Page 62 of Hail Marry
“Sure it would.”
“If by accomplish you mean get you kicked out of the NFL and deported, then yeah. Sure.”
His brows snap together. “What do you mean?”
This is where I have to break the other part of the news—the part he didn’t get from Preston because Preston doesn’t realize the actual stakes here. He still thinks he’s representing two clients who fell in love at first sight.
I don’t relish the job of informing Luca exactly what we’ve gotten ourselves into. Seems like this should be Zach’s job. It was his idea, after all. But clearly, he can’t be relied upon. Or maybe he’s ignorant too. I don’t know what to think anymore.
“That research I mentioned doing?” I say.
Luca nods.
“I found out a lot. Like, did you know it’s a crime to marry for the purpose of getting a green card?”
His dark eyes search mine, and his Adam’s apple bobs.
I offer a half-smile and bump him with my elbow, hoping to lighten the mood. “We’re a regular Bonnie and Clyde, you and I.”
His face grows grimmer. “That story doesn’t have the greatest ending.”
“I mean, would I prefer not to go out of this life in a hail of bullets? Yes, but at this point, any time I get is bonus, thanks to you.”
Luca drops his head and runs a hand along the top of his hair, then grasps his bun tightly until his knuckles turn white. “So, I saved your life to turn you into a criminal. A criminal like me.”
“I think you’re taking too much credit. For all you know, I was already a hardened criminal before you met me.”
His head comes up. “Come on, Tori. This is serious.”
I let my smile fade. “I know. But we’re going to be all right, okay? We’re doing everything we can to show immigration we’re serious about this marriage, and that’s got to count for something. You don’t have to take all of the burden on your shoulders.” My gaze sweeps to those shoulders, which look plenty capable of carrying any burden.
But I’m starting to wonder if Luca’s appearance is more misleading than I’d realized.
He’s quiet. Tortured and quiet. I hate that he feels so miserable right when his dreams are coming true.
“You look like a man who just got a two-year torture sentence,” I say. “I find it offensive.”
Amusement twinkles in his eyes, like a single star in a dark sky. “You’ve got a joke for everything, don’t you?”
“I hope so.” I chuck him under the chin like he did to me once. “Lighten up, Crusher. We’ve got this.” I shrug. “We can’t unring the bell, so we may as well make the best of it. Face it. You’re stuck with me, which I get is kind of a terrifying prospect.”
He stares at me for a few seconds, and I wish I knew how he really feels about being tied to me for the next two years. Ryan couldn’t bring himself to spend any more time with me than that. Now that he knows me better, maybe Luca feels similarly. Maybe the prospect of being stuck with me for that long outweighs the NFL dream.
For all his face is telling me, he could be feeling anything right now. Or nothing.
Why does he have to be so good at hiding his emotions?
He takes a single step toward me, then wraps his arms around me and pulls me toward him.
I freeze, my breath hitching.
“For the record,” he says into my hair, “being stuck with you is a breeze.”
I swallow away the sudden thickness in my throat and relax into the hug. Hugging Luca is like nothing I’ve ever experienced, a cocoon of warmth and cologne, a sense of well-being and protection, like my own personal force field. The utter solidness of him is reassuring. “You’re no slouch yourself.”
His breathy laugh tickles my ear, then he sighs. “I’m just worried about you.”
“I know you are.” I pull back and fix my gaze on his. “But I’m telling you, Luca—I’m in this. Whatever we’ve got to do to sell this marriage, I’m ready. So, until I say flibbertigibbet,please trust that I’m okay. More than okay. I’m having fun. And it’d be great if you were too.”
