On the car ride over from Roy's to Nelson Road Evie thought about calling the whole thing off at least a dozen times. Sure, she hadn't committed any actual crimes yet, but the guilt was already building, swelling, like an inflated balloon. She supposed she should have felt nervous. Lying had never been something she considered to be within her wheelhouse. It wasn't how she and Ted were raised, and it certainly wasn't the culture when she was growing up. If anything, the Lasso's small hometown back in Kansas, where everyone knew everyone, would have made lying feel impossible.

Evelyn glanced over at Roy, working up the courage to tell him to turn back. Instead, one look at the footballer had solidified her resolve. This arrangement hadn't just been suggested to benefit her. Roy needed someone to placate the media. Bailing out on the plan at the last minute would be selfish. Besides, it wasn't like the lie would last forever. Evelyn estimated six months or so would be long enough to keep immigration and the media off both of them.

"Ready?" Roy asked, turning off the engine as he parked his car in its usual spot.

"For anything." She nodded with inherent Lasso optimism. Roy rolled his eyes.

As they approached the clubhouse Roy took her hand in his. Evie could feel her palms begin to sweat and knew it had nothing to do with the heat radiating off her faux fiancé. The walk to the media room felt at least three times longer than it should have. Roy's hand compress around hers. A comforting squeeze just like the day before at the jewelry store.

Then the door opened. The pair of them were greeted with flashing lights, large video cameras and the reporters' watchful gazes. Roy escorted Evelyn to her seat before claiming his own to her left. Seated on the other side of Roy was Ted.

"Well, lookie here!" Ted remarked in his usual twang and the room began to settle. "Seems our guests of honor have arrived just on time! Y'all remember my little sis, Evie," Ted gestured to her. "And of course, everyone knows the stoic Captain Roy Kent." He nodded at Roy. "Now I know it's very exciting because Roy here rarely joins us willingly in the press room, but we'd appreciate it so much if y'all would show them the same respect you usually show me. Roy, Evie, the floor is yours."

"Right." Roy cleared his throat and leaned closer to the microphone positioned in front of him. "By now I'm sure most of you've seen the article in The Sun 'bout me and Evelyn. While I think it's pretty fucked that someone was hiding in the bushes waiting to snap photos of me and my underage niece, I'm glad the truth about us is out. It's been hell trying to keep us a secret."

Roy reached across the table to take Evie's hand. He gripped it loosely and positioned thier knot of fingers to ensure they were visible to the media. Evie noticed no one in the room seemed to even hear his casual F bomb. Which led her to the conclusion that this was a common occurrence at a Roy Kent press conference.

"It's not exactly how we wanted to share our news, but like Roy said we're both very glad to be with you today and we're happy to answer any questions you might have."

Immediately hands shot up around the room. Evie scanned the clamoring crowd and realized she didn't know a single person's name and likely hadn't ever heard of the publication they represented either. With journalists squirming in their seats, each vying for her attention or Roy's she realized on one man sat still, his hand only slightly elevated above his head.

"Trent Crimm, would you like to ask the first question?" Evie asked. Trent nodded and rose to his feet. The reporters who'd been passed over around him glared daggers.

"Trent Crimm, The Independent." He introduced himself again. "I'm rather curious, Ms. Lasso as you mentioned in passing several weeks back this was your first time in the UK, yet we're now learning yourself and Mr. Kent have been in a relationship for several months."

"Not really a question there, Trent, Buddy." Ted interjected.

"I'm getting there, Coach Lasso." Trent insisted. "You see the timing is rather convenient, as I understand Ms. Lasso's travel visa has been revoked. Isn't that correct?"

The room burst into murmurs. Some of the reports curious to know if this information were true while others cursed themselves for not finding this juicy detail on their own. Evie's eyes shot to Roy and Ted, trying not to look too nervous. How had Trent Crimm known about your visa?

"What's your point?" Roy growled into his microphone.

"As I've said the timing appears rather coincidental." Trent repeated. "It's a bit difficult to believe this romance in genuine."

"Right, we're not gonna reply to that." Roy snapped. "Next!"

"Now, hang on." She interrupted, before Trent could sit back down. "Honey, we knew this question would come up today and we'd have to answer it." Evie moved her hand to rest atop Roy's forearm before smiling out at the crowd.

"Have you ever been in love Trent Crimm?" She asked. Trent seemed taken aback.

"Have I…" His eyes scanned the panel people in front of him. She thought they may have lingered longer on Ted than anyone else, before snapping back to her. "Yes. I suppose I have."

"Then you'll know that it doesn't always make sense." Evie replied. "I'm assuming at least most of y'all have probably never had the chance to FaceTime with my brother, but if you did, you'd know he's pretty easily distracted."

"Ain't that the truth." Roy's mumble was just barely picked up by his mic. The reporters in attendance chuckled.

"Like any close-knit family, Ted and I have always used FaceTime to make the distance between us feel less so." You lied. "Of course, Richmond to Kansas was the greatest distance we've had so far, which led to calling each other more than ever before. Because of time differences and such sometimes our calls fell at weird times of the day. And well of course the Head Coach has lots of responsibilities. That meant I'd get handed off to various players or the other coaches until Ted would eventually circle back to me."

"Or sometimes not at all." Roy chuckled, feeding into the lie. "Which happened more often than not. He'd leave me on the phone with Evelyn for hours and comeback talking about goldfish."

"Happiest animal in the world." Ted chimed in. "They got a ten second memory. Sometimes, feels like I do too." He beamed.

"Turns out when you spend over four hours a day talking to someone, you get to know them pretty well. Even if you don't want to." She playfully elbowed Roy.

"Eventually I asked for her number so we could chat just the two of us." Roy explained. "Everything just sort of fell in place after that."

"To answer your question, Mr. Crimm, the slight clerical error with my visa is just a speed bump for us. Roy and I are determined to not let it stop us from being happy." You moved your hand back to holding Roy's. "Next question?"