Chapter 20 Cora
Chapter twenty
Cora
Iabsentmindedly stir my chili with my spoon, staring down at it in utter disinterest. The bustle of the Thatcher Ranch cafeteria around me blurs into the background as I bite the inside of my lip.
“What, something wrong with it?” Addison asks, taking a seat beside me with her own bowl of chili. She glances at me worriedly. As one of the main cooks here on the ranch, I suppose her concern is warranted.
“Oh no, not at all,” I say quickly, forcing myself to take a bite. I’ve been practically sick to my stomach the last few days. Ever since Theo’s declaration of … well, love.
We didn’t really talk afterward. I simply moved back into my room across the hall. The last two days, Theo has been scarce at lunch time, and when we ride home together at the end of the day, it’s in silence.
“Hm,” Addison says, still looking at me strangely. “You okay?”
I shrug, but it’s been hard to hide the pit in my stomach, the sadness washing over me minute by minute.
“Just nervous for the green card interview,” I say.
“Oh, that’s right!” Addison perks up. “Tomorrow, right?”
I nod.
“What are you even nervous about?” She elbows me playfully before digging in to her chili.
I shrug again, shaking my head. “Nothing, just …”
“I’d wish you luck, but you two don’t need it—you’re in love.” Addison chuckles.
I force myself to smile and nod, still playing with my spoon in my chili.
It takes me a few seconds to realize that Addison hasn’t responded, and when I turn to her, she’s staring at me, her eyebrows scrunched.
“Cora, what’s wrong?” she asks evenly.
“Nothing, I …” I try to wave it off. “Just nervous is all.”
Addison pauses, and then, “Why?” Her tone is serious this time, inquisitive, not joking like earlier.
I shrug. “An interview with immigration is a big deal,” I say. And it’s true. Seems like a normal thing to be nervous about even if Theo and I were in love.
That thought sends a pang of guilt and hurt and something else I can’t quite identify through my chest.
She nods, but she still seems confused. “But the interview is basically just to make sure you and Theo are married for the right reasons. And no one’s going to doubt that.” She laughs quietly. “Cora, you and Theo are, like, the cutest married couple alive.”
I suck in a sharp breath, and to my horror, I feel hot tears welling up behind my eyes. I turn away from Addison, but it’s too late.
“Cora?” She reaches gently for my arm.
I force the tears back, composing myself. I glance around the cafeteria. It’s late in the lunch hour; there are only a few ranch hands left and they’re sitting on the other side of the room.
“What’s going on? Is everything okay?” she asks, scooting toward me. “You can tell me—”
“It’s not real,” I blurt out. Addison opens her mouth, but I continue. “The marriage. Yes, we got married—legally—but it’s all for the green card. We aren’t really … in love, in a relationship, anything.”
Addison’s mouth drops open, and she simply stares at me for a long moment. Then, “Why?”
“It was the only way to stay. My visa renewal was denied. I either had to marry someone or go back to Canada.”
“And Theo offered,” Addison says. I can’t tell if it’s a question or a statement.
I nod, and I finally have the courage to turn and look her in the eyes. She looks shocked, yes, but also confused and … something else.
“I’m scared—scared they’ll see through us.”
Something in Addison’s eyes softens, and she looks halfway between pity and laughter. “But Cora, Theo does love you.”
Shock courses through me. “How …?” How could Addison have known what Theo said to me? Did Theo say something to Cruz? But he wouldn’t have … would he?
“He’s always been in love with you.”
My heart nearly stops beating, and my breath hitches. Always. What could she possibly mean by that? “What are you talking about?” I force out, and it’s barely above a whisper.
Addison suppresses a giggle. “Cora, Theo has been the biggest simp for you since the moment I met you guys. And Cruz says it was going on way longer than that.”
Her words ricochet around my head, refusing to sink in. “Wha—no, I mean, we’ve been friends, but …”
Addison gives me a withering look that momentarily silences me. “I have never seen a man more in love than Theo Strickland is with you,” she states. “Well, other than Cruz,” she adds with a dramatic hair flip and a wink.
“I …” My mind is whirling, my head feels dizzy. “… have to go.” I stand, abandoning my chili, needing desperately, more than anything, to be alone right now.
“Cora, wait!” Addison says quickly, scrambling up from her seat, but I’m already halfway across the cafeteria, and in seconds, I’m out the door.