Front Man: One Night in Paris Read Online Free PDF

her, he knew that now. Though every fibre of his being longed to see her, the truth was they barely knew each other. One mad night of passion, a few emails and text messages...that barely counted. She would have seen the papers by now, and she would think exactly what the rest of the world thought; that he was scum. He couldn't expect anything else. The thought of seeing her face to face, trying to explain the whole mess, the thought of Sara rejecting him...it was all too much. He just couldn't. Jack sat paralysed, consumed by his own misery, no idea where to go or who he could turn to. Years ago, in what felt like another life, it would have been Laura. Holding his hand, trying to make him laugh. No matter what happened, Laura could always get a smile out of him. She had looked at her big brother like he was a hero, the guy who could do no wrong. Right up until the end, she had believed in him. For a moment, Jack could almost imagine her sitting beside him, ten years old, her strawberry-blonde pigtails sticking out at funny angles, a grin on her face that revealed her crooked front tooth. This would always be the image he kept of his sister, pretty and innocent. Not what came later. He couldn't bear to think of that. Jack stared up at the orange glow of the street light as it filtered through the trees, willing away the tears that threatened to blur his vision. He willed himself to get up, to head back to the hotel. But he wasn't ready, not yet. He would just sit for a little longer.
     

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    Sara looked up at the clock. Compass were due on stage in an hour - the rest of the band would be in their dressing rooms, running through their own pre-show rituals. Once upon a time Sara would have wanted nothing more than to be in the front row, cheering them on. But tonight was different. Tonight there would be no Jack Carter, no front man. And all Sara cared about was seeing him safe. She replayed their early morning conversation in her head, over and over, hoping to recall some small detail that would give a hint of where he was, of what he was thinking. But she had nothing to go on. Only what Michael had said,that he'd be roaming the city somewhere. She gazed out of the window and pictured Jack lost in the winding streets of Paris. Fuck it, she thought to herself, there was no point sitting around driving herself crazy. Ignoring the rational part of her brain, she pulled on her jacket and headed for the elevator. Though she barely knew Jack Carter, and had no idea what was going on, Sara was sure of one thing. He called her because he needed her. She came because, despite all her misgivings, she wanted to be there for him. And if she had to hunt him down in a strange, dark city, then that was what she was going to do
    The rain had finally stopped, but the wind carried a chill. Sara stuffed her hands in her pockets, wishing she had gloves. The receptionist had thrust an elaborate map of Paris into her hands as she left the hotel, but she had given up trying to follow her route. It wasn't like she knew where she was going anyway. Instead, Sara followed the river, hoping the dark waters of the Seine would lead her to her lover. She scanned the faces of everyone she passed, hoping Jack would emerge from the crowd, but there were only strangers, puzzled as to why the tourist was staring at them. Though her body ached with tiredness, Sara kept walking. Suddenly she found herself standing before the glittering glass pyramid of the Louvre, and she stopped and stared for a moment. The contrast of the modern structure with the ancient building behind was quite breathtaking, and Sara almost forgot the purpose of her mission as she marvelled at its beauty. She thought of the Mona Lisa tucked safely away inside, charming visitors with her mysterious expression, unreadable yet alluring. Jack was no oil painting, but there was something enigmatic about him too, a sadness behind every smile. Hidden depths that she would love to uncover, if