Page 3 of Never Less

Marcus

I fry up the fresh asparagus I got from the farmers’ market today in salt and olive oil. Years ago, I learned Liliana loves asparagus prepared like this. Based on her expression before I left her and Nathan upstairs, he’s been putting her through the ringer. Again. The least I can do is make one of her favorite snacks.

I tried to raise Nathan right, but there’s only so much you can do when you get your kid for two days every week. His mother and I got divorced not even a year after he was born, and the custody battle wasn’t pretty. She got married quickly after our separation finalized, so she had a supportive, financially stable home to raise him in.

My ex isn’t a bad mother. Far from it. But our parenting styles clash, and if I’m being honest, Nathan’s stepdad is a sleazeball. As far as I can tell, he’s not abusive, but there’s a lot to be desired when it comes to his treatment of others. Unfortunately, that got passed down to Nathan.

I just hope whatever is going on between him and Liliana is fixable. She’s the best thing that’s happened to Nathan in a long time. He doesn’t deserve her, but I can hope he’ll grow into a man who’ll treat her right, can’t I?

Just as I’m transferring the asparagus to a couple plates, Liliana appears in the kitchen. She’s thrown her brown hair up in a messy bun, so the little star tattoo right behind her ear is visible. The dark ink pops against her pale skin, and I wonder if Nate ever kisses her there. If her skin is as soft as it looks. If—

She’s your son’s girlfriend, Marcus. Knock it off.

I have to turn away and focus on the asparagus to calm my thoughts. Seeing that tattoo always sets me off. It’s been a source of lust and guilt for years. Craving to touch her there, then remembering who she is to me. And, more importantly, who she’ll never be to me.

“Everything okay?” I ask as I slide a plate in front of her.

“Perfect.” Her smile lacks its usual brilliance, although I’m sure it’d fool someone who doesn’t know her as well as I do.

We eat in silence. I only made enough for the two of us since Nathan hates asparagus, but I cut up an apple for him, and his favorite caramel dip is sitting out on the counter.

Only once we’re finished and I’m washing the dishes do I speak. “I finally finished the library. You should check it out sometime this week.”

“Oh, sweet.” Finally, there’s a little enthusiasm in her voice. “I was wondering about that. Got any plans for your next project?”

“Couple ideas, actually. Maybe you can help me choose.” I place the last dish on the drying rack, unsure if I should turn around. No matter how much I try to tamp down my attraction to Liliana, my eyes always end up on her when we’re in the same room.

It’s grossly inappropriate and wholly wrong. She’s my son’s girlfriend, for fuck’s sake, and they’ve been together for almost five years. But in that time, my desire for her has only grown.

Fuck. I need Nathan to get his ass down here so I have someone else to focus on.

“Marcus? You okay?”

“Am I—what?”

“I asked what projects you’re thinking on,” she prods gently.

“Oh. Right.” Begrudgingly, I turn around and lean against the counter. “I was thinking a guest house could be nice, but I’m not sure if that’s overkill when I have a perfectly large house already. It’d be a lot of work, too. Much more than my other projects.”

“Jesus, a whole house? Where’d you even put it?”

“I was thinking the far corner of the yard, over by that clump of trees. Where Nathan’s treehouse used to be?”

“Oh.” Her gaze lifts to the ceiling thoughtfully. “That could be nice. You think it’d get used enough?”

“Not sure. I was mostly thinking it could be nice for you guys. And if you ever have…” Don’t say it. “I don’t know. Like I said, it’s probably overkill.”

“What are your other ideas?” With one of her elbows on the counter, she rests her chin in her hand and arches a brow. It’s one of the things I’ve always appreciated about her. When she’s talking to you, you have her full attention. “Smaller projects, I hope?”

“The first is an in-ground hot tub out back. The second is a screened porch off the living room. There’s that sliding door in there that leads to the side yard, and I thought it’d be a nice place to spend evenings without having to deal with bugs. There’d be a decent view of the sunsets for most of the year.”

She taps her chin. “Both of those sound nice.”

“That’s why I’m having a hard time choosing. Tried to ask my friends, and I got a fifty-fifty split. They all laughed when I mentioned the guest house.”

Liliana tries to hide her smile by looking down. “It’s a pretty large project.”

“I like projects.”

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