“Fine, but as soon as I’m better, you and the guys are going to go on tour, okay? To get back in the good books with the fans. They miss12GUAGE-Slayed. Hell,Imiss12GUAGE-Slayed.You need to get back to writing and making the music the world loves. Deal?” I ask and stick out my hand for him to shake.
He smirks, then nods, forcing his hand into mine and shaking once. “Deal, but you have to be completely healed first, and then I’m going to marry you. I can’t wait for you to be my wife,” he states, leaning over and kissing me softly while the jet takes off on its way back to London.
Colt stayed in the bedroom with me for the entire flight home, just like he promised he would. The rest of the band, along with Mummy and Dad, stayed out of the private space to give us some alone time—our first real moment together outside the walls of that hospital.
It was nice.
Quiet.
Comforting.
Something we both needed.
We didn’t talk much. Mostly, we cuddled, slept, and let the hours drift past in peaceful silence. After everything that’s happened, that silence felt like gold.
We left New Jersey around eleven-thirty this morning and landed safely back on home turf close to midnight London time. And let me say, I don’t think I’ll ever get used to this whole time zone mess. It’s like I blinked and lost a day.
Even though I’ve spent most of the trip sleeping, I’m completely drained.
Physically, emotionally, all of it.
Bone-deep tired.
Colt walks with me as I hobble off the jet on my crutches, his hand never leaving me. Always steady. Always close.
Two stretch Hummers wait on the tarmac. One is for us, with Mummy and Dad, and the other for Sia, Dingo, and Hux.
It’s surreal seeing the group all together again. That is, everyone except Anna and Johnny.
Their absence hangs in the air, heavy and unspoken.
I don’t ask where they are.
No one volunteers the answer.
And I get it.
We all know why.
The guilt tugs at my chest. I already feel like the worst version of myself for the way I treated Anna.
I don’t need anyone to confirm it.
I’m doing a good enough job of that on my own.
I slide into the car, followed by Colt and my parents. They’ve decided to stay at the manor tonight and tomorrow to help Colt take care of me before heading back to their own place for the weekend.
Honestly, I appreciate the support. I do. But all I really want is to go home, curl up, and rest. I’m still grappling with the reality of not being able to give Colt a child. And the more tired I get, the heavier that truth feels.
I love my parents, but what I need most right now is time.
Time with Colt.
Time to process.
Time to breathe.
As we pull up at the manor, I can’t help but smile. I didn’t realize how much I missed it until I saw it again. “I’ve been thinking…” I say, breaking the silence, looking at my mummy. “Maybe I should try being a little more independent. Start relying less on you and Dad financially. Maybe it’s time I found out what it’s like to work like normal people.”
