by Kole, Lana
So color him surprised when Lyric bit her lip and glanced between the four of them. “Why don’t we call it a day a little early?”
Desi grinned, and with a click of her sticks in one hand, stood up.
“Hell yes!” she agreed.
Nohen grinned at her enthusiasm, his shoulders relaxing. Desi was fun.
“So, I guess I’ll see you guys in the morning?” Lyric asked, and popped the mic back into its stand. She’d really gotten into the last song, dancing around and making them all smile, even Emerson, who Nohen couldn’t quite put his finger on. Friend or foe? He couldn’t tell yet.
Nohen nodded absently in answer to Lyric’s question and lifted the strap over his head before placing the guitar gently in its stand.
“Actually…” Desi began. “Why don’t we all… go out?”
Lyric snapped her head around at the beta and stared. “Out?”
With a shrug, Desi grinned. “Yeah. Why not? We can get dinner and chat or go dancing.”
“All of us?” she questioned again, darting her gaze over to him before Odd and to Emerson.
Desi’s lips twitched. “Yes, that’s what I said. We’re going to be stuck together for six weeks on a bus. And no offense, but I’m not one to walk on eggshells around people, so we might as well get to know each other ahead of time. If I piss you off now, you’ll have time to get over it before we get on the bus.”
Lyric shook her head with a smile, and… shrugged. “I’m in.”
Nohen pulled his phone out and glanced down. It was only three in the afternoon, and he really didn’t have anything else to do.
“Ah, what the hell? I’m down,” he agreed.
“Ah, it’s a little early for dancing, isn’t it?” Odd asked. He was flipping switches on the keyboard and the synth to turn everything off for the evening, but his brows were knotted into a distinct bunch in the middle of his forehead.
“Says who?” Lyric questioned with a grin.
“Says just about every bar ever,” Emerson retorted dryly.
Nohen barely refrained from rolling his eyes. What a buzzkill.
He placed his guitar in his stand before turning around and crossing his arms to face him.
Desi had no reservations and rolled her eyes while scoffing. “If that’s the attitude you’re going to have, I rescind my invite. Otherwise” —she linked her arm with Lyric’s— “we’re going to have drinks and get to know each other. Feel free to join.”
Lyric laughed as she walked alongside Desi out of the room. At the last second, she turned her head, shot him a smile, and waved her hand at him. Then she was gone around the corner.
Nohen turned to the other two in the room. They were staring at one another, a silent conversation passing between them.
“Desi’s right,” he said, pulling their attention to him. “We need to get to know one another. If you can keep from being a buzzkill,” he grumbled with a pointed glare at Emerson, “I’d like to get to know you guys too. Come on.”
Without waiting for their response, he left the room and made it outside just as his phone vibrated.
A group text from Desi—with a location attached for a fun, casual restaurant.
He glanced down at his outfit and considered it casual enough. Straight leg jeans, a button-up with suspenders, and boots wasn’t too much. Considering his destination, it was probably best he wasn’t dressed to go out.
Now that would be too much.
With a chuckle, he slid into his car, typed in the address, and followed the GPS all the way to the restaurant.
By the time he arrived and located the two women, it was nearing 4pm, just early enough to beat the dinner crowd, just early enough to have the back dining room to themselves. The restaurant was nice, and without the stress of trying to recall twenty new songs, his shoulders relaxed under the dim fairy lights and the scent of warm spices.
“There you are,” he greeted as he walked to the table hosting Desi and Lyric.
“Here we are,” Lyric said, and scooted her chair over to make room for him around the circular table.
The fairy lights shined over her long, strawberry blonde hair, and Nohen tried not to stare for too long… And failed. From the lights to the exposed brick and the live plants, there was plenty to hold his attention, but he was stuck on the omega right next to him.
“Are you nervous at all?” he asked, laying a menu in front of him to pretend he wasn’t only interested in Lyric.
“About what?” Lyric murmured as she glanced to him out of the corner of her eye.
