Page 101 of Knot My Band: Part One
“Seems durable,” he mutters, more to himself than anyone else, but I catch the words and cross over to him. I touch his arm lightly, making him look down at me.
“Good choice, Dax,” I assure him. “It’s got that ‘will survive a rock tour’ vibe.”
“Exactly what I was going for,” he replies, the ghost of a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
We amass a growing collection of nest necessities, piling them high in our arms. All four of them wander away at some point. Laughter rings out as someone accidentally knocks over a stack of cushions, and playful jabs are exchanged when Aiden tries to sneak an extra-large stuffed bear into the mix.
“Oli needs something to cuddle when we’re all being pains in the ass,” he defends, his grin infectious.
“Speak for yourself. I’m delightful company,” Chase counters, earning an eye roll from Jack.
“Sure you are,” Jack teases, his arm slipping around myshoulders in a brief, comforting squeeze.
I laugh, reveling in the camaraderie.
We spill out of the store after arranging a delivery for this afternoon.
The guys insisted on paying for it, even though I could more than afford it.
“Who knew shopping could be so exhausting?” Aiden chimes in, side-stepping a puddle.
“Speak for yourself. I’m ready for round two,” I tease, bumping my hip against his as we navigate the sidewalk.
A camera flashes off to my left, and I walk faster, hoping it was a fluke.
When the next one goes off, I know it’s not.
“Oli Hart! Is this The Edge?”
“Are they your pack?”
“Were you nest shopping with them?”
More cameras go off, and I know someone tipped off the paparazzi.
“Shit! We need to go,” Jack commands us.
“The car is another block up,” Dax says.
We start rushing, pushing past people and the growing crowd. People have noticed the paparazzi and want to know who we are.
“I love you, Oli Hart!” A young girl screams out.
I smile and wave to her but otherwise ignore everyone else.
One of the guys with a camera cuts us off. “Does the Edge really deserve you, Oli?”
Jack growls before barking. “Back off.”
We get past him, but people keep coming. My alphas surround me like a wall as we get swarmed.
“We are bringing bodyguards next time,” Dax says.
I’m overstimulated and worried when we finally get to the car.
Jack holds my door open and arranges me inside, buckling me before shutting the door. Everyone gets in, and the car muffles the noise around us.
They move out of the way as Jack drives us through them.
