“Try me.”
It takes about ten minutes to summarize the entire conversation, and Theo sits with his mouth hanging open almost the entire time. It’s validating to know his reaction is the same as mine, so I’m surprised when he asks, “So, are you going to do it?”
I scoff. “Of course I’m not going to do it. Did you think I might?”
“I mean, not really. But you did seem to like her at the team dinner last week.”
“Sure, I liked her. Enough to ask her out on a date, not to marry her.”
“And youdidjust tell our mother that you met someone,” Theo presses. “I’m guessing you were thinking of her?”
“I said Imaybemet someone. That I wasn’t sure what it was yet.”
Theo rolls his eyes. “Which means you must be thinking about saying yes. Somewhere in the back of your brain, you’re preparing Mom for the moment when you call her and say,Surprise! I’m getting married.”
I’m not sure I was consciously making the choice, but Theo’s words don’t sound entirely off base.
“Yeah, maybe,” I say. “But that was impulsive. If I think logically for two seconds, it’s clear I can’t actually do it. I’m not going to commit fraud.”
He studies me closely. “Because you don’t break the rules.”
I shoot him a look. “You broke enough for the both of us.”
He grins. He knows better than to deny what we both know is true. “Maybe. But do you remember the one time youdidbreak a rule?”
I lift an eyebrow, knowing he’ll answer without more encouragement than that.
“When you pretended to be me and took my chemistry final senior year.”
Ididtake his chemistry final, but only because he had to pass if he wanted to graduate, and he had to graduate if he wanted to play hockey.
“That was different,” I say. “You were in no position totake that test, but that wasn’t your fault. It was less about breaking the rules and more about helpingyou.”
He gives me a pointed look. “But you can’t help Sarah because that would be fraud?”
I open my mouth to argue, but the words lodge in my throat.
“Honestly, I don’t blame Miles,” Theo continues. “His family has been through a lot. I’d probably try the same thing if I were in his shoes. And it’s not like you’d be giving up some wildly active dating life. I can’t even remember the last time you took someone out.”
He’s not wrong, but it’s still not the reaction I expected from Theo. For the first time, he has me considering—truly considering—what it might look like if I actually said yes.
Nine months to a year isn’t a very long time. Butno.Marriage is a big deal. And immigration fraud is a felony.
“It’s not the same thing,” I say. “I’d be putting my career on the line.”
“Only if you get caught. And come on. I saw the two of you together. It wouldn’t be a struggle to pretend you’re in love.”
Heat spreads behind my ribs at the thought, but feeling a spark of attraction is not the same thing as pretending to be in love. No matter what my subconscious brain made me admit to Mom, this is a much bigger deal than Theo is making it seem.
I look over at my brother. “Miles said he had a few other people he was going to ask. He mentioned you. Asked me if I thoughtyouwould say yes.”
Theo studies me carefully. “I think I know better than to even consider it.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means you obviously like her, and I would never make you watch her pretend to love me.”
I unbuckle my seatbelt and climb out of the car, grabbing my bag and tossing it over my shoulder before heading toward the elevator.
