Page 13 of Knot My Band: Part One
“Hey, big guy,” she calls out, her voice as vibrant as her personality. “You’re here early.”
A surge of nervousness strikes me, and my palms suddenlyfeel too warm.
I stand there awkwardly, fingers tapping an erratic rhythm on the keyboard stand. Would it be weird if I walked over? Or weirder if I just stayed here?
Sometimes, being a large guy makes my whole body feel awkward and uncoordinated. I’m pretty sure I’m the only alpha cursed to feel that way, though. The rest seems overcompensated with confidence.
“Mind if I join you?” Her question slices through my internal debate, and I swear the air shifts, becoming lighter and easier to breathe.
Her presence alone calms my anxiety.
“Of course,” I manage, cursing my sudden lack of cool under her gaze.
No matter how rough Dax is, she still comes in the next day full of joy.
She saunters over, her warmth radiating as she flashes me that trademark kind smile. “How have you been coping with all this chaos?” she asks, leaning against the keyboard stand.
“Fine,” I say.
I don’t know what to add, but she takes it in stride.
“You know today is choreo, right?” she asks.
I roll my eyes. “Oh, yeah.”
She laughs. “I’m sorry to say I don’t think you’ll enjoy it, but it was already planned for the show.”
My nerves begin to settle, melting away with our small talk.
“I don’t mind. It will be fun to add something else to the show. This will be our biggest tour, so I know there will be new aspects.”
She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear, and I have the overwhelming urge to be the one doing it. “That’s a greatperspective.”
“I guess your optimism is rubbing off on me.” I flash a grin, hoping it looks more confident than I feel.
Oli smiles at me like I just made her day. It’s wide and bright, full of joy and fondness.
For the first time in my life, my chest starts to rattle softly, and I think I’m about to purr. I shove it down, cutting off the sound before it can get loud enough for Olive to hear. That would be embarrassing.
I want to make her smile like this every second of every day.
Of course, my pack mates ruin the moment, crashing into the room.
Oli’s light dims like it does every day when Dax strides past her without saying hello.
Chase and Jack make up for it with their enthusiasm. Chase pulls her into a tight hug. He started on the third day of rehearsals, and I’m jealous. I want to be smooth enough to initiate that with her.
Jack says hello and asks about her day while checking her over, ensuring she’s still safe and healthy. All three of my pack mates keep looking at me, probably wondering what we were doing before they got here.
The choreographer strides in, all bright-eyed enthusiasm and a clipboard that looks way too organized for our usual chaos. I stand off to the side, my back resting against the cool wall, trying to ignore the knot of nerves in my stomach.
She greets Oli with a hug, and she enthusiastically returns it.
“Hi, Alexandra! Alexandra, meet Jack Hansley, Aiden Adams, Chase Sullivan, and Dax Grey. Guys, this is Alexandra. She’s a choreography genius.”
We all politely say hello. I can’t tell what her designation is with the scent removers that are sprayed through the vents of the building, but I don’t think she’s an alpha.
“Alright, boys,” she claps her hands, “Let’s get moving. We’ve got some ground to cover. Oli knows all the steps since she learned them with her old band, which will help things go faster, but you all have work to do.”
