You're The One (Very Irresistible Bachelors 1)

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.