Chapter 21
CHAPTER
TWENTY-ONE
Hunter
Amelia opened the door, looking at both of us with a huge smile.
“There are the newlyweds. Come in and tell us everything about the honeymoon. Is the long flight worth it?”
“It absolutely is,” Josie answered. “And if possible, take a scuba diving course. It’s so surreal to be underwater, so close to all those forms of life you normally don’t see. Even Mr. Grumpy Ass here enjoyed himself.”
She grinned proudly. I wanted to kiss her right there, right now, and I wouldn’t be quick. She deserved the kind of kiss that made her feel ashamed for calling me that in front of Amelia.
“I don’t believe that. You talked Hunter into that?”
“Yes, ma’am, I did. And he even enjoyed himself.”
“I never said that,” I replied.
Josie narrowed her eyes. “So you went with me on all five trips… why?”
“Just being a good husband, that’s all.”
She held her hand in front of her mouth, leaning into Amelia as if she was about to whisper a secret.
“Don’t mind him. He had fun. I have photographic evidence.”
She smiled brighter, showing her dimples.
Fucking hell, that happy smile got to me like nothing else.
I made a mental note to immediately plan our next getaway.
Nothing too far, but just enough so she could relax.
Besides, I had an inkling that once she got the traveling bug, there would be no stopping her. She just didn’t know it yet.
Just as I didn’t know that I would actually enjoy scuba diving. I had thought I’d panic the minute I submerged under water, but funny thing was, I’d never felt more relaxed. Following the instructor’s lead, aware that I couldn’t influence anything happening around us was… liberating.
“I’m planning to print some albums. I noticed you have many with various family events. Do you want me to make one for you?”
“I’d love that.”
I looked at this strange creature, wondering how she could be this thoughtful, how she’d known exactly what Amelia would want.
I was pissed about her coworker giving her shit. I didn’t want her to have to deal with this. She was mine to protect and take care of. She was my wife.
For now .
I had to remind myself that this was temporary. But could it be forever? It scared me how much I wanted the answer to be yes.
“Come on, you two, part of the gang is already here. The rest should arrive soon,” Amelia said. “Don’t give me any more details until everyone’s here, or you’ll just have to repeat everything later.”
“I don’t mind,” Josie said, with an enthusiasm that made me think she’d already recounted the details to her family multiple times. It was a powerful feeling, knowing I’d made her happy.
Tess and Skye were already there. I had expected them to pounce on us immediately, demanding details, but they were quiet.
In fact, they were looking at Josie and me as if they were suspicious of us .
Maybe I was simply reading into everything because I was hiding something.
Josie didn’t seem to share my concerns. She immediately sat between Tess and Skye.
Mick gave everyone drinks while Josie described in great detail the room, the water, the beach, the sessions of scuba diving.
“Wait a second,” Tess interrupted. “I think I’ve misheard you. Hunter actually went scuba diving?”
Josie nodded proudly. “He put up a good fight, but I won him over.”
Skye clapped, and Tess gave Josie an appreciative whistle. “Proud of you, Josie. I never thought anyone could make him let loose a little.”
Ryker and Cole arrived just as Amelia announced that dinner was ready.
We all sat around the table, Josie next to me.
“So, what’s this we hear from the immigration services that this might be a sham marriage?” Tess asked.
Every muscle in my body went on lockdown. I felt Josie go rigid.
“Wait until their stomachs are full before roasting their asses,” Ryker said.
Cole nodded slowly. “Yes, at least let them eat before you go all gung-ho on them.”
I squeezed Josie’s hand under the table, gathering my wits.
“What are you saying?” I asked.
“A very unfriendly lady from the immigration services called me. She seemed to be under the impression that you only married because they weren’t renewing your visa and you needed a green card,” Amelia explained. “I told her of course that she’s wrong.”
“I too received a call,” Tess said. “Sent her running for the hills. I wasn’t as calm as Amelia. But just because I was as unfriendly as possible, that won’t keep her from investigating. But I am very curious to know the real story.”
She narrowed her eyes at me, sitting up straighter in her chair. Fuck. I didn’t want to disappoint any of them. The only reason I hadn’t been honest with them was because I thought I was protecting them.
