Chapter Fifteen
B y early summer, Christine’s career was on fire.
Lynda recorded two of the songs Christine had pitched her.
One had been released as a radio single and rose to the top five on the charts.
She had also met with two mid-level artists who had each cut a song from her publishing company.
Rumor had it that one of those was being considered for a radio release as well.
The only time she had seen Austin in recent months was during pitch meetings when they were in a room with his producer and label A&R rep.
Otherwise, she pitched him songs via email, and he sent some for her to hear.
But that was it. No more Austin meant no more cyberbullies.
Most importantly, her stalker had gone away.
She missed being on the road with Matt but saw him from time to time at the dojang and decided that would have to suffice. They hadn’t kissed again, but she always hoped it would happen. It gave her something to look forward to.
“Life is about balance, Julianna. You have to weigh the good and the bad. The good of Austin was great. But the bad was getting too bad.”
“I get it. Sure do miss riding the coattails of your life with him, though. We’ll be talking about those stories when we’re eighty,” Julianna said.
“Now I have a chance to live that long.”
Later that night, Christine was scrolling through email in her condo and stopped when she saw an odd Facebook alert.
And then another. And another. Numerous high school classmates were talking about her on a group thread.
Someone had tagged her, so she logged in to Facebook and read from the beginning.
Austin Garrett is coming to our hometown. Think Christine will be with him?
Probably. Aren’t they best buds now or something?
Think she can get us backstage to meet him?
If she’s as close to him as we think she is. I’m going to private message her and ask.
Christine opened the inbox for her Facebook messages.
The requests for meet-and-greet passes topped fourteen.
She had a vision of herself hosting a group of former high school acquaintances as they all swooned over Austin Garrett, vindicating her geeky high school years.
She wondered, Do the teen years ever disappear, or do they live on in some time warp to forever circle back and haunt you?
Christine had avoided looking at Austin’s schedule so she wouldn’t be tempted to go to a show, but now she googled it, and sure enough, he was due to play in central Pennsylvania.
He was headlining a tour and was booked at a downtown theatre.
Her downtown theatre, where she had gone to concerts as a teen, dreaming that one day she’d be a part of country music.
She loved that old theatre with the red velvet curtains and box balcony seating.
She would close her eyes and envision men in top hats and coattails and women in long fancy dresses.
She could only imagine the number of performances, concerts, and plays the old theatre had seen.
And now, she could be a part of one. Her life had come full circle and she couldn’t imagine missing this.
Had enough time passed that her stalker believed she was no longer involved with Austin?
She called Julianna. “I have a dilemma.”
“Lay it on me.”
“Austin’s tour is going to central Pennsylvania,” Christine said, hearing the fear in her own voice.
“Ah, home sweet home.”
“What do I do?”
“Well, I know you’d like to be in your hometown flaunting your relationship with one of the hottest male acts in country music.”
“I don’t want to flaunt . . .”
“Sure you do. Who wouldn’t? Even popular people had haters in high school. We all want to prove we made something of ourselves. It’s human nature.”
“I already have fourteen requests for meet-and-greet passes. I’ll be lucky to get four.”
“Bullshit. Austin would do anything for you. He’ll meet anyone you ask him to,” Julianna said, and Christine knew it was true.
“Ugh. What a terrible position to be in. Do I risk my stalker coming after me if I’m seen out with him again, or do I pass up a lifelong dream come true—returning to my hometown theatre with the headliner?”
“My first inclination is to say don’t go anywhere near Austin,” Julianna said.
“That’s my first thought, too. It’s my second thought of really wanting to be there that is messing with my mind.” Christine let out a low sigh.
“Let me think about it for a few days. We’ll come up with a plan.”
“Thank you.”
“OKAY, I’VE GOT IT,” JULIANNA announced, breezing into Christine’s office.
Christine set aside her paperwork and looked at her friend. “You’ve got what?”
“We can fly to Harrisburg. You don’t get on the bus or go into the dressing rooms. You stay low-key and keep your distance from Austin, except during the meet and greet.
At no time do you allow the public or audience to see you.
Wear a hoodie and big sunglasses or something.
Do not stand on the stage. We make sure someone is always with you.
