Page 25 of Never Less

“Sure, just gotta be quick. Don’t want to keep the guys waiting.”

“Let’s move into my office.”

I raise an eyebrow as they leave. Marcus’s office is also on the first floor, and the fact that he’s directing Nate there means he wants this to be a private conversation. Which means, most likely, they’ll be talking about me.

Once I hear the office door shut, I get up and tiptoe down the hallway. I should probably feel guilty for this, but I need to know what they’re going to say. I trust Marcus to keep my secret, but if I can figure out where Nate’s head is at a little, I’m not turning down the chance.

Pressing my ear to the door, I strain to listen to their conversation.

“… sure you want to do this?” Marcus is saying.

“Why wouldn’t I be sure?” Nate asks.

“You’re hurting Liliana. Is that not obvious to you?”

“Look, I said she could come. She’s the one who chose to stay back. If she’s gonna be petty and get mad at me when she could’ve tagged along, that’s on her.”

“You packed your gear, Nathan.”

I stifle a gasp. I was wondering how he was going on an overnight trip when he left his backpacking stuff at home, but that explains it. No wonder he wouldn’t let me look in the trunk of his Jeep.

“And?”

“You were planning this all along, and the fact that you didn’t make sure Liliana would have gear to join you is quite telling.”

“Listen, Dad, I get that you’re trying to help, but leave well enough alone. We’re fine, okay? She’s just been in one of her moods lately.”

“Are you sure that’s all that’s going on?”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

Marcus lets out a long sigh. “It means I don’t want you to make the same mistakes that your mother and I made. You need to show Liliana that you care about her. That you’re willing—happy—to prioritize her.”

For a moment, Nate doesn’t respond, but then he says, “Matt and Levi are here.”

“Nate, are you sure you—”

“I’m going, Dad. Thanks for the advice, but mind your own business next time, okay?”

At that, I slip back into the library. I’m just settling into the armchair when Nate walks past. At first, it doesn’t look like he’s going to say goodbye, but then he pauses and turns to face me. I tense at his expression.

“You know,” he seethes, “I find it pretty damn ironic that you keep complaining about how I’m not prioritizing you, yet you’re working on our vacation instead of coming with me. Maybe stop trying to place all the blame on me here.”

“Nate, you know that’s not fair. I don’t like—”

“Great excuse.” He turns on his heel and walks away.

“Nate!”

A few seconds later, the front door slams. Pain blooms in my chest. I thought I’d at least get a decent goodbye, not that. Especially since his point is so stupid. He hasn’t cared to really include me in anything since the start of this trip, and now he’s literally leaving for a day or two.

When Marcus appears in the doorway, his expression is somber. “I’m sorry. I think I pissed him off.”

“You heard all of that?”

He nods silently.

“Do you agree with him?”

---