Chapter 15 Just Act Normal
Just Act Normal
Ingrid
“Just act normal,” I muttered. “Don’t draw attention.”
“Sorry, baby, but you cannot act normal after what just happened,” Keir said.
I smiled, my grin wide as ever. I couldn’t act normal if I tried.
This man had broken me in the best way. I just made the Olympics—the first Neandian to compete in Equestrian in fifty years and the first woman to ever ride in its colours for eventing.
Oh, and then there was the whole bit where he just proposed to me in the stall aisle after the European Championships.
I beamed. This was the man I loved most, and he just got on one knee in a stall aisle to ask me the question that—years earlier—he’d sworn he wasn’t capable of asking.
“You’re being a sap,” I elbowed him.
“You make me mushy to the extreme,” Keir said. “Wasn’t that obvious just now?”
Sometimes, the big, tough exterior came down around Keir’s shoulders, and he showed who he was to me, but to everyone.
This was one of those moments. Unable to resist, I pulled him into a kiss, wrapping my arms around his neck and kissing him too hard, too long.
Nothing about what we did was clean or sweet.
It was raw, but it was part of one of the greatest love stories I could imagine—the one where the prince got the girl and the princess got a happy ending that involved more than just a big white wedding.
“Are you trying to get me into trouble with the boss?” Keir stared deep into my eyes as if there was no one around to witness us.
As the crowd milled, I bit my lip and giggled a little.
“That’s not a good enough answer, princess,” Keir said.
He gave my ass a quick tap and took my hand, leading me towards the makeshift biergarten the Germans laid out in anticipation of the show ending.
According to Keir’s cousin, Crown Princess Cecilia, this was a German attempt to get back at France for their casual, carefree, but fabulous wine and cheese bar at the last post-ceremony party.
I’d not been there, so I couldn’t speak to it.
I walked in on the arm of my fiancé, smiling but now trying to play it a little cooler.
I’d arrived. I was one of them. The Brits greeted me with big hugs.
Andy Noble, the Brit’s assumed captain and one of its biggest names, was quick to address us. He approached and did a funny little bow which Keir immediately waved off.
“Prince Keir, Princess Ingrid, fancy you turning up here,” Andy said.
“It’s alright, mate. How many times have I met you now?” Keir chuckled. “It’s a party.”
“Congratulations, Your Royal Highness,” Andy said. “First woman to ride for Neandia. And, if I am to believe the rumours, perhaps this is you only appearance as a Neandian rider?”
Confused, I asked, “Why?”
Keir bent down and whispered, “Because you’ll be on our side next time.”
I flushed bright red.
“I’ll take that as a yes?” Andy chuckled. “Either way, welcome. You’re already a surrogate member, so I don’t have to say much. I look forward to spending the winter months with you in Florida.”
“Sounds fabulous,” I agreed. “Cannot wait.”
“Ah, there’s my girl!” Cecilia shouted.
She bolted towards us, wrapping me up in a big hug and nearly taking her cousin Keir out in the process.
“Cici!” Keir groaned. “What is your problem?”
“Your fiancé is the belle of the ball right now. You are but arm candy, dear cousin. mind yourself.”
I snickered.
“Don’t flatter her by laughing,” Keir said. “It only encourages the behaviour.”
Cecilia pinched his cheek and so, “You’re so darling, aren’t you?”
He batted her hand away just in time for more harassment.
“You gotta try this, Kolsch,” Betty said. “Oh, I sound so cultured.”
Betty was Keir’s baby sister. She was two years my junior, but she was a bit wild and off-the-wall.
Right now, she was having so much fun drinking German beer and annoying her older cousin and brother.
In truth, Betty and Cecilia were my best friends.
I’d have been lost without either one of them.
We shared a coach and spent every day together.
“Saying that makes you sound less cultured,” I giggled. “I feel like it’s time for beer.”
“Come on,” Betty said. “There are a million options.”
She pulled me off.
“Grab me one,” Keir called.
I’d grab him something. I ran over the menu to see what our options were.
“You’re my sister now, you know?” Cecilia chuckled. “Always.”
“Too bad next Olympics, we’re going to have to compete against one another,” I wrapped my arm around her shoulders. “But we’re always sisters in arms, yeah?”
She rested her head against mine, “Damn straight.”
I looked down at my left hand draped over her shoulder.
Though unreal, it glistened in the setting sun with its new hardware.
Today, everything should have felt changed, but it didn’t change as much as it did right.
I would realise my childhood dream and marry the man I loved more than anyone.
My best friends would now be family. I was the luckiest girl in the world.