The Rules of Dating(93)

“You want my advice?”

“Of course.”

“You have two weeks before the hearing. Move in together. You’ll learn everything about each other and then some. Trust me, I’ve been married for twelve years and didn’t live with my wife before the wedding. There’s a lot of truth to the old adage that you don’t really know someone until you live with them.”

I shook my head. “No fucking way.”

“Don’t be a stubborn mule,” Maya said. “We don’t have a choice, Colby.”

“I’d rather rot in prison than spend two weeks cooped up with you.”

Maya rolled her eyes again.

I stopped pacing and stood with my hands on my hips as I spoke to my attorney. “Is there anything else we need to discuss?”

Adam shook his head. “I don’t think so. You know what you’re in for at the hearing.”

“Fine. Then I’m leaving.” I walked toward the door.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Maya shouted.

“As far as possible away from you.”

The office was two blocks away from my subway line. But just as I was about to descend the stairs, I noticed a bar a few doors down. My heart felt like it was going to explode in my chest, so I decided to have a quick shot or two to take the edge off. Inside, the bar was dark, with only a few old men sitting around. I sidled up to an empty spot near the door and ordered a double shot of tequila. Luckily the bartender didn’t want to talk and just took my money in exchange for the alcohol and a lime. I knocked it back and skipped the fruit, wanting the burn to last for as long as possible. Then I raised my hand to call the bartender back. “One more, please.”

He nodded. “You got it.”

The second double shot went down easier than the first, and I probably could have kept going. But I didn’t want to get shitfaced. So I tossed two twenties on the bar to close out my bill. As I did, my phone buzzed with an incoming text. Maya’s name flashed in preview, making my teeth clench. I was just about to stuff my cell back in my pocket and ignore the message, but then I remembered Billie was coming over later, and I didn’t want Maya blowing up my phone. So I swiped to read the text, never loosening my jaw.

Maya: We need to move in together or you will go to jail.

I immediately typed back.

Colby: Go fuck yourself.

A few seconds later, another text came in. Except this time, it was a voice text. I hit play, expecting to hear Maya’s righteous tone, but instead my own voice came through.

“I’m only marrying you so you can stay in this country and will leave my daughter alone. After it’s done, don’t contact me. I’m pretending this sham of a marriage never happened.”

That bitch must’ve recorded me at our second meeting at the coffee shop. Before I could figure out what the hell she was trying to prove by sending it to me now, another text arrived.

Maya: I’ll be at your apartment with my stuff Saturday morning. If you don’t let me in, this recording is going to the investigator.

***

“Oh no.” Billie frowned the second she caught a glimpse of me, even though I’d forced a smile.

I shook my head as I stepped aside to let her in. “How do you always know when I had a shitty day before I say a word?”

Billie stopped in front of me as she passed and pushed up on her tiptoes. She pressed her lips to mine and mussed my hair. “This. It’s a dead giveaway.”

“My hair?”

She smiled and nodded. “You yank at it when you’re stressed, and then it sticks up in a thousand directions.”

I closed the door. “No wonder I’m going to prison; I can’t hide anything. I didn’t even know I did that.”

Billie pointed to the half-empty bottle of wine on the dining room table. “I get the feeling I’m going to need one of those.”

I nodded and motioned to the living room. “Go sit down. I’ll pour you one and refill mine. Or maybe I’ll just chug from the bottle.”

After I fixed us each a full glass, we settled onto the couch.

“What happened?” she asked.

“The investigator saw the picture Saylor drew of you and me holding hands.”

“The one on the refrigerator? I didn’t think he went into the kitchen.” Her shoulders slumped. “I guess it must’ve been when I went into Saylor’s room with her. I’m so sorry I didn’t hide that, Colby.”

“You have zero to apologize for. You handled that surprise visit like a champ. I definitely would have fucked it up if I’d answered.”

Billie sipped her wine. “So what happens next?”

“We’re supposed to go to the hearing in two weeks. If we don’t pass, the investigator plans on filing criminal charges.”

Billie’s eyes widened. “You said we’re supposed to. Does that mean you’re not planning on attending?”

“I’m thinking about going to the investigator and telling him the truth, that the marriage was a fraud, but I was blackmailed into it.” I shrugged. “He mentioned he has a kid. Maybe he’ll have compassion when I tell him why I did it and just let me pay a big fine.”

Billie shook her head. “I don’t know, Colby. What if he doesn’t care that you’re the sole caretaker of your daughter and you did it to protect her? Then you’ve just admitted you committed fraud to an immigration investigator. Maybe you should take your chances at the hearing and see how it goes?”