Ian's POV
Three kids roamed around the small patio, immersed in their own activities. One was drawing with chalk in the corner, her brown hair cascading over her shoulder like a curtain, blocking the view of her art. Beside her in a chair was a young boy, about ten, clearly doing some homework. His dark eyebrows furrowed as he was focused on his work, having the same dark eyes as his father. Lastly, there was what appeared to be the oldest of the bunch. She sat sideways in her chair in the other corner, deeply immersed in her book. She was in her teens, but her exact age was a mystery. Her dark hair was tied up and out of her face, but you could tell it was long and thick. Her slender features resembled her mother's, but her height signified that she took after Marco.
"Come on, children. Your mother beckons us all. Wash up and meet at the table."
"Okay, Daddy," the youngest said, smiling and skipping past us inside.
"One second," the boy said, writing his answer and then looking up. "Okay, done." He headed in, pushing his chair back under the balcony table. I could tell he was an organized child by his mannerism.
"And who's he?" The oldest questioned, clearly feeling entitled enough to know.
"A friend from work," Marco replied. "His name is Ian."
"Nice to meet you. I'm Polly," she said, offering a small greeting before turning back to her dad. "I'm going to guess you didn't tell mom? And then you wonder why she gets so mad at you. Stop trying to get her attention like this, Dad. It's doing the opposite of what you want."
Polly stood up, walking past her dad with her book between her fingers. Marco sighed once all the kids were inside. His shoulders slumped, and his mood dived so low that you would think it fell to the bottom of the ocean floor.
"I thought she and I were doing great- that we would last forever. Apparently, when you meet someone so young, your chances of lasting are slim to none. People grow and change so much in those years that you end up being a completely different person by the end of it. I haven't seemed to change much from high school, but she has," Marco began to suddenly open up. I listened attentively, hoping maybe lending an ear would help him feel better. "The things she once found charming, she now hates. She says she loves me, but it's not enough anymore. I don't know when it happened exactly, but she got tired of my crap. What once would make her laugh now only irritates her further. I don't know how to fix this when she seems so happy to be rid of me. What do you do when the woman you've loved all your life no longer wants to be with you?"
"I am sorry, Marco. I had no idea you were going through this. It's hard to say what you should do as I am not in your relationship, and I barely met your wife today. All I can say is that if she's not happy with certain things you do, change it. You have the power to change yourself for her if you so choose. Don't give yourself up, but grow with her," I suggested, feeling maybe I should take my own advice.
Seeing Marco and Talia, knowing they got together in high school, made me think of Red and me. Would this have been us if we had gotten together then? We've changed so much already over the past few years. I am not sure our relationship would have lasted. She would have tired of me. Having seen the way she is with Lucas, I know now that I was holding her back. I gave her a place to escape, but I never helped her or told her to fight back.
Lucas is what she needed, and it pains me to have lost out on the woman I thought was the love of my life, but I know now. Red isn't that woman. No, Red is my first love and important to me in her own way. However, she's not the love of my life. The longer I spend with Hailey, the more I see it for what it is- a true fantasy. Liv is not for me, she never was. I just hope I haven't fucked it up so badly that Hailey won't take me back.
I looked at my phone, seeing that the time was a quarter past 6. If I hurried home right now, I could probably make it to the opening she told me not to come to. I would be late, but it would be worth it. There's something I have been meaning to give her, anyway. Feeling determined, I looked up at my friend.
"Listen, I need to go. There's someone I need to talk to. Talk to your wife and really listen. If you want her to stay, then ask her to. Ask her what she needs from you and do it. I'm here for you, man. Just tell me what you need, but not tonight. Tonight I will fight for my girl." I squeezed his shoulder for a brief moment before running back inside. "It was lovely to meet you, Talia. I am sorry to have shown up unannounced. I got the dates mixed up. Marco asked me to come back another day, one where you're actually ready for me," I lied as I passed the dining room, stopping to speak with her for a second.
"Oh, he did?" She furrowed her brow, seeming surprised at the idea that Marco would say any of this. Hopefully, he follows along with the lie I created.
"Yes, of course. Anyway, I really need to get going. Nice to meet you all."
I waved as I walked quickly towards the door. Closing the door behind me, I ran the rest of the way to my car. Speeding through traffic had me arriving home sooner than I should have. Quickly finding some slacks and a white button up, I got dressed. I fixed the tousled mess of hair, sleeking it back and away. Her gift was sitting on the chair where I had left it, not having moved an inch. It was now 7 and the opening would soon be kicking off. Time was on my side as I sped through the streets, or at least it was. I came to a halt in standstill traffic.
I know I am going to be here for a while, but hopefully I can make it to the end of the opening. Wait for me, Hailey. I am coming.