Page 16 of Fake Out Hearts

“Okay.” Theo nods. “Then I have an idea. It’s kind of crazy, but hear me out before you say anything, alright?”

I nod, my brows furrowed. I have no clue where he’s going with this. “Alright.”

He hesitates for a second, then shakes his head. “Actually, maybe this is a bad idea. I shouldn’t even say it.”

“Oh, come on, you can’t leave me hanging like that. I’m too curious now!” I laugh, leaning toward him a little. “Whatever it is, just tell me.”

Theo stares me in the eyes with an unreadable expression for what feels like forever before he finally speaks. “Well… what if we got married?”

My jaw drops.

It’s a good thing I’m already sitting on the bed, otherwise I’d probably fall over.

That idea is more than a little crazy. It’s completely insane. For all intents and purposes, he and I just met, and now after a whirlwind night of sex, he wants me to marry him? I don’t think I’ve ever heard anything as crazy—and that includes all the shit that came out of Shawn’s mouth.

“What?” I murmur, still not sure I heard him right.

“I told you it was kind of crazy, but it could work! If we got married, you’d get a green card, right? You could stay in the country.”

I blink at him, barely processing his words. I’m still stuck on the ‘let’s get married’ part.

“Theo, that’s really sweet of you, but—”

“I mean, you said it yourself, right?” He keeps going, his tone gaining even more conviction. “You don’t really have any roots or anyone to go back to in Canada. So why not just stay in the US? You could come to Denver with me. We’ll stay married for a couple of years, and then you’ll have permanent residency andcan keep pursuing all your dreams here. We can go our separate ways when it’s all settled.”

It’s madness. Total lunacy. The delusions of a guy still basking in the post-sex glow or something, I don’t know. He really is sweet to even think of it, but there’s no way in hell that would work. I wouldn’t be the first woman to try it, and surely the US government is on to people doing that kind of thing by now. That’s the sort of stuff that only works in the movies.

But what if itdidwork?

I want to kick myself for even entertaining it, but I can’t ignore the fact that Theo just threw me a golden lifeline to stay in the US—even if it is totally fucking bonkers. He’s right though, I’d rather take up under a bridge than go back to Canada at this point, especially with so much unfinished business here. And I mean, I was willing to be with a piece of shit like Shawn to stay in the US, so would fake marrying Theo really be any different?

It’s so wild and reckless though. I can’t really do this. Can I?

Theo takes both of my hands in his and squeezes them. “Come on, Becca. Don’t let Shawn ruin your future, your dreams. Don’t let him write the last word in your story here.”

His words are so earnest, so heartfelt, that they spark something in me. Theo doesn’t really know me from Eve, but he’s apparently willing to marry me just to give me a shot at my dreams. That has to mean something, right? Plenty of women around the world have spent years daydreaming about and would probably kill for an opportunity like this, so I have to wonder if I’d be crazynotto say yes.

You’re just too bland.Shawn’s stinging words echo in my ears, coming from nowhere, and my heart hardens. Not that I owe him a damn thing, but Theo’s right. I can’t let him be the thing that undoes my future—I owe myself enough respect not to let that happen after all I’ve put up with from him.

“Are you sure about this?” I ask, barely able to get the words out through my vise-like throat. “Reallysure? No strings attached or anything? We just get married, play house for a couple of years, and that’s that?”

“It’s whatever you want or need it to be. And I mean that. I’m doing this for you, princess.”

His use of the word sends goosebumps scattering over my skin, and I know that I can’t possibly turn him down. This is the lifeline I need, and I’d never forgive myself if I walked away from it.

“What do you say?” Theo asks, pulling me back into the moment with another squeeze of my hands and a soft grin. “Will you marry me?”

I pull back all the words that are swirling in my head to make way for the only one that matters.

“Yes.”

Chapter 7

Theo

I’m smiling so hard my entire face hurts. This is completely fucking nuts, and we both know it is, but I don’t care. From the second the idea popped into my head, I’ve steadily grown more and more sure of it, and it seems like Becca has too because she can’t stop smiling either.

I really do want to help her because it’s the right thing to do, and that’s enough of a reason on its own. But more than that, I refuse to let her asshole ex screw her over by dumping her and getting her booted from the country.

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