It's Not That Easy.

Chapter 3

Justin's POV

I smiled as I watched my wife and daughter playing in the mini playground. I could hear their sweet laughs from where I was sitting. I was sitting on the picnic blanket, waiting for Ryan and Chaz to get here. Melanie told me to invite them since she hasn't seen them in a while.

"Aye Justin!" I turned around to see Chaz and Ryan walking over to where I was.

I stood up, "Hey guys." I smiled as we did our handshake.

"Where's Melanie and Alana?" Ryan asked as he looked around. I pointed to the playground.

The next thing I knew, Chaz ran over to them. "There's my little girl!" He yelled. He picked Alana up and lifted her up in the air as she giggled very cutely.

"Hey man, what's up?" Ryan asked. We both sat down.

"Nothing much, just been busy with work I guess." I shrugged.

"I know, Melanie's been telling me how you're barely even home." Ryan chuckled.

"I know." I sighed. "Ryan, if you were in my position, what would you do? I mean." I paused, trying to find the right word. "I love what I do but.. I want to be with my family 24/7. I just.. I don't know what to do anymore man." I rested my arms on my lap as I leaned my body rest.

I felt Ryan give me a pat on the shoulder, "Relax dude. You're taking it too hard on yourself. If I were in your position, I'd definitely take a couple days off a week. Have you even talked about Scooter about this?"

"No. I mean, sorta. I guess." I was in a loss of words. "I don't want to lose her Ry. Everyday I feel like there's this sort of distance between us. We're so close yet I feel so far away from her."

"Dude, you're an idiot." Ryan chuckled. I looked at him, furrowing my eyebrows. "You must be so fucking blind to think that you're afraid of losing her. She loves you man. I mean, everyone can see it. You're just not around much to see it."

I was about to say something when I heard Melanie yell "RYAN!" I turned to see her running with a huge smile on her face. "Hey Ry!" Ryan stood up to hug her.

"Hey Mel." He smiled at her.

I stood up as well. "Now that we're all together, what do you guys want to do?"

"I know! Sorry, we kinda ate everything already." Melanie told Ryan, giggling.

"Nah, that's alright. Chaz and I just came from his house." He smirked patting his stomach. We all laughed. We knew how much Chaz's mom would feed us everytime we came over.

I saw Chaz walking over to us with a grinning Alana. "Hi." she said sweetly, looking up at us.

I carried her in my arms. "Hey sweetheart." I smiled.

"What do you want to do now Alana?" Melanie asked her.

She put on her thinking face, making us laugh. "Uhh, I want to go to Grandma's house!" She exclaimed.

"Is your mom home?" Mel asked.

"Yeah. You guys wana come too?" I asked Ryan and Chaz.

"Sure, I haven't see her weeks." Ryan said. Chaz agreeing with him.

Melanie's POV

We all agreed to go to Pattie's house. Chaz and Ryan were following Justin and I in another car. Alana was excited since she kept singing "We're going to grandma's house." She chanted over and over again.

"We're here." Justin sang as he pulled in the driveway. We all got out and Justin helped Alana out of her carseat.

I went up to the door to knock when Alana beat me to it. She ran in front of me and started knocking on the door with her small fists, yelling, "Grandma! Grandma! It's me!"

I grabbed her shoulder softly, signaling her to quiet down. Chaz and Ryan were behind us now after they found parking.

After a few seconds, Pattie opened the door with a smile on her face. "What are you doing here you guys?!" She picked up a giggling Alana. "Hi honey!" She told her. "Come in!" On our way in, she hugged and kissed us on the cheek, careful not to drop Alana. "Justin! You have the day off today?" She asked him, surprised.

"No, actually. I kinda skipped work today." He softly chuckled.

She raised an eyebrow, "Scooter approved after you talked to him right?"

I gave an "uh oh" look to Ryan and Chaz. Chaz chuckled under his breath.

Justin glared at him. "Uh, no. I'm kinda ignoring his calls right now." He said quietly, ignorning her stare.

"Justin!" Pattie let out in disbelief. She put Alana down as she played with some of the toys she had left here. He looked at her, defending himself.

"I needed this day off mom! I've worked every week this month. Scooter's on my.." He paused, looking at Alana. "butt all day."

Pattie sighed. "Sweetie, you could have at least talked to him first. I'm sure he would have let you."

I heard Ryan cough out "told you" to Justin making him glare at him.

"Fine, I'll call him right now." Justin got up from the couch we were all sitting in slowly. "I'll be right back." He mumbled to me before walking out to the back, taking out his phone.

"Sorry about that." Pattie shook her head.

I giggled. "Don't worry Pattie."

She giggled, calming down a bit. "So how are you guys." She looked at Ryan and Chaz smiling. "Haven't seen you guys in while."

"You don't visit us Pattie!" Chaz yelled jokingly, throwing his arms in the air.

We laughed at him. "He's right." Ryan said smirking.

"Excuse me?" Pattie giggle. "You guys need to visit me more often!"

We all caught up with each other especially with Pattie. Justin came in the room a few minutes later with an upset look on his face. "Why the long face?" Chaz asked, pouting at him.

I giggled at him, 'What's wrong babe?" I asked turning to Justin.

He hesitated, "Sorry you guys, I um. I have to go to. Scooter was a bit mad and said I had an important meeting for my perfume." He said, ignoring my stare.

Everyone said their bye's until he finally looked at me. "I'm sorry baby. I really thought I could get away with having the whole day off." He sighed.

Before he could say anything else I hugged him. "It's fine Justin. What time do you think you'll be going home though?" I asked.

"I don't know. Probably after midnight baby. I missed the whole entire meeting today and he rescheduled it in 45 minutes." I looked down. "But I promise that I'll still be home in the morning tomorrow like earlier. And this time, I'll talk to Scooter about it." He chuckld softly, looking down at me.

"Okay." I smiled at him. "I'll see you later."

"I love you babe."

"I love you too."

I watched him as he went over to Alana. "Baby, daddy's going to leave okay? I'll be back as soon as I can okay?"

Alana just looked at him with big eyes. "Why?" She pouted her lip. "You told me you were going to stay today."

Justin brought her into a hug. "I know sweetheart. But hey, I'll be with you in the morning tomorrow again." He smiled.

She still didn't have a smile on her face. She was still pouting. "Okay, bye daddy. I love you."

Bringing her into a hug, "I love you too baby." After letting go, she ran into my arms.

Before leaving, he told everyone goodbye again.

I sighed as the door closed behind him. "It was fun while it lasted." I rubbed Alana's back while Pattie gave a sympathetic look.