Uncharted Read online

  They all burst into laughter.

  It took them a few hours to finish touring the museum. By the time they got to the pottery place, it was starting to get dark out. They each hand made a piece and would have to come back another day to paint them.

  Back at the hotel, they got all done up for the club and asked the front desk for directions. It took a little over an hour to get there and another half hour of standing in line to get in. Once inside, they found their way to the bar.

  Kennedy had no plans to get wasted; after all, she had to drive them back