The Guard

23

THE GUARD
• Serena's pov •

"Bridger, I-" I go to speak, but nothing leaves me. I have nothing.

"I want you, Serena. I wish for all of you, if I cannot succeed in all of you then we cannot do this any longer," he states suddenly. My eyes grow wide, and I try to escape off his lap but he doesn't let me.

I slap at his hands. "Bridger, let go of me."

"No." He shakes his head.

"Why not?" I slap his hands again but still, he doesn't let up.

"Because you will run away again, and I'll be stuck chasing after you," he whispers painfully.

"I won't." It was a silent promise. Truthfully, I didn't feel like running today.

He lets go of my body, and I get off of him and he slides out of me. He hisses, tucking himself back into his trousers.

I stand, and he falls in sync with me. He looks down at my hands, taking them into his- squeezing them.

"I love you," he whispers, meeting my eyes now and his eyes have softened- begging to release the three words I've kept secret since we met. He wished to hear me say it back.

"Bridger, please." I shake my head, but he doesn't have it. He's afraid I'll still run away from him and he clutches my face into his hands, shaking me.

"I love you, Serena," he repeats.

My heart feels heavy, and though I'm flattered by his words, I still cannot fathom how he does when all I've done to him was hurt him in the long run.

Maybe this really did need to end. We needed to cut ties from each other so he could move on and find love and marry.

But why did that hurt so much?

"I wish for another guard." My lips move before I can think.

His eyes tear up, and he sniffles with the shake of his head- he's still bickering with me.

"I will not allow it."

"It isn't up to you, Bridger," I fight. "I want to cut whatever we have off. We are through, we are no longer doing this, you are no longer allowed to be at my palace-"

"Don't. Don't do this." His voice breaks.

"Don't make me," I pleaded, clutching my chest. "I am the Princess, you are just a guard. I cannot have anyone looking down upon me."

"Do you love me, Serena?" He suddenly asks.

"I-" Why would he ask that?

Just tell him.

No, he'll only fight for me harder.

To push whatever we have. To wish for my hand in marriage still.

I needed him to move on, to start a new life without the worries of the Princess or everyone around her. The eyes of the country staring down at you, breathing down your neck.

"Just. Answer. The. Question." He takes a step to me, trying to find my hand.

"No." My jaw hardens when I lie to him.

"You are lying." He is filled with laughter. He turns, his back facing me when he throws out fits of laughter. His hands run through his hair, tugging at the roots and my palms sweat with how scary he was acting. He grabs a glass jar, throwing it at a wall behind him- nowhere near me but it still makes me jump.

It was sudden, quick and it makes me wonder if Bridger has gone mad. He breathes, holding his hips. "Do you love me?" He asks again. It sounds like a test.

"No, I'm sorry." My heart cracks with every word I whisper.

He nods, sniffling. He understands now. He looks back to me with hatred in his eyes, and I don't blame him. "Leave those doors and we are over, Serena Houstings. I love you, but I have to let you go if you do not wish for me."

"Shall I hire a new guard?" My voice breaks.

He thinks for a moment, and tilts his head, staring at the floor. "Whatever you wish for, Princess." He turns his back to me in defeat, and can no longer watch me leave anymore.

When I close his front door behind me, I can hear rustling throughout the home and it takes everything in me not to turn around and run inside to make sure he hasn't hurt himself.

Bradford nods to me, opening the door. "Your highness," he greets.

"Thank you, Bradford." I smile.

He was finally letting me go, and it was slowly killing me, but I could never let him have to deal with my mother, Princess Lockwood, the country whom has shoved so many remarks down my throat, I could never let them do the same to Bridger.