I don’t feel reassured at all.
Hux walks over and rests his hand on my shoulder. “Don’t worry, Dee. I’m gonna make sure he’s okay. I let him down before, but I won’t do it again. I promise,” he reassures.
I well up, and a single tear falls down my cheek. “Thanks, Hux. I needed to hear that. I’m proud of you, and I know you can do this.” I pull back and look at him. He takes a shuddering breath, seemingly nervous, before he turns and walks toward the entry.
I bend so I’m level with Colt, who opens his eyes. “I love you, and I’ll be here in twenty-eight days to bring you home, okay?”
“I know,” he replies quietly, then takes my hand and holds it tightly. I walk alongside his wheelchair to the entry point, where the nurse stops for me to say my final goodbye.
“Until the end of time, Colt,” I say, and he smiles. Then he’s wheeled through the entry and out of sight.
Anna is by my side quickly, and I can’t stop the tears from falling.
“They’re both getting the help they need, Dee. Twenty-eight days isn’t long. He’ll be back and better before you know it,” Anna states.
“We have a spare room if you want to stay with us?” Johnny asks as he walks over.
Their offer humbles me, but I need to see Princess Sophia and the boys.
“Thanks so much, guys, but I’ll stay at Joseph’s. Everything is there, and so is Princess, and I really want to curl up with her in bed,” I reply as we walk out of the clinic.
We all slide into the Hummer. Thankfully, the drive is short, and they aren’t interested in filling the time with small talk. I’m both emotionally and physically exhausted to do anything other than sleep.
“I’ll let you know when he calls,” I tell Anna as we pull up to Joseph’s condo, and she hugs me goodbye.
“Yeah, but call me every day, and maybe next week we can catch up for dinner?”
I don’t agree to dinner. Being exhausted, I can’t think. Instead, I reply, “Thanks for everything. I love you both so much.”
Dingo and Sia wave from the window as Anna and Johnny slide back into the car. I lift my hand in farewell, watching as they drive off, their figures disappearing into the distance.
My body sags as I move to the front door and rustle around in my bag, looking for the keys, when it swings open, and before I know what’s happening, I’m swept up in strong arms and held tightly.
“Sweetie, why didn’t you tell us you were coming back? It’s all over the news that Colt has gone into rehab. Does that mean youguys are sorting it out?” Joseph asks, eventually letting me go and holding me at arm’s length.
It’s so good to see Joseph after the trauma of the past few days.
“We’re going to work things out. He’s getting better, and then we’ll see where it goes.Wait!What are you doing at home? Shouldn’t you be at work?” I ask as he walks over and drags my luggage inside.
He smiles brightly and shakes his head. “I quit. You showed me that life’s too short and I can’t be bothered working somewhere I hate. Danny and I are opening our own little restaurant,” he says as we walk inside and close the door.
“Oh my God, Joseph, that’s amazing news. I’m so proud of you guys.” I step into the living room and slump on the couch.
He sits next to me and pulls me to his side. “So, tell me all about it…”
Chapter Thirty-Five
A Few Days Later
I’ve been keeping myself busy helping Joseph and Danny with everything that is their restaurant. I haven’t heard from Colt, but Johnny says that’s normal, as the first week is intensive for patients, and they don’t allow them to make outside calls.
Wanting to get any information I can, I open my laptop to a bunch of Google Alerts, and like an idiot, I open them. They have theories about Colt trying to purposely overdose because he found out I’d moved on with Joseph. There are tons of people saying I’m responsible for the band breaking up and having to end their tour prematurely. There’s even a‘We Hate Deliah-the-Devil Norman’Facebook group.
Oh, wow!
Then others are saying Colt was lost without his one true love, and I talked him into going to rehab, and how much they love me for persuading Colt to get the help he so desperately needs.
I smile at that one.
