Twisted-Games

and I stared at the spot where he’d been standing.
That was it.
No smile, no hint as to whether he was happy or surprised or
uncomfortable. Just I’ll let you know my answer before the end of the week,
like we were nothing more than professional acquaintances.
I tried eating another bite of toast before I gave up and buried my face in
my hands.
Bridget von Ascheberg, what have you done?
RHYS AND I DIDN’T SPEAK DURING OUR LONG CAR RIDE TO THE AIRPORT OR
the flight itself. Things between us were so strained I almost wished last night
hadn’t happened, but I couldn’t bring myself to regret it.
The aftermath wasn’t pretty, but the moment had been beautiful.
Bucket list number four.
It’d been so much more than a bucket list item, but that would be my
secret to keep.
“You don’t have to, but…can you join me tomorrow?” I asked as Rhys
set my suitcase down in my suite. We’d landed in New York a few hours ago,
and we were staying at The Plaza until I left for Eldorra in two days. Nikolai
would announce his abdication tomorrow, and I had my press conference
after that. The thought made me slightly sick to my stomach. “For the
speech.”
For the first time that day, Rhys’s face softened. “Of course, princess.”
It was funny how much I’d hated the nickname at first, but now it made
my heart flutter.
Later that night, I tried to sleep, but my mind raced with a million
thoughts and worries. Costa Rica, Rhys, whether he would stay on as my
bodyguard, the public’s reaction to Nikolai’s abdication and engagement to
Sabrina, my grandfather’s health, my debut as crown princess, my move back
to Eldorra…
I squeezed my eyes shut. Breathe. Just breathe.
Eventually, I fell into a restless sleep, plagued by nightmares of getting
crushed beneath a giant crown in front of the palace while everyone pointed
and laughed.