Page 85 of Love on Tour
“Please,” Matt pleaded.
Christine couldn’t turn him down. “I’ll try.”
“I’ll be back,” she said to Phoebe and Cait.
Phoebe’s mouth was full but she managed to get out, “If you see Austin, bring him here but don’t tell him why.”
Christine looked from Phoebe to Cait. Cait mouthed the words, “I’m sorry.”
Christine found Matt outside the bus.
“He is hot! Mad as hell. Austin doesn’t like women blindsiding him like this.”
“I figured as much. Let’s go talk to him.”
She followed Matt onto the bus.
“I assume you didn’t know about this?” Austin said, looking at Christine.
“How would I know?”
“She’s your friend.”
“Not really. And she’s your girlfriend.”
“Not really.”
They laughed.
“God, why can’t women just enjoy casual sex?” he asked, plopping down on the couch.
“Because we can’t,” Christine said, sitting beside him.
“Phoebe acts like she can. That’s why this pisses me off so much. It’s not her MO.”
“Maybe she missed you,” Christine said. “It’s three more shows. Let her stay. It might chill out the people who are angry that I’m here.”
Austin put his head in his hands. “It’s just so high maintenance having someone out here.”
“Suck it up, big boy. You can handle it,” Christine said, lightly punching his shoulder.
Matt had been standing back, not saying much.
“What about you, Matt? Now you’ve got a chick out here, too,” Austin said.
Matt looked at Christine. She returned his gaze. Neither said anything. Austin looked from one to the other, his eyes narrowing. “Or maybe you already had a woman out here?”
Christine didn’t know if Matt heard Austin and chose to ignore him or if he’d missed the implication. Christine stayed silent.
Matt broke eye contact and turned to Austin. “Cait would never do this on her own. Phoebe convinced her.”
“Well, she’s here now.”
“Yes, she is. We may as well accept it and deal with it. Look, Phoebe wanted it to be a surprise. They’re in catering. Why don’t you saunter in and act all surprised and happy? Unless you’re ready to send her packing for good,” Christine said.
“I guess I can act surprised and happy. But damn, this is like taking a paper bag lunch to a restaurant. I may have preferred something off the menu,” Austin said.
“That is so crass,” Christine said, shaking her head and frowning.
