Chapter Thirty #2
“No, baby girl. You’re human. Of course, this hurts.
But Dee, if she’s there to save her son, maybe she doesn’t want Colt back.
Or perhaps she does. Either way, you need to trust your husband.
He loves you more than anything. And you love him.
Don’t give up just because it’s hard. You’ve both been through hell. You’ve come too far to fold now.”
I close my eyes, guilt settling deep. He’s right. Again.
“Thanks, Joseph. You always put things into perspective.”
“Thank God. I thought you were gonna hate me for that reality check.”
“I do hate you… a little. But I love you more. I gotta go.”
“Go to him. Remind him who his wife is.”
“Thanks. You’re the best friend I could ever ask for.”
I end the call, nudge Princess from my lap, and walk to Colt’s mic stand, trailing my fingers over the metal.
Joseph’s right. I need to stop making this about me and be there for my rock god.
So I run upstairs, throw on jeans and a sweater—oversized, don’t care—and bolt back down and out to the car.
The hospital isn’t far. I find parking fast and rush inside.
I stare blankly at the signs. None of it makes sense.
I ask a nurse, who sends me down a corridor so long I’m out of breath halfway through.
I find another nurse’s station, shout my thanks mid-sprint, and tear around like a headless chicken.
Panic sets in. I have no clue where Colt is.
My feet burn. My chest tightens. I round another corner, come to a T-section, and mindlessly choose left.
There’s a waiting room. I skid to a stop at the doorway, gasping.
“Dee?” Colt says.
I look up and spot him—Hux and his mother beside him.
Tears hit instantly.
“Hey, hey, I’m here. What’s wrong?” he rushes to me, arms wrapping around me.
“I found you,” I whisper, breathless.
“Yeah, you found me. You okay?”
“I’m fine. Just… I should’ve been here with you. I’m sorry, Colt. I should’ve come.”
“It’s perfectly okay. But thank you for coming. It means everything.”
“I’m sorry it took me so long to figure it out. I’m a terrible wife.”
“You are,” Hux says so bluntly it hits hard.
Colt glares at him. “Shut up, fuck face.”
“Colter! Language. Huxley, be nice to your sister-in-law,” their mother snaps.
I walk over to Hux. “No, he’s right. I’ve let Colt down. I let all of you down. That’s not how marriage works. You put your person first, and I didn’t.”
Hux folds his arms, jaw tight. “Don’t apologize to me. Apologize to your husband.”
Macy and Caleb walk out of the restroom. My stomach knots.
Fresh tears sting.
“Hux, c’mon. Leave her alone,” Colt says.
“Does she even know what you’re going through? Without her support?”
“Drop it, Hux.”
“I’m done.” Hux walks off.
“I’ll check on him,” Macy says. “Stay here with Colt.” She nods to Caleb and follows Hux.
“Dee, I’m sorry about Huxley,” Grace, their mother, says, taking my hand. “He’s protective. Try not to take it personally.”
“He means it. But thank you for saying otherwise. I’m sorry I let everyone down.”
“It’s not about forgiveness, it’s about doing better. Learning from it,” she says, kissing my cheek, then following the others.
Now it’s just Colt, Caleb, and me.
Colt pulls me to face him. “I’m sorry about Hux,” he murmurs, kissing me.
“Ewww,” Caleb says.
I laugh, looking at Colt’s amused expression.
“I didn’t know your whole family would be here.”
“Mum insisted on getting tested too. She’s excited. But please don’t feel bad. I was okay with you staying home. I get it.”
He glances at Caleb. “I know how hard this is for you. I wouldn’t expect you to be okay with it. Yeah, I wanted you here, but I can handle it. Don’t beat yourself up.” He kisses me again, and a tear falls.
“Gross,” Caleb mutters again.
“Come here, you,” Colt says, opening his arms. Caleb latches onto his leg, cuddling close.
I smile down at him. “How are you feeling today, little man?”
“Okay,” he says, hugging Colt tighter.
