Stars on Broadway - Morgan Wallen

Chapter 74 - A New Horizon

The morning after Georgie's historic headlining performance at CMC Rocks, the world felt different. She had slept in longer than usual, trying to shake off the overwhelming emotions from the night before. But the sunlight spilling through the curtains, paired with the distant hum of the ocean waves from the nearby shore, felt like a grounding force.

Morgan had already gotten up and made coffee, his footsteps soft as he wandered the house. Georgie stretched, her body still buzzing with adrenaline, then slowly made her way downstairs. When she found Morgan, he was scrolling through his phone, chuckling softly at the endless barrage of fan reactions and media speculation from their joint performance.

"Good morning, superstar," Morgan said, setting his phone down and pulling her into a hug. The warmth of his embrace calmed the residual nerves running through her.

"Morning," Georgie mumbled, resting her head on his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart. "Do I even want to know what everyone's saying?"

Morgan laughed. "Depends if you're in the mood for wild wedding rumors or people just losing their minds over the shoey. It's a mixed bag today."

Georgie shook her head, a smile playing on her lips. "Well, as long as the music's doing the talking."

Morgan handed her a mug of coffee, his expression turning serious. "I think last night was the beginning of something big for you, Georgie. Bigger than anything you've done before. You blew them away."

Georgie sipped her coffee, thinking back to the massive crowd, their energy, the way they sang her songs back to her. It had felt like a dream. "I don't think it's really hit me yet," she admitted. "That I was up there, with all those people. It's surreal."

"It should hit you soon," Morgan said with a wink. "You've officially made your mark in Australia, and now the rest of the world is watching."

Georgie leaned against the counter, her thoughts swirling. She had always dreamed of this—touring the world, making music that resonated with people far and wide. But now that it was happening, it felt overwhelming, as though the weight of success was pressing down on her chest.

As if sensing her unease, Morgan stepped closer. "We've got this, Georgie. One step at a time."

After a slow, quiet morning, Georgie and Morgan received an invitation to the exclusive artist after-party following CMC Rocks. It was a chance to wind down and reconnect with the other performers from the festival. Georgie was particularly excited to catch up with Lane Pitman and Brad Cox, whom she had met backstage after their performances.

As they arrived at the beachside venue, the setting was perfect—soft acoustic music, a bonfire lighting up the night, and the relaxed chatter of artists coming down from the festival high. Georgie scanned the crowd, spotting several familiar faces. Before long, she saw Brad and Lane standing near the bonfire, talking with a few other Aussie musicians.

Morgan placed a hand on her back, steering her in their direction. "Looks like your Aussie mates are over there," he said with a grin.

"Yeah, let's go say hi," Georgie replied, a smile creeping onto her face as they approached.

Brad noticed her first, a wide grin spreading across his face. "Look who it is—the woman who set the festival on fire last night!"

Lane chuckled, shaking his head. "I'm pretty sure the crowd's still buzzing from your set, Georgie."

Georgie laughed as she reached them. "Stop it, you guys! You know you both killed it too. Your sets were next level. I'm just trying to catch up to you two Aussies."

Brad waved a hand. "Come on, we were just playing. But you? That shoey... That's when we knew you were fully embracing the Aussie spirit."

Georgie shrugged, playfully. "When in Australia, right? But honestly, I was blown away by your performances. The way you had the crowd in the palm of your hands, that's something special. You guys have got something real going on."

Lane nodded, his expression genuine. "Right back at ya. We've got big crowds down here, but you took that stage like it was nothing. It's the best set I've seen in years, and I don't say that lightly."

Georgie's eyes softened with appreciation. "Thanks, that means the world coming from you both."

She turned to her manager, who had been hovering nearby, quietly absorbing the conversation. "Hey, can you get Brad and Lane's contact info for me? I want them to be part of my shows when I come back to Australia."

Brad raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "You're already thinking about coming back?"

"Of course! This won't be my last time here. You two are definitely going to be part of whatever I plan next," Georgie said, her eyes gleaming with excitement.

Lane chuckled, nudging Brad. "Looks like we'll have to make room in our schedules for Georgie Day's return."

They all shared a laugh before Georgie felt a familiar tap on her shoulder. Turning around, she was greeted by Cooper Alan, who grinned widely before pulling her into a hug.

"There she is—the woman everyone's talking about!" Cooper said, his voice full of warmth.

"Right back at you, Coop! You were amazing out there, as always."

They fell into easy conversation, and before long, talk of working together surfaced, as it always seemed to with them. "We've been talking about doing something together for ages," Cooper said. "Maybe it's time we actually make it happen when we're back in the States."

Georgie smiled, excitement bubbling up. "I'd love that. Let's make it happen. Something big."

They clinked their drinks together, sealing the deal.

As the night wore on, the conversations around the bonfire grew more relaxed, with artists swapping stories from the road, joking about the festival, and reminiscing about the wild moments. Georgie felt completely at ease. The bond she shared with these artists went beyond just business; it was a shared journey of passion for music and performing.

For a while, she sat back, watching the flames of the bonfire flicker and dance, the sounds of laughter and music filling the air. Her mind was already buzzing with plans—future tours, collaborations with Cooper, and bringing Brad and Lane on board for her Australian shows.

As the night deepened, Georgie couldn't help but feel grateful for the path she was on. She had her friends, her music, and the world at her feet. Tomorrow, they'd all go their separate ways, but tonight, they celebrated together—the kind of night that would fuel her creativity for years to come.