Dear Life

Worlds Apart

"Have you talked to Dustin?" I asked Steph as she was scrolling through her phone. She spent most of the afternoon with him before he had to go do sound check.

"Umm, yeah. He's super nice." I could tell she was hesitant, she took a deep breath and continued, "He's this huge star, I'm nobody. I'm not even done school."

"You can just be friends. He is a nice guy." I held her hand. "Do what makes your heart happy." She smiled and nodded. 

We danced and sang through the first half of Hunter's set. He played mostly new songs, and few oldies. He stopped for a moment to talk to the fans - something I always admired about him. "Hey ya'll it's my first time being in your beautiful city and the other day, I went to Banff with my band, some friends and my fiancee. Something I learned about my fiancee is that she can sing. Can she come join us?" There was some cheering in the audience. I walked out, guitar in hand, Joelle and Steph cheering from the side. The bright lights made it hard to see the audience, but all I needed was to see Hunter. "If you know this one, sing along." Hunter and I started strumming, breaking into Everything Has Changed.

 "'Cause all I know is we said hello
And your eyes look like coming home
All I know is a simple name, everything has changed
All I know is you held the door
You'll be mine and I'll be yours
All I know since yesterday is everything has changed "

The crowd erupted and Hunter asked the crowd, How about one more?". More cheering and clapping. He looked at me and mouthed 'Red', I turned to face the audience and began to sing. The nerves melted away and I heard the crowds singing back to me. 

 "Loving him is like driving a new Maserati down a dead-end street
Faster than the wind, passionate as sin ending so suddenly
Loving him is like trying to change your mind once you're already flying through the free fall
Like the colors in autumn, so bright just before they lose it all ..."

"Thank you so much for having me Calgary!" I waved, Hunter kissed my cheek and I walked off the side stage to Joelle and Stephanie's open arms. "You were amazing!" Hunter played a few more songs including a rendition of Paul Brandt's Alberta Bound before wrapping up his almost hour long set. "Thank you all so much, please keep singing and dancing - my friend Dustin Lynch is up next!"

Shortly after his set, we went with Hunter and the band onto the patio enjoy Dustin's show. The time flew by and Jake Owen came on stage. We sang along to Barefoot Blue Jean Night and I looked over to see Steph and Dustin. I nudged Hunter and he looked over. They were talking really close, "Stop being nosy," Hunter laughed, he started singing in my ear, 

 "Never gonna grow up
Never gonna slow down
We were shinin' like lighters in the dark
In the middle of a rock show "

I turned toward him, putting my arms around his neck and we slow danced right there on the patio singing to each other. He played a few of my other favourites including Beachin', Real Life and American Country Love song. The set finished with fireworks and I looked over again to see Dustin and Steph kissing, Hunter caught my stare and gently turned my chin up for my lips to meet his.

In the whirlwind of the concert closing down, we made our way back to the hotel. We had to pack up with Joelle and make our way to the airport to catch our flight home. I knocked on Stephanie's door, "Hey Steph, I gotta go now."

"One second," I heard her stumbling over to her door, She poked her head out and had a stupid grin on her face, and based on my expression, she smiled. "I'll call you when I get back home." I nodded.

"Be good," I winked, "travel safe!" 

Hunter met up with me in the hall, "She's got company." I whispered as Hunter silently nodded. We headed down to the lobby with Joelle and off to the airport. 

We boarded the plane and as soon as we took off, I was out like a light, asleep on Hunter's shoulder, dreaming of the next chance to go back to Alberta.

.