Chapter Eight #3
Like most artists, Austin posted about everything.
She knew artists were encouraged to post often, and when they did it themselves instead of hiring someone, it made the fans feel closer to them.
He was having a great run, playing festivals with multiple A- and B-level artists.
All of whom Christine could be meeting and making important connections with.
Eventually, she shut down the socials. It made her have severe FOMO.
She used to laugh when her friends expressed their fear of missing out.
Christine was more of a JOMO person—she loved the joy of missing out, staying home on a Saturday night, reading a book instead of being at yet another industry event that was wall-to-wall people.
She wasn’t laughing now as she realized FOMO was real.
TWO WEEKS AFTER CUTTING TIES with Austin, while having a taco lunch with Julianna, Christine groaned.
“I miss him,” Christine said. “He’s like my crazy little brother who left for camp, and I miss his antics.”
“Then call him,” Julianna said.
“It’s not that easy. I miss him. I don’t miss being stalked.”
“Maybe the person has given up,” Julianna said.
“As long as I’m not seen with him. Maybe he’s found someone to hook up with,” Christine said. “That would help.” She noticed a weird look on Julianna’s face.
“What?”
“I didn’t want to tell you,” Julianna said.
“Just tell me.”
“Phoebe saw him at Losers Bar this past weekend. He was drunk, and when he saw her, he unloaded about missing you and how he couldn’t stand what was happening and so on. Phoebe said he was practically in tears.”
“Let me guess. She consoled him the only way Phoebe knows how. God. I thought she was making a play for Chase Rice. Didn’t she always say he was the most shaggable guy in country music?”
“I don’t think that’s the word she used.”
“I’m trying to clean it up. Couldn’t she just leave Austin alone? Did she have to bring it so close to home for me?”
Julianna said, “I’m not sure it was about you. She said—”
“I’ve heard enough,” Christine said, waving Julianna off.
“It bothers you,” Julianna said.
“I don’t care what he did with Phoebe. It’s not like that with Austin and me. But why does it have to be Phoebe? And now it’ll be even more awkward when they break it off.”
“How do you know they will?” Julianna asked.
“Odds are against them,” Christine said. “She’s just so . . . so . . .”
“Phoebe,” Julianna said.
“Exactly. Oh well. Maybe the stalkers will back off now.”
THE WEEKS MELTED TOGETHER. Christine chided herself, berated herself, and had long conversations with herself.
She missed Matt and the opportunity to see him.
And accidentally touch him. And pretend she had a chance with him.
She had set aside her thoughts of having a physical relationship with him, but that didn’t stop her from having an emotional relationship with him, if only in her mind.
It was comforting to know she could have feelings for a man.
She’d worried after her high school experience that she’d never allow herself to open up to a guy.
Yet here she was in an emotional relationship with two of them—one as a friend and one as something more.
It made giving them up that much harder.
There was a constant battle raging in her head.
Should she give in and reach out to Austin, knowing the cyberbullying and stalking could start up again?
Or should she stay safe and remain at a distance?
And if he was with Phoebe, wasn’t she in the clear anyway?
Christine had a heart-to-heart with herself.
She hadn’t taken many risks in her life, but when she had, it paid off.
Like when she stood up to her bullies that night.
And although she had to endure their harassment, she’d never regretted dropping that guy with a solid groin kick. Maybe this was a time to be brave.
Christine was staring at her phone when Julianna walked into her office.
“You know, we haven’t been to a songwriter’s night in months. I know you’re afraid to go out in public, but how long are you going to hide?” Julianna asked, sitting down.
Christine was still staring at her phone.
“What are you doing?” Julianna asked.
“Thinking about texting Austin.”
Julianna grinned and nodded. “It’s about time.”
“He’s with Phoebe, and maybe that will make the stalker leave me alone, right?”
“Only one way to find out,” Julianna said, pointing to Christine’s cell phone.
Christine sighed and texted Austin. Hey. What’s up?
A return text came through in less than thirty seconds. Chrissy. Is my exile over? He ended with a smiley face emoji.
She shook her head and put the phone down. “I can’t do this, Julianna. My stomach is in knots.”
Her phone chimed again. Don’t ignore me. You know it’s not possible. Six weeks is enough.
“Seriously, Christine? You’re going to wimp out?” Julianna came around her desk and read the texts with her.
The next one said, Christine! Answer me, damn it.
“He’s not playing now,” Julianna said. “He called you Christine. And he’s using exclamation points. Guys don’t use those.”
“I know.”
I just finished a meeting down the road and am about to be outside your office. We’re going to lunch, Austin texted.
She replied, What? No, we aren’t.
He texted back, Yes, we are. Get your sweet ass out here.
Sweet ass? He’d never used that one before.
“Have I mentioned that I am beginning to adore Austin Garrett?” Julianna asked.
Another text came from Austin: I swear, Chrissy. I will walk in there and fireman-carry you out to my truck.
You couldn’t lift me, she texted back.
Don’t bet on it.
Christine sighed. Maybe six weeks was enough. She typed, Then come and get me!
Julianna cheered.
When Austin walked into the office a moment later, Christine stood.
“Chrissy!”
She couldn’t help but smile.
His eyes sparkled and his body practically bounced up and down. He was like a big kid.
She was just about to hug him when he picked her up and threw her over his shoulder. She screamed, hitting his back with her palms.
“Austin. What the hell are you doing?”
“Proving my point.”
