Dax
ALPHA TEA GOSSIP COLUMN
MAY THORNTON MYSTERIOUSLY QUIET AFTER A SERIES OF INTERVIEWS ATTACKING OLI HART AND THE EDGE
June 10th
I stare down at the stash I’ve been hoarding in a pile on my bed. There’s never a chance for time alone with Oli on this tour. We are almost always all together, but right now, while we drive to Atlanta, Aiden, Chase, and Jack are playing cards at the table, but Oli is reading on the couch.
This is probably my best chance for even a little privacy. I got lucky with the bracelet because the three of them were handling the press, but I doubt it will happen again soon.
I almost lost Oli when she was attacked, and she wouldn’t have ever known how I felt about her. So, I can’t wait until Miami.
I pause at the edge of my bunk, take a shuddering breath, and try to cobble together the right words in my mind. My heart’s doing this wild thing within me, thumping like it’s trying to break out and find her all on its own. This has to work. I need it to work.
I force my fingers to unclench from the fists they’ve become and grab the pile of things I think Oli likes.
I push open the door with a determination that feels raw.
Oli is curled up on the sofa. Her hair spills over the cushion, her green eyes hidden from me as they devour the pages of her latest read.
I pause, just watching her for a beat before stepping forward.
“Uh-hem.” I clear my throat rougher than I intended because, apparently, even my vocal cords are clumsy around her.
She startles, her focus snapping up to me.
I inch closer with what I hope passes for casual confidence. However, the collection of items feels heavier than it should, weighted by my unspoken apology and desire to make things right.
“Hey yourself,” she quips back, closing the book on her lap with a soft thud, a bookmark peeking out.
“Got something for you.” My voice comes out more breath than sound. I’m not the kind of person who gets nervous easily, but Oli is the exception.
It should be easier after how much she liked the bracelet, but I’m still panicking.
“Really?” A playful tilt of her head, and her hair catches the dim light.
I edge onto the seat beside her, close enough that our knees almost touch. Almost. I pull the items from behind my back.
Oli has a giant sweet tooth, so the first thing I got was a bag of candy. Then I noticed she always chooses the green ones from the mix, so I put together a bag of sour green candies.
Next is a fancy vanilla coffee syrup that she gets so damn excited over when Riley adds it to her coffee. I had to ask Riley about that one, but she only smirked when she told me.
The last item in the mix is the most vulnerable. She has clothes from Jack, Aiden, and Chase but not me, so I included a T-shirt that will be huge on her. Since she loves the one from Aiden, I hope she won’t mind. It’s covered in my scent.
“I noticed you might like these.” I watch her face, searching for any sign that I’ve stepped over a line or hit the mark.
“Wow, .” The words are soft, a melody all their own. “You noticed.”
“Hard to forget anything about you,” I admit.
She picks up the shirt and sniffs it before humming softly. “It’s yours.”
I grip the back of my neck, feeling awkward. “If you don’t want it, I can take it back, but I just thought-”
“Thank you.” She reaches out, not for the gifts, but for my hand. “This means a lot.”
I notice Chase, Jack, and Aiden are watching us out of the corner of my eye, but when I look at them, they all look away and pretend they’re still playing their game.
“You didn’t have to do all this,” Oli’s voice is a warm and sincere melody that wraps around me. Her green eyes are soft pools of gratitude, and I swear they’re brighter than any stage lights I’ve ever played under.
“Of course I did,” I say, then at the last second add, “I wanted to.”
Her laughter is a sound I’d chase to the end of the world, and it punches straight through the armor I’ve spent years forging. She’s got me feeling like some lovesick pup, but hell if I care when she’s looking at me like that.
The words tumble out before I can cage them, rough-edged with vulnerability. “I was thinking, maybe I could hang around a bit more? With you, I mean.”
The way her eyes soften sends a thrill skittering up my spine.
“Sure,” she says simply.
I stand up, thinking she means sometime in the future, but she grabs my hand and pulls me back down.
“Stay.”
“I don’t want to interrupt your reading. Maybe I could read with you?” I ask, gesturing to the novel clutched in her hand, hoping my eagerness doesn’t show too much.
“Only if you can handle that it’s a romance,” she teases, her eyes gleaming with challenge and promise.
“Sounds good to me,” I grin, settling beside her. “Maybe I’ll pick something up from it.”
Oli’s head settles on my shoulder, and her sweet strawberry scent surrounds me. The pages of her book rustle softly as she turns them.
I catch a line about some brooding dude making a mess of things.
“Wow, this guy’s a real piece of work,” I mutter, unable to keep the smirk from my voice.
She looks at me and chuckles, a sound that vibrates against my arm. “Don’t worry, he’s got an epic grovel coming up. It’s legendary.”
I realize that’s me, and I don’t like my role in our love story.
“Groveling, huh?” I say. “Kinda feels like what I’m doing right now. Trying to, anyway.”
Oli shifts to look at me, her bright green eyes holding traces of amusement. “You don’t need to grovel, . It’s fine you didn’t want an omega around.”
My brows knit together because I am not letting her think that was ever true. “Oli, listen to me. You deserve better than that. And, for the record, I did want you. I… have baggage.”
The words hang between us, heavy and sincere. Slowly, I slide my arm around her, pulling her closer until I can feel her warmth seeping into my skin. Our sides are pressed together in a cozy fit.
“Thank you for telling me, ,” she whispers, her breath fanning my neck, giving me goosebumps.
We sink back into silence, her body nestled against mine, the rhythm of her breathing syncing with my own.
Her hand finds mine, fingers intertwining, and I focus on the texture of her skin, the delicate strength of her grip.
The buzz of my phone halts me. With a frown etched deep, I fish it out from my back pocket before quickly shoving the phone back.
I don’t want to ruin the surprise by Oli seeing a text about it.
She doesn’t seem to notice since she’s so engrossed in her book.
I keep reading over her shoulder, trying to get some hints at what she might find a worthy grovel.
I tilt my head down, planting a soft kiss atop Oli’s head.
Happiness and shock come down the bond from my packmates.
They’ve never seen this side of me because I didn’t even know it existed. It’s only for Oli and will only ever be for Oli.