Josie blew out a breath. Goddammit. My mind raced, trying to come up with the best solution? Should I deny everything? Just pass it off as natural that a red flag had come onto the immigration services’ radar because marriages between American citizens and outsiders were scrutinized?
I glanced at Josie. She was shaking slightly. I couldn’t ask her to outright lie. Hell, I didn’t want to lie to them anymore.
“It’s true that my visa wasn’t renewed. I was informed very late about it, and I was advised that a marriage with an American citizen was the easiest way around it.”
The table fell silent. I felt the weight of their disappointment crush me. I hated the feeling.
“You know what? I’m offended you didn’t tell us. Here I was, panicking that you willingly gave up your bachelor status, when in fact there was a simple explanation,” Ryker said. Everyone started laughing. The tension was somewhat defused.
“We didn’t tell any of you because we didn’t want you to have to lie for us in case the immigration services started to ask questions,” Josie explained. “Honestly, I hadn’t thought it would happen… at least not so quickly.”
“We are family. You don’t need to pretend with us,” Tess said in a clipped tone.
“I’d have an easier time believing this if you weren’t still giving me the evil eye,” I said.
Tess laughed, and I hung on to the hope that forgiveness was possible in the near future.
“If the immigration services contact any of you, just tell them exactly how things have unfolded since we announced our engagement,” I said. “You all know the same version, and it will seem more natural if you recount everything in your own words as opposed to some rehearsed answer.”
“Now that’s all cleared up, let’s change the subject. No need to turn this dinner into an interrogation,” Cole suggested. I owed him, big time. Ryker gave Cole a thumbs-up.
“I agree,” he said.
“Wait, so no one is interested in juicy details? Just me?” Tess asked.
Skye shook her head. “Tess, we’re at dinner.”
She was great at calming down Tess’s overexcitement and generally being the calming force in a tense situation. She shifted in her chair, focusing on Josie. “When do you have time for a girls’ night out?”
Josie’s cheeks went pink. She glanced at me with wide, pleading eyes, but I had no clue how to save her from this.
Skye and Tess were looking at her expectantly.
“Umm… I’m not sure. I have a few events in the evenings next week, but I’ll check and let you know.”
“We could also have lunch together if you’re pressed for time,” Skye suggested. Right… time for me to step in.
“Skye, Tess, stop pressuring her. She said she’ll?—”
Tess glared at me. “You, dear Hunter, cannot make any demands. At all. You let us all get our hopes up with the wedding.”
Okay. Point taken. I was not yet forgiven.
“I’ll let you know,” Josie repeated.
“Now that’s settled, let’s focus on dinner before everything gets cold.
” Amelia’s voice was calm and warm, as usual.
I was man enough to admit I’d been avoiding eye contact ever since this conversation started, but now I gathered enough courage to look at her.
She didn’t seem nearly as annoyed as Tess and Skye.
She didn’t seem disappointed either. The knot between my shoulder blades loosened a little.
We enjoyed dinner, talking about everything except Josie and me. Every time the conversation veered dangerously close to honeymoon talk, Ryker expertly changed the subject. I was impressed by his skills. Then again, he was a master at avoiding uncomfortable conversations.
After dinner, I pulled Amelia aside in the living room.
“Amelia, I want to apologize. I’m sorry you got dragged into this. I’m also sorry about not telling you from the start. I genuinely thought it was for the best.”
“I don’t doubt you had great intentions.”
“You’re not mad.”
“My boy….” She gave me a knowing look. Honestly, I preferred her calling me using my middle name too—even if it meant I was in trouble—because at least then I knew where I stood. But that knowing look always felt like a trap.
“I see how you look at her. That’s not someone who’s just pretending for the immigration services.”
I’d been spot-on. This was why Amelia had been so blasé about everything.
“Amelia….”
“Hunter Jonathan Caldwell.” There she went with the middle name. I braced myself. “I might not be your mother, but I know you as well as she does. Whatever is going on between you and Josie, it’s good for you. Don’t contradict me. And don’t ruin this.”
“Didn’t even cross my mind, ma’am.”
She was obviously not done with me, but I was saved by Josie, who hurried toward us.
