My eyes widen even as relief courses through me. On the one hand, I’m so glad she isn’t behind this conversation. On the other, I can’t believe Miles is asking without her knowledge. “She doesn’t know you’re currently trying toarrangea marriage on her behalf? Did we just go back in time two hundred years?”
“It didn’t feel worth mentioning if you weren’t willing to do it,” he says. “I didn’t want to get her hopes up. She’s really having a hard time with this whole thing.”
I sensed a heaviness in Sarah when I met her, so this doesn’t surprise me. And if there were an easier way to help her, I’d be all over it. But to marry her, to commit a felony and tie my reputation to a marriage and then a divorce…even if it only lasts nine months?
It’s a lot to ask.
Too muchto ask.
I shake my head one last time. “I’m really sorry, man. It sucks what your family is going through. I appreciate you trusting me enough to even ask. But there’s too much atstake. My career—yourcareer, if word got out you put me up to this. If there were anything else I could do to help, I’d do it. But I can’t do this.”
“Just take some time to think about it,” he says. “You don’t have to decide right now.”
“I don’t need time to think,” I say, pushing myself to my feet. “It’s fraud.”
He’s quiet for a long moment, but then he finally nods. “Okay. I understand, and I respect your decision. I was hoping you’d say yes, but you aren’t the only guy on the list, so I’m at least grateful you made your decision quickly. The faster I can get something worked out, the better.”
I pause, a twinge of discomfort making my gut feel tight. “You’re going to ask someone else?”
“Of course I am,” Miles says. “I’m out of options. Actually, Theo’s on the list. Do you think he’d be willing?”
The discomfort in my gut turns into full-on nausea at the thought of Sarah andTheo.The most annoying thing is, he probablywoulddo it. This is exactly the kind of impulsive thing he’d think was fun.
“I doubt it,” I say, hoping Miles doesn’t sense the uneasiness in my voice. “He’s got a pretty active dating life. I don’t think a marriage would really help with that.”
He nods. “All right, well, let me know if you change your mind.” Despite what I told him, it’s not lost on me that Miles doesn’t say whether he will or won’t ask Theo.
He stands and follows me out of Coach Kimzey’s office, and we fall into an awkward silence as we head toward the exit.
I suddenly wish I had my own car or had made Theo wait for me. After the conversation I just had with Miles, the thought of riding home with him feels painful.
I pull out my phone just as we reach the door. “You know what? I’m just gonna have Theo come back for me. No reason to make you drive into Midtown when you’re heading the opposite direction.”
Miles shrugs. “Fine by me. You’re still living in Midtown? I’d hate all that traffic.”
“It’s worth it. I like the view.”
He seems to consider this. “Are you still living with your brother?”
“Not with him,” I say. “We’re in the same building.”
“So,sort ofwith him,” Miles says.
“Nah, it’s not like that. He’s got his place, and I’ve got mine.”
It’smostlynot like that.
I don’t often talk about the fact that when my dad was killed in an accident, Theo was the one who was driving the car.
It wasn’t his fault—a drunk driver blew through an intersection and t-boned him—but that didn’t matter to Theo. He spiraled hard, and it was left to me to make sure he didn’t completely fall apart. He only went to practice if I made him go to practice, only got out of bed if I was there to demand it.
If not for me, I’m not even sure he’d still be playing hockey.
Logically, I know he’s fine now. An adult who takes care of himself. But there’s a part of me that still thinks I have to stay close. Keep an eye on him to make sure he doesn’t crash out again and throw everything away. I’m not sure how to break the habit of feeling like it’s my job to look out for us both.
“Whatever you say, man,” Miles says as he pulls out his keys. “You sure you don’t need a ride?”
“Yeah. I’m sure. Thanks.”
