Didn't Expect You (Against All Odds #2) - Claudia Burgoa Page 0,21
current cases. I brief him on what I can say.
“Why law school and not something different?”
“I’m good at arguing with others, finding loopholes, and it pays well,” I reply, hoping I don’t sound shallow. He wouldn’t understand what it was like for me to not have a home or stability while I was growing up.
Yes, we lived in a big adventure, but I worried most days that we wouldn’t have a place to live or food on the table. That’s the perception my parents gave me while we were growing up.
“What would you be doing if your brother wasn’t a genius?” I question, not wanting to tell him about the traumas I carried during my childhood. They don’t seem valid anymore, but for a child, it was different.
He looks at me and smiles. “I’ve always been good at numbers and convincing people to do things. Probably marketing or something in finance. I could’ve accepted being part of a reality show.”
“Like Survivor or any of those contest shows?” I ask, intrigued.
“No, like Man vs. Wild. When I was seventeen, one of my late grandfather’s friends who was still a producer back then, wanted to do a show with a young adult who could go around the world living in extreme conditions. They ended up signing an ex-military with more skills than I had—he looked young and they never mentioned his background or age while the show aired. I was bummed when I realized I was out of the running. I was so excited about living in places like the Amazon with nothing but a knife and a bottle of water…and, well, the camera crew.”
I stare at him with wide eyes, speechless.
“I know what you’re thinking, ‘This guy is crazy.’” He shakes his head. “Even though my father has money, Ford and I had to be resourceful while growing up. When I broke the rules, he punished us by sending us to work with a landscaping crew. There were times when he sent me to a farm down in San Diego where I had to help with the crops or the animals. Other times I joined a construction company where I helped remodel and build new houses. It’s as if he had us do community service for fucking up.”
“So, you thought you had the elements to survive in the wilderness,” I ask, shaking my head.
“Hey, I was seventeen. Boys think they are invincible at that age,” he concludes. “I do like my extreme sports. By the way, Eros told me you were joining us tomorrow.”
Oh boy, my brother just found himself a best friend. We’re not losing Persy, we’re gaining two guys who are just as annoying as my brother.
Shaking my head, I say, “I’d rather not do it. What if something happens to the equipment?”
“Trust me, I’ll make sure everything is secure,” he says. “I’m sure you don’t want me to say it, but you need a little adventure in your life.”
“And you’re here to provide it?” I chuckle, taking a piece of California roll to have an excuse to eat the ginger. I love pickled ginger, though I’m not a fan of raw fish.
“If you allow it, I’ll teach you how to live a little. Maybe I can learn how to… What is it that you do?” He snaps his fingers, pretending he’s thinking.
“Don’t call me boring or you’ll be wearing these chopsticks up your ass,” I warn him.
“Hmm, we found your hard limit. The word boring. Would you like to tell us more about it?” he asks, and I shake my head. “Hey, if we’re going to be friends, the least you could do is tell me what I said wrong.”
I explain to him about Calliope. My baby sister and the bane of my existence. How our parents let her get away with everything. They didn’t discipline her, and she’s a brat. The way she refers to me and our last fight.
“So, you don’t know where she’s at?” he concludes when I finish.
I shake my head, reaching for one of the several fortune cookies he brought.
“If you want, I have someone who could find her. At least you’ll know if she’s safe,” he offers. “It’s just so you can have some peace of mind,” he explains, pouring more wine for both of us.
Tonight turns out to be more relaxing than I thought. I reach for my glass of wine, take a sip and wonder if I should accept his offer. My parents are worried about Callie too.