Big Girl Playing in Paris: Big Girl Series Bk4 Read Online Free PDF Page B

would be completely different, but sitting on the bench Shannon realized that things were more similar than she could have guessed. The one major difference she saw in the park were the overt displays of public affection. Couples in love walked past, holding hands and kissing.
    Shannon realized that she was crying. She wiped her eyes with a tissue and tried not to care so much, but she couldn’t. Her phone buzzed with another message. Julian had been leaving tons of texts and dozens of messages since that morning, and she hadn’t been able or willing to listen to them all.
    Come on, Shannon. Get yourself together.
    She dialed her voicemail. Fifty-three new messages.
    “Baby, please pick up when I call you again. Please. I just want to talk.”
    “… God, why am I doing this? Let me make it up to you, Shannon, please.”
    “Shannon, I am the sorriest asshole that ever existed. You deserve someone better. But I’m never going to find anyone better than you, so I’m gonna fight for you until it’s over. I don’t believe we’re over. Not yet.”
    Shannon couldn’t listen. She hung up on the voicemail, crying. When the phone buzzed again, she wanted to fling it across the park. But when she looked at the screen, it was Asher calling.
    Or Julian from Asher’s phone. Shannon hesitated for a moment, then answered it. She could hang up if it was Julian, after all.
    “Shannon, hey.”
    She let out a sigh of relief. It was Asher.
    “Hi Asher,” she said. Her voice was trembling, and she coughed to get the lump out of her throat.
    “Hey, so about Julian—”
    “We’re done,” Shannon said, but she said it softly. “I hope he’s okay, but we’re done.”
    “Is this because of last night? He was drinking way too much, sure, yeah.”
    “Asher, I don’t need you making excuses for him.”
    “I’m not. He’s always had problems with alcohol.”
    “It’s not just the alcohol.”
    “Then what?”
    “There was a girl standing next to him,” Shannon said. Two girls, actually.
    Asher sighed. “Sure, there are always girls fawning over him, and he always brushes them off. But he wouldn’t—he hasn’t touched another girl since he’s been here.”
    Shannon frowned. Julian was the only person who’d ever made her happy, who ever cared about making her happy. But if she couldn’t trust him then it was all over.
    “Asher—”
    “Look, Shannon, I know he can be a moron. But he loves you, he really does. And like, I feel like this was kind of my fault.”
    “How?”
    “Well, you know, he told me he was lonely, and he always used to drink when he’s upset. But I thought that was over. I never thought he would end up sick like that.”
    “Is he okay? I mean, he was pretty drunk last night—”
    “Did you not listen to his messages? We had to take him to the hospital.”
    “Oh my god.” Shannon put her hand to her chest.
    “I’m sorry,” Asher said. “I thought you knew.”
    “No,” Shannon said. “Jesus. He’s okay, though, right?” She couldn’t keep the worry out of her voice. If he did anything stupid because of her—
    “Yeah, he’s fine. I wanted to see about the concert. If you would come.”
    “No,” Shannon said. “Asher, no.”
    “Hey, I can’t change your mind about Julian. Okay, fine. Just come to the concert tonight, please. If he knows you’re coming, he won’t… it won’t be so bad for him.”
    “Asher, this isn’t my problem anymore. I’m leaving on a plane tonight at ten.”
    “Okay, but please,” he said. She could hear the worry in his voice. “Just come for a little bit at the beginning. Please. I’m afraid he’s going to fuck up the whole tour.”
    Shannon sighed.
    “It’s not my responsibility.”
    “I know. But please. Please . I’m begging you. I know he’s begging you. I’ll get Alex and Daniel on the phone to beg you if it helps.”
    Despite her tears, Shannon couldn’t help but laugh at Asher’s sincere tone. She exhaled. It was hard; she