I turned my phone face down and tried to focus on my prom design, but I’d lost my spark. I went to shut off the light and dive into sleep when my phone chimed a text from Xander.
In order to attend UCLA and be eligible for financial aid, freefrom your parents’ income, you must qualify as an independent student. The criteria for which—in part—are as follows:
You’re homeless or about to become homeless
You’re emancipated
You’re married
I stared at his orderly, formal text. Like a message coming from far away—a shooting star that landed in my lap.
Then another text followed.
If you can’t get emancipated I’ll marry you.
“Oh my God…” My shaking fingers hitcall.
Xander’s voice was low and quiet when he answered. “Hi, Emery.”
“You’llwhat?”
“It’s strictly for practical purposes. You’ll be able to break free of your dad’s money and have more access to aid.”
“I…I don’t know what to say.”
“We both have to be eighteen,” he continued, all business. “My birthday is on November tenth. Yours?”
“March fifth. But Xander—”
“I have nothing, Emery. Only a pension that’s going to go to my dad’s care when he needs to be institutionalized. You might still incur massive debt for the rest of your life—”
“When you put it that way…”
“But you’d be free.”
Tears stung my eyes and clogged my throat. “You would…do that for me?”
“Yeah, Em, I would.”
“But you’re going to MIT.”Thousands of miles away…
“Yes, but that won’t matter,” he said. “It would be a pretend marriage. No expectations. Nothing permanent”
“I…” I shook my head. “No, this is crazy. I can’t get married unless it’s…real.”
For love…
“It would be real,” Xander said. “A real piece of paper that gets you out of Rhode Island. Nothing more.”
I nodded, though I wasn’t sure that made me feel better. “Right. Just a piece of paper. We wouldn’t actually call each other husband or wife or use it against each other somehow.”
“Never.”
“Okay. It’s not going to come to that, anyway,” I said quickly. “I still have my prom idea. I’m still holding out hope that my dad sees what I can do and supports me.”
“He might,” Xander said, doubt lacing his words. “This is just for backup.”
“In case of emergency, get married?” I sniffed a laugh.
