Page 114 of Love on Tour
Phoebe turned and, with her head held high, walked down the hall and out the door. The four of them stared at the door long after it had closed.
“Think sending her flowers would help?” Austin finally said.
“Yeah, no. I don’t think there’s any hope for you there,” Matt said.
Austin nodded. “Well, shit. How many women can I screw up?”
“You don’t really want me to answer that, right?” Matt asked, adding some levity to the moment.
“Rhetorical question,” Austin said, clapping his hands. “And for the record, those kisses Alicia referred to? Chaste. I kissed her on the cheek a couple of times and maybe gave one lip kiss but no tongue. It’s not like I made out with her. Hell, I’ve kissed Matt with that much passion.”
All eyes went to Matt.
“True story. He’s not very discerning when he drinks. And you do have soft lips, Austin. I can see why Alicia got confused,” Matt said, a sly smirk on his face.
“Am I the only one who hasn’t been kissed by Austin?” Julianna said, looking at each of them.
Austin gave her a wink. “Well, how you doin’?” he said.
“Seriously? After everything that just happened, you’re pulling a Joey Tribbiani?” Julianna said.
“Too soon?” he asked, a sheepish grin on his face.
“Way too soon,” Christine and Julianna said in unison.
“Okay, okay. I get it. Inappropriate of me. It’s been a weird day. I’m a little fucked up right now. We’ll talk in about six . . .”
“Months at minimum,” Julianna said.
“And she didn’t say no,” Austin said, his boyish grin taking over his face.
“You’re incorrigible,” Christine said, giving him a side hug.
“Welp, I’ve got a show to do,” Austin said.
“Yeah, you do. You’re due onstage in thirty,” Matt said.
“Seriously, are we not going to discuss any of this?” Julianna said, hands up, eyes wide.
“What’s there to say?” Christine asked. “Hopefully it’s over. Iamsorry about Phoebe, though, Austin.”
“That’s on me,” he said. “I should never have accused her. But it says something about her and me as a couple that I did. Guess that relationship wasn’t meant to be.”
“Sorry, dude,” Matt said.
“Yeah. Me, too. She was fun. But not the one, I guess. I do see us hanging out as friends in the future.”
“The way future, maybe,” Matt said.
“It’ll take some time, but I’ll mend that one. We’ll be friends,” Austin said.
“Good. She’s worth it,” Julianna said.
“Yes, she is,” Christine agreed, causing Julianna’s eyebrows to go up.
Christine looked at her friends and smiled at how they supported each other. She thought about everything that had happened in the last year, the last few months, and the last half hour. Would she do it all again? Would she go through so much pain to be sitting here in this moment with these three people? Yeah, she would. Great gains often come at great expense. It was hell, but these were her people, and she loved them. Even Phoebe.And hearing Matt say he was in love with her had made it worth it a thousand times over.
“I’m off to the bus to get ready. Matt? You coming?”
