Chapter Twenty-Three #2
Colt’s hand covers mine instantly, his palm strong and firm. “Don’t worry, baby. I’ve got you,” he whispers, then leans down and lifts me effortlessly into his arms. I cling to him like a lifeline, wrapping my arms around his neck so tight he probably can’t breathe, but I can’t let go. I won’t.
“I’m sorry I’m so weak,” I whisper against his skin.
“You’re not weak, Dee,” he growls. “You’re the strongest woman I’ve ever known. This shit’s hard for both of us. But you come first. Always. You ready to do this?”
I nod against his chest because I don’t trust my voice to work.
“Okay. Guys, stay close,” Colt orders, and the guards all nod. Dave grabs the luggage and falls into step. Colt begins the walk forward, carrying me like I weigh nothing. His heart beats fast beneath my cheek.
Then it happens.
Recognition!
“Oh my God, I think that’s them.”
The shriek slices through the air, and chaos ensues.
Screams, footsteps, bodies moving fast. Girls rush toward us, but the security closes ranks, their large frames shielding us from most of the contact.
Hands reach out, brushing at Colt’s hoodie, my body, my clothes.
I press my face tighter into him, trying to block it all out. My scar flares with remembered pain.
“Colt, we love you!”
“Is that Dee with him?”
“Congratulations on your wedding!”
“Dee, are you okay now? We were so worried.”
My body trembles, but Colt’s hold never wavers. Then something shifts. The hands aren’t clawing, ripping, or yanking. They’re soft. Careful. Reaching out like I’m something precious.
I lift my head, just slightly.
And they cheer.
“We’re so glad you’re okay, Dee,” one girl yells.
Colt glances down at me, his grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. “They love you,” he murmurs.
A shaky smile forms on my lips before I lift my hand and wave.
They scream louder.
“Thanks for your support, ladies,” Colt calls over the noise. “But if you don’t mind, I’d like to take my wife on our honeymoon now.”
“Awwwww,” they chorus, parting like the Red Sea to let us through.
“Thank you all,” I say, my voice steadier than I expected. “Really. It means a lot.”
More cheering. No pushing. Just smiles and waving hands.
I lean my head back against Colt’s shoulder, a stunned laugh escaping. I don’t know if it’s the marriage or the accident or the sheer passage of time, but it’s like the evil minions have… evolved.
Maybe they’re not so evil anymore.
Colt makes his way through the final wave of girls, the guards holding the crowd at bay as we approach the private checkpoint.
Tamara is already there, waiting by the access gate with a warm smile and a subtle nod.
She presses the button to buzz us through, and Colt walks us inside the secured terminal space as the security team pauses behind us, closing the gate firmly once we’re through.
A lone voice calls out from the other side of the fence, clear and bright over the noise. “Have a good honeymoon, Colt.”
I can’t help but laugh, a breathy sound of disbelief as the tension finally starts to bleed out of my system.
That was not what I expected.
Once we’re clear of the gate, Colt gently sets me down, and I steady myself on my feet. I glance up at him, still catching my breath, my heart finally beginning to slow.
“What the hell was that?” I ask, blinking in surprise.
He chuckles, shaking his head as he adjusts the strap on one of the carry-on bags.
“I have no idea,” he admits. “But I like it. No claws, no screaming, no grabbing. Just… support and kindness. Yeah, that was new.” He turns to Dave, who’s standing nearby.
“Hey, Dave, before you head back out there, can you get the names and contact info for all the girls outside?”
Dave raises his eyebrows. “All of them, sir? There are at least a hundred out there.”
Colt nods without hesitation. “Yeah. Every single one. I want to invite them as VIPs to our first London gig when I’m back. Make sure they’re looked after. Front row. Backstage passes.”
My jaw nearly hits the tarmac. “You’re serious?”
“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 single evil minion in 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, low and 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 a good 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.
Johnny hugs Colt, and I smile at the sight of them reconnecting. I missed Anna something fierce, and seeing her again feels like finally exhaling after holding my breath for too long.
“So? Was it amazing?” she asks once we’re seated.
“You have no idea,” I say dreamily. “I want to go back already. You and Johnny should go. Colt and I will babysit Aston. Would be great practice for us, and you guys could use the rest and maybe, you know…” I waggle my eyebrows.
Anna laughs, throwing her head back. “Okay, that sounded weird.”
