Page 69 of AMS.TER.strum

‘You’d better be! So…how is this going to work out? Do you need me to arrange transportation to the airport? Change your ticket for a couple of days?’

I might as well drop the next bomb. ‘The doctor said it’s better that I stay put for the following weeks…’

Aaron slides his palm down his mouth and chin. When he speaks, there’s warning in his tone. ‘Right… Tell me this isn’t just to prolong your stay in Europe.’

‘You know I would never be that unprofessional.’

‘For your sake, I hope you aren’t.’

Iris’s voice interrupts us. ‘We’re here!’

‘I’ve gotta go, Aaron. Let’s continue this conversation soon.’

‘Send me a photo. Preferably a full-body one, including your crutches, for social media,’ he says, before the screen goes blank, and I sigh at the temporary relief.

Chapter Thirty-Four

2022

Luuk

‘Hey, viral person!’ Corrie smiles, brightening the room and my mood from across the miles.

A pained grunt leaves my throat. ‘Not you, too… I hate that word! We already had one virus that put our lives on hold for two fucking years.’

‘Sorry, couldn’t help it! Should I feel intimidated by the fact that the Luuk Meiers’ face is filling my screen?’ She presses her lips together, but the glint in her eyes betrays her.

‘I’ll be happy to send an autograph.’

‘How about bringing it yourself? Aren’t you country singers supposed to be nomads, touring nonstop? There are many a cowboy hats and boots ready for you over here.’

‘Working on it, I promise.’

‘I sure hope you are; we’ve missed you. Your mini fan club keeps asking for you.’

‘I miss you, too, guys, it’s just been madness round here.’

Since the world started going back to normal again, people are more eager to catch up with everything that wasn’t allowed for two years. With the popularity of my songs rising, this means shows lined up, where we either open the concert of bigger names or are part of a gig with various artists. Both make me want to pinch myself, like, how is this my life? How, from writing music in order to vent and escape, have people started singing my songs, even correcting me once or twice, when I got confused out of sheer nerves?

Aaron wants to take advantage of the momentum, so I often wake up at some hotel after a show and wonder where the hell I am. Or who’s sleeping next to me. The latter doesn’t happen that often, but the offer is there, so once in a while, I indulge. I’m still trying to stomach all this sudden popularity, where everyone wants a piece of me—Gordon makes sure to remind me which part of me my lady fans want.

Corrie says, ‘Hmm, someone has a very prolific dating life.’

‘You shouldn’t believe everything you read; most of those assumptions are exactly that.’

‘So you’re saying that no, ahem… underwear was hurt during those concerts?’

‘My lips are sealed.’

‘Jokes aside’—Corrie’s eyebrows move up and down fast—‘how are you dealing with all this?’

Finally, someone who doesn’t assume I live in fairyland! ‘I love bonding with my fans, hearing them sing my songs, and I won’t complain about things going significantly better financially. Also, travelling all the time prevents the silence of an empty home.’

‘I’m so sorry, I can’t fathom how tough it must be. Are you planning to keep the place?’

‘As a matter of fact, I’m in the process of selling it and getting a condo. It did take some processing, but it’s time.’ I steal a look at my laptop’s clock. ‘I’m sorry to cut our chat short, but Aaron has lined up some photoshoot and an interview for a popular blog…’

‘No worries, I’ll meet the ladies in an hour or so, which means I have to get ready.’