Page 8 of Knot My Band: Part One
I want this to work, but there is only so much I can do. Trevor told me they agreed to join my tour, and we scheduled a rehearsal every day until then. Luckily, we both live in California, so it’s easier.
The room is full of instruments and equipment, different from how I always had it set up with my old band. They’ve moved The Edge’s equipment in here.
I barely have time to drink it all in before the door slams open, Chase, Jack, Aiden, and Dax walking in.
Dax walks right past me without a greeting.
“Chatty, aren’t we?” I call after him, unable to resist poking the bear. He doesn’t respond; he just heads toward his bass guitar like it’s his only friend in the room.
I watch him for a beat longer, curiosity nipping at me. What is his problem with me?
Aiden is all soft edges and tentative movements. His hands are shoved deep into the pockets of faded jeans. He waves with a soft smile, standing behind Jack and Chase, who both have huge smiles and come right up to me.
“Good morning, Oli!” Jack greets. He’s all sun-bleached hair and effortless swagger, striding toward me confidently.
“You look gorgeous today,” Chase says cheekily with a wink. There’s a playful spark in those smoldering green eyes, a silent challenge that sends an unexpected shiver down my back.
I have to remind myself that he doesn’t mean anything with it. The last thing I need is to get caught up in the gravitational pull of a playboy’s charm.
“It’s good to see you all. I’m excited to get started today.” I return their broad smiles with one of my own.
“We could start if you would stop flirting,” Dax adds.
I pivot toward Dax, feeling the weight of his stare like a physical touch, sharp and unyielding. He’s a fortress of a man, all brooding intensity wrapped in leather, with arms folded across his chest as if to ward off any attempt at closeness.
“No flirting here. We can’t start until Trevor arrives. He wants to go over the setlist with us,” I inform them.
Chase leans in so only I can hear him. “We could find a way to pass the time.”
“You’re a huge flirt, aren’t you?” I accuse, shoving Chase back.
Aiden scoffs before Jack says, “Well, you’ve got that right.”
Trevor comes in after one quick knock on the door. “Everyone getting along in here, I hope.”
He stares at me, waiting for an answer.
“Of course we are, Trevor. Nothing to worry about.” I give him a thumbs up, which Chase copies from beside me, making me chuckle.
“Good. I have the setlist here for you to start working on. You don’t have much time, so you should start practicing in order. Oli’s tour has been planned for a while so we are working you into existing plans.”
He hands each of us a piece of paper. The songs and order look familiar to me. The only difference is that The Edge’s songs are sprinkled in more heavily at the front.
“Four songs?” Dax asks, incredulous.
I wince.
“Once again, I remind you that you’re not as big as Oli, and this was her tour first,” Trevor says firmly.
I can see all of them gearing up for a fight, and I want to step in and diffuse it before that happens.
“Trevor, let’s make it seven. We can cut ‘The End Of Us,’ you know I hate performing that anyway, and we make the set longer.”
Trevor is looking at me with lowered eyebrows and thin lips. “Oli-”
I smile at Trevor before turning to the guys. “How does seven sound?”
Jack grins, Aiden has wide, grateful eyes, and Chase smolders. Only Dax still looks unhappy, but his lips twitch almost imperceptibly, the barest hint that I’ve caught his attention. His voice is gravelly and terse as he mutters, “Seven seems fair.”
