Bad Wolf Read Free Page B

behind me,
ready to wash away the thick layer of filth and hangover that had accumulated
on my body.

 
    I forced Brandon to drive since the lucky bastard wasn’t hung over.
There was an uncomfortable silence in the van, which was only exacerbated by
all our raging headaches. We drove in silence because no one could handle even
the idea of listening to the radio. I briefly wondered how many times the band
would be too beaten by alcohol to handle music. I forced everyone to eat from the
loaf of bread we had in the back because they refused to get breakfast.
    It was five long, excruciating hours, and by the third, I had to force
Brandon to pull over so I could up-chuck in a quaint little Texaco station. I
fell asleep for most of the rest of the drive.
    Brandon woke me up as we entered the city, filled with oak trees covered
in moss and a strange combination of old, quirky antique shops, dirty looking
bars, and giant, well-kept grocery store parking lots. We weren’t in Orlando
anymore. It was almost like we weren’t even in Florida anymore, with its palm
trees and flashy cars crowding the streets.
    “Hey, we need to get an oil change because I guess no one did that
before we left. Can you look up an auto center on the GPS?” Poor Brandon looked
incredibly tired and irritated. Just as we passed by a dumpy Irish pub and a
foreboding strip mall, my phone buzzed with a message from Aamir.
    “Um, hold on,” I said to Brandon. 
“Want 2 get some pizza?” The
text read. An explosion of nerves burst forth from my stomach. I wondered
suddenly if the guys would resent me for ditching them and going off to get
some grub with a hottie.
    “Where at?” I texted Aamir before turning my attention back to the GPS.
I searched for an auto center and found one less than a mile away.
    “Pizza Haven, on Tennessee St next to McDonalds,” he typed back.
    “Um, Aamir wants to discuss some things concerning the show tonight,” I
bluffed, a blush creeping over my cheeks. I turned my face to hide the
incriminating evidence of my lie. “Why don’t you drop me off at this place
called Pizza Haven? He’ll meet me there and I’ll order you guys some food while
you get the oil changed.”
    “Sounds good, I am getting hungry,” Brandon said, giving me the side
eye. I knew he knew what I was up to. I averted my eyes back to the GPS and
typed in “Pizza Haven.”
    “Take a left here,” I said, pointing up at the intersection. I tried to
keep the giddiness from my voice, but it wasn’t like it really mattered. Nick
and Trent were asleep, and Martin was in a hung-over daze.
    He dropped me off at Pizza Haven, and I walked into the quaint little
pizza parlor; it had an adorable, checkered floor and red plastic tables. If it
weren’t for my queasy stomach, the over-powering smell of garlic and cheese
would have been very welcome.
    “Bailey!”
    I looked over to the back to see Aamir sitting in front of large pizza
pie, a sheepish grin on his face. He was wearing a tight, blue t-shirt that
complemented his dark complexion (and of course, showed off his toned body).
His hair was gelled back like it was when I first met him, and I remembered
with distinct clarity how it looked last night, disheveled, falling in thick,
luscious curls over his forehead.
      I approached him, my heart
racing at the sight of his gorgeous upturned lips. For a moment, I almost
convinced myself that I had just imagined the hook up. It couldn’t be real.
    “Hey,” I said as I pulled out the seat across from him and sank down
into it. He stood up while I sat down, which was both awkward and totally cute.
    “You aren’t hurt from yesterday, are you?” he asked, a deep concern on
his face as he scanned me for evidence of bodily harm.
    “I’m fine,” I blushed. “Who knew there were wolves in Florida?” I
offered with my palms turned up in a questioning gesture.
    He shook his head, solemn-looking. “We called animal control and they
said they’d be on the