Caged (Bound by Cage Book 1)

by Brittany Crowley

  “He could be the love of your life, your soul mate. Not giving this a shot on the off chance he “might” break your heart? You’re not a coward Sav, you are the most courageous person I know. What’s holding you back?”

  I look down at my hands. “What if I’m not enough for him,” I whisper. “I’m just a bar owner, I’m nothing special. You’ve seen all the women he’s been with, what if I don’t compare to them?”

  She scooches over and wraps her arms around me in an embrace. “You are worth it Savvy, you’re so worth it. I wish you could see what we do. Just let go and give it a chance, can you promise me that?”

  “I’ll try my best. You will never guess who stopped in at the bar tonight. Or maybe you will because we shouldn’t be shocked at his antics anymore.”

  She looks at me skeptically then says, “Luke. Mother fucker just won’t get the hint. You caught him fucking what’s her face a year ago, let it go man!” Ash has zero patience for Luke and is usually a whole lot meaner when he’s around. She is kind of like my feisty little guard dog.

  I nod in agreement and we start to surf through the TV channels. It’s about midnight and Zander still hasn’t called me. I stop on a channel immediately when I see Zander sitting in a chair wearing a suit and his sexy smile. He is getting interviewed by the late-night talk show host.

  “Now that we have all the trash talking out of the way, tell me Zander, is there a special lady in your life? You used to get photographed all the time coming out of clubs with numerous A-list actresses and models. Lately you’ve dropped off the grid, what’s the deal? Have you disappeared because of a certain someone?”

  “No man. I’m just enjoying the single life,” he laughs. “I don’t need any distractions coming up on this fight. I’m keeping my eye on the prize and training like an animal. Women are nothing but drama, I don’t need that in my life right now.” He looks at the camera and winks.

  “My sources say that you were seen earlier in the city with Shelly Storms. Do you care to clear that up?”

  The host puts up a picture of the two of them so the camera can zoom in. They are both laughing and he appears to be holding her. When he holds up the next picture of Shelly kissing him on the lips all the color washes out of his face and panic replaces his amused look from before. It was so quick I bet most people didn’t even pick up on it, but I saw. That’s right asshole, you better fucking panic!

  What the fuck just happened? I want to punch him right in his junk. I shut the TV off and I can feel the tears starting to form in my eyes as I replay what he just said. Has everything he said to me been a lie? Has he been with Shelly this whole time? Sure, we don’t know each other well, but he seemed so sincere when he said he’d regret not pursuing this. I am such a naïve idiot. Celebrities are rarely faithful, why would I think he’d be different. Just thinking about possibly being the other woman makes me physically sick. I thought I was something special to him, I bet he makes all the women think they are.

  “Fuck him, fuck him right in the ass,” she says as she pulls me into a hug. I don’t know what I would do without her. “I thought he was worth it, clearly I was wrong,” she whispers into my hair.

  I tell her I need some time to myself and excuse myself into my bedroom. I just want to go to bed and forget about everything, forget about Zander and his gorgeous face, his sexy body, the way he hugged me so tight. The way he kissed me with such passion and made me drench my panties with one look.

  Being a glutton for punishment I grab my phone to search the pictures from this afternoon. I type it in and am shocked to see all the pictures that were taken of them. Apparently, they enjoyed lunch together seeing as he is carrying her on the sidewalk while she kisses him. Realizing he was with her when he wasn’t calling me like he promised hurts me the most. Figuring out I’m an afterthought makes me so mad, I will not be anyone’s second choice. I’ve already been through that and I refuse to be a doormat again.

  Will you look at that! Speaking of the Devil himself, my phone starts to ring and Zander’s picture lights up my screen. “Too fucking late asshole,” I say aloud as I bitch button him. I place my phone on my nightstand after putting in on silent, refusing to punish myself any more.

