That thought sends a pang of guilt and hurt and something else I can’t quite identify through my chest.
She nods, but she still seems confused. “But the interview is basically just to make sure you and Theo are married for the right reasons. And no one’s going to doubt that.” She laughs quietly. “Cora, you and Theo are, like, the cutest married couple alive.”
I suck in a sharp breath, and to my horror, I feel hot tears welling up behind my eyes. I turn away from Addison, but it’s too late.
“Cora?” She reaches gently for my arm.
I force the tears back, composing myself. I glance around the cafeteria. It’s late in the lunch hour; there are only a few ranch hands left and they’re sitting on the other side of the room.
“What’s going on? Is everything okay?” she asks, scooting toward me. “You can tell me—”
“It’s not real,” I blurt out. Addison opens her mouth, but I continue. “The marriage. Yes, we got married—legally—but it’s all for the green card. We aren’t really … in love, in a relationship, anything.”
Addison’s mouth drops open, and she simply stares at me for a long moment. Then, “Why?”
“It was the only way to stay. My visa renewal was denied. I either had to marry someone or go back to Canada.”
“And Theo offered,” Addison says. I can’t tell if it’s a question or a statement.
I nod, and I finally have the courage to turn and look her in the eyes. She looks shocked, yes, but also confused and … something else.
“I’m scared—scared they’ll see through us.”
Something in Addison’s eyes softens, and she looks halfway between pity and laughter. “But Cora, Theodoeslove you.”
Shock courses through me. “How …?” How could Addison have known what Theo said to me? Did Theo say something to Cruz? But he wouldn’t have … would he?
“He’s always been in love with you.”
My heart nearly stops beating, and my breath hitches. Always. What could she possibly mean by that? “What are you talking about?” I force out, and it’s barely above a whisper.
Addison suppresses a giggle. “Cora, Theo has been the biggest simp for you since the moment I met you guys. And Cruz says it was going on way longer than that.”
Her words ricochet around my head, refusing to sink in. “Wha—no, I mean, we’ve been friends, but …”
Addison gives me a withering look that momentarily silences me. “I have never seen a man more in love than Theo Strickland is with you,” she states. “Well, other than Cruz,” she adds with a dramatic hair flip and a wink.
“I …” My mind is whirling, my head feels dizzy. “… have to go.” I stand, abandoning my chili, needing desperately, more than anything, to be alone right now.
“Cora, wait!” Addison says quickly, scrambling up from her seat, but I’m already halfway across the cafeteria, and in seconds, I’m out the door.
Chapter twenty-one
Theo
It’sthefirstrealhot day of spring as I stand out in the far western field with Cruz and another ranch hand repairing a broken area along the fenceline. It’s common to find this area a bit worn after the winter. When the snow melts, we get mudslides, and this year, the fencing took quite a hit.
“We have enough poles, right?” Graham asks, glancing into the back of the truck bed.
“We’re good,” Cruz assures him. “I came out here earlier this morning to take stock.”
I’ve already busied myself with pulling out the broken and rotting posts, tossing them into a pile near the truck. Cruz and Graham are chatting away, but I’ve been mainly working silently.
I know Cruz knows something’s up with me. He’s one of my best friends on the ranch, and, well, let’s just say the last few days have been weird.
Weird, horrible, devastating.
And honestly, I have only myself to blame. Letting my feelings slip at the worst possible moment. It was embarrassing at best and manipulative at worst. And that look in her eyes right after those words left my mouth? It physically hurts to remember it.
