Page 128 of The Rules of Dating

“Well, then let’s go back to your plan and play it out. Let’s say you go to the investigator and admit what you did and he’s sympathetic and only hits you with a fine and doesn’t press for jail time. What happens then? Even if that works, the only other way for Maya to stay in this country is to apply as the mother of her child who is a US citizen, right? So you’re back to square one.”

I shook my head. “Not if she’s locked up for immigration fraud.”

“Okay, let’s say she gets some jail time. We have to assume when she gets out she’s going to want to stay in the US. Might you just be prolonging the inevitable? Or what if she also gets fined and then applies for custody immediately?”

“Jesus, Billie. Whose side are you on?”

“I’m on your side, Colby, of course. That’s why I don’t want you to make any rash decisions. You need to think this through, look at it from all angles, and play out all possible outcomes.”

My head felt like it was spinning. “I don’t feel so great. Would you mind if we talked about this later? Right now, I just really need to hold you.”

Billie’s face softened. “Sure.”

For the next half hour, I sat with my arms wrapped around my girl. She leaned her back to my chest, and I rested my chin on the top of her head. It felt good, but even that wasn’t enough to shake the feeling of impending doom. Since she’d come after her late night at work, it was soon almost ten o’clock.

“You want to watch some TV before we go to bed?” I asked.

Billie turned to face me. She put a hand on my chest. “Actually, I think I’m going to head home.”

“What? Why?”

“You need some time to think, and I do too.”

I didn’t like it one bit, but I couldn’t argue if space was something Billie needed. So I nodded and tried not to pout. “Okay. Whatever you want. But I’m calling you an Uber.”

Unfortunately, when I hit confirm on the app, the car was only three minutes away, and she still had to get downstairs on the slow-as-shit elevator. “It’s going to be here by the time you get outside.”

Billie nodded, and I walked her to the door. Before I opened it, I took her face in my hands. “I love you. I’m so sorry I’m putting you through this shit.”

“I love you, too.”

“Can I see you tomorrow night?”

“I have a busy afternoon at the shop. Can I let you know?”

A heaviness settled into my chest, yet I nodded. “Sure. Get some sleep.”

“You, too.”

***

The following day, it took every bit of my willpower not to text Billie until the afternoon. I managed to make it until three o’clock.

Colby: Hey, beautiful. Can I make you dinner tonight?

It took almost an hour for her to text back.

Billie: My last appointment is at five. Could we talk for a bit right after I get off, before the babysitter goes home?

I got the feeling that meant she wasn’t planning on staying over again, but I was desperate and would take whatever I could get.

Colby: Sure. I’ll see if she can stay a little later, too.

Billie: See you soon.

When I walked into the shop after work, Deek’s face told me I hadn’t been the only one unable to stop thinking about things today. He laid a hand on my shoulder. “Keep strong, man.”

I nodded and walked over to Billie, who was in the back stocking her portable cart.