  I roll over on my side praying for sleep to take me. Ashlyn peaks her head in around the door asking if I’m okay. I pull my blanket back, the universal sign for get your ass in here, and she jumps in bed with me. We’re always there for each other through everything whether it be break ups or just having a bad day. A few minutes later my eye lids begin to droop as I fall into a surprisingly peaceful sleep.

  *****

  Zander

  From the moment I stepped off the plane my whole trip to New York has been a shit storm. Why couldn’t Alverez keep his fucking mouth shut for once? I would much rather be at home this close to the fight training and then cuddling up to Savvy at night when I get home. I hate the celebrity side of things that come with being a star fighter, being forced into doing interviews fucking sucks.

  It’s the same question over and over again from all of the reporters and talk show hosts. Do you think you’re going to win? What do you think of Alverez calling you a pussy? Are you dating anyone? It’s the same shit over and over. Yes, I’m going to fucking kill him when I fight him in Vegas and I don’t give a shit if he calls me a pussy, everyone knows how badass I am. That’s not coming from a cocky place, just look at my fighting stats and that’s enough to back that statement up. As far as the dating question goes I need to keep a low profile and not mention anything about Savvy. If there is even an inkling that I have someone back home the vultures will descend on our town and then we’re screwed. Giving Alverez ammunition to use before the fight is a bad idea.

  Being escorted out of my third interview of the day my stomach rumbles, I am so fucking hungry. I got a text from my friend Shelly earlier and decided to meet up with her for an early dinner. Telling my driver to stop by her hotel so we can pick her up I shoot a quick text to Savvy to see what she’s doing. When she mentions that she misses me my chest puffs up a little bit more and I know I get a stupid ass grin on my face. I miss her too.

  “I know you’re excited to see me but I know that smiles not for me loser.”

  Shelly slides into the seat next to me and leans over to kiss my cheek. We have been friends since I started out in the fighting world. At that point she was an up and coming model and having a hard time fitting in with all the snooty bitches in this industry. When we met, we hit it off right away but we lacked that spark needed for a relationship so we decided to stick with just being friends.

  “I’m seeing someone,” I admit to her. If I can’t let the world know that I’m in a relationship I can at least share it with one of my best friends.

  “New love is fantastic. Do tell me about her Zander. Is she your usual?”

  By usual she means someone in our industry. When Savvy told me she looked me up on the internet and made a point to say that she saw all the pictures with the celebrity women I felt like she was going to run in the opposite direction from the look she had on her face. The media definitely portrays me dating a lot of people but the truth is most of the red-carpet pictures were staged to benefit both of our careers and they usually never went past the red carpet. I have said before that I got around and I didn’t lie about that but I know not to mix business and pleasure. I stuck to that rule 50% of the time, I am a guy.

  “Nope. I met someone from the town I moved to. She’s a bar owner and the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. You’d really like her.”

  “Now I’m intrigued. A bar owner, you got yourself a blue-collar girl?” she laughs like she told the funniest joke.

  “Watch it Shelly, I won’t have you disrespecting her.” She is one of my oldest friends but I will not have anyone talking negatively about my girl.

  “Wow, so I guess it’s serious. I was just joking around Zander. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you have more than a one night stand with someone o
utside of our industry. What happened to not getting involved with anyone so close to your big fight?”

  “I wasn’t planning on it but there is something there. The moment I laid eyes on her I knew she was different. Okay look at us, were together for 15 minutes and you are going to have my man card revoked. Enough with the girl talk lets go get some lunch I’m fucking starving.”

  “You always had a way with words, just know that I am happy for you. We all hope to find something like that one day knowing that it’s a long shot with how our lives are. I can’t wait to meet her.”

  Getting to the restaurant we get out of the car and get swarmed by paparazzi. Dante my body guard jumps out of the car to help fend them off. I should have known she would have tipped them off, Shelly always loves making a splash in the tabloids because it keeps her on top. I just wish she wouldn’t do it with me, especially now. The last thing I need is for Savvy to open up a magazine and see this on the front cover. In the middle of the swarm Shelly jumps into my arms and plants a kiss on my lips. I drop her to the ground immediately and shoot her with a glare letting her know that in no way shape or form is this acceptable. Sure, I’ve put up with it because I’ve always been single but I just finished telling her I was in a fucking relationship. Fear creeps up into my mind when I think about Savvy seeing the scene that just played out somewhere on the internet.

