"Hmm! I like your confidence. Maybe that's the kind of confidence that attracts girls? You gotta teach me man. You should have seen the way the pretty girl beside our booth was screaming to talk to—OUCH! What was that for, Joanna?!" João screamed as Joanna stepped on his foot under the table.
"What are you talking about?" she asked, smiling and tilting her head to the left as if confused.
"Why did you step on me?!"
"I have no idea what you're talking about; you must be imagining things."
Lukas did not say a word as he focused on his meal, unwilling to get dragged into the fight. He knew João had brought trouble on himself. "Who told you to say something you weren't supposed to?"
* * *
Later that day, Lukas was sitting on the sofa in the living room of his Darmstadt home when Javi walked in and joined him.
"You said you had something to discuss with me?" Javi asked as he sat down beside Lukas.
"Yes, Dad. And I want you to trust me."
"Sure. What is it?"
