Chapter 99 Clueless

Chapter 99 Clueless

Orion

He is being trapped, I can see that but the guy is so clueless. Nothing is saving him from Bailey's wrath.

"That's not…" Marcus starts but Bailey interrupts him.

"That's exactly what you did," she snaps.

"You had six months to treat her right and to be honest about your feelings. You had all that time to show her she meant more to you than just convenient sex. You didn't, so why should I help you now?" She asks.

I've never seen Bailey this angry, this protective. It reminds me of the fierce determination she showed when she was taking down Nolan.

"Because I love her," Marcus says, and the words seem to cost him something. "I love her, and I was an idiot.

All I need is the chance to make it right." He replies.

"You love her," Bailey repeats skeptically. She doesn't believe it.

“ It's funny how you couldn't say that to her face."

"I know," Marcus says. "I know I fucked up. I know I should have said it weeks ago, months ago. But I'm saying it now. I love Talia, and I can't lose her." Marcus replies.

"You already lost her.

You lost her the moment you let her walk away without fighting for her." She Informs him.

"Then help me fight for her now," Marcus pleads. "Please. Just tell me where she is, or give her a message, or something. I can't just... I can't give up."

Bailey stares at him for a long moment, her expression unreadable.

"Talia took the day off," she finally says. "She's not here obviously and I'm not telling you where she is. If you want to talk to her, you need to respect her space and her boundaries. She asked you to leave her alone."

"But…" Marcus starts to protest but one look from Bailey is all it takes to shut him up.

"You don't get to show up and demand things from her anymore. You don't get to decide when and how you have access to her. She set a boundary, and you need to respect it."

If Talia isn't picking Marcus’ calls, it means she didn't want to see him.

Bailey being here biggest protector won't go against that no matter what.

Marcus looks devastated, but he nods slowly.

"If... if you talk to her," he says quietly, "can you tell her I came by? Can you tell her I meant what I said?" He asks or more like he pleads.

"I'll think about it," Bailey says, which is not a yes.

Marcus seems to understand that's the best he's going to get. He turns to leave, then pauses at the door.

"You're a good friend. Talia is lucky to have you." Marcus says before walking away.

After he leaves, Bailey lets out a long breath.

"God, I wanted to throw something at him," she mutters.

"I could tell," I say, coming up behind her and wrapping my arms around her waist. "You were very intimidating."

"He deserves to be intimidated. He broke Talia's heart." She says and I can still smell her anger even with Marcus gone.

"I know," I say gently. "But Bailey... he seemed pretty genuine just now about loving her, I mean." I try to reason with her.

"So what?" Bailey asks. "That doesn't erase months of treating her like she didn't matter."

"No, it doesn't," I agree. "But people can change. People can realize they made a mistake and try to fix it."

Bailey turns in my arms to look at me.

"Are you defending him?" she asks, starting to look pissed at me.

"I'm not defending him," I say carefully. "I'm just... I know what it's like to almost lose someone you love because you were too scared or too stupid to see what you had. And I know what it's like to get a second chance to make it right."

Bailey's expression softens slightly.

"This is different," she says. "You and I had a fake relationship that turned real. Marcus and Talia had a real relationship that he refused to acknowledge."

"True," I concede. "But the core issue is the same…he was scared and fear makes people do stupid things."

"You sound like you feel sorry for him," Bailey observes.

"Maybe a little," I admit. "Because I've been there. Not exactly the same, but... I've been the guy who was too scared to admit how I felt. And if you hadn't given me the chance to make things right, I'd have lost you."

Bailey considers this, then sighs.

"I'll tell Talia he came by," she says. "But what she does with that information is up to her. I'm not going to push her either way." She declares and I know she means it. She won't add or minus a word Marcus said.

"Fair enough," I say and kiss the top of her head.

I wait until Bailey is focused on her work again, then I quietly slip out the back door of the bakery.

Marcus is sitting in his car in the parking lot, his head resting on the steering wheel.

I walk over and tap on his window.

He jumps, then looks up to see me standing there. For a moment, I think he might drive away, but instead he rolls down the window.

"Hayes," he says. "I didn't realize you were here."

He knows me. Oh well, most hockey lovers here in Michigan do so I will assume he is one of them.

"Bailey's my fiancée," I say. "Where else would I be?"

Marcus nods, accepting that.

"Look, if you're here to tell me to stay away from Talia…" he starts but I shake my head.

"I'm not," I interrupt. "Actually, I wanted to talk to you. Got a minute?" I ask.

Marcus looks surprised but nods nevertheless.

"Get out of the car," I say. "Let's walk."

We end up walking around the block, neither of us speaking at first.

"Bailey really hates me right now," Marcus finally says.

"Bailey doesn't hate you. She is very protective of Talia," I correct him.

“Talia is hurting because of you.So yeah, she's not your biggest fan at the moment." I don't sugarcoat anything. I just tell him the reality of his god damn situation.

"I deserve that," Marcus admits. He looks remorseful enough.

"Probably," I agree.

We walk in silence for another moment.

"Can I ask you something?" I say.

"Sure."

"Do you actually love Talia?" I ask. "Or are you just uncomfortable with the idea of her moving on?"

Marcus stops walking and looks at me.

"I love her," he says, and there's no hesitation in his voice. "I've been in love with her for months. I just... I couldn't admit it. Not to her, not even to myself."

"Why not?" I ask.

Marcus runs a hand through his hair.

"Because I'm an idiot?" he suggests.

"That's a given," I say. "But specifically, why couldn't you admit it?"