“I couldn’t,” he says. “I’d help you anyway, Stell. Cabin or not. But the truth is, I could not be in this cabin without you.”
I shake my head, nausea still rising in my gut. “This can’t be fun for you. What about your social life?”
“I don’t have one,” he says.
I scoff. Roman always had a social life. He was everyone else’s social life. “Right.” I let the word drip with sarcasm. “What about girls? You always had a girl?—”
“I don’t.” He shrugs.
I blink, my head dizzy and my heart racing. “But you won’t be able to—at all—not if you’re attached to me. Maybe marriage isn’t necessary. Because I can’t ruin your whole life.” Tears prick at my eyes. No matter the mess Roman might be getting me out of or the gift he believes this deal is getting him, it’s still a lie. I can’t derail his entire life.
Roman, calm as the quiet woods outside, crosses his arms and leans against the countertop, studying me. “I think marriageisnecessary for a green card. Isn’t that how it works?”
I honestly don’t know how a green card marriage works. I do not need one. I need good news and happy parents.
I pull off my glasses and rub my eyes. Strangely, I think they long for the routine and feel of my contacts. Thinking, I pinch my fingers to the bridge of my nose.
Roman walks the few steps over to me. He pulls my hand down from my face and dips his head, forcing me to meet his eyes. “Stell, it’s going to be okay.”
I sniff and hold back my tears. “Not if I wreck your future.”
“You aren’t wrecking anything.” He grins like he did when we were kids. “I mean, as long as you keep me out of jail.”
I’m not worried about jail. I’m worried that I’m intruding on his life while only serving myself. “Be serious. How important is this cabin to you?”
He studies me. There’s a twitch in his eye that tells me he’s wrestling with his answer. “I was willing to alter the way I play for it. My coach said he’d talk to the owner about changing the housing portion of my contract if I could go without a card for four games.”
I narrow my gaze. Willing to alter his game? That doesn’t sound like Roman. This place must be important to him.
“Yeah—well, we both know that didn’t work out.”
“You need this?” I ask. Because I can’t be so wholly selfish. Not with Roman.
“You haven’t been around me in a while. So, I can understand that you may not get it.” He sighs. “But I do. I need it.”
I exhale, breathing a tiny bit easier. He wouldn’t marry me if he knew the truth, and according to Roman, without me, he’d never get this place.
“What about women?” I say, still not quite convinced. “You always had a girlfriend, Roman. We both know it.”
“Well, I don’t. I haven’t in a while. And I don’t plan to. So—don’t worry about that. Okay?” His hand cups my cheek, the pad of his thumb swiping beneath my eye.
I bite my lip. I am a mess. A hot mess express. But none of that is his problem. “You don’t have to save me, Roman.”
His eyes squint, taking me in. The right corner of his mouth lifts in the smallest of smiles. “What if I want to save you?”
Eleven
We havethe ultimate stare down for I’m not sure how long, and then Stella speaks, “Time to call my mom.”
When did the subject change? “Now?”
“If we don’t do it now, I’ll back out.” She rolls her shoulders and exhales a gust of air.
“Stella—doyouwant this marriage? Leave me and this cabin out of your decision.”
She blinks up at me, her green eyes welling with tears. “You are literally solving every single one of my problems, Roman Graves.” A high-pitched hiccup escapes her lips, and she covers her mouth with the palm of her hand. “And I wonder every second how I will ever pay you back.”
“Okay then, let’s call your mom. No payback necessary.” I shake my head. “You get your citizenship. I get my cabin. We’re even.”
