“You won’t believe what my mom did,” I begin as I hold out the contract for him to read. “You’re an attorney. You tell me if there’s a loophole.”
He scans the document. Then, he scans it again. He rubs his eyes at one point and then rereads several pages for a third time.
When he finishes, he looks up, his face expressionless. “This is pretty ironclad,” he admits.
I run my hands down my face. “Ugh! I had a feeling you’d say that.”
“Well, your mother didn’t often make mistakes.”
“No. But she and my dad were obviously trying to ruin my life with this whole ‘marry for a year’ nonsense.”
Uncle Ned pats my knee. “We both know your parents have always adored you. You’re their only child. In their twisted way, they probably thought they were doing this out of love. This is how your mother married your dad, correct? Because of the same stipulation? I remember that well.”
I nod. That truth does not make me feel any better. “So if there’s no loophole, then I guess I have to get married. And since I’m completely single, that’s a problem. But I’m going to find somebody. Because like hell will I let this contract stop me from reaching my dream.”
My uncle smiles sadly. “You’re so like your mother. Strong-willed, determined—she’d have been so proud of you.”
I fight the tears that always threaten when anyone brings up Mom. She was my best friend, and I miss her every day. Whoever said it gets easier with time was lying.
My uncle furrows his brows in concern. “Mia, are you sure you want to go through with this? Having an arranged marriage for a year?” he confirms.
I take a deep breath. “Yes. Because I’m sure that what I want is on the other side of this nonsense.”
“And you have no prospects at the moment?”
“If I did, I wouldn’t be here. I’m prepared to marry someone I don’t love. As long as he treats me with decency and respect, how hard can it be?”
Uncle Ned smiles. “Aunt Gloria would disagree with you.”
I laugh. “But you and Aunt Gloria are so in love.”
“That we are. But marriage isn’t easy, my dear, no matter how you enter into it. It should be taken seriously.”
I nod in assent but mostly to convey that I heard him. I don’t necessarily agree with him. Marrying someone for the sake of my personal gain isn’t exactly a holy union.
My uncle says, “Give me twenty-four hours, and I’ll get back to you.”
He stands up.
I do too. “So that’s it?”
He pulls me in for a quick hug. “That’s it. Don’t worry, Mia. You’ll get to run the company you’ve been wanting for so long. We won’t let this contract stop you.”
I step toward the door. “Thank you so much, Uncle Ned. I still won’t be able to sleep tonight, but just knowing you have a plan helps me.”
“Go out and have some fun,” he suggests. “If I didn’t have so much work to do, I’d offer to take you to a late dinner.”
My uncle loves his job, and that’s why he’s one of the best sports agents in the country. He’s represented the top players for years. But like my mom, I never cared much about sports, and whenever he invites me to a hockey game, I politely decline.
“No worries,” I say. “I’m meeting Jamie Beth for drinks.”
“Don’t drink and drive,” he warns me.
“I never would,” I promise him. “I’m just having one drink. Even if Mom hadn’t been kill…”
I stop speaking, and silence hits the room.
In an effort to break it, I go for a joke. “Can I give you a ride on the back of my bike?”
