Anna shoots him a look. “I’ll be fine,” she repeats, this time a little more pointedly. “Maybe it will make us get a little more serious about hiring a nanny since it’s not actually your sister’s responsibility to take care of them. Or me.”
“You know I never mind helping,” I say. “But that’s the thing. This residency is exactly the kind of thing that will help level up my career. It will be great exposure and will make qualifying for my O-1 visa so much easier.”
Miles breathes out a sigh. “I really wish you weren’t hanging all your plans on literally the hardest visa to qualify for.”
“Miles, don’t,” Anna says.
“Why not? I’m over here doing actual work to figure out a way for her to stay, and she’s chasing a pipe dream.”
As much as it stings to hear him question my entire career, that’s not the thing that strikes me the most about his words.
“Wait, what does that mean?” I ask. “What do you mean you’re doing work?”
Miles’s expression shifts. “Nothing. It’s nothing.”
I look at Anna, who seems to be very intentionallynotlooking at me.
“Anna, what is he talking about?”
She looks at her husband. “If you don’t tell her, I will.”
Miles’s shoulders drop, his demeanor a perfect combination of annoyance and resignation. He leans forward, propping his elbows on his knees, then he finally lifts his gaze to mine. “I’m pretty sure I found another way for you to stay. But I haven’t said anything because I’m still trying to work out the details.”
“What way?” I say. “I’ve talked to the attorney as many times as you have. Thereisno other way.”
He tilts his head as if to concede the point. Then he says, “Unless you get married.”
I scoff. “Unless Iwhat?”
“You get married,” Miles repeats. “But only for a year or so. Long enough for you to get your teaching credential. Then you can get a job with someone willing to sponsor you, and you get a divorce.”
“Miles. Are you serious right now? Who would I even marry?”
“That’s what I’ve been working on. I’m pretty sure I can convince one of the guys on the team to do it.”
I immediately think of Carter, and a flush climbs up my cheeks. I won’t deny feeling attracted to him, but that doesn’t mean I’d be willing tomarryhim. Or anyone else on the team.
I sputter out a few disgruntled sounds, but the shock I’m feeling has left me utterly speechless. How do I even respond when Miles is being such a colossal idiot? It’s bad that he’s bringing up the teaching thingagain,like it wouldn’t completely derail the career I already have. But it’s far worse that he thinks I would marry one of his teammates.
Miles and I get along pretty well, all things considered. But over the next ten minutes, we cover all the reasons why this is a terrible idea. Fraud. Felonies. Not to mention the fact that he’s expecting me to live with a man I do not know for an entire year.
I understand he’s coming from a good place. He’s worried about Anna—I get that. But this is too much.
“So I guess you’re saying you wouldn’t do it,” Miles says, the fight completely drained from his voice. “What if it wasn’t a teammate? Someone totally separate from hockey.”
It’s a valid question. Miles knows better than anyone why my history with hockey is so complicated. But that’s not the reason for my opposition.
“It wouldn’t matter,” I say. “I would never expect a man to put himself at risk for me.Anyman.”
“Told you,” Anna says. She’s been quiet for our argument, but now, she leans forward, pointing her finger at Miles as she adds, “This is why you should have talked to her first.”
“First?” I ask, and suddenly neither of them will make eye contact. “What does that mean?”
Miles waves a hand in front of him. “Don’t worry about it.”
A wave of dread washes over me. “Miles,” I say slowly. “Please tell me you haven’talreadytalked to one of your teammates.”
He breathes out a sigh. “Only one. But he said no. For a lot of the same reasons you did.”