“About touring with us.”
To be honest? Nohen was nervous, though he wouldn’t admit it to Lyric. He’d never been much for socializing, and hanging out with someone twenty-four hours a day didn’t sound so appealing. Nor did… how did Desi phrase it? Walking on eggshells around everyone.
“Yeah, I am,” she admitted.
Nohen did a double take. He hadn’t expected her to be so honest.
“Why?”
“Mainly… the pack thing. I’m an unmated, independent omega. I’m looking for a band, not a pack. But even while I can tell myself that all day long…” She trailed off and ran her finger up the side of her water glass, clearing the condensation along the way. “I’m worried about setting those boundaries.”
Desi tsked. “Boundaries are important. Don’t let the alphas intimidate you, they’ll listen if you tell them. And if not? Nohen and I will take care of it.”
“Is that so?” Lyric chuckled, and a lock of her hair fell in front of her face.
“Sure will,” Nohen agreed. “I’ll distract, and Desi can stab them with her drumsticks.”
“Teamwork makes the dream work,” Desi announced and winked. “Now, what do you think of this place? Amber brought me here for our first date,” Desi shared, effectively changing the subject.
Lyric responded, but Nohen was only half listening. He was still stuck on her smile. The way she’d belted her heart out in the lyrics, the notes ringing to the top of the open space—he could still hear them in his mind.
He wanted to hear her sing again. But not just that. He couldn’t wait for tour, wait for more opportunities to hear her laugh and see her smile. He wanted everything she’d be willing to give him.
Warmth infused his veins, and he sipped the icy water to chill him out.
Right. She’s not looking for a pack. Message received.
Someone cleared their throat, and he glanced up to find Desi and Lyric staring at him.
He wiped at his mouth, afraid he’d spilled something during his selfish daydreams, but his hand came away clean. “What?”
“You have nothing to say?” Desi said, pouting.
“About…?” Then he recalled her words and arched a brow. “Oh, the girlfriend? Did you want me to?”
His gaze darted between the mirth dancing in Lyric’s ocean eyes and the furrowed brows belonging to Desi.
“I’m the last one you should expect a reaction from. Hello,” he said, motioning to the floral designs on his suspenders and the light pink button-up he wore. “I thought it was obvious. I mean, what else can we do?” he inquired. He pointed a finger from his outfit to Desi’s, which consisted of a white button-up, tight black pants, and boots. Her short curly bob was styled to perfection, which only added the perfect contrast of femininity to her otherwise androgynous style.
Desi snorted and he played affronted. “Please. Don’t act like that white button-up is comfortable to play drums in. You wanted us to know. I mean, I played the rose pink Fender today.”
“Femininity doesn’t equal gay, just like masculinity doesn’t equal straight,” Lyric pointed out and sipped her water.
“Truer words have never been spoken,” he agreed, and tapped his water glass to hers.
“What are we toasting?” Emerson asked as he approached the table.
“Sexuality,” he answered with a monotone voice.
Emerson didn’t blink, which scored him a point. How
this suddenly turned into a secret test for the alpha, Nohen didn’t know. He was already on the shit list for insulting Lyric.
“Whose sexuality? Are we taking bets?” he queried.
Lyric arched a brow at that. “Who would you bet on?”
“Don’t get him start—” Odd began, but Emerson interrupted him.
“I’d bet you got me wrong,” Emerson admitted with a smirk, pulling a chair out, spinning it around in one smooth move, and sitting down backwards.
Nohen narrowed his gaze.
Odd—Adra—took a more civilized seat beside Desi and shook his head, a small smile curling his lips.
“No way,” Desi said, slapping both hands on the table and leaning forward right as Nohen’s gaze began jumping from one alpha to the other.
He silently echoed her words. No way…
Nohen glanced to Lyric, gauging her reaction. There was a smile trying its damnedest to curl her lips, but she was fighting it as she stared at the menu.
Wide-eyed, Nohen grabbed his glass of water and watched the stare down between Desi and Emerson.
