Free Caged In by J.D. Lowrance Page B

manager
I did not want to start off on a bad footing, so I sucked it up, stuck out my
hand and introduced myself. “I’m Charlotte Moore .”
    “No shit. I recognize you
now. Well I have to say Cage landed himself a shark this time, and not just any
shark, a fucking great white.”
    “Enough Hogan.” Cage’s voice
held a bit of an edge to it.
    “Why Cage? You have already
been connected to her, so why are you with her again? You don’t do do-overs.”
    “I mean it Hogan. Shut the
fuck up,” Cage seethed as he stepped in front of me, shielding me from Hogan. “Walk
away.”
    “This isn’t over. We will be
discussing this tomorrow at the band meeting.”
    “What-the-fuck-ever,” Cage
said, grabbing my hand and pulling me behind him.
    “You don’t want to see me
angry. You know what happens when I get angry,” yelled Hogan.
    “Easy Hulk,” laughed Locke
from across the deck. “No one here wants to see you turn green.” All laughed at
Locke’s remark, breaking up the tension for everyone except Cage, who looked
like a little green himself as if he could smash Hogan with just a thought.
     
    Cage
    I should be in
heaven , chilling with my boys and my girl finally by my side. Hell, I
should be laughing it up as Locke regaled stories of our road trips before we
made it big, making Charlie laugh. A small smile peeked out as I just sat back
and watched her beautiful face light up. Every once in a while she would look
over at me and smile or squeeze my hand, but then one of the guys would pull
her attention back to them. But I could not get Hogan out of my head. He was up
to something as I watched him go back and forth among the different groups here
tonight.
    There was Sex Bruise, an all
women, up-and-coming band that I thought was pretty awesome. They were our
first opening act for this tour and Shutter was obsessed with their drummer, a
cute little blonde. Then there was the other act which was some past-its-prime
band that Hogan managed as well. I had no idea how they got on this tour. We
swore Hogan had dirt on someone to get them on the billing.  Then there were
the groupies, our usual go-to-girls that warmed our beds whenever was needed.
Looking over the group, I think I was connected to all of them at some point in
time over the last few years. I shuddered at the thought, drawing Charlie’s
mesmerizing eyes to me.
    I took a long pull of my
beer to calm by nerves. Damn it. Why did I ever
leave her? I knew I was doomed that first night in my aunt’s house when I
realized Charlie would never come through my window again. She would never
crawl into my bed on really bad nights when only I could calm her racing heart
down.  And now I was about to leave her again? No fucking way.  I did
not have it in me. Charlie just had to come. I needed to check with the guys,
but they would be cool with it. It was Hogan that would throw the fit.
    “Where you going?” Charlie
asked as I stood up.
    “Bathroom and a refill. Want
one?” I really needed to talk to Hogan alone to head off any craziness he would
try to throw at me, but she did not have to know that.
    “Sure,” she smiled before
turning back to whatever nonsense Locke was spewing.
    I turned to see Hogan was
headed inside with a girl on each arm. That was probably what I looked like a
little more than six months ago, but seeing someone else do it made me realize
how pathetic it looked. How desperate I probably looked to anyone who actually
paid attention. The self-hate I was working to get over came roaring back. My
heart hammered in my chest as my palms got sweaty. Everything felt like it was
closing in until I turned and found Charlie’s green eyes on me. They were
creased in worry, as she started to stand to come to me if I needed her. Relief
swift and sure filled me. I shook my head, letting her know I was okay. Charlie
cocked her eyebrow as if to ask if I was sure. I nodded before making my way
into the house.
    Hogan was not in the
kitchen, but I could