Page 1 of Never Less

Chapter one

Liliana

Confidence is a funny thing.

Once you manage to build it up, you think you have it. You did the work on yourself, and it’s not going anywhere.

That’s what I thought until mine was stolen from me. It happened just as quickly as the breath getting knocked from my lungs when I fell off a swing set as a kid. One second everything was fine, and the next, everything was wrong all at once.

What’s even worse is that my confidence wasn’t the only thing taken from me. My trust in the man who’s supposed to love me more than anything was stolen too, and I don’t know if he cares enough to win it back. He’s already derailed his first attempt.

“Can you at least pretend to be happy?” Nate bites out as he pulls into his dad’s driveway.

It’d be a lot easier if this trip had gone according to plan, I want to snap back, but I hold my tongue. I drove most of the way down here from our apartment in South Carolina, but Nate volunteered to do the city driving, which is what stresses me out the most. It’s not a lot, but it’s something.

Besides, I actually am happy to be here. I like Nate’s dad. Marcus is fun, he’s always attentive whenever we’re talking, and he’s super rich. His house is gorgeous, and it’s right on the beach, which is a plus. This week will be a good time, even if it’s not what I’d originally asked for.

I glance at Nate, who’s already on his phone even though he hasn’t even put his Jeep into park yet. Hopefully this week will be a good time. Although I suppose the fact that he’s already turned what was supposed to be a romantic getaway into a week hanging out with his dad isn’t the greatest of signs.

It’s getting dark out, so when the porch light flicks on, it floods the driveway. Seconds later, Marcus throws open the front door and waves.

He’s shirtless. Of course he’s shirtless.

“Don’t make things weird, okay?” Nate says as he pockets his keys. “Let’s just enjoy ourselves for the week.”

“That’s the plan.” I keep my voice innocent and happy even though his words feel like a stab to the heart. It’s just like him to expect me to keep his secrets.

Or maybe you’re being petty, I tell myself, and he doesn’t want a lecture from his father when he’s already apologized to you for what he did.

“Hey!” Marcus is jogging toward the car now. His swim trunks hang low on his hips, showcasing his abs. He’s always looked good, but seeing him relaxed in the middle of a Florida summer suits him.

Before what’s supposed to be a brief glance turns into straight-up ogling, I close my eyes and take a deep breath. Marcus may be incredibly attractive, but drooling over my boyfriend’s dad isn’t going to help my already-in-pieces relationship.

Without another word to Nate, I slip out of the Jeep. Marcus immediately pulls me into a bear hug, and I’m hit with his familiar scent of teakwood and spice. It’s comforting and relaxing, and I forgot how much I’ve missed it until right now.

“You kids have a good drive in?” he asks. “Took you longer than you said it would to get down here.”

“Miss Workaholic over there couldn’t leave any loose ends untied,” Nate says. He winks at me, but I don’t miss the bitter undertone he tries to hide.

If Marcus notices, he doesn’t show it. “How’s the business going?” he asks, releasing me and throwing open the back door of the Jeep. “Aha! I knew it. Thought this was supposed to be a vacation, Liliana.”

I groan as he pulls out my laptop case. “It’s for emergencies only. And you can call me Lily.”

He won’t. I’ve been telling him to call me that for years now, and he’s never listened. To this day, I have no clue why.

Nate rolls his eyes as he opens the door on the other side of the Jeep. “Every little thing is an emergency to you. Typo in an Instagram post? Emergency. Unanswered emails on the weekend? Emergency. Assistant needs a half day? Emerg—”

“We get it, Nate.” I grab my laptop case from Marcus. “And just a reminder, you work just as mu—”

“Fifty bucks that she opens that thing and gets some work done tonight,” Nate says as he slings his bag over his shoulder. “She was answering emails from her phone every chance she got.”

I bristle. “I answered two emails, that’s it!”

“Oh, give her some credit,” Marcus says smoothly as he shoots a warm smile my way. “Running a business is hard. Don’t think I could do it.”

Finally, someone who gets it.

“I wouldn’t trade it for the world, though,” I say as I reach around Marcus for my bag.

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