  Quickly making our way into the restaurant with the help of Dante we are quickly ushered over to one of the best tables. Once we sit down I can’t bite my tongue any longer.

  “What the fuck Shelly? The second I finish telling you I’m seeing someone you fucking maul me in front of all the photographers and kiss me! What the fuck is wrong with you?”

  At least she looks ashamed. “I’m so sorry Zander. I tipped them off before I saw you in the car and its force of habit to cause a scene in front of them. I bet they don’t even end up on the cover of a tabloid, you did drop me and shoot daggers at me. That’s not really what people want to see of us.”

  “This isn’t a fucking game. Don’t do that shit again. You are one of my best friends but if you can’t respect my relationship we’re not going to be able to meet up anymore. I’m serious, Savvy means a lot to me and I won’t ruin that over you causing a stir just to get noticed.”

  Tears begin to form in her eyes alerting me that she feels like shit. Sometimes when you’ve been dealing with all this shit as long as we have you don’t think like a normal person anymore. She doesn’t look at kissing as anything worse than shaking hands. We’ve had this discussion before where she admitted kissing is a part of the job for her, no emotion is involved.

  “I’m truly sorry Zander, if something happens I promise to talk to her for you and set the story straight.”

  “I appreciate it but I can handle my own relationship. No more publicity stunts with me, that part of my life is over now. I need to focus on my career and my new relationship.”

  Leaning over I give her a hug and a kiss on the cheek letting her know that all is forgiven. The waiter comes up to us and we place our order. I wish I could eat what I want, I’m so hungry and a salad and a plate of fish won’t do a thing for me. The only thing that stops me from ordering a big juicy steak and mashed potatoes is the fact that I need to be in the best physical shape I can possibly be in for the fight to win.

  “So why haven’t I heard about her until now? How long have you been together?”

  “I actually just met her a week ago.”

  “What? You’re this crazy over the girl after a week! She must be something special.”

  “What can I say? When you know, you know.”

  We chit chat for the next hour before my phone starts blowing up with messages from my manager telling me it’s time to get to another interview. Well it was fun while it lasted. We head back outside to the car and this time we keep our heads down not giving the paps anything to use on us.

  Dropping her off at her hotel I promise to call her next time we’re in the same city again and head towards my next round of radio interviews. I don’t so much mind them because I’m not on camera and don’t have to make sure I’m always conveying the right facial emotion. That shit can get exhausting.

  It’s nearly midnight now as I wait to be called for my interview on a late-night talk show. I was hoping to be hopping on a private plane back home earlier but this interview came up at the last minute. I actually love doing this show because I’m great friends with the talk show host. We always have a blast when I stop by the show. I want to shoot Savvy a text but I forgot my phone back at my hotel after my first round of interviews. I’ll just have to call her in the morning. An assistant pops his head in the dressing room to let me know I have to start making my way to the set.

  Walking out to thunderous applause I wave to all the fans in the audience. I truly love my fans, I wouldn’t be where I am if they hadn’t been with me every step of the way. I give my buddy a hug and sit in the chair next to his desk. The interview is going great, I’m trash talking Alverez and discussing the fight. I’m in shock when he asks me if there is anyone special in my life. I give a standard response knowing that I can’t out my relationship, especially on this show because it’s so popular.

  I think I’m in the clear until he pulls up two pictures from earlier of Shelly and myself. I begin to panic when I see the one of her in my arms kissing me on the lips. Motherfucker! I school my expression as fast as I can and brush the encounter off. I finish the interview as fast as possible and call him an asshole as I head to the back. I don’t know why he’d bring up something like that, he knows I don’t like to talk about my personal life. I understand this is his job but he could have at least given me some warning. Sometimes this industry changes people and they stab you in the back.

