Didn't Expect You (Against All Odds #2) - Claudia Burgoa Page 0,45

at his arm, trying to read one of his tattoos.

Life is either a great adventure or nothing. -H.K.

“Who is H.K.?” I ask, tracing the words.

“Hellen Keller,” he replies.

“That’s a…”

“Perfect mantra to follow,” he answers. “I believe there’s a gray area for everything except for life. You either live it or you don’t. You see every experience as a learning moment, or you can repeat the same pattern and live with regrets.”

The way he says it makes me think about all the years I’ve been neglecting myself. What I did yesterday opened my eyes to what I’ve been missing. Everything I know exists and have experienced from a young age I decided to push away for what I thought was stability. Just this week I learned that nothing is granted and in a blink of an eye, everything can disappear.

“Life is a choice,” I say out loud, which is something I told myself yesterday. I either choose to see this period of my life as a new beginning or cry for what I never accomplished during my old chapter.

He takes a pen, and carefully writes on my wrist those four words, Life is a choice.

“You should get a tattoo of it,” he says, while writing the same on his left wrist.

I stare at our wrists and wonder what choices we should make and if all the choices I’ve made so far are the right ones.

“Listen, this is scary, but you’re going to be all right. We’re here for you,” he assures me.

He’s right, my parents are going to love the baby. Eros and Persy will be the best aunt and uncle. I’m not sure what Callie will do, but I trust that someday she’ll come back to us.

Nate points out a few more flaws and mocks that I drew fruits on the calendar for every week. According to one of the websites I consulted, they compare the baby’s size with fruits and some vegetables. I thought it was a great way to remember how big she or he is getting. He can’t blame me for having blueberries for this week. Next week it’s a raspberry, and well, I’m not looking forward to having a pumpkin or a watermelon come out of my vagina. Thankfully, I’ll have enough time to get used to the idea.

It’s almost five when Nate heads to the kitchen where he begins to look around the pantry and the fridge.

“You have food for Brock,” he states with a surprised voice.

“In case he visits again,” I announce, searching for the food bowl I bought for my favorite pup.

“Thank you,” he says looking at everything I got for Brock. The mat, the toys and some treats. “We are touched—but you’re not keeping him.”

I laugh at his warning and ask, “Are you hungry?”

“Yes,” he answers as he grabs a pot and starts filling it with water. “I’m thinking pasta, garlic bread, and a salad.”

“You know how to cook?” I stare at him attentively as he washes the tomatoes. “There’s a jar of marinara sauce in the pantry.”

He gives me a grimacing look. “What’s next? Frozen garlic bread?”

I laugh but he doesn’t join. “You are serious about this, aren’t you?”

“Uh-huh,” he answers, going back to the tomatoes.

I observe him as he chops tomato, onion, and minces garlic with precision. He knows what he’s doing and sadly, he looks hot while he’s at it.

“You are…unexpected,” I say, and maybe this is the second or third time I mention this since I’ve met him. “How… I’m not even sure what to ask you. Who taught you it is wrong to eat marinara from a jar? Are you Italian?”

“After my parents’ divorce, my paternal grandparents came to live with us,” he responds. “Grandma was Mexican. She used to say that ‘Idleness is the mother of all vices.’ So, during our free time, they kept us busy. When we weren’t with Grandpa helping him fix things around the house, we were cleaning or cooking with her.”

“They sound like interesting people,” I say.

“They were awesome,” he admits and glances at me as he sautés the tomatoes and onions.

He sighs and with a low voice he says, “Your parents remind me of them, but not exactly.”

“Were?” I ask, curiously.

“They died when we were twelve,” he states. “Grandma had cancer and Grandpa died a couple of months after she did. A heart attack.”

I wonder if maybe his grandfather lost the will to continue because the love of his life was gone? Before I can ask more about his family,