“Knots are so fun, why would I just play with my own?” Emerson asked as a tease, but it came out like a challenge.
Nohen snorted his water and instantly coughed as it went down the wrong pipe.
“Oh my—god, are you trying to kill me?” he rasped out a moment later as they all cackled. Who was this alpha at their table? He was someone completely different from the rough around the edges bassist they’d been practicing with all week. “Rude.”
“That’s what he said,” Desi blurted in the middle of giggling.
“Or she,” Odd retorted.
“They,” Lyric corrected, and wiped her hand under her eye. Her smile was wide and bright as she glanced around the table, a few chuckles still bubbling past her lips.
They were mostly composed by the time a waitress stopped by to take their order, fighting her own smile, and Nohen wondered how much of their banter she’d overheard.
“So, wait.” Nohen glanced at the two alphas and pointed back and forth. “You’re together?”
In sync, they shook their heads, but it was Emerson who answered. “No, we’re just convenient.”
“Oh, it hurts,” Odd teased, slapping a hand over his heart like he’d been shot.
“That’s not what you said last time,” Emerson countered.
Odd rolled his eyes and bumped his elbow into Emerson’s side. “If anyone was saying that, it was you.”
A slight pink colored Emerson’s cheeks, and he cleared his throat with a cough as they all chuckled at their banter.
But Nohen saw Lyric’s gaze dip in an almost frown, so he shamelessly asked for clarification.
“So what are you two really? Dating? Fucking? What do we need to worry about on tour?”
There. That’s a legitimate concern. I’m not just nosy. I’m practical.
Lyric was worried about the alphas, about the possibility of a pack, and two alphas who were shacking up would only intensify that fear. Were they planning on growing a pack?
“For lack of a better phrase, we’re fuck buddies,” Emerson supplied.
But it was Odd who came through with the details. “We live together, we both work odd jobs and random gigs, and… dating is exhausting. And since it’s just the two of us, I mean, why not? We’re too busy to build a pack right now, and we’re comfortable enough with each other that we’re happy for now,” he explained, a little flustered by the end of his spiel.
Nohen was pretty sure those were the most words he’d ever heard come out of the guy at one time.
“Just so long as we don’t have to worry about a lover’s tiff,” Nohen teased.
Odd visibly relaxed when Lyric chimed in. “What you guys do is your business. I agree with Nohen, as long as it doesn’t interfere with how you perform.”
“You don’t have to worry about us,” Emerson said with a shake of his head. “And not only because we don’t just play for one team either. In fact, having both of us on tour might make touring more manageable.”
Lyric snorted. “Why? So you can work out all your bad moods?”
Nohen gasped dramatically. “Is that why you’re being so nice right now?” He tipped his chin at Odd. “Nice job.”
The waitress interrupted their laughter with drinks, and they each thanked her politely amongst the chuckles.
Once she was gone, Nohen turned to Lyric. They’d had enough fun at Emerson’s expense… for now. “So, besides spending all your time with us, what are you most excited about for tour?” he asked.
Her cheeks were flushed with pink from laughing as she considered his question. Having her full attention on him made his heart skip a beat. It was different from that morning they’d practiced together. He’d had her attention all to himself when she’d sung to him privately, but there had been no one around. Here, at the table full of other people, it was intoxicating to hold her attention in front of the others.
God damn. But imagine having her attention... elsewhere.
He couldn’t help the thought, but she was testing his resolve as she nibbled on her bottom lip while considering his inquiry.
“I’ve never been on tour and never played a show to more than a roomful of people before… so honestly? It sounds cheesy, but I’m most excited to know what it feels like to step on stage for the first time and see a crowd of people out there.”
“Nothing cheesy about that. I’m sure plenty of people dream about having an entire auditorium cheering for them,” he replied.
Lyric smiled right at him, and Nohen knew he’d said the right thing. “What about you guys?” she asked, and sipped her water. “Are you excited to go on tour?”
