Chapter 28 #2
“First, it would mean that the investigation would be called off. Second, and more importantly, if you’ll still have me, it would mean that I’d get to be with you. There’s nothing in the rules and regulations stopping a mounted officer from dating a princess.”
“It’s not even a question. Of course I want you.” My heart flutters. “You would do that for me?”
“Not just for you. For us.” He cups my cheeks. “Ali, you’ve become such an important person to me. I can’t imagine you not being a part of the picture. I don’t just like you. I love you. I need you to be in my life.”
My heart suddenly swells so much that it feels like it no longer fits inside my chest. Art doesn’t merely like me. He loves me! He’s said that magic L word that I’ve been too terrified to say or even think to myself. Until now.
“I can’t imagine a future without you either. I’ll support whatever you decide you want to do. That’s what people do when they’re in love. I love you too, Art.”
He closes the distance between us and spins me around in a circle. I’ve never seen him smile so wide. “I never thought I’d hear you say those words.”
We kiss. Suddenly, I’m a hummingbird that’s discovered one of the world’s largest flowers.
No, scratch that. A flower that contains a never-ending supply of nectar!
I’ll never have to travel frantically from flower to flower again to ensure I have enough to eat.
Everything I need is right in front of me. I couldn’t be any happier.
A little while later, after Art’s finished mucking out the stall, fed Quixote, and put everything away, we slowly walk toward the end of the stall block toward Bruce, who’s probably reading a detective novel on his mobile.
“I can’t believe I missed that Bruce is your father!”
“We’ve always kept our relationship on the down low.
I never wanted anyone to think that I’d gotten a spot on the security team because of who my dad is.
I wanted to earn it.” Art’s fingers are laced through mine.
He squeezes my hand. “Dad didn’t even know I’d been transferred to you until the day we met. ”
I think back to our first meeting, recalling his stoic demeanor and one-word answers. “That explains a lot. Is that one of the reasons why you were such a grump?”
“Sort of.” He clears his throat. “Ali, I’m not proud of this, but when we met, I was determined not to like you. I had it in my head that you were some spoiled, entitled royal.”
We stop walking. He drops my hand. I tilt my head to the side and stare at him, eyes wide.
“The more time I spent with you, however, the clearer it became to me that I couldn’t have been any more wrong about you.
You’re one of the smartest, kindest, most genuine people out there.
The truth is, I was jealous of you.” He takes a deep breath.
“Growing up, Dad was always working. Mum would end up filling in for him, explaining that he wished he could be with us, but he was busy. I understand now how the nature of the job works, but back then, I resented that he spent more time with you than his own family.”
I squeeze my eyes shut and let his words wash over me. Art and his brother were those kids with the missed birthday parties, graduations, and other major milestones. I don’t blame him two bits for resenting me. I would resent me too.
I inhale sharply. “Art, I’m so sorry.”
He runs a hand softly down my arm, causing my pulse to skip a beat. “Ali, there is nothing for you to apologize for. You were just a child. My father is the one who made the decisions of when he’d work and when he’d take time off. If there’s anyone who owes my brother and me an apology, it’s him.”
He shoots a glance in Bruce’s direction. “But like I said, having walked in his shoes, I understand how the job works now. Being a bodyguard is both an honor and a privilege. Protection officers don’t just do an important job. They put their lives on the line on a daily basis to serve the country.”
“I’d add that it’s not just protection officers—there are members of the police force, fire service, military, and countless other individuals too.” My brother’s face pops into my mind.
Art nods. A few moments of comfortable silence envelop us. The anxiety I’d felt earlier has dissipated. Knowing that Art and I remain on solid ground helps quell the doubt and uncertainty of what comes next.
“Your school term begins this coming week?”
“Mm-hmm. It’s Fresher’s Week. From Wednesday on, I’ll be at Imperial most of the day.”
“Hmm, maybe I’ll see if I can trade for a shift or two out of Hyde Park.” His eyes twinkle. “There’s nothing stopping us from meeting if we just so happen to run into one another.”
“I’d like that.” I smile, already thinking about a few of the different places where Art and I can “accidentally” cross paths just outside campus.
As I watch my man’s eyes continue to twinkle, I can picture him riding onto the center of Imperial’s campus just to have lunch with me.
I’m kind of excited about him scaring away all the people who will try to get to know me just because of my title.
Art is as close to a real-life knight in shining armor as they come, and I’ll be counting down the days until I can officially call him my boyfriend.
Our relationship may not have started off on the best of terms, but the journey we’ve taken to reach this point was important for us to be able to get to where we are now. I suppose what they say about everything happening for a reason is true.