Chapter Nine #2
When she walked back to her table, she held her head a little higher. Her gait had more confidence and a smile filled her face.
“What happened to you in there?” Julianna asked.
“What do you mean?”
“You seem, I don’t know, different. Like you went in as Clark Kent and came out as Superman.”
“Make it Superwoman and I’ll agree.”
“Whatever it is, it’s working for you.”
Christine got a text from Austin when the after-dinner coffee was served: Two people just left our table. Bring Julianna and come sit with us.
Christine showed the text to Julianna, who shrugged. “Why not?”
Christine spotted Matt before he saw her and had to snap her mouth shut. He looked handsome in a black suit with a white shirt and gray tie. He was standing near the table, talking with someone she didn’t recognize. It gave Christine a moment to get her breath back before he turned and saw her.
His eyes widened and he walked away from his conversation in mid-sentence. “Wow. Austin said you looked amazing tonight, but I had no idea.”
“How red is my face right now?” Christine asked, giving an uncharacteristic titter.
“A few shades,” Matt said.
“You look pretty darn handsome yourself.”
The quick break ended, and they took their seats for the remainder of the awards. Matt pointed to the empty one next to him.
“Isn’t Cait here?” Christine asked, trying not to sound hopeful or pitiful.
“I never bring dates to these events. I’m Austin’s beck-and-call guy, and that can be painful for a date.”
The table was built for six chairs, but they had squeezed in eight.
This made for tight quarters, and despite her attempts to be proper, her arm brushed against Matt’s every time she reached for her drink.
His thigh touched hers, ever so slightly, and after she pulled back twice, giving him distance, she gave into it when his thigh touched hers for the third time.
She even relaxed into it, subtle as it was.
He didn’t pull away. The touching heated her skin to the point where she thought of spontaneous combustion.
Was that even a real thing? A few times, he leaned over to whisper something about the speech.
Having his lips near her ear caused her to shiver.
“Are you cold?”
“No.”
“You shivered.”
She decided to be bold. “I have sensitive ears and you were practically kissing one.”
“Should I apologize?” he asked. “In this PC world, I don’t want to do anything unwanted.”
“No apology necessary. At all.”
He smiled. “Noted.”
The next time he whispered in her ear, her breath caught in her chest. She was afraid to move. She wanted to look at him, but at the same time, she didn’t want to.
He leaned in again.
“Christine?” His mouth was warm on her skin.
“Yes?”
“You can whisper back anytime you want.”
She closed her eyes and counted to five. Matt moved away and Christine turned to face him, eyes wide open. “I plan to,” she whispered.
Matt reached under the table and gently squeezed her knee before returning his hand to the top of the table.
Christine couldn’t focus. Had Matt and Cait broken up? Had they never been a couple to begin with? Was he just being playful and flirty? Christine was happy and confused all at the same time. She decided to just be happy and enjoy the moment, whatever it meant.
When the event ended, she reluctantly stood, ending their proximity.
“Let’s take some pictures,” Julianna said.
“I want one with my girl Chrissy,” Austin said, causing Phoebe to audibly gasp. Austin didn’t acknowledge it, but Julianna nudged Christine, who whispered, “Behave.”
Matt gave Christine her thrill of the night by handing his phone to Austin and saying, “My turn, bro.” Matt put his arm around Christine, and she prayed he couldn’t feel her tremble.
“Smile,” Austin said, and snapped the photo.
“Now one with my date,” Christine said, grabbing Julianna.
“And the fantasy continues,” Austin said, causing Phoebe to slap his arm. “What? I can take a photo of all three of you and add you to the fantasy.”
“No. Thank. You,” Phoebe said.
They posed for one group photo and called it a night. It would be a long week, and they still had the big night to go.
CHRISTINE SANK INTO HER BED AFTER the awards and, snuggled amongst her comforter, relived every one of Matt’s touches, accidental and otherwise.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a text.
Her heart flipped when she saw Matt’s name appear on her screen along with the photo they’d taken.
Her eyes were open, her smile looked natural, and she loved her dress.
She texted him back. Great pic. Thanks! She thought about adding, We make a dashing couple , but hesitated.
Then her phone chimed in a text: We clean up nice.
