Page 100 of Love on Tour
“Did you pay off the tenants to move?” Christine asked, her words clipped.
“I made it work. That’s all I’m going to say. You’ll have password-protected parking, a lobby entrance, and a guard posted downstairs at all times.” He took her hand in his. “You’ll be safe.”
“I can’t let you do this.”
“You don’t have a choice. I’ve already done it. I hired movers to come here tomorrow and take everything there.”
“Tomorrow? How?” Christine asked.
“I’ve been working on this for a few weeks. I didn’t want to mention it until I knew I could pull it off. And if I gave you too much time to think about it, you’d say no.”
“I am saying no. Austin, you have way overstepped your bounds.”
“I know. Please, Chrissy. Do this for me.” He put his hands in a prayer position.
She looked away from him and said nothing.
“I know you’re angry,” he said.
“I’m freaking pissed.” She stared at the wall.
“Let me do this for you. Please.”
She stood up. “I’ll be back.” She walked into her bedroom and shut the door, leaning against it. She was a rational person and knew this situation was not her fault. She had done nothing wrong, nothing to incite this vile person who was determined to destroy her. Yet she was also in potential danger. And she did feel safer in Julianna’s complex, where tenants could park their cars in a locked garage and have access to a secure elevator. At her apartment, she had to leave her car, walk up two flights of stairs, and stand outside in an open foyer to unlock her apartment door. Even though the community was gated, the gate was only secure against cars. Anyone could walk right in. That wasn’t the case at Julianna’s. She thought of the saying “Pride cometh before a fall.” It was her pride telling her to say no. Her brain knew this was the best thing for her. How could she reconcile the two of them?
A light knock on her door brought her out of her thoughts.
“Christine?” Austin asked. “Do you want me to leave?”
“No. Give me a minute and I’ll be out.”
Christine took a deep breath and prepared to answer. She walked up to Austin and he stood. “Okay. I’ll do it. For my safety. Although it won’t take a genius to figure out I’m living there. Before long, my stalker will know.”
“But there, they can’t get to you. There are cameras all over the place. If she tried to follow you in, she’d get nailed immediately. Shy of you going into complete hiding, this is the best we can do.”
“Then let’s do it.”
Austin gently pulled her into his arms. “Thank you, Chrissy.”
MOVERS CAME THE NEXT DAY, EMPTIEDher apartment, and set everything up in the new condo. It was slightly smaller than Julianna’s place but much bigger than her old one. She couldn’t help but make plans for the spare bedroom that included setting up a comfortable space for listening to music. It would be her zen-style room. She’d need more furniture. She was excited at the thought of a new beginning.
Austin had left first thing that morning for his tour. This one was in Texas, and he’d be gone for two weeks. She had wished him luck, sad that she wasn’t able to go. She thought of helping Matt with the paperwork, working side by side with him, getting to see him every day, and watching Austin win over a new audience. She put the thought out of her head.That would have been a big mistake, Christine.
CHRISTINE LOVED RETURNINGhome to her new condo. As the weeks went by, she felt more and more at home. And much safer. A decade ago, downtown Nashville had been made up of quaint houses and shops intermingled with record labels and recording studios. Now it was skyscrapers and condo buildings. She’d often looked on with envy, wondering who could afford to live in such places. Then she met Julianna and knew one person who could. Now, thanks to Austin, she was also living there.
Christine worried that Julianna would feel she was invading her space. They already worked together, and now she lived next door. Surprisingly, they sometimes went days without seeing one another outside the office. While neither of them said anything, Christine felt it was natural they gave each other space. And Christine felt a sense of peace knowing she had a friend so close.
NOT BEING ON THE ROAD WITH MATTmeant her only chance of seeing him was at tae kwon do class. She always stayed in the back of the class and tried to concentrate on what the instructor was saying while just wanting to see Matt.
She glanced back every time the door opened, not knowing if Matt would be coming in. She hadn’t followed Austin’s travel schedule since he’d left for Texas, but she knew that tour was over. She’d avoided looking at social media. She didn’t want to know where he was, what he was doing, or what people were saying about her. She had purposely taken on a new male client. He had just signed a deal with BMG, and Christine was immersing herself in his first album. The more she could distance herself from Austin, even professionally, the better. A new apartment, a new client, a new lease on life.
After class, she changed into her street clothes. When she emerged from the ladies’ room, she saw Matt. Her quick intake of breath sounded so loud in her head that she was surprised he didn’t hear it. She stared at him, taking in the new haircut that accentuated his cheekbones and the fitted T-shirt that showed off his strong arms. She glanced away when she saw him turning in her direction.
“Christine?”
“Oh, hey, Matt. How are you?”
He walked straight up to her and wrapped his arms around her in a warm embrace.
