“Completely,” Colt says, already reaching for the last of our luggage. “Hell, I might even get the band together for a special, private set. Just for them. Something intimate. A thank-you for being good to you.”
Dave nods respectfully. “You got it, sir,” he says before turning and heading back toward the buzzing crowd outside the gate.
I’m still staring at Colt as he turns back toward me, lifting our final suitcase like it weighs nothing.
“What?” he asks, catching the look on my face.
I shake my head, a smile pulling at my lips. “Nothing. You just… amaze me sometimes.”
His brow furrows like he’s not sure whether I’m teasing, but when he sees the sincerity in my eyes, his whole face softens. “If they treat you right,” he says, sliding an arm around my shoulders. “Then I owe them my gratitude. Simple as that. You’re my wife. You matter more than any song, any show, any chart position. That crowd out there? They finally saw that.”
Emotion floods my chest at his words. I lean into him, wrapping my arms around his waist as we begin walking together across the tarmac toward the sleek black jet waiting just ahead. The sun glints off the polished wings, the engines humming low in the distance like a promise waiting to take flight.
And for the first time in a long time, I’m not afraid.
Two Weeks Later
Our honeymoon was the best time of my life. No exaggeration. Just Colt and me, completely alone on a private island surrounded by sun, sand, and that deep, undisturbed kind of silence that only exists when the world finally shuts up and gets out of your face.
Spending day after day with him on that secluded beach, wrapped up in each other with no fans, no phones, no pressure, it was exactly the break we needed. The staff on the island were wonderful, attentive but never intrusive. And with strict privacy rules—no cell phones, no visitors on or off the island—it felt like a dream. Not a single photograph hit the press, not a singleevil minionin sight. Just us.
We’d wake up late, tan under the sun, swim in the warm surf, and spend every single night tangled up together, making love like time didn’t exist. For two straight weeks, we lived in our own little world, and I didn’t want to leave. Honestly, if honeymoons were a yearly event, I’d sign up in a heartbeat. Maybe we can come back in a few years once the band settles into its groove again.
But now, we’re back. It’s been two days since we touched down, and while the jet lag nearly killed me, I’m finally starting to feel human again. That’s the only downside to paradise—the comedown. My body feels like it’s caught between time zones, but today, I need to be sharp. We’ve got a counseling appointment with Anna and Johnny to take the next steps in our surrogacy journey. Now that Colt and I are married, we’re eager to start our family, and if everything lines up today, we’re hoping to get things moving.
As we pull into the clinic’s parking lot, I spot Anna and Johnny’s car already in its usual space. The nerves kick in, lowand sharp in my gut. Colt must sense it because he reaches for my hand and lifts it to his lips, kissing the back of it tenderly.
“So,” he says softly. “Today’s the beginning of our future. How you feelin’, Mrs. Slade?”
I draw in a deep breath, letting it out slowly. “Nervous,” I admit. “I just want the doctor to give us the green light. I want to know we can actually start.”
He nods, eyes fixed on mine. “I’m sure he will. Anna’s been doing weekly counseling, and we’ve gone through our share too. We’ve all done the work. I’m hopeful we can get this rolling.”
I smile, biting my lip as a new wave of warmth settles over me.
He’s so steady, even when I’m not.
“What?” he asks, tilting his head with a slight grin.
“It’s just…” I pause, overwhelmed by the simple truth swelling in my chest. “I can’t wait to see you as a dad. You’re going to be incredible.”
His expression softens as he kisses my hand again. “Well, you’re gonna be a kickass mum, so I think we’re gonna have some lucky kids.”
I roll my eyes at his cockiness, but the butterflies don’t go anywhere. “C’mon,” he says, reaching for the door handle. “They’re waiting.”
I follow him out, taking another deep breath as we make our way inside. The clinic is calm and quiet, the kind of place that feels more like a spa than a medical center.
Anna spots us first and beelines toward me, practically glowing. “Wow, talk about tanned, baby girl. You look incredible,” she says, pulling me into a hug and then holding me at arm’s length to examine me.
I grin. “Thanks. That Hawaiian sun works wonders.”
Johnny looks up from his seat, grinning. “So…” he asks, raising his eyebrows with obvious implication. “Did we have agood time?”
Colt snorts. “Yeah, man. Best two weeks of my life. Relaxing and…satisfying.”
I roll my eyes and slap his chest. “Behave. We’re in a family place.”
Anna giggles, tugging me toward the chairs. “Boys,” she mutters, linking her arm through mine.