“How about some ice cream? Wait! Can he have ice cream?” I ask.
“I… I don’t know. We’ll have to ask Mace,” Colt says.
“Sorry,” I tell Caleb, and he shrugs, still smiling.
“It’s a learning process for all of us,” Colt says, kissing my forehead.
“Will you stop doing that?” Caleb groans.
We both laugh.
And for the first time in days, it feels a little lighter.
***
When we arrived home, I felt awful about how I behaved today.
I let everyone down, including Caleb. I promised him ice cream, and in the end, he wasn’t allowed to have it.
Colt told me not to worry, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that this is how it’ll be now—me saying one thing, Macy saying another. I don’t think I’ll ever get this right.
All that progress I made earlier? Realizing how selfish I’d been?
It’s slipping through my fingers, and I’m sinking into self-pity again.
Watching Colt with Macy and Caleb does something to me.
It twists something dark and ugly in my chest. The way they interact looks effortless.
Familia. They know each other’s rhythms. Caleb adores Colt.
And together, they fit—this perfect little unit—while I stand here, watching from the outside.
Even Hux gets along with Caleb. Watching them all laugh together after the testing, when we went for coffee, it nearly broke me. But after already disappointing everyone, I forced myself not to fall apart in front of them.
No. That’s for when I’m alone.
I have to be strong. For Colt. For Caleb. For the bond they’re building. If Caleb sees I’m upset every time he’s around, he’s going to think it’s his fault.
That’s the last thing I want.
“Thanks for today, baby,” Colt says as we get out of the car.
I chuckle bitterly, shaking my head. Is he serious?
“Thanks for what? For ruining your day and disappointing your son over ice cream? I don’t think I deserve thanks, Colt.” I head for the door, but his footsteps crunch on the gravel behind me. He grabs my arm, spinning me to face him.
“That ice cream thing? Stop beating yourself up. It was a simple mistake, and he was fine with it. And ruining my day? Dee… you came. That’s what matters.
I was so damn happy to see you walk into that hospital, even if it was after the testing.
You showed up. You handled yourself at the coffee shop, even though I could see you were struggling.
We’ve only known about Caleb for a few days.
This isn’t going to be easy. We both have to adjust if we want this to work. ”
I stare at the ground.
He lifts my chin, forcing me to look at him. “I love you. Don’t forget that. Sometimes I think you do, or you start to doubt it, but Dee… you never have to worry about whether I love you. I’m incapable of not loving you. It’s just not possible. Do you understand me?”
“I love you too. So much, Colt. I just worry I’m not enough. That now, well… you have your new family, and I don’t quite fit into it.”
“Stop,” he growls, voice firm but gentle. “You’re more my family than Macy ever will be. She may be Caleb’s mother, but that’s where it ends.”
“But what if she tries to get you back? I mean, it’s the perfect picture, right? A ready-made family. How do you say no to that?”
He exhales sharply, like he’s holding back all kinds of frustration.
“Even if she did want that, which she doesn’t, it wouldn’t matter.
I don’t want her. I don’t feel anything for her.
Just an old friendship, that’s it. Dee, what the hell do I have to do to make you see?
You’re it for me. You always have been.”
I shake my head slightly, my voice soft. “I’m just so insecure. I’ve never felt anything like this before… not this intense. I love you so hard it scares me. You could break me, Colt.”
His hand tangles in my hair as he crashes his mouth to mine. It’s sudden, possessive, raw. When he finally pulls back, his grip tightens, tugging gently so I meet his gaze. “Just like you could break me, Dee.”
I swallow hard, the realization crashing through me. I’ve always known I could hurt him, that much was obvious when he overdosed, but to break him? To know he loves me that deeply? The words stun me. And it soothes something inside me, too.
He releases my hair and kisses me again, softer this time, more tender.
“Don’t doubt me, Dee,” he whispers against my lips.
I nod, slipping my hand into his as we walk toward our manor.
Tonight, we’ll climb into bed and hold each other.
And for now?
Maybe that is enough.