Page 19 of The Run Option

“I thought it might be one of the last ones for a while,” I say, sounding more pathetic than I’d like.

His features soften. “Well, hopefully it won’t be. I have a solution to propose.”

“What?” I try to wrack my brain for a way he could help and the only thing that comes to mind is bribery. “I don’t want to go to jail because you’re trying to bribe the government. Also, I wouldn’t take your money. You don’t have to do this because you feel bad about the publicity.”

“This is going worse than I thought.” He sighs, then reaches into his pocket and pulls out a black velvet box. His large hand slides it over in front of me. “The solution I’m proposing is…a marriage proposal.”

My head rears back as I start to piece together what he’s saying. “Are you–you can’t be–” I glare at him. “This is not atime for jokes, Jason. Your public image is in shambles and I don’t want my reputation to suffer even if I’m moving.”

“I’m not joking. Open the box.” He gestures to it.

I jerk it open, intent on throwing whatever fake dollar store ring he’s planted in there at his stupid face. Then I freeze. Inside is one of the most beautiful diamond rings I’ve ever seen. A large teardrop diamond sparkles atop a gold band. It could be fake, but something tells me it’s real. Andexpensive.

“You’re serious,” I whisper, not daring to meet his gaze. Instead, I stare at the ring as it casts tiny rainbows all around it as the sunlight hits it.

“The only way for you to stay in the country is to be married,” he says, his voice low and gentle. As if he knows I’m on the edge of a breakdown. “And an easy way for me to salvage my image is by us being engaged. If I was carrying myfuture wifeout of a party because she hurt her ankle…”

“You’d be a hero instead of a creep,” I finish for him. “But this ismarriage. We’d have to convince everyone it’s real. We don’t even like each other.”

I finally gather enough courage to look at him. There’s darkness beneath his green eyes, adding to the sadness I find there.

“I’ve never said I didn’t like you, Willow.” His words pierce me. “You don’t like me though, so yes, that’s something to consider.”

My heart sinks. He’s right. I’ve been the one who’s pushed him away and insulted him. “If you know that, then why do you want to marry me? Is it just to save your reputation? When we divorce it could tank again.”

He rakes a hand through his hair, mussing the dirty blond locks. “I want to help you for the same reason I said last night. You’re a part of the team. And by the time divorce is an option,I’ll have worked to rebuild my reputation enough that it can withstand an amicable separation.”

Jason makes a face like he hates everything he’s saying. That makes two of us. I’ve always dreamt of a marriage like my parents' and my grandparents'. Long-lasting, full of love, a true vow to be there for the other person no matter what. Not a sham marriage to stay in the country.

“I don’t think it’s worth it to me,” I say and he winces. “Marrying you isn’t that bad. I don’t hate you,” I explain, feeling bad for hurting him while he’s trying to help. “I just don’t want to marry someone I’m not in love with. Even if it solves both of our problems. We’ll have to come up with another way to help you.”

“And what about you?”

I shrug. “I’ll have to hope that everyone here likes me enough to give me a recommendation letter for a new job in Canada. My family lives there; I won’t be alone.”

The words don’t sit well with me. Sure, I miss my parents, and I’d love to see them more. But I made a home here, and I’ll be devastated to leave my friends and even more so, Granny. Marrying Jason isn’t the solution though. Even if I was okay with the idea of marrying for a green card, I couldn’t fake a relationship with him. Not with the shadow of our first meeting looming over me like an angry rain cloud.

“Can you do me a favor and give it the night to think it over? You can text me your decision tomorrow morning.”

“Sure,” I say with a heavy sigh. “I can do that.”

“Thanks. We can discuss the plan with Brock after that. I’ll let him know that we’re waiting. For now, just try not to discuss it with anyone. Your decision will make a difference in how we handle things.”

“Okay, sounds good,” I tell him, even though I want to say we should just move forward with the non-marriage plan. All this will do is create more chaos because neither of us is making astatement. But it’s the least I can do after turning him down like this. He was willing to marry me, after all.

I look down again at the box in front of me.I can’t believe he bought a ring.It’s a beautiful one, too. The kind of ring I’d proudly wear if the man I loved gave it to me.

“Take the ring with you,” he says, drawing my eyes up to him. “You can give it back if your answer is still no, but if it’s yes, you should wear it to the game.”

My stomach flips at the merethoughtof doing something like that.

“Okay,” I say, sounding as numb as I feel.

He slides over a scrap of paper with his number on it and stands. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“See you,” I say as he walks behind me and out the door.

Jason Kingsley just proposed to me.How is this my life?

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