Didn't Expect You (Against All Odds #2) - Claudia Burgoa Page 0,69
We’re opening a firm. While we decide where we’re setting it up, I’m working on this special project. He needs me there for the next three months, but after that I can be anywhere,” I explain, while I remind myself that this isn’t permanent.
“Can you work from Seattle once a month for a week during the next three months?” he inquires, and I stare at him confused.
“That’s a strange question. Why would I want to do that?”
“I don’t want to leave you alone, and I have to go to Seattle at least once a month for a week,” he explains. “Can you negotiate that?”
“You’re cute, but I’m a grown woman, and I can be on my own.”
“Damn it, woman!” he protests. “Stop calling me cute.”
“Adorable, then,” I rectify. “Let’s backtrack and explain to me, why can’t I stay in New York without you?”
“Because…” he huffs. “I don’t want the blueberry demon and you living on your own, okay?”
When I think about the past five days, I realize that not having him around wasn’t pleasant. I could use a friend, and he’s by far the best candidate for the job.
“Thank you.” It’s all I say because asking more questions might lead me to something I don’t want to discuss now—or maybe never.
Twenty-Seven
Nyx
I love to stare at the clouds, whether I’m on the ground or while flying.
Clouds make me wonder about life and the future. Ever since I can remember, I’ve been on a plane. Mom kept us pretty entertained during our flights. She’d have us coloring, looking for shapes in the clouds, or playing games she and Dad made up.
It’s no surprise that when we’re above thirty thousand feet, I push open the shade of the window and stare at the blue sky and the puffy clouds we are flying over. There’s nothing else in the surrounding area but the blue and white shades.
This reminds me of how small we are and how little our problems really are in comparison.
After two weeks, I can safely say that I’m getting used to my new normal. Queasy stomach, fatigue, and having some extra time to just relax. That’s never been me. Ever since I can remember, I have to be on the go doing something, keeping myself busy. I think Eros, Persy, and I were restless while growing up.
If Persy and I were bored with our dolls, we’d join Eros in his eternal search for bugs. He collected bugs while growing up. Well, he collected the pictures since we couldn’t carry them around, and they weren’t pets.
Now that I’m older, I realize that we were pretty difficult children. Most kids are fine with just listening to their Mom say no.
We required a logical explanation—or at least logical to us. I’m sure not many boys have to hear an entire explanation of how gathering insects and keeping them is wrong. Dad explained several times to Eros that beetles were integral to ancient Egyptians. We should treat them with respect. Or how bees are essential for life to exist—without them, there wouldn’t be pollination and without pollination, the entire world would stop existing as we know it.
The list goes on and on. He was allowed to trap mosquitoes because Mom hated them. But he never cared about them. Just thinking about my brother and my sisters makes me wonder how this little one is going to behave. If I’m going to need a degree in science to make sure I can keep up with her, and if she’ll be fine without a dad. I’m sure plenty of children do well enough with a single parent, but I can’t imagine my life without Mom and Dad.
Maybe this is why Mom kept me busy because I’m always thinking about the future, worrying about not getting it right, and fearing that things won’t go the way I envisioned them. I’ve been driving myself crazy since we boarded the plane, and Nate has been working with Ford. They are working on some secret project.
“What are you worried about?” Nate asks.
I turn around and find him studying me with such interest I feel like a piece of art on exhibition. I’ve noticed that he’s always watching me, observing me, trying to figure out how I work or…I don’t know why it is that he’s so fascinated by me.
“Why do you think I’m concerned?”
He takes a seat next to me and traces a line on my forehead. “That cute frown line deepens when you’re worried about something.”