Page 32 of Knot My Band: Part One
“It’s not something to be ashamed of.” I grab his hand and squeeze.
Jack gives me a small smile. “I know.”
I believe him, which means it’s not him that wants it to be a secret.
Without pushing for more, I take another bite and let him decide what he wants to share.
“Dax was there first, then me. We, uh, didn’t click at first. It actually took Chase getting there a year later for us to get along. He was just this goofy kid who bothered both of us until we spent time with him. That’s when I felt the pack bond starting to form. It felt like something was missing until a year later, Aiden got there. He was small and shy, which made all of us want to take him under our wings. We were shocked when he ended up bigger than all three of us.”
I smile at that, picturing a young Aiden being bombarded by these three, especially an exuberant Chase.
“I’m glad the four of you found each other.”
He nods. “Me too.”
The air gets cooler as the sun keeps moving lower in the sky. I know we need to get back to the bus, but I want to savor this moment with Jack and our budding affection.
We lock eyes, and it’s like we are the only two people inthis park.
“Hey, Oli?” he asks, his voice barely above a whisper.
“Yeah?” I reply, leaning in closer.
He leans down, his lips hovering just above mine. “Can I kiss you?”
I answer him by pressing my lips against his. It’s a slow, soft kiss that feels like getting to know each other, so different from our first kiss, which was full of passion and possession. His tongue pokes out and tastes my lips in a sweet exploration before he pulls back too fast. My lips chase his, and he chuckles softly.
“Today was incredible,” I confess, leaning my head against his shoulder.
“Agreed,” he says, his arm finding its way around me, pulling me closer. “I’ve decided I want joint custody of the dinosaur. To help me remember it.”
I tug it tighter against me in protest but hold my tongue. If he spends time with it, too, that means it will have his scent, and that’s worth sharing it for.
“Fine.”
I feel the vibration of his laughter through the connection of our bodies.
“We better get back. The bus is driving through the night to get to Salt Lake,” Jack reminds me.
We stand and, hand in hand, make our way back to the bus.
The rest of the guys are gathered around the table. I say a quick hello before bringing my stuffed animal into my nest and snuggling it while thinking about that kiss.
Oli
DIRTY BETA GOSSIP COLUMN
OLI HART’S OFF-KEY PERFORMANCE STRIKES A SOUR NOTE
April 9th
Salt Lake City and Seattle go by without a hitch. The crowds continue to love The Edge, and the more times we perform, the better the show goes. I think my fans are starting to listen to The Edge’s music more before the shows because now they’re singing along.
Time with the guys has been easy, except for Dax and his grumpy attitude.
The hum of the tour bus mingles with the murmur of conversation as we make our way to Vancouver.
“I want donuts,” Chase says without looking up from his phone.
