Free Hung Out: A Needles and Pins Rock Romance by Lyrica Creed Page A

This area was normally empty.
    The dragons parted, admitting us, and he parked inside the garage. “Do you have a minute? I have a couple of pictures if you wouldn’t mind taking a look.”
    Pictures? “Sure.”
    Rascal appeared with his normal enthusiastic greeting, and I knelt, scratching his head. Mike deposited my groceries on the butcher-block bar and then retraced his steps out of the kitchen. By the time he was back, spreading the pictures on the bar, I’d put away the freezer items and had poured myself a soda.
    “I’m sorry about this. I know you’ve had a full day. But it won’t take a minute.” When I shrugged my assent, he pointed. “This person. Any idea who he is?”
    The print was blurred a bit, as if it had been enlarged on the face of the forty-something year-old-man who was the focus. His hair was neither dark or light, long or short. The tattoo, a flame on one side of his neck was the only thing keeping him from being an average nondescript face.
    Slowly, I shook my head and picked up another and then another of the same person. The hairs on the back of my neck lifted when I noticed the mailbox of Gage’s neighbor in the background—and the dusty white car. A date graced the corner of each photo, all within the period of the last couple of months.
    “I don’t know him. He’s paparazzi?” I noticed the large bag swinging from his shoulder.
    “Seems to be. But I had him checked out and he’s not a regular.”
    “Are you asking because he’s been seen a lot? Around here?”
    “Around you. One of those shots is on campus.” With a forefinger, he tapped one of the photos. “So Gage said to ask you. In case you knew him from school or somewhere.”
    I hugged my arms to my chest. He’d talked to Gage. Gage had said to ask me. Gage hadn’t asked me himself. The hurt and anger balling inside me gathered more ugliness. He’d told Logan the date he was coming home. But not me.
    “I don’t know him. Sorry.” Hating the snippy, clipped way in which I’d delivered the reply, I turned away, busying myself with a refill of Sprite. Pulling in a deep breath, I offered over my shoulder. “I was going to order a pizza. You want anything?”
    He did and after we’d placed the order, he gathered the pictures and disappeared into the garage apartment.
    Probably to call Gage.
    Using fatigue as an excuse, I begged off in reply to a text from Seth concerning tonight’s guitar lesson. Then I called Logan.

Chapter 15

    “S he wants to do what?” Gage exploded into the phone, drawing eyes from the others around the pool area. Leaping from the deck chair, he strode out of the fenced in area and talked as he walked. “Tell me what she said exactly.”
    “She didn’t say much.” Logan spoke carefully, likely afraid of inciting further ire. “She said she wanted to be closer to campus and asked if I had any apartment recommendations. Naturally, because of her situation, I suggested a few of the higher security compounds. And then she asked if I wouldn’t mind emailing her the links. That she wanted to be moved in before the end of the month.”
    The end of the month being his return to L.A. That part went unsaid, but it rang loud in the dialogue pause.
    “So just tell me what you want me to do, and I’ll get right on it.”
    Smart man. Logan knew where his paycheck came from. Gage, slowed, and finding the courtyard empty, turned into it. “Fuck. Just fuck.” He squeezed his eyes closed and reopened them, wishing he would find he was dreaming the last four months. Wishing he would open his eyes in Cabo or Lake Arrowhead or his own bed with Scar beside him. “Send her the links. Send ’em to me too. I’ll send them to Mike and have him advise.”
    “Will do. I emailed your flight itinerary yesterday.”
    “I got it. Thanks.”
    “No problem. So, I’ll get this other taken care of then.” Logan seemed to hesitate.
    “Was there anything else?”
Please, no more bad news
.
    “That’s it. I