No matter what, I’d protect him. There was no other way.
“Because… Silas and I are married.”
CHAPTER 33
SILAS
MARRIED?
The word pinged repeatedly in my brain, sounding off loudly, like a slot machine winner in Vegas.
Ding, ding, ding, you’ve won the jackpot!
It was a brilliant improvisation on Damien’s part, and one that might salvage my epic fuck-up.
I should’ve known better than to grab him in the hallway, but it was too late for regrets. What was more surprising than the suggestion we were married? I more than liked the sound of being Damien’s husband, fake or not.
Do you take Damien to be your husband?
I do. I do. I do.
“Married?” the reporter scoffed. “You two are claiming to be husbands? Seriously?”
“Yes,” I replied, amazed at how calm I sounded, and how easily the lie slid off my tongue. My heart was racing faster than ever. “We are.”
The reporter’s widened gaze bounced between me and Damien.
“How old are you again?” he asked me.
“I’m twenty-two. And as my husband stated, we’re none of your business.”
The reporter narrowed his eyes at Damien. “How come no one said anything about this when I arrived today?”
“It didn’t apply,” Damien replied calmly.
“A college coach is married to one of his players and that’s not important enough to mention? Right. I’m going to Dean Chancer to verify this information.”
“Go for it,” Damien bit out. “Now I’m telling you again, it’s time for you to leave.”
The guy shoved the camera in his carrying case and stomped off down the hallway. I waited and watched until he exited the building.
I turned to Damien. “I’m so fucking sorry.”
“It was only a matter of time, right? We knew that,” Damien whispered. “Still, what the fuck did I do?”
“You solved our problem.”
“Or, I made it ten times worse. Because now everyone’s going to want proof. The only thing left is for us to do is to actually?—”
“Get married?” I offered.
“Jesus.”
“I’m in.”
“Silas—”
“You heard me, Damien. Let’s get married. For real.”