The Royal Romance - You Can't Uneat The Apple

You're my best friend

"I've been with you such a long time
You're my sunshine
And I want you to know
That my feelings are true
I really love you

You're my best friend."

              Queen – You're my best friend

Amazing chapter art from burlakovatattoo.art (Instagram).

Briefly NSFW.

***

Rick had, as promised, not asked Jen any questions about her night in Vegas. But it was clear to her that the possibilities were running through his mind. He was jealous around Maxwell. But he was also jealous around Drake, jealous around Hana, jealous around Olivia. Even Leo. Although, not Bertrand, for some reason. Whatever, Jen was relieved that he had cast his net of suspicion so wide, even if it hadn't made for the easiest few days since they had returned to the palace.

Nevertheless, she'd made sure she was very careful around Maxwell on their return to Cordonia. She hoped he would understand why.

Today had been one of the longest days of her life. She knew it was often said that this was true for the day before your wedding, but this was for all the wrong reasons, and her day wasn't even over yet. The attack outside the jewellers this morning had been horrible. Seeing a man with a gun in his hand walking with purpose towards her was not an experience she'd really wanted to relive. She'd been thankful when he'd been intercepted so quickly, and comforted by the fact that her best friend had been there to keep her safe.

Then there had been meetings, and security briefings, and later still the wedding rehearsal had dragged on and on and on. Although Gladys was managing the wedding reception event at the palace, Madeleine was taking charge of the ceremony, and she'd taken every opportunity to be nasty to Jen over the last couple of days. Clearly her jealousy was getting the better of her as the wedding drew closer and closer. There had been moments when Jen had considered telling Madeleine she was quite welcome to take her place tomorrow, walking out of the palace doors, and never coming back.

But then she'd remembered why she was doing this. This was about so much more than her own personal hopes and dreams. This was about Rick, and his love for her, and her duty to her new country. This had always been the reason for her new life. This was about showing the terrorists that undermined him and all he held good that true love would conquer all.

She looked fondly at her phone as she lay in bed, with Chance curled up by her feet, ready to try and get some sleep. The series of messages in their dream team group chat had just about slowed and stopped. Tomorrow, she was getting married, Anton or no Anton. If she was honest, she'd have been happy to postpone the service had it not been for Rick's vehement insistence that nothing would stop this wedding. Maybe that was because her heart wasn't quite in it; certainly not as much as Rick's was. But it was her own stupid fault that her heart wasn't quite in it.

What had happened in Vegas had been a terrible mistake.

Over the last few days, she'd been training her brain to shut it out. To reset to a time when life was so much simpler. She thought she'd been doing a pretty good job of it, actually.

But echoes of Monday occasionally crept into her consciousness.

I love you, Jen Jones.

He loves me, and yet he's spent the whole day helping me prepare to marry one of his oldest friends. He's kind, and he's good, and he's unselfish. He just wants what's best for me.

If only I knew what that was right now.

There was a polite knock on Jen's bedroom door, and she sighed. Chance got up first, yapping at the door. She got out of bed, pondering putting on a robe, but decided she was probably presentable enough in her pyjamas.