  Leaving the set as fast as I can I really wish I had my phone. There is no way I can be sure that Savvy saw this interview but if she did I don’t stand a chance. She is already skeptical of this part of my life. I know this will not help in the least. Rushing to get back to my hotel I dial her number the second I find my cell phone. It goes to voicemail after one ring. Fucking bitch buttoned! I think that answer’s if she saw the interview. Trying a few more times with the same result I decide to shoot off a couple texts to her.

  This better not have cost me my fucking relationship. I finally find someone that I know is perfect for me and I blow it with a fucking interview. She isn’t used to this life and I couldn’t even warn her about my answers because I didn’t have my phone on me. There is no way I’m falling asleep anytime soon so I decide to head down to the hotel gym for a while.

  The whole time I’m taking my frustrations out on the punching bag I pray that she will hear me out when I get home, she has to at least give me five minutes to hear me out.

  CHAPTER 8

  The door closing wakes me up from my sleep. Realizing Ashlyn woke up and left my room I roll over and suddenly the night before comes back to me. I’m such an idiot. I knew it would eventually end, I just thought it would start a little bit first. I shake my head with a new resolve. I’m not this pathetic naïve woman pining after a man that doesn’t want her, fuck him. I don’t need him or his delectable kisses. I grab my phone and am surprised to see six missed calls from Zander along with numerous texts and voicemails.

  I delete them all without reading or listening to them, he is not worth my time anymore. I get up and head out to the kitchen to grab some caffeine. Most people are addicted to coffee but not me. My caffeine of choice is Diet Pepsi, I just can’t get enough of it.

  Ashlyn bounces into the kitchen dressed in her running clothes singing to herself. “Great you’re up! Get your ass in gear so we can go for our run seeing as we missed yesterday’s. We have to open today so we have to head out now.”

  I finish my soda as I roll my eyes then head to my bedroom and get dressed. A run is probably just what I need right now to clear my head. I walk outside to find Ashlyn stretching and I join her. Soon enough we’re off
on our run. I make her change up our route not wanting to run by Zander’s gym just in case he is back already.

  We get home 45 minutes later and I’m a panting sweaty mess. “You would think I would somehow get used to this seeing as we run four days a week, but I don’t. I hate running,” I say laughing between my heaving breaths.

  I look up at Ashlyn and see she is barely winded. “I hate you,” I mumble as we walk in the front door.

  “So, have you thought about what you’re going to say to Zander yet? I mean, you can’t avoid him forever, he is our new building buddy.”

  “I don’t want to talk about it. Thinking about coming face to face with him again gives me anxiety. Let’s just get ready and head into work please.”

  I check my phone when I get into my room. I notice I have a missed call from my dad and a couple more text messages from Zander. For someone that basically said I was nothing for everyone to see on national television, he sure is being persistent. I head for the shower to wash this sweat off of me.

  I’m coming back into my room when my phone goes off. I think it must be my dad, so I answer without looking at the screen.

  “Hey Dad, sorry, I noticed you called. I was about to call you back.”

  I’m shocked when I’m met with a relieved sigh and a whispered, “Savvy.” Why the hell didn’t I look at the screen when I answered? This is just my luck to be blindsided by this conversation that I definitely would have put off indefinitely or at least until I psyched myself up a bit.

  “What do you want Zander?” I try to sound agitated instead of how I really feel, hurt.

  “Savvy, you need to let me explain. I should have filled you in before I went in for the interview. My-…” but I cut him off.

  “No, you don’t have to explain anything to me. I saw the pictures of you guys together so there is no denying it. And the fact that I don’t even qualify as a distraction to you, message received loud and clear asshole. I’m just glad I found out about the real you before I fell even harder,” as I say the last word a sob comes up my throat before I can stop it. I should have never just said that I fell for him but I can’t help it, I have known him for a few days and I know what I felt for him was different. I thought we were different.