Page 5 of Breathtaking

Some days, I think about running away. Then I remember how much I hate running, and I book that ticket faster than you can say first-class.

—Lennon’s Secret Thoughts

In hindsight, maybe flying across the Atlantic Ocean without my royal protection detail wasn’t the best move. But in my defense, they’d have never let me come on such short notice, and I wasn’t in the mood to be told no.

I mean, I was thinking it was better to ask for forgiveness than permission.

I’m fairly certain that train of thought has officially gone off the tracks and wrapped itself around a big, old tree. RIP.

The steam melting the snow from my now possibly totaled rental car would definitely be Exhibit A in that argument. I guess you could consider the tree the front of the car is basically wrapped around Exhibit B.

Who am I kidding?

My attempt at freedom with a splash of independence definitely screams epic fail.

My head throbs, but I’m pretty sure that’s from the culmination of everything. The accident. The past week. My entire future. It’s all just a damn headache. Most of which I was trying to escape.

Escape... Well, that’s a joke.

There’s no escaping my world.

Powerful people would never let that happen.

Those same people who silently pull the strings behind closed doors will never allow my strings to be cut. Who am I kidding? I’m lucky if I’m not summoned home the minute they get wind of me ghosting my protection detail and, God forbid, hopping on a commercial flight to America.

I’m not sure why I thought this weekend would be different. I flew halfway across the world to surprise my friend, managing to do so without my security team or any help from anyone else,thank you very much,only to have my plan thwarted by a snowstorm and a damn deer in the middle of the road.

I wasn’t expecting the brakes to lock when I tried to avoid hitting the deer.

If you choose to look on the bright side, I didn’t hit the deer. The tree, however, didn’t fare so well. Bambi stares back at me from outside the car for a hot second before looking at the tree and the steaming car. She probably realizes just how screwed I am and doesn’t want to be here to witness my impending breakdown—and that sucker is barreling down on me right now, so it’s happening soon. Naturally, she prances rather contently right off the road and into the woods without a backward glance.

At least one of us is walking away from this with their dignity intact.

Mine is questionable at best at this very moment.

My phone rings again, and Maria’s name flashes across the screen.

Oh hell. She’s got to be having a cow.

Royal protection officers don’t generally like it when you leave the country without them. Especially ones who have been with you for a decade. But really... it’s not like she’s ever had to pull her gun on anyone. How much can my safety be in question if no one even knows I’m here?

And it’s just one weekend.

I’m fine.

This is fine.

We’re all going to be fine.

Maybe if I keep telling myself that, I’ll believe it.

Maybe not, but it’s worth a try.

As far as pep talks go, definitely not my best.

Okay... I can do this... Time to think.

I send Maria to voicemail and power off my phone. I can’t think with her blowing it up, and that phone hasn’t stopped since the pilot announced we could turn them back on after the flight.

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