Chapter Fifteen #3
CHRISTINE AND JULIANNA were hanging in the production office, scanning their phones and watching the minutes tick by, when five thirty hit. Time for the doors to open and let the throng of fans in.
“It’s showtime,” Matt said, walking into the room.
“Thirty minutes,” Christine said, looking at her watch.
“Stop fidgeting. It’s going to be great.” Matt moved behind her and started to rub her shoulders. “You need to relax.”
Christine let her head droop forward. She closed her eyes and sighed. “Keep doing that, and I’ll be asleep.”
“Good.”
Matt kissed the top of her head and turned back to his computer.
Julianna imitated Matt massaging her shoulders and gave Christine a thumbs-up.
Christine waved her off and whispered, “He was being nice.”
Julianna rolled her eyes.
“Why don’t you go into the meet-and-greet room and get ready? I’ll bring everyone back at six and then get Austin,” Matt said, facing Christine again.
“Just a thought here, but why don’t you let Christine bring Austin in?” Julianna said.
“Hmm. That’ll make an impression. Sure. I’ll let him know,” Matt said.
“You two are the best. Thank you,” Christine said, reaching for Julianna’s hand.
“That’s what friends are for,” Julianna said.
Matt left to get Christine’s guests while Christine went to get Austin. She walked onto the bus as he was tugging on his jeans.
“Oh, sorry,” she said.
“No worries, Chrissy. Not like you haven’t seen it,” Austin said.
“Oh, please,” Phoebe protested.
“Are you ready for this?” Austin asked.
“No.”
“It’s going to be awesome. Let’s go,” Austin said, grabbing Christine by the hand and leading her out. Phoebe followed behind and Christine thought she looked awkward being a step behind them. As the girlfriend, she should be holding Austin’s hand.
The door to the meet-and-greet room was closed and Christine took a deep breath. Then she turned to Austin and grabbed his arm.
“I have one huge favor. Please, please do not call me Chrissy. It was a not-so-nice nickname for me back in high school. I need to be Christine tonight.”
Austin nodded.
Christine opened the door, immediately clenching her fists and closing her eyes.
She expected to see a group of people as they’d looked in high school.
But when she looked up, that wasn’t what she saw.
Like her, they were older. They weren’t the cute young kids they used to be—they were adults.
Christine thought about Austin saying how they had gone on with their lives, attending PTA meetings, going to work, and not giving her a second thought.
The class beauty was no longer stick thin.
She was still very pretty, but she had a woman’s figure now—she was a little fuller through the thighs and didn’t have a twenty-one-inch waist. The baby-faced football player now sported a mustache and a goatee.
Austin was right. They weren’t here to berate her. They just wanted a glimpse of Austin.
She gasped. Her body stiffened. The big guy in the back? It couldn’t be. There was no way Bryan had snuck in. Her body felt warm, and she knew she was about to break into a sweat. But when he stepped to the left, she realized it wasn’t him. She exhaled.
She hadn’t realized her hands were clenched until she opened her fingers, relaxing them. Austin leaned down and whispered, “Say something. Introduce me.”
“Um, hello, everyone. They say you can’t go home again, huh? Well, here I am. Home sweet home.”
There was some uncomfortable laughter.
“Anyway, you aren’t here to see me. You’re here to meet the star of tonight’s show, so here he is. Austin Garrett.” The people clapped, and a few gave a whoop whoop or cheer.
Austin gave her a big hug and a kiss on the cheek. “I appreciate you coming to the show tonight. I’m not sure all of you are here to see me,” Austin said, pointing to Christine like they were there to see her.
She pursed her lips and crinkled her forehead. She wanted to get attention off her as fast as possible. “Are there any questions for Austin?” Christine asked.
“I have one,” said Tammy. She used to be Christine’s neighbor. “I love the song ‘Promises to Me.’ Did you write it?”
“I didn’t. This lovely lady standing next to me found it and played it for me. Christine thought it would be perfect for me. At the time, I was known for my party songs so it was a bit of a gamble. But she was right. The payoff was huge.”
“Wow. Way to go, neighbor,” Tammy said.
Another hand went up and Christine saw it was Tom, a former high school soccer player. “Dude, I’ve seen you linked to women all over the country. What’s it like fending off gorgeous women every night? And feel free to send some our way tonight.” He high-fived another guy, who Christine didn’t know.
“It’s pretty damn great. Every guy’s dream, right? Although if I’m being honest and you won’t make me turn in my man card, it’s also getting a little old.”
“I don’t think it would ever get old for me,” Tom said.
“Anything too easy gets boring, though, right?” Austin said, and Christine thought he made a good point.
When they were ten minutes into their fifteen-minute window, Matt took the lead.
“Let’s take some photos. We can start over here to the right. I hate to say ‘form a line’ like you really are back in high school, but it would be easier if you could,” Matt said.
The guests made a line of sorts and Austin started at the front.
The guys shook Austin’s hand and did the awkward how-do-I-pose-with-a-dude pose.
The couples stood with one of them on either side of Austin, the female leaning in toward him.
And the single ladies, well, the flirtation meter was off the charts.
“I promise you wouldn’t get bored with me,” Allison said, and Christine tried to remember who she was.
Maybe she was a friend of someone from high school.
Everyone had brought a guest, so half the people in the room were strangers to Christine.
That unnerved her until she remembered her stalker most likely lived in Nashville.
Christine waited for one of them to say, “Why in the world are you friends with Chrissy the Sissy?” It didn’t happen. They were kind, appreciative. She wished her sixteen-year-old self could have seen into the future and known a moment like this was coming.
Matt suggested they pose for a group shot, and Christine realized it was almost over.
She’d made it through this reunion without anyone giving a blow to her ego.
Matt lined everyone up with Austin and Christine in the middle.
It was one of those odd life moments when she felt like she’d actually made it.
Her. Christine Matthews was here with the headlining act, and she was partially responsible for his success. She smiled big.
Matt snapped a few photos and gave his usual exit speech. “Thank you all for coming. I know it meant a lot to Christine.” He reached out and patted her back.
She melted.
“Alicia in the back will escort you to the seating area. You can find your photos on Austin’s website under meet-and-greet photos. Give me a day to get them uploaded.”
“Thanks, everyone. I hope you enjoy the show,” Austin said. A few people hugged Christine, and they all thanked her as they made their way out of the room.
Matt followed them to get the regular meet-and-greet crowd.
“That wasn’t so bad, was it?” Austin asked.
“It wasn’t. But I’m exhausted. I didn’t sleep at all last night. Thanks so much for doing this.”
“Anything for you, Chrissy girl.”
“And thank you for not calling me Chrissy in front of them.”
“You’re welcome.”
Matt brought in the next group of people, and Christine excused herself to join Julianna, who had been waiting in the hall.
“Well?”
“You could have stayed in the room,” Christine said.
“It was crowded in there. How’d it go?”
“Good. Better than good.”
“I knew it would go well.” Julianna looked at her phone. “My parents are blowing up my phone. My grandmother isn’t doing well. Mind if I step out and make a call? With the crew moving boxes around and the DJ already playing music, I won’t be able to hear them. I know I promised not to leave you.”
“I’m safe back here. There’s too much security to be concerned. Go make your phone call,” Christine said.
“You’re sure?”
“Positive. Go.”
Julianna left with a promise to be right back.