Page 8 of Never Less

“Liliana, it’s not your fault.”

That finally gets me to stop and notice the concern in Marcus’s expression. His words sink in, but then I shake my head. “I still wasn’t enough for him.”

“That’s not a reflection on you. It just makes him a selfish, greedy bastard.”

“Marcus, you’re talking about your own son.”

“Then my son is a selfish, greedy bastard. Any man should be grateful to have you, Liliana. Grateful, awestruck, and desperate to worship you for the rest of his goddamn life. My son is an idiot for cheating on you, and he’s an idiot for not doing everything he can to make this right.”

I let out a bitter laugh. “He’s barely done anything.”

Marcus’s nostrils flare, and for a split second, a level of fury flashes in his eyes that I’ve never seen from him before. “Nothing?”

“We’ve tried to go on a couple dates, but he never really seems like he wants to be there. This trip was supposed to be a way for us to reconnect, but he told me at the last minute that you asked if we could come down.”

“I did no such thing,” he says sharply.

“I know. He said he lied because he knew you were lonely, and he was afraid I’d say no if he suggested we should come down here.” I roll my eyes. “Not sure I believe him anymore.”

“I didn’t realize,” he says, his tone heavy with an unwarranted apology. “When he mentioned it to me, he said it was your idea.”

“I suggested we come down for the holidays, not this.”

Working his jaw, Marcus looks out over the ocean. “Ah.”

“But I’m happy to be here,” I blurt. “Really, I am. I always like visiting you, and Nate and I can just spend time together here. If… if that actually happens. I don’t know.”

“Well, I’ll be gone tomorrow evening, so that’ll give you some time together. Got an anniversary party for some of my friends.”

“Marcus…”

Sighing, he pulls his legs from the pool and stands. “I should head in.”

“Marcus, look at me.”

Slowly—begrudgingly—he turns. His eyes meet mine, and my heart twists at the disappointment I find in them.

“I mean it,” I say softly. “I’m glad we’re here.”

“I know you are. I just don’t like being used.”

“What?”

Marcus sighs again, this time sliding his hands into the pockets of his swim trunks. “I have a sneaking suspicion my son suggested you two come down here so he could get out of being a decent person. I don’t fucking like it. And you, Liliana…”

I go stiff, and my eyes widen of their own volition. Is he upset with me, too? Oh god. What did I do?

“You deserve better than him. You deserve everything you’ve ever wanted.”

Oh.

I look away. “Maybe.”

At that, he frowns, but thankfully he doesn’t focus on it. “What do you want, Liliana?”

“I want us to go back to what we were.” Tears fill my eyes, but I blink them back quickly. “But what we had was a lie. And if I can’t have what we used to be without the lies, then I don’t know if we belong together anymore.”

Marcus nods slowly, his eyes searching my face. “Not to sound too stereotypical, but how does that make you feel?”

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