Of course I’m excited, he wanted to say. I’ll get to spend time with you. Duh.
She almost held her breath after asking the question. Each day they drew closer to tour, excitement filled her up a little more, like a glass thermometer heating. By the time the day came to step out onto stage, she wondered if she’d explode into shards of excitement.
But what if the others didn’t feel the same way?
Of course, Desi was the first to answer and mitigate her fears.
“I cannot wait,” she said, leaning into the table. “I haven’t toured before either. Playing drums in front of a huge crowd? Sign me up. Now, Lyric,” Desi said, and leveled her with a serious stare.
“Yes?” she asked as she sipped her cocktail.
“Do you know what the stage setup looks like yet?” she questioned with a hopeful gleam in her eyes.
Lyric grinned, her hand dropping to hover over her back pocket. She was tempted to pull out her phone and show them the mock-up she’d designed, but thought better of it.
“I do,” she replied instead, placing her hand back on the table. The surprise on their faces when they got a look at the stage setup would—hopefully—be too good to spoil.
“Well? Describe it,” Nohen said eagerly.
“Nope,” Lyric answered, popping the ‘p’ and leaning back in her seat. “I’d rather you guys wait and see it in person. It’s going to be… ethereal.”
“I fucking love that word,” Desi sighed. “Now I have all these ideas in my head. Are you really going to make me wait?” she asked with a pout.
“I am. But you’re all going to love it.”
Even Emerson, who apparently hated to be in the spotlight, would love the stage design.
Just the memory of the mock-up made her heart pound, but she swallowed down the buzz, along with another sip of her drink.
“What about you guys?” she inquired, and glanced at the other three.
Adra’s personality had peeked out a bit more earlier, and Lyric wondered just how many beverages it would take to reveal even more.
“I’m just happy to make music,” he said, his voice deep and rumbly as he sipped from amber liquid in a glass.
Emerson rolled his eyes. “Of course he’d say that. But I bet he’s just as excited
as I am to get out on the road. Even if we are cramped in a bus together, it’ll be great to see a different city for a while.”
“Cities,” Nohen corrected. “And we won’t get to see much of them besides the venue and maybe the nearest restaurant.”
Nohen glanced to her, his golden eyes shining in the fairy lights. “Do you know what cities we’ll be in on off days?”
Lyric shrugged. “No, not yet. Andi is still finalizing everything before she gives me a schedule.”
Not that I’ll be very good at keeping up with it.
Lyric barely kept up with her schedule as it was now. Her mind was always elsewhere, and she doubted that would suddenly change in the chaos of tour. One would think, as a perfectionist, she’d be excellent at keeping her schedule straight, but in reality, she was too focused on perfecting ten things at once to think about the bigger picture.
But then again, maybe tour would be good for her. Nothing to focus on but the next city, the next performance.
“Andi’s the tour manager, right?” Emerson asked.
Lyric nodded before he finished the question. “Yes. I know it’s odd, but I wouldn’t budge on it. I don’t know what I’d do without her.”
“You guys seem close,” Desi commented with a grin.
“We are.” Lyric nodded, but then read into her sly smile. “Not like that!” She laughed and waved her hand out. “Andi is happily married to her career, and I’m content as I am. Not everyone can be as cute as you and Amber,” she teased, and motioned to the fairy lights. “I mean, fairy lights on the first date? You can’t beat that.”
Desi sighed contentedly. “I know, right?” She tapped her cheek, her smile slowly fading. “I think that’ll be the hardest part about tour. Being away for so long. After living together for the better part of a year, this will be the longest we’ve gone without seeing each other.”
Lyric frowned as Desi sipped her drink. “If you want, I can guest list her for the nearest shows? Or if she wants to drive and meet you, I can guest list her for anywhere. Well, actually, as part of the band, you can guest list whoever the hell you want.”
Desi grinned. “Really? I wanted to ask, but…” She shrugged. “Didn’t want you to think I was trying to take advantage of the perks already.”