Chapter 100 Not perfect

Chapter 100 Not perfect


Marcus goes quiet for a long moment, as if weighing between telling me his reasons or hiding them.

I would not blame him if he does.

Afterall, there are things in life that one might prefer burying or keeping to themselves.

"My last relationship ended badly," he finally says.

“ She…used me.

She never loved me. She just wanted someone to get her whatever she wanted.

I invested so much time on that relationship only to be dumped in the worst way possible.” He explains.

“ I was so serious that I proposed. I saw a future with her but she snatched it in the most brutal way.” He continues.

All this while, I just listen, giving him the chance to open up and vent.

"That's…heartbreaking" I finally say.

"Yeah," Marcus agrees. "After that, I decided it was easier to keep things casual. No emotions, no commitment, no chance of getting hurt like that again." He declares.

"But then you met Talia," I guess and he sighs.

"Then I met Talia," Marcus confirms. "She was... she was everything. Smart, funny, beautiful, driven.

Then, we found ourselves connecting more.

When we started sleeping together, I told her and told myself it was just physical. That we should keep it casual."

"But I couldn't," he echoes. "Somewhere along the way, I fell in love with her. But by then, I had already established the rules and made it clear it was just sex.

I didn't know how to change that without... without making myself vulnerable again."

Now, I can understand him.

His situation somehow resembles mine and Bailey's story.

She was hurt when we got together.

I did everything to show her that I was worthy of being a man who stays by her side and is loyal too.

Bailey gave me a chance and oh well, we all know what happened.

With Marcus, Talia got tired because let's be honest, women are more emotional than men.

She loved him but was reduced to nothing but someone to share a bed with and nothing more.

Choosing to walk away was not wrong, it was her way of protecting her heart.

It's just ridiculous that Marcus allowed her to walk away without telling her how he felt.

He should have manned up and made things clear. But that's easier said than done, yeah?

"So you just didn't," I say.

"So I just didn't," Marcus agrees. "Now, I've lost her."

We start walking again.

"You know," I say after a moment, "I almost lost Bailey too."

"Because of the trial?" Marcus asks but I shake my head.

"Because of a lot of things," I say. "But specifically because I wasn't honest with her about my feelings early enough. I was in love with her before we even started our fake relationship, but I never told her. I thought if I just kept my mouth shut and took what I could get, it would be enough."

"Was it?" Marcus asks.

"Not even close," I admit. 

“ It hurt seeing someone you love be with another and especially when that other person is a dick who doesn’t deserve her.” I explain.

“When things got complicated, when Nolan came back into the picture and she went to him,. I thought that I had lost  the best thing in my life."

"You got her back," Marcus points out.

"That's because she fought for me," I say with a chuckle.

"And because when I finally had the chance, I didn't let fear stop me from telling her how I felt and asking her to marry me, from building a life with her.” I tell him.

“ Of course, she was already mine but that's not the point here.” I add.

"So what are you saying?" Marcus asks. "That I should just... tell Talia how I feel?"

"I'm saying that fear is a terrible reason to lose someone you love," I say.

“If you really love Talia, you need to prove it. Not just with words, but with actions.

It's your  actions that show her you're willing to be the man she deserves." I point out.

"What if she says no?" Marcus asks. "If she won't give me another chance?"

I can feel his fear. He is afraid that it's too late and as awful as it sounds, that's the first sign of love – fear of loosing someone you hold dear.

"Then at least you'll know you tried," I say. "You won't spend the rest of your life wondering what if."

Marcus stops walking and turns to face me.

"Why are you helping me?" he asks. "After everything, after how I hurt Talia, why are you giving me advice?"

"Talia is Bailey's best friend," I say. "Bailey wants Talia to be happy. If you can actually make her happy, then that's what Bailey wants too, even if she won't admit it right now."

"And if I can't?" Marcus asks. "If I screw this up again?"

"Then Bailey will probably kill you," I say honestly. "And I'll help her hide the body."

Marcus cracks a small smile.

"That's fair enough," he says.

We walk back to his car in silence.

"Thank you," Marcus says as he opens his door. "For the advice and for not just telling me to fuck off."

Well, that's Bailey's line, I wouldn't steal it from her.

"Don't thank me yet," I say. "Thank me when you've actually won Talia back.

That is, if you win her back."

“ That if scares me.” He admits and we both smile.

He gets in his car, but before he drives away, he rolls down the window again.

"Hayes?" he calls.

"Yeah?"

"How did you do it?

How did you prove to Bailey that you were worth taking a chance on?" He asks, looking genuinely curious.

I think about our journey…the fake relationship that became real, the trial that almost destroyed us and the way Bailey literally risked everything to save me.

"I loved her enough to let her make her own choices," I say. "Even when those choices broke my heart. And when she needed me to fight, I fought. When she needed me to trust her, I trusted. And when she needed me to be patient, I waited."

"That's it?" Marcus asks.

"That's it," I confirm. "Love isn't about grand gestures or perfect timing. It's about showing up consistently, honestly, and being willing to be vulnerable even when it's terrifying."

Marcus nods slowly, seemingly taking my advice in.

"Thanks," he says again.

"Good luck," I tell him. "You're going to need it."

After he drives away, I head back into the bakery.

Bailey is exactly where I left her, putting the finishing touches on her cupcakes.

"Where did you go?" she asks.

"I just needed some air," I say, which isn't exactly a lie.

Bailey gives me a look that says she knows I'm not telling her everything, but she doesn't push.

"Are you done here?" I ask. "Because I'm pretty sure you've been on your feet for three hours.

Dr Clara said you should rest." I say, trying to change the subject.

"I'm almost done," Bailey says. " I just need to box these up."

"I'll help," I offer and she nods.

We work together in comfortable silence, boxing up the cupcakes and cleaning the remaining dishes.

"Do you think he really loves her?" Bailey asks suddenly.

"Marcus?" I ask, even though I know who she means.

"Yeah."

I think about the desperation in Marcus's voice and the way he looked sitting in his car.

I picture the honesty in his words when he explained his past.

"Yeah," I say. "I think he does. Whether that's enough... that's up to Talia to decide."

Bailey nods thoughtfully.

"I hope he doesn't hurt her again," she says quietly. "I don't think she could take it."

"He won't. I believe he has learnt his lesson.” I assure her. The last thing I want is her spending the entire evening mulling over things she can't change.

It's not good for the baby ( I don't know if that's right)

We finish cleaning up and lock the baker.

As we drive home, Bailey reaches over and takes my hand.

"Thank you," she says.

"For what?"

"For being the kind of man who was worth fighting for," she says. "For proving that good men exist."

"I'm not perfect," I remind her.

"That's true. You are not perfect.” She agrees.

“ But you're perfect for me and that's all that matters."

I bring her hand to my lips and kiss it.

Her free hand rests on her stomach, and I can't help but smile.