Page 66 of Love on Tour
CHAPTER TEN
Christine ate a spoonful of delicious soup made with shredded chicken, Spanish rice, avocado, and tomatoes. She and Julianna were at their favorite Mexican restaurant. The waiter was unabashedly appraising Julianna, who didn’t even notice.
“How are you holding up?” Julianna asked.
“Not well, honestly. I went to the doctor and got some Xanax. Every noise freaks me out. The neighbor’s cat jumped from their deck to mine last night, and I nearly came out of my skin.”
“I’m so sorry. There’s got to be something more we can do.”
“Not until we find out who’s stalking me.” Christine’s phone rang and she put her finger up to motion for Julianna to hold her thought.
“Hello, Austin. What’s up?”
Julianna mouthed, “Speakerphone.”
Christine shook her head but then figured she had nothing to hide and hit theSPEAKERbutton.
“We’re taking this shit international. We’re going to Canada.”
“That’s barely international. You can drive there,” Christine said.
“Not so. We need passports. That means it’s in-ter-na-tio-nal.”
“Fair enough. When is this world tour?” Christine asked, the sarcasm sneaking out of her voice.
“Don’t be a hater, Chrissy. It’s in January, and I want you to go with me.”
Julianna put her hand over her mouth. Christine could tell she was chuckling by the shaking of her body. Christine waved her off but was smiling herself.
“You know I love being on the road with you and the guys, but it sounds bitter cold,” Christine said.
“It will be. But if I have to be gone for almost two weeks, I want one person there who has the guts to call me an ass when I’m acting like one.”
“Two weeks? I can’t take two weeks off work. That’s all the vacation I get for the whole year, and I prefer to spend it under a palm tree somewhere.”
“I already called your boss and promised him you’d get first shot at pitching me music. He’s banking on a hit coming out of this trip and some seriouscha-chingfor his company. He said yes, and you don’t have to take vacay days.”
“You shouldn’t have done that without talking to me,” Christine said.
“Nope, I shouldn’t have. But I did. Niagara Falls, here we come.”
“Austin, are you forgetting I have a stalker intent on harming me? Or at the very least scaring me. Going to Canada is a horrible idea.”
“Your stalker is in America. In fact, appears to be in Nashville. I bet Canada is the safest place for you. Hell, I bet you’re safer in Canada than you’ve been since you met me.”
“Doesn’t that strike you as an odd thing to have to say?”
“Yeah, a damn pitiful thing to have to say. But I wouldn’t ask you if I didn’t think you’d be safe. I can count on you, right?”
“I’ll think about it.”
“And I’ll take that as a yes.” He disconnected the call.
Christine sat staring at her phone until Julianna cleared her throat.
“I hate to be cold,” Christine said.
“I know you do,” Julianna said, a smile creeping onto her face.
