Page 7 of Clear Shot

“Nope. We’re even using paper plates and plastic utensils so clean-up will be a breeze.”

We chat for a few minutes and she tells me about Joanna’s latest milestones. I love my seven-month-old niece. She’s sweet and funny and cuddly. I can’t wait to see her in the morning since she’s already in bed.

“So tell me what you found out,” I say as soon as we settle down to eat. He was planning to call an immigration attorney.

“You really only have one option,” Johan says quietly.

That sounds a little ominous, but it’s better than no options.

“Tell me,” I say curiously.

“Marry someone on the team so they can get you an emergency visa that will allow you to stay.”

I blink.

“What?”

“I know it’s not ideal,” he continues. “But either you do that or you have to leave in four days. Then it will be much more difficult for you to job hunt. This way, you can?—”

“Wait. Stop.” I’m shaking my head. “You make it sound like getting married is nothing more than a business transaction.”

“Well, in this case, that’s what it would be. Obviously, it would be a favor to me and both Jordan and Aiden offered.”

I pause, fork midway to my mouth, and I stare at him.

“You discussed this with your teammates? Without even talking to me.”

“It didn’t happen that way,” he says quickly. “We were discussing the work situation with you and Claudia and I expressed concern that you might have to leave the US. Then someone said the team could get you a visa if you were to get married. Jordan, Felix, and Aiden were sitting there with me, Decker, and Anders.”

“So it’s a no from Felix?” I ask dryly.

He chuckles. “Well, you know Felix. It wasn’t a no so much as a ‘I’m confused and need someone to explain this to me.’”

That sounds like Felix.

“And then Jordan said he would do it as long as you understood that he would continue…living his life, so to speak.”

I can’t imagine Aiden jumping into that conversation.

But he did.

“And then Aiden just offered to marry me?” I ask. “I don’t believe that.”

“He did,” Johan says. “In fact, he was pretty firm about it. He said if anyone was going to do it, it would be him.”

I’m suddenly warm, and my insides do a little dance.

Aiden offered to marry me so I can stay in the country.

Aiden.

My friend without benefits.

Even though I want him so badly sometimes I don’t know how to hide it.

“I don’t…” It’s hard to wrap my head around this new development.

On one hand, I don’t want to go back to Slovakia.