Page 48 of Love on Tour
Sure, why not,she texted back. After watching Matt with Cait last night, she needed a win, and maybe this morning would give it to her.
I’ll call you later. Maybe we can get brunch somewhere.
Okay.
THEY MET AT THE PANCAKE PANTRY, and Austin put in his earbuds to listen to her song. After one listen, he was humming along.
“I like it. It’s got a solid lyric and the melody is memorable,” he said.
“Mid-tempos tend to do well. It has the potential to research with the audience, which radio will love,” she said.
“There it is again. The word ‘research.’”
“I know. Music used to be about a gut reaction. About passion. Writers would pen a tune that an artist loved, and the record label would get excited and decide to release it. They’d take it to radio, who would also get excited, and they’d play it and run it up the charts. Now everything is put into a formula where we poll a few and ignore the masses.”
“And all we want to do is write songs and sing,” Austin said.
“And all I want to do is work my songs and get artists to cut them,” Christine said, hoping Austin would take the hint.
“And then you deal with artists like me who make you wait for their answer on those songs. I swear I’m not trying to be difficult. I just need the right follow-up to ‘Promises to Me.’ It was so big and I can’t afford to miss,” he said, taking a bite of his pancake.
“I know. I can be patient. But feel free to give me that good news anytime you want.”
He laughed as if she was joking. She wasn’t, but she couldn’t tell him that.
They finished their coffee and walked out to their cars. As Christine got closer to hers, she noticed a piece of paper stuck under the windshield wiper. “Why would I get a ticket in a parking lot?” she said.
Austin reached over and pulled the paper out of the wipers.
He read the note.Yo, ugly bitch. Stay the hell away from Austin or plan to pay.
Christine frantically looked around, expecting someone to jump out and attack her. “Someone was this close to us? They know my car?”
“This has gone too far. You have to let me do something about it.” Austin’s face turned red, and his hand formed a fist. He saw a man getting into his car and said, “Hey! Hey, you. Did you leave this note on my friend’s car?”
The guy flipped him off.
“Austin, the person is probably long gone. And I doubt it’s a guy. Why would a guy be jealous of me?”
“I understand fans can get a little possessive, but this has gone too far. I should have stopped it months ago.”
“How? What can you do? Nothing that won’t make it worse. Just let it go.”
Austin cursed under his breath.
“Please, Austin. For now, just ignore it. It’s bound to go away.”
“You’ve been saying that for months. It ain’t going away, sweetheart. I’m telling you, if it keeps up, I will do something. Have you made a police report yet?”
“Yes. I turned in the letter I got in the mail and documented the rest of what’s happened. I’ll add this to it.” She put the note into her purse.
“Good. Don’t let up.”
He hugged her goodbye, tucked her into her car, motioned to lock the door, and walked away. Christine took a couple ofdeep breaths and waited for her hands to stop shaking before starting the car. She kept an eye on the rearview mirror, just in case someone was following her. When she turned onto her street, there was nobody behind her. She rushed home, ran up the stairs, and looked right, left, and behind her before unlocking her door and slamming it shut. She leaned against it, shaking on the inside.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Julianna sat on Christine’s desk, pleading with her not to commit career suicide.
