Seeing as Hunter'd told me about this a few weeks before, I smirked to myself at the radio revelation occurring before me as I sat in the back of the station in the studio of Bobby Bones.
"So, Hunter, I believe you have some news for us," Bobby smiled.
"Haha. I, I do. Uh, so. This fall, CMT has been kind enough to allow me to take on my next headlining tour with their name. Starting October 10, just up the road in Knoxville, we'll kick off the 'Let's be Crazy' tour, which is a play off of my newest single, released last week."
"I Want Crazy sure has been a hit so far, folks, it's climbing the charts rapidly," Bobby spoke into the mic as Hunter smiled.
"That's all we've got for now," Bobby said, beginning his sign off as Hunter pulled off his headset and walked over to me.
"We can do this," he whispered.
I nodded into his shoulder, trying as hard as I could to knock away any apprehensiveness about this. He'd be on the road for a few months, and after his performance at the Ryman, I wouldn't see him until December. Ally and Dylan's wedding was September 8. Hunter would be there, watching me walk down the isle with my pink bouquet. I was glad the wedding was before tour.
Because I realized we hadn't danced together yet.
I don't know why it bothered me; I'm sure it was due in part to my lingering curiosity if he was indeed a bad dancer. And even if he was, I still desperately wanted to share that kind of experience with him.
At our friends' wedding.
Where there'd be garters and bouquets thrown for the all-too-well-known reasons of inference.
But that was a long way off, so I pushed those thoughts away.
Bobby came striding over to us as he finished the outtro.
"Okay, now I get to meet this fine young lady!" he said.
Hunter laughed.
"Bobby, this is Christy. Christy, Bobby."
"And she is your..."
"Girlfriend."
Bobby grinned wide.
"Do you know how long it's been since he came in here and wasn't single?"
Hunter playfully rolled his eyes.
"It hasn't happened! He's finally off the market!" Bobby chuckled, elbowing Hunter.
"Yeah, but it's on the down low," Hunter said, myself reluctantly nodding.
Bobby nodded understandingly. "You got it. Secret's safe."
We made small talk for a few more minutes before we had to leave, so Hunter could get back to his bus to do another call-in interview.
He led me to the bus, where I sat down on the couch. He grabbed his phone and walked to the back lounge, shutting the door behind him, and making me frown.
In addition to the date on the day of the dress fitting, he'd cancelled three times more in the two weeks preceding. Yeah, we'd gotten one in. But a 20% success rate over five dates isn't something to be proud of.
I was considering approaching him about it. I knew it was a stressful time for him, and he was chronically busy, but I missed him being able to drop in at any moment, or call and text me at his leisure, because he didn't do much of that, either.
And pretty soon, there'd be almost none at all.
My stomach suddenly tightened rapidly, and I felt my throat hitch once, and then twice, as I stumbled to the bus bathroom and let it out again. Four months in a row, and they've continued to get progressively worse. I tried to stand, but another cramp sent shivers up my spine and had me curled up on the cold floor as I tried to stifle a sob.
