Page 40 of Never Less

While he starts rummaging around in the kitchen, I close myself inside the library and dial the number I’ve had memorized for as long as I can remember. I could pull up her contact, but this is faster, honestly.

“Lily! I wasn’t expecting to hear from you until next week.”

I instantly relax at her voice. “Hey, Mom. Um… how’re you doing?”

“Just fine, sweetie. Your dad and I are about to head out for a concert, but I’ve got a few minutes. How’s your trip going?”

I clear my throat. “Well, not so great, but also really well.”

With a laugh, she says, “Do I need to sit down?”

“Maybe.”

“Oh, boy. Tell me what’s going on.”

“Nate cheated on me. Like, a month ago.”

“What?! Wait, a month ago? But you’re on a trip with him now!”

“I… sort of am. He convinced me to stay with him, but I found out this morning that it’s only so he can break up with me on his own terms.”

“Oh my goodness! My poor Liliana. Are you all right? Do you need us to come and pick you up? Your father will whoop his ass at a moment’s notice, you know that.”

“N-no, we ended up coming to Marcus’s to stay. Nate is out backpacking with some old friends. He doesn’t know I know.”

“Marcus, huh? I’ve always liked him. Too bad his son didn’t turn out more like him.”

“Um, about that.” I rub the back of my neck, praying that she’ll understand. “Marcus and I kinda… well, we’ve always gotten along, and one thing sort of led to another, and…”

“You slept with him, didn’t you?” She laughs.

“What? No! I mean—”

Not yet. But I’m not telling my mother that!

“But I am leaving Nate,” I say. “For… for Marcus.”

“Oh, Lily. There’s no need to sound so nervous. You always do what’s best for yourself, with the exception of your romantic life. And I think it’s finally time to let yourself be happy, don’t you?”

“He wants me to move in with him,” I blurt.

“You’d better not be calling to ask for my permission, young lady. You haven’t done that since you were seventeen years old, and you’d better not start up again now.”

“No! No, I’m not. I just want your opinion, I guess. Marcus has always been really kind and accepting of me. But this is all so fast, and if this is just a rebound, I don’t want to hurt him. Oh my god, Mom, I’m so scared of hurting him.”

“Lily, be honest with yourself for a moment, okay? And be honest with me.”

“Okay. What?” I gnaw on my bottom lip while I wait for her to respond.

Mom takes a long, deep breath. “How long have you had feelings for Marcus?”

“Mom!”

“Honey, it’s normal to get a little crush now and again, even if you’re in a long-term relationship. It’s okay.”

That doesn’t undo the knot in my stomach, especially after what I did last night. That goes further than a little crush.

“How long, Lily?”

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