Free Big Girl Rocking in the Sunshine: Big Girl Series Bk3 by Aubrey Rose Page B

emergency?”
    The guard shrugged and let her in. She saw Pat just inside the hallway.
    “What’s happening?” she asked, breathless. “They said there was an emergency.”
    “It’s a PR emergency,” the manager said, his forehead beaded with sweat. He was texting someone on his cell phone, his thumbs moving rapid-fire on the keys.
    “Where’s Julian?”
    “They’re all in Alex’s room,” Pat said, pointing his thumb back at the door marked Alex Wilder before going back to his texts. “You probably don’t want to go in there.”
    “What? Why not?”
    “It’s nothing. Alex is just a bit worked up.”
    Something heavy crashed against the dressing room door from inside, and Shannon’s eyes widened.
    “Alright, he’s a lot worked up.” Pat read an incoming message on his phone, and groaned.
    Shannon pushed past him impatiently and opened Alex’s dressing room door. As she walked through the doorway a chair skidded across the floor and banged hard into a table.
    “What the FUCK?” Alex yelled. His flushed face was knotted into a mixture of sorrow and anger. Julian leaned against the dressing room counter, and both Daniel and Asher sat in chairs, watching with not a small amount of worry.
    “What’s going on?” Shannon asked. She took a tentative step inside the dressing room as Alex whirled his arm around, scattering the venue financial paperwork into the air.
    “Don’t ask,” Asher said. Daniel shook his head in agreement.
    “What in the good goddamn FUCK?” Alex threw himself backwards against the wall, his head held in his hands as though it would burst if he let go. His arms vibrated with tension.
    “This can’t be happening,” he said. His head shook. “Not happening. Not now.”
    Shannon’s eyes moved to Julian, who nodded toward the television.
    “BREAKING NEWS!” It was one of those Hollywood entertainment channels. On screen was a photograph of Alex Wilder locked in a passionate embrace. The surprising part came when Shannon saw who Alex was kissing.
    “Is that Jason?”
    Alex spun around toward Shannon.
    “You know him?”
    “Um… yeah.” Everybody was staring at Shannon. The air in the room was thick with confusion. “He’s my friend.”
    “Did you take that picture?”
    Alex pushed aside the chair in front of him and strode towards Shannon. Immediately Julian stood up.
    “Did you-”
    “No!” Shannon cried out. “No, of course not!”
    “You tell your goddamn friend that whoever he got to snap this picture is going to get sued off of his ass for slander. You know what they’re saying about me?” Alex stood right in her face, his breath hot with anger.
    “Hey, don’t talk to her that way.” Julian reached Alex and grabbed ahold of one of his shoulders.
    “Don’t touch me!” Alex turned and tried to shake Julian off. “It’s her fucking friend!”
    “It’s not her fault you’re gay!”
    It felt like slow motion. Alex’s fist pulled back, and Shannon could only watch in horrified paralysis as he hit Julian hard, right in the face. Julian’s head whipped back and he stumbled backwards from the punch.
    “Fuck!” Julian’s hand came up to hold his cheek. Alex, still frenzied, went to throw another punch and Julian caught his arm, wrenching it forward. Alex was pulled off balance and Julian shoved him across the dressing room counter. Shannon heard the dressing mirror lights shatter as Alex’s lower body smashed into them.
    “Stop it!” she cried out. Julian stepped back as Pat rushed through the door.
    “Owww,” Alex moaned. He held his side.
    “Everybody out!” the manager cried. Asher and Daniel stood up in immediate synchrony and made for the door. Julian looked back at Shannon.
    “Everybody out!” he said. “Only Alex can stay. Everybody else out!”
    Julian drew one arm around Shannon and led her out, looking backwards over his shoulder at Alex, still prostrate on the counter. There was a look of desperation in his eyes, and Shannon had the