Page 98 of Love on Tour
“Are you sure you want to stay here?” Matt said. “I feel you’re safer out with us.”
“I won’t be when I get back. I have to stay.”
“So, this person wins?” Matt asks.
“If I’m safe, I win,” Christine said, opening her trunk so Matt could put her suitcase in.
“Anything I can do?” Matt asked.
“No. Have a great run. Maybe I’ll see you at tae kwon do when you get back.”
Matt nodded. “Count on it.” He reached out and Christine went in for a hug. His arms felt strong, reassuring, and safe. He kissed the side of her head.
Christine released him and rushed around to the driver’s side. She didn’t want to get emotional, and she felt it coming on.She adjusted her rearview mirror and saw Matt watching her before turning around and climbing back on the bus.
She texted Julianna.I’m off the bus. Heading home. Thank you. You may have just saved my life.
She drove home, checked her surroundings, grabbed her purse and suitcase, and carried them up to her apartment. Once inside, she locked all three bolts. Her phone rang and she saw it was Austin.
“What the hell, Chrissy? I come out from writing a song to get your opinion and you’re gone.”
“Didn’t Matt explain?” she said.
“He did, but you know you’d have been safe. You’re in more danger there, alone, without a security team.”
“No, I’m in more danger if I’m seen out with you. I’m safe as long as I stay home.”
“This is crazy.”
“You’re right. It is. And I’m way too sane to keep going like this. I shouldn’t have gone anywhere near your bus. Lesson learned. Have a good run, and we’ll talk when you get back.”
“Promise?” he asked.
“Promise.”
Christine went into the bedroom, unpacked her bags, put on her pajamas, and started binge-watchingThe Queen’s Gambit. She’d heard a lot about it but couldn’t imagine a show about chess being fascinating. She was wrong. She didn’t shower or get out of her pajamas for the whole weekend. She turned down Julianna’s offer for dinner and skipped a guitar pull even though some of her favorite songwriters were performing. It took all her energy to go to work on Monday morning. The only thing she looked forward to was walking into the dojang and hoping to see Matt.
AFTER WORK, CHRISTINE LEFT FORher tae kwon do class. She parked as close to the building as she could and then got out of the car, looking in every direction before fast-walking to the door. She felt like a fool being afraid of every shadow. When and how would this ever end?
“Christine?”
Her body gave an involuntary shiver, and a smile appeared on her lips when she heard Matt’s voice. She turned.
“Matt. So good to see you.”
“It’s good to see you, too. We missed you this weekend. Did you get time to relax?” he asked.
“As much as I relax anymore,” she said, shrugging her shoulders.
“I can’t imagine living the way you are right now. We have to find this person. It’s got to be someone close to us. Maybe someone one of us works with?” he said.
“What would make you say that?” She turned toward him, intrigued by this thought.
“Austin and I were talking about it. They know too much. And they know it too fast. It’s got to be someone who interacts with us regularly. I didn’t say anything to Austin, but my first thought was Phoebe.”
“Yeah, I’ve gone there a few times, but Julianna swears it’s not her style,” Christine said, scrunching her face.
“You don’t believe her?”
