Page 97 of Love on Tour
“Are you sure you’re okay in the upper bunk? You can have mine,” Matt said, pointing to his lower bunk.
Christine felt daring. What was some harmless flirting? “Will you be in it?”
Matt looked behind him. “Austin would kill me,” he said.
“Kill you for what?” Austin asked, walking up beside them.
“Shacking up with your song plugger,” Matt said.
“Yep. I’d probably cause you bodily harm,” Austin said.
“Am I never going to get laid?” Christine said.
“Not on this bus, you’re not,” Austin said.
Christine rolled her eyes and Matt snickered.
“We’ll let you get settled in,” Austin said, heading to the back lounge while Matt went to the front. Christine stored her luggage and put her purse where she could easily reach it. She tried to keep all her stuff in her bunk, reasoning that if everyonekept their personal items sitting out, nobody would be able to move. There was only so much open space on a tour bus.
She heard music coming from the back lounge and saw the door was cracked. She peered in. Austin and another guy were sitting on the couches, playing their guitars. Austin looked up and motioned her in.
“Do you two know each other?” he asked. “Christine Matthews, this is Ryan Geoffries.”
“I certainly knowofyou,” Christine said, extending her hand. “I love your writing. Your lyrics have depth, and your syncopated backbeats are unique.”
“Thank you. I’ve been very lucky. And Austin tells me great things about you. Our songs only go so far without someone out there playing them for the artists.”
Christine blushed.
“Sit in for a few minutes and watch the process,” Austin said.
Christine sat down, eyes wide and ears tuned in as she listened to Austin and Ryan work through guitar riffs, tempos, and chord structures before settling on a melody. Then they started putting their thoughts into phrases and matching them to the notes. She was witnessing a song come to life. She thought of a seed and how, once planted and watered, it would grow into a flower. Writing a song was a similar process.
Her phone chimed and she silenced it. She felt it vibrate and ignored it. Then she saw Julianna’s photo show up on the screen. Being a part of the texting generation, she knew Julianna would only call if it was serious.
Christine stood and backed out of the room, making as little noise as possible. Austin and Ryan were deep into their collaboration and didn’t look up.
“Hey, Julianna. What’s up?”
“Get off that bus now,” Julianna said, her voice tight and urgent.
“Why?”
“There are some massive threats all over Austin’s socials. You’re in danger. And it won’t matter if you’re on the road or in Nashville. Get off that bus and go home.”
Christine felt the bus engines roar to life. She had mere minutes before it started rolling. She grabbed her stuff from her bunk and headed toward the door.
“Christine? Where are you going? We’re about to leave,” Matt said.
She looked around the bus. Multiple sets of eyes were on her, wide and inquisitive.
“Sorry, everyone. I’ve been alerted to a potential threat with me being here. I can’t put myself, or you, at risk. I’ve got to get off the bus.”
She didn’t give anyone a chance to respond as she stepped off the bus. Matt was right behind her. She heard him address the bus driver.
“Earl, give us a few minutes.”
Matt grabbed her luggage and carried it to her car.
