Page 47 of Electric Wounds
Jax kicks at a piece of paper on the floor, clearly annoyed. "Just our luck."
Leaning against the side of the bus, I feel the heat from outside already starting to trickle through to the interior. The air conditioner stopped running when the engine died. "Well, at least we’re together," I offer, trying to keep things light.
Dylan snorts, crossing his arms. "Yeah, stuck in the middle of nowhere. Together."
Lily chuckles softly, glancing at me with a twinkle of mischief in her eyes. "Could be worse. One of us could be stuck out here with just Enzo for company."
We all laugh. Enzo rolls his eyes but can’t hide a small smile. He slings an arm around Lily’s shoulder, and I hear her breath catch. "You would love it if it were just us two,” he says in a low, suggestive tone.
Lily sighs, melting into his grip. I watch the two of them, assessing, trying to determine if I feel jealous. But I don’t. This feels normal. Lily belongs here.
“Wonderwall?” I ask.
Everyone groans except for Lily, who laughs and cheers. We hang out for a while, playing random songs on the guitar until we hear another vehicle pull into the shoulder, gravel pinging the bus as they stop.
“I’ll go back outside,” I offer, hoping it’s the mechanic and that they have good news. I pull my shirt away from my sticky skin as I step back into the heat. The temperature has been rising on the bus, so it’s not that much cooler inside at this point. Thankfully, I don’t have to wait long to hear about the condition of the engine.
Within minutes, the mechanic approaches, wiping his hands on a rag. "Fuel pump’s shot. This rigs not going anywhere until we get a replacement."
“Can you do that here?” I ask.
“Nope,” the mechanic replies, popping the P. “Needs a tow to the shop.”
Nodding, I return inside to relay the news, which does not go over well. As expected.
Jax groans, running a hand through his hair. "Fantastic."
Dylan throws an arm around Lily’s shoulders. "Guess we’ll have to keep entertaining ourselves. Who’s up for ‘How many ways can we annoy Enzo?’"
Enzo glares at him. "How about we play ‘How many ways can Enzo make Dylan shut up?’"
I step between them, laughing. "Alright, alright. Let’s not start a war here. We’ll figure this out."
Lily leans into Dylan, looking thoughtful. “I’m sure we can find a way to keep things interesting."
Dylan grins. "See, Enzo? Even Lily thinks we can have fun."
Enzo huffs but doesn’t argue. "Fine. But if anyone starts singing Wonderwall again, I’m walking to the next town."
Lily laughs. “No more Wonderwall. And we should probably call to see if we can catch another ride while the bus gets fixed up.”
“Got it covered,” I reply.
THIRTY
THE HEAT OF THE MOMENT
Lily
The midday sun beats down on the stranded bus, turning it into a sweltering oven. Sweat trickles down my back as I try to find a comfortable spot on the sticky seat. Everyone has stripped down to the bare minimum, trying to cope with the heat. Marcus lounges in his boxer briefs, his muscular frame glistening with sweat. Dylan has his shirt off, his tattoos vivid against his tanned skin. Enzo, shirtless and scowling, slouches in a corner, his dark hair damp with perspiration. Jax sits silently, his eyes distant, his jaw tight, wearing only his jeans.
A buzz on Marcus's phone breaks the oppressive silence. "The label’s sending a van to pick us up," he announces, his voice cutting through the heavy air. "Should be here in an hour."
"Great," Enzo mutters, sarcasm lacing his words. His mood has soured as the bus has gotten hotter. I’m learning that Enzo does not do well in the heat. "Another hour in this sauna."
Dylan tries to lighten the mood. "Well, at least we’re getting a free sauna experience, right? Detoxing all those toxins."
I manage a weak smile, appreciating his effort even though the heat drains my energy, too. It’s something Enzo and I have in common, but I add, "Yeah, nothing like a rockstar detox."
