"With a side of Lily," Dylan murmurs, his lips curling into a teasing grin as he winks at me.
“Err, I am going to go wash up,” I reply, knowing my cheeks are on fire. “Pepperoni for me please!”
Without waiting for a response, I practically sprint to the bathroom. Once the door closes behind me, I lean back against it, pressing my hands to my flaming cheeks. I take a few steadying breaths, trying to rein in my runaway libido and cool the embarrassment coursing through me.
Somewhere in the chaos of searching for Jax, I’d forgotten that I’ve slept with every member of Electric Wounds. Over the past few days, they’ve kept things strictly platonic—aside from my heated shower with Enzo—but now, the weight of what we’ve shared and the lack of resolution suddenly hit me. I feel shy and uncertain,caught off guard by their teasing in front of each other and my own unresolved feelings.
We never got the chance to have the talk, the one where I told them I was interested in all of them. And with Jax missing, this isn’t the right time to address it either. We all need to be together to move forward.
I decide to play it cool for now, to brush off their comments or laugh along until he’s back. It’s the only way to keep the peace while everything hangs in the balance.
Straightening, I step toward the sink and splash some cool water on my face. I meet my reflection in the mirror, giving myself a small, resolute nod. "You’ve got this," I murmur, the words firming my resolve. With a deep breath, I head back to the main area.
The guys are scattered across the couch, each in their own version of a relaxed pose. Dylan leans back against the wall, his eyes closed and his head tilted bacl, lost in whatever calm he’s managed to find. Enzo sits at the other end, absorbed in his phone, his fingers scrolling steadily. Marcus is perched in the middle, his gaze unfocused on the TV as it plays softly in the background. When I enter, his eyes lift to meet mine, and he offers a tired but genuine smile. “Pizza will be here in twenty. Come sit.”
I nod, crossing the space to settle beside him. I lean my head against his shoulder, letting out a quiet sigh as my eyes fall shut. Marcus wraps an arm around me, drawing me closer against his side, his warmth seeping into me. The low hum of the TV mingling with the steady rise and fall of his breathing lulls me into a light, unplanned nap.
A gentle shake stirs me a short time later, and the mouthwatering aroma of pizza fills the air. I lift my head groggily, blinking awake, only to notice a small damp spoton Marcus’s shirt where my head had been. I wince, but before I can apologize, Marcus chuckles, a deep, soothing sound that vibrates through his chest. “It’s fine, Lily,” he murmurs. “I’m glad you got a little rest.”
“Let’s eat!” Dylan exclaims, already standing over the boxes laid out on the table.
I push off the couch, following the scent of pizza, and eyeing the stack in front of me. “Six pizzas? Really?” I ask, raising a skeptical brow as I continue to stare at the spread.
“Absolutely,” Dylan says through a mouthful of food, his enthusiasm undeterred. “Hot pizza for dinner, cold pizza for breakfast.”
I laugh, grabbing a plate and loading it up with a couple of slices before joining the guys back on the couch. As we eat, the mood lifts, the easy banter flowing naturally between bites. For the second time today, a fragile sense of normalcy settles over us.
Things feel okay and I let myself believe that everything is going to work out. We are going to find Jax. We are going to finish this tour. Everything will be alright.
Dinner winds down, and we all drift toward the bunks, the quiet settling over the bus like a blanket. Between bites of pizza, Dylan asked me to stay with him tonight, and I agreed. After brushing my teeth, I make my way to his bunk.
I crawl in, nestling close to him. The silence that once felt oppressive now feels calming, a small reprieve from the chaos that I know awaits us outside this tiny bubble of peace that we’ve created.
Dylan wraps an arm around me, pulling me snug against his side, his warmth seeping into me. He presses a soft kiss to my forehead, the gesture comforting andgentle. “Goodnight, Lily,” he murmurs, his voice low and raspy, like sleep is already attempting to claim him.
Smiling softly, I prop myself up on my elbows to plant a light kiss on his lips, sweet and brief, before resting my head back on his shoulder, keeping things simple.
“Goodnight, Dylan,” I whisper, closing my eyes as his steady breathing lulls me into sleep.
CHAPTER 5
LAST CHANCE
LILY
In the earlyhours of the morning, I wake to the soft press of Dylan’s lips against my forehead. My eyes flutter open, meeting his, and the exhaustion etched into his blue gaze immediately sets me on edge. The usual playful sparkle is gone, replaced with a heaviness that twists in my chest.
“Morning,” he whispers, his voice barely audible.
“Morning,” I murmur back, my throat dry and scratchy. “Is something wrong?”
“Not exactly. I’m glad you’re here,” he says, his fingers brushing a stray strand of hair from my face. The tenderness in his touch contrasts with the somberness of his tone. My heart races as I wait for the next part of his sentence, knowing that there is a “but” coming. And more likely than not, it will be a statement that I don’t like.
“But I can’t help thinking... this might be the end of Electric Wounds,” he finally finishes in a quiet murmur.
I exhale softly, the pressure in my chest easing as I let his words sink in. Enzo's reminder from yesterday in theshower comes rushing back—this band, these men, are barely holding on. Jax’s disappearance is the breaking point they didn’t need, and it’s clear they’re all clinging to what little stability they have left.
Pushing myself onto my elbows, I lean in and press a soft kiss against Dylan’s cheek. “We’re going to find Jax,” I say firmly, as I pull back and meet his gaze, leaving no room for doubt.