She replied, Yes, we do. Nice seeing you tonight.
She hoped he’d send at least one more text. Sending the last text in a conversation with your crush always sucked. You waited for a reply that never came. Luckily, that wasn’t her experience tonight. He sent another text: Always good to see you.
She burrowed further under the covers. He’d said “always.” That word had so much potential.
Only certain things always happened. Like the sun rising in the east and the moon making a nightly appearance.
Mom’s hug making her feel safe. Important things held the title of always.
She reached for her phone and looked one more time. Always good to see you.
Always good to see you, too , she thought, putting the phone away and falling into a peaceful sleep.
THE COUNTRY MUSIC ASSOCIATION Awards had arrived.
This was the big night everyone had been waiting for.
Once again, the Bridgestone Arena had been changed from a concert and sports venue into an awards arena.
In front of the stage was an open section where fans stood and cheered.
Behind them were seats for the artists, performers, and awards presenters.
The other layers of seating held industry people and fans.
Large screens were set up throughout the venue, projecting everything happening on the stage.
The usher escorted Christine and Julianna to their seats. “I like your friendship with Austin. It has great perks,” Julianna said, sitting in her assigned floor seat.
“No obstructed view. Remember the year we sat under the scaffolding?” Christine said.
“I can’t believe we paid for those tickets.”
The show was in its second hour when the Single of the Year category was announced.
Julianna grabbed Christine’s hand when “Promises to Me” was mentioned as a nominee, and although Christine had made a promise to herself to never pray for work-related things, she couldn’t help but whisper, “Please, God.”
Two reality show actresses—Christine missed their names—were presenting the award. “And the winner is . . . Austin Garrett and ‘Promises to Me.’” Julianna and Christine leaped to their feet, their screams deafening. Grabbing each other, they jumped up and down, turning in circles.
The cameras panned to Austin. Phoebe had a death grip on him and was planting kisses all over his face.
He extricated himself from her embrace and returned high fives and a couple of hugs on his way up to accept the trophy.
He stepped up to the microphone. “Man, I don’t know what to say.
There are so many people to thank. First, I have to thank God for this life that I live.
A big thanks to country radio for playing this song and making it a number one.
I wouldn’t be here without you. Thanks to my record label, my management, booking agent, and publicist. Thanks to the songwriters who wrote this incredible song and my band and crew who are there with me every night on the road.
And I have to thank a very special woman who recently came into my life and took it to a whole new level. ”
The cameras panned to Phoebe, who had a camera-ready smile and well-timed tears tickling her eyelashes.
Austin pointed back to where he knew Christine was sitting, and the cameras tried to follow.
“Christine Matthews brought this song to me, and if it wasn’t for her, I’d have never heard it until it was a hit for someone else.”
The cameras aimed at Christine, and Julianna stood with her finger pointing at Christine’s head. Suddenly, Christine’s face appeared on the huge monitors.
“Chrissy, this is for us. Thanks again, everyone.”
The camera cut back to Austin, waving his trophy high above his head as a woman escorted him to the backstage area.
“Damn! That is going to piss off Phoebe,” Julianna said.
“Not to mention all my haters. Ugh. Why did he have to mention me?”
“Because you deserve it, and he knows that.”
Christine sat through the rest of the awards show, restless by the end. Was there a party? Would she be invited? If it was Austin’s party, she probably would. Did she want to be around Matt if he was with Cait? The thought of them together caused her stomach to churn.
Her phone chimed in a text. It was from Austin. Congrats. We won that one together. Wish we could hang, but believe it or not, I have bus call. Show in California, day after tomorrow, and it’ll take two days to get there.
Christine typed a response: Why would you accept a show right after the awards?
His reply came in fast: $$, girl! They offered to pay me twice my going rate. I like a good party, but hell, I like money more.
You’re smarter than you get credit for, she texted back.
Duh. I keep telling you that. I could have taken a flight tomorrow, but I want to celebrate with my road family. These people have been with me through it all the last few years.
I get that. Have fun. We’ll celebrate when you get home, Christine texted.
Deal.
She showed Julianna the text.
“Now what?” Julianna asked.
“We could probably weasel our way into a party somewhere . . . or . . .”
“Waffle House?”
“Yes.”