“Amelia, can I steal Hunter for a minute?”
“Sure.”
Josie motioned with her head toward the corner farthest away from where the group was perched on armchairs. I felt Tess’s gaze drill into the back of my skull even from the distance.
“Thanks for rescuing me,” I said.
Josie folded her hands over her chest, narrowing her eyes. “I’d been watching you for a while.”
“And you waited to rescue me… why?”
“Because you didn’t deserve it. You didn’t rescue me .”
“From what?”
“Girls’ night out. They’ll drill me, won’t they?”
“They will,” I confirmed.
“So why didn’t you do something about it?”
“I don’t engage in fights I can’t win,” I said solemnly. Besides, I couldn’t deny it… the idea of my cousins questioning Josie was very amusing.
“Oh, Hunter. At least tell me Amelia drilled you good.”
“She used my middle name.”
Josie laughed, throwing her head back. “I feel vindicated.”
“You’re having a little too much fun with this.”
“What are you gonna do about it?”
The urge to kiss her was overwhelming, but I fought it. After coming clean to the family about the immigration services, explaining this would just bring another round of questions, and neither of us was ready for that.
“Should I come clean to my parents too?” Josie asked.
“What’s your gut feeling on this?”
“I don’t think the immigration services will bother with them. They usually conduct their inquiries in the city where the couple lives and works.”
“If you want to tell them, go ahead, Josie. Whatever is easier for you.”
“I’ll think about it.”
We returned to the group after that. Tess, Skye, and Amelia were looking at us. I could practically see a spark going off in Tess’s mind. She patted the empty spot on the couch next to her.
“Josie, let’s look through your calendar.”
Josie threw me a desperate glance, but before I could come up with anything smart, Ryker gestured for me to join him and Cole. They were still at the dining table.
“So, now that we know you’re actually not off the market, let’s go out,” Ryker said.
“We can even be your wingmen, in case you lost your game in the meantime,” Cole added.
Shit. I should have seen this coming.
“Can’t do that. Josie and I agreed not to see anyone until I receive my documents. It would raise suspicions.”
“How long will that take?” Cole asked.
“Getting my green card? Probably not too long, but we’ll stay married for about three years to avoid any red flags.”
Ryker looked stricken. “So wait, you’re going to have a three-year dry spell? Jesus, I’d rather be deported.”
“Wait, you haven’t been with a woman since you announced your engagement?” Cole asked.
Karma. This was karma. I’d been amused by the idea of Josie having to face Tess and Skye but looking at the suspicious expressions on Ryker and Cole’s face, I was not going to fare much better.
“My priority right now is not to get into trouble with the immigration office. Everything else I can handle.” There. That sounded like a smart answer.
I looked around the room, but Josie was still sitting with Tess and Skye. I felt the need to be connected to her, to touch her.
When I’d told her that today half my brain was still on the Maldives, what I’d meant was that my mind had been on her. After being with her twenty-four hours a day for the past few weeks, it had felt strange to be without her today, as if an integral part of me was missing.
Honestly, I’d never been more grateful that Josie had insisted neither of us see people during these years. I couldn’t share Josie. I was starting to wonder how I’d be able to let her go at all.
“Survived?” I asked her as we walked to the car a while later. I undid the top button of my shirt. August in New York was smothering. The humidity made it all worse.
“Yes. You?”
“They weren’t as hard on me, but Ryker was already trying to rope me into going out with them. Cole even offered to be my wingman.”
Josie stopped in the act of reaching for the car door handle. “What did you tell him?”
I brought a hand to her waist, right over her stomach. She was so damn tense.
“No, of course. You and I agreed not to see other people. And that was before I had you, Josie. I’d be crazy to want anyone else. I’m yours.”
I felt her muscles go lax. “Okay. Okay. So, now what?”
Even though she had her back to me, I could feel her smiling.
I brought my mouth to her ear, enjoying the way she leaned into me, as if she didn’t want to risk missing any word.
I trailed my fingers from her shoulder down to her elbow, drinking in her reaction.
She sucked in a breath, shimmying against me.
“Now, I’m going to spend the evening proving what a good husband I am, wife.”