“Deliah, you donotneed to work,” Dad replies almost immediately. “You know I’ll always support you, and I’m sure Colter doesn’t mind buying what you need.”
Colt smirks. “Nope, I don’t mind. I’ll buy you anything you want, Dee. You know that.” He lifts my hand and kisses it before opening the door to let us out.
I smile but shake my head. “I know you both don’t mind. And I’m grateful, I truly am. But maybe that’s the problem. I’ve always gotten what I want, but now I don’t know how to stand on my own two feet. What happens if, God forbid, something happened to either of you? I’d have no idea how to take care of myself.”
Dad huffs. “Deliah, sweetheart… if I died, you’d inherit a substantial fortune. You’ll be just fine.”
“And baby,” Colt adds, helping me out of the car and passing me my crutches. “If I died, you’d get everything. The band’s worth, royalties… for life. You’ll never have to worry.”
Exhaling, I shake my head. “That’s not the point. I don’t want to depend on a bank account. I want to accomplish something on my own. To earn my own money. To know I worked for something and didn’t have it handed to me.”
Colt smiles at me with pride while Dad looks at me like I’ve spoken a foreign language.
“I don’t understand,” Dad says slowly. “Do you want me to stop giving you money?”
I laugh softly. “No, Dad. I’m not giving up the trust fund. I want to know that I can do it myself if I have to.”
“You’re smart enough, honey. Don’t ever doubt that,” Mummy says. “And if you want to get a job when you’re better, I think it’s a wonderful idea.”
“Thanks, Mummy.”
“I want you to focus on getting one hundred percent better first,” Colt says as we all walk toward the front door. “Then we’ll look into something. I support whatever you want to do. Got any ideas?”
“I was thinking about asking Joseph and Danny if I could do something at the restaurant. Even just part-time.”
Colt frowns slightly, and my brows furrow at his reaction.
“I think it’s a lovely idea, honey,” Mummy offers, sensing the shift.
“I don’t want to ruin it for you, Dee,” Colt says gently. “But working in the restaurant might be complicated. You’re a public figure, and that kind of visibility could attract fans, or worse, thoseminiontypes. I don’t want you put in a position where you’re harassed while serving someone their dinner.”
The logic hits.
He’s right.
The last thing I need is to be ambushed while pouring water or taking someone’s order. And I definitely don’t want to bring any media chaos to Joseph and Danny’s business.
“Yeah,” I sigh. “Didn’t think of that. Guess being a rock god’s fiancée comes with baggage.”
Colt wraps his arm around my shoulders as we step inside. “What if I talk to Sia or Rob Luxley? Maybe they could teach you some PR for the band. That way, you’re earning your way and still working with me. I’d hate to go on tour and leave you behind.”
The idea instantly sparks something inside me. I’ve always loved promoting12GUAGE-Slayed. I’m already passionate about the band, so why not turn that into somethingmore?
“Do you think they’d be open to it?” I ask, hopeful.
“I’d bet they would.” He guides me to the couch and helps me settle in.
“Okay. That sounds perfect. Thanks, Colt.”
“I’m proud of you, darling,” Mummy adds with a soft smile.
Having a job and a purpose might help.
It might shift the focus off everything I’ve lost.
And the idea of working alongside Colt? It makes my heart flutter.
Being near him, building something with him.
