Page 32 of Accidentally Falling for My Fake Wife

Her eyes twinkle, and my hand raises to my collar, pulling it away from my body. “Tell Mrs. Baker I said hello.”

“I will.” giving her a shaky smile, and sticking my hands in my pockets. I turn to walk away, but stop. “I meant what I said about you and Josh coming to the house. You’re welcome any time.”

There’s a shift in her gaze, and my stomach flips.

“Thanks. I’ll talk to Josh about it.”

“It was good to see you.” I nod standing there for a moment, unable to pull my gaze away. My chest tightens with the thought that I may not be here long enough for that visit to happen. The corner of my lips dip a tiny bit. I shake it off, and move toward the exit but throw over my shoulder. “Oh! I’ll let you know about the list of ‘possible suspects’ when I know something.”

Her laughter rings out behind me as I walk out the exit, and I can’t stop the enormous smile that skates across my face.

“Adam,” Elizabeth Baker beamsat me, her eyes wrinkling at the corner. “You had a great game on Sunday. Keep it up.”

“That’s my intention,” forcing a smile, I do my best to act like I don’t have an expired visa andwilldefinitely be playing with the Mavs till the end of the season. Placing my book upside down on the circulation desk, I keep my hand there as if to cover what book it is. Elizabeth looks at it before lifting her twinkling gaze to mine.

“You do realize Maggie and I know every book anyone borrows, right?” She gives me a mischievous grin and winks before whispering. “Mum’s the word. We love Amelia’s books too.”

“I appreciate that,” I lift my hand from the book and smile back at her. “My brother would be mortified.”

“Just your brother?” She asks as she scans the book and puts it in the return cart.

I feel my face heat. “Okay, maybe notjusthim.”

She gives me a knowing grin and chuckles. I laugh with her and turn toward the exit.

I stop halfway out the door and look back over my shoulder before waving. “Oh, Susie Owens said to say ‘hello’.” I watch her eyebrows lift in surprise before a playful grin crosses her face. Leaving me raising a brow.

The door closes behind me, leaving the smell of books behind me. I grab my keys from my pocket just as my phone buzzes. I slide it out and see Finn's name.

“Please tell me you have some good news.” I open the Jeep door and hop in, before sticking the key in the ignition.

“Yeah, about that.” I freeze at the seriousness in his voice. “It’s not looking good.”

My stomach rolls, and I scrub my face with my hand.

“What does that mean, exactly?” I push through a tight throat.

“Nothing too crazy. Just that you’ll most likely be deported,” he says with a slight laugh. “Unless you know someone who’d be willing to marry you.”

“Are we really bringing up getting married again?” I scoff, and shake my head.

“Well maybe you’re dating someone I don’t know about?” I almost laugh at the hope I hear in his voice, but don’t because I can barely breathe.

I run a hand through my hair, clenching my jaw.

“My assistant did find another option that’s a possibility. Steve could submit a petition for you to get your green card.” My hand freezes and the tightness in my chests loosens, only to have it come back full force at his next words. “But that could take up to a year or longer.”

“Well that’s not really an option is it,” I growl. Luckily Finn ignores my frustration. “Sorry. I know this isn’t your fault.”

He doesn’t say anything, but I’m pretty sure he’s thinking it’s indirectly his fault. It was his job to keep my visa up to date. Him giving the task to his assistant and her failing to complete the DS-160 forms is irrelevant. “How much time do I have?”

“I can ask my assistant to call the Embassy again tomorrow to explore if there are any extenuating circumstances considering your situation, that may give us a bit more time. But odds are you’ll have little to no time before you need to return to Canada.”

My head drops to my chest and my limbs feel weighted.

“I’m so sorry, Adam.” Finn says, regret oozing from his voice.

“I know. I’ll talk to you tomorrow,” I say softly.

---