I told you, and I meant it. You're incredible, and anyone would be lucky to have you."

Scott sniffles, mumbles a soft thank you as he lets his arms wrap around Mitch and squeeze back.

As he sits, held in Mitch's embrace, he can't get rid of the little voice in his head that screams for him to tell Mitch, I want you to have me.