We duck out before the show is over and make our way back out of town. ”
Christine sat back and thought about it. “And we’re never without our cell phones. We stay connected at all times,” Christine said.
“This will work,” Julianna said.
Christine paused. She had a flashback to the last time she thought it was okay to go on the road. It hadn’t been. She hadn’t made it out of the parking lot before returning home, fearing for her life.
“I don’t know. I’m being stupid again. They might come after me when I return home.
Maybe I’ll see if I can work from my parents’ house for a couple of weeks after the show.
That way, if somehow someone does see me, I’m not in Nashville and can give it time to die down.
I’ve never been threatened on the road.”
“Exactly. Oddly enough, being with Austin has seemed to be the safest place for you.”
“I used to love irony. Now, not so much.”
Christine was hesitant. All afternoon, she’d debated about whether she should go.
She was listening to a new song by one of her favorite female singers, Lainey Wilson, when her Facebook messages chimed.
It was Jim, the high school quarterback, asking for tickets.
She laughed. He’d never even said “hi” to her in school.
Austin was right. It was time to exorcise her high school ghosts.
She sent Austin a text: Hey. When you play Pennsylvania, is there any chance I can do a fourteen-person M&G with people from my high school?
Are you going to be there? he texted back.
Yes.
Then you can do anything you want. Should we save you a bunk?
She typed out her message. No. Flying in with Julianna.
Okay. Just glad you’re coming.
Please don’t tell anyone other than Matt!!!
I won’t.
She texted back. I mean anyone.
I won’t tell Phoebe.
She walked down to Julianna’s office. “Do you really think we can keep me safe?”
“I won’t lie. I’m not comfortable with it. But if you insist on going, I’m with you. What cinched your decision?” Julianna said.
“The high school quarterback asked me for tickets and meet and greets.”
“Oooh, that’s a big one.” Julianna spread her arms wide.
“Yep. I need a favor.”
“What’s that?”
“Don’t tell anyone we’re going,” Christine said.
“Who would I tell?”
Christine raised her eyebrows. “Oh, no, I won’t even tell her,” Julianna said. “But Austin probably will.”
“He said he wouldn’t.”
“It’s not her, Christine.”
“Okay.”
Julianna stared hard at her. “It’s not.”
“I said okay,” Christine said.
CHRISTINE SET TO WORK ANSWERING all the private messages. She didn’t want to say no to anyone, but after going back to Austin two more times to ask if she could include more people, she cut it off at twenty. Even her high school English teacher wanted to come.
Austin texted, As many as you want, Chrissy.
Thanks. But I think twenty is enough.
She texted Matt just to make sure he knew. She wasn’t sure Austin had thought about how much work this would be for Matt.
Matt texted, Are you kidding? Austin’s so excited. Happy to host your friends and glad you’re coming to the show.
More like acquaintances, but thank you.
Christine felt okay about this. They’d made a plan.
They’d stick to it. She would stay in the background, unseen.
Nobody in the audience would know she was there.
Her parents were out of town, vacationing in Carmel, but she felt that was better.
They were savvy enough to follow socials and knew some of what was happening.
She’d stopped telling them about the notes and let them believe those had ended.
They had finally calmed down and stopped asking her to move home.
Christine hated worrying them, and knowing she was going to one of Austin’s concerts would upset them.
ON THE DAY OF THE CONCERT, Julianna and Christine drove together to the airport. They arrived plenty early so they wouldn’t add any stress to an already stressful day. They were in line at Starbucks when Christine gasped.
“Are you okay?” Julianna said, suddenly on high alert.
Christine pointed.
Phoebe was walking down the hall toward them. She wore thigh-high black boots over tight blue jeans and a low-cut royal blue shirt that showed off her amazing cleavage. With her confident and lengthy stride, she looked like she was walking down a runway at a Milan fashion show.
“What is she doing here?” Julianna asked.
“I’m afraid to ask. And I do mean afraid.”
“Well, this is a surprise. Where are you headed?” Phoebe asked.
Christine froze.
“Austin’s show,” Julianna said.
“Cool. Me, too. What flight are you on?” Phoebe asked.
“American into Harrisburg,” Julianna said.
“Same. Let’s go check if we can get seats together,” Phoebe said, grabbing Julianna’s hand and pulling her to the gate agent.