Julianna clapped and slapped Austin lightly on the back.
“Dude, I love your attitude,” Julianna said.
Christine grinned. Maybe she wasn’t as heavy as she thought. Austin had lifted her like she was a feather. He hadn’t even grunted.
He set her down at the office’s front door. She could feel how big her smile was.
“Uncle. I admit it,” Christine said. “I’ve missed you. Where are we going?”
“Somewhere nobody in the industry will be—McDonald’s.”
Christine waved at Julianna and headed out the door. A moment later, she was climbing into Austin’s truck.
He drove the mile down Broadway Street to McDonald’s and pulled into the drive-through, where they placed their order and ate in his truck.
“Nobody will see us here,” he said.
Christine sat sideways in her seat. “Okay, tell me what’s been happening on the road. What have I missed?”
Austin filled her in, sharing the band’s antics. “Nothing on the road changes, Chrissy. It’s a party every night and a hangover every morning.”
“And yet it never gets old.”
“Nope, never.”
“How’s Matt?” Christine heard her voice go up a notch. Her face reddened and she looked down. She’d tried to sound nonchalant, like she was asking about any ol’ person, but it didn’t come out that way.
“And why do you want to know?” He gave her the side eye.
“Well, he’s become, you know, a friend. I mean, I helped him on the road, and I miss him. I mean, I miss helping him.”
“Uh-huh. He’s doing fine. I know he misses your help. He’s mentioned it a couple of times. Or maybe a couple hundred times.”
“Really? Please tell him I say hi.”
“I will. Or you could tell him yourself with this handy little thing called a cell phone.”
Christine frowned. “Ha ha. And how’s it going with Phoebe?
” She’d gotten some updates from Julianna but wanted to hear it from Austin.
She hated the idea of them together but refused to let anyone know it.
Granted, she didn’t want a sexual relationship with Austin herself, but he was still her special friend.
The idea that he now shared something special with Phoebe made Christine feel less unique.
But she’d never let on—if for no other reason than to make Phoebe think she didn’t care.
Christine refused to give her the upper hand.
“Fine. Sorry you didn’t hear about that from me, but you asked me not to contact you unless it was business-related.”
“You’re right. I did.”
“She hinted that she’d like to go to the CMA Awards with me. So, I guess I’m taking her.”
“I’m sure she’ll love that,” Christine said.
“I need you to be there in case our song wins. I have six tickets, so why don’t you take two? They’re not in the first few rows where the artists sit, but they’re on the floor, so they’re good seats. Grab yourself a date and make a night of it.”
Christine tried to envision who she would take and nobody came to mind. Literally, nobody. Well, Matt, but he’d already be there with Austin and maybe Cait.
“Thanks. That would be great. I’ll see if Julianna can make it,” she said.
Austin’s brow bent down before his eyes opened wide and he smiled. “I didn’t realize.”
Christine raised her eyebrows.
“Didn’t realize what?”
“You and Julianna. I mean, it’s cool. Equal rights for everyone, y’know? And shit, girl, kudos. Julianna is about as hot as it gets.”
“What in the hell are you babbling about?” Christine asked, staring at him like he’d lost his mind.
“You and Julianna. You’re a couple, right?” he said.
“Huh? What in the world makes you think that?”
“I told you to bring a date and you mentioned Julianna. I never see either of you with dudes. You keep turning me down. I put two and two together.”
“And you came up with five. We’re not together, Austin. Although I have to be honest—I’m kinda flattered that you think I could score Julianna. Almost makes me wish I was,” Christine said.
“Well, damn. That exciting visual was short-lived,” Austin said.
“You’re pitiful.”
“Guilty as charged. You still want the tickets?”
“Oh yeah.”
They finished lunch and Austin returned her to the office.
“Is our hiatus over?” he asked.
“We’ll see. If socials light up about us being at Mickey D’s, then it’s back on.”
“It won’t. Nobody saw us, and I didn’t tell anyone we were going.” He leaned over to kiss her cheek. “I missed you.”
“I missed you, too.” She got out of the truck.
He called out to her. “See you soon, Chrissy.”
Christine buzzed Julianna’s extension when she got back to her desk.
“Want to go to the CMA Awards?”
“And yet another awards show. How many can one industry have?”
“Currently about five. Want to go?”
“Ugh. We always get shitty seats. I can’t handle one more awards show where I’m so high up that my back is against the concrete wall. I think I’ll pass, but thanks.”
“Austin scored me two floor seats. I need a date, and sadly, you’re it,” Christine said.
“Floor seats? For real? I’ve never had floor seats. Consider me your date. So, how’d it go with lunch?”
“I don’t know. I guess I’ll give it a shot and see what happens. I’ve been watching his social accounts and fans seem to accept Phoebe. So maybe it’s over.”
“Let’s hope.”
“Oh, by the way, Austin thought we were a couple,” Christine said.
“Huh?”
Christine explained the exchange she’d had with Austin.
“That’s hilarious. God, if only we were. That would make things so much easier,” Julianna said.
“I’m sure same-sex couples have the same issues as heterosexual couples,” Christine said.
“Maybe. But I already know I like you. You’re nice, and kind, and faithful, and you put people ahead of yourself. You’d make a great girlfriend.”
“Could you design a resume and reference letter, say all of that, and send it to Matt? Please,” Christine said.
“I’d do all that and more if it would make you happy.”
“Love you.”
“Love you,” Julianna said.