“I know. But seriously, thanks, Anna. For doing this. It means everything to us. I hope you know that.”
She squeezes my hand, and her eyes glisten with emotion. “I do know. Because I know what I went through trying to have Aston. I know how much this means to you, and I’m honored you asked me. I’ll carry this baby with so much love.”
Tears sting the backs of my eyes as I pull her into a hug. “You’re my hero,” I whisper.
“Are you two crying over The Notebook again?” Johnny teases, breaking the moment.
We laugh, wiping our eyes. “No,” Anna says, sniffing. “Just appreciating each other.”
Right on cue, Dr. Doherty steps into the room and smiles at the group. “Ready to come in?”
We all nod and stand, following him into his office. I grab Colt’s hand as we take our seats.
“How are we all today?” the doctor asks, looking between us.
“Good, thanks,” I say quickly, maybe too quickly. My pulse ticks faster. I hate how every appointment feels like I’m waiting for a bomb to drop. Perhaps that fear will never go away until the baby is safely in our arms.
“Well, I’ve been reviewing your case and speaking with both counselors. Anna, your sessions have been fantastic. The feedback is extremely positive. There’s no doubt in anyone’s mind that you’re fully committed.”
Anna nods confidently. “Absolutely. I want this so badly it hurts. I’m all in.”
I blink rapidly, fighting more tears. This woman. My friend.
“Johnny, the same goes for you. Your participation and emotional investment are clear.”
“Yes, doctor. I’m right there with her,” Johnny says, and the doctor nods, satisfied.
“In that case, I think it’s time to begin tracking Anna’s ovulation cycles. We’ll get a few on record to properly time the embryo transfer.”
I beam at Colt, and he squeezes my hand tightly.
“Anna, when’s your next cycle due?” the doctor asks.
“In about a week,” she replies.
“Perfect. We’ll start with this one. Begin your prenatal vitamins and everything discussed in counseling. Colt, we’ll also need a sample to begin the embryo prep.”
“Jizz in a cup? I can do that.” He grins like a devil.
I groan. “Men,” I mutter under my breath, smacking his leg while Johnny snickers.
Then Colt adds, dead serious, “Can Dee be in the room when I do it? I kinda wanna make the sperm for this baby… together.”
My cheeks flame instantly. “Colt!”
He looks at me, utterly unashamed.
Dr. Doherty smiles with a slight shrug. “There’s no reason she can’t assist. You’d be surprised how many couples want to be together for the process.”
Johnny chuckles again, clearly enjoying my embarrassment.
Colt grins and laces his fingers through mine. “Cool.”
And even though I should be mortified, all I can do is smile back at him.
Because, dammit, as awkward as he is, that man wants to make a baby with me in every possible way.
My heart flutters, and I grip his hand tighter.
He glances at me, raising one eyebrow in that suggestive way that makes my toes curl. I bite my lip and wink at him.
And he knows exactly what that means.
As the consultation continues, we go over every detail, timelines, hormone tracking, supplements, procedures, and what each of us needs to do to give this surrogacy the best chance of success. There’s talk of diet, stress levels, and optimal conditions for both sperm and embryo development.
It’s overwhelming, but somehow, it also feels empowering.
We’re building our family. Piece by piece. Together.
Dr. Doherty explains, “Under normal circumstances, we would only transfer one embryo at a time as there are too many risks otherwise. That’s how we got Octomom,” he jokes, which earns a chuckle from the room. However, the gravity still hangs in the air.
But in our case, it’s different. We only have three viable eggs retrieved and frozen from my surgery months ago.
And because of that, the plan is to transfer all three into Anna at once.
Statistically, the odds of all three developing are low—not impossible, but unlikely. Still, the potential is there.
And Anna, Anna doesn’t hesitate. She’s all in.
Whether it’s one, two, or three, she’s ready to carry our children.
I look over at her, and for a second, emotion swells so big in my chest I can barely breathe.
She sits beside Johnny, her hand resting protectively over her stomach even though there’s nothing there yet.
Her eyes are clear, calm, determined. She’s already acting like a mother for our babies.
She is, without question, the most selfless person I know.
Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d have a friend like her. Someone who would give this much, love this hard, and ask for nothing in return. She is loyalty personified.
Colt squeezes my hand under the table, like he knows exactly what I’m thinking without me having to utter a word.
If he wasn’t my soulmate, I think Anna would be.
And that thought alone tells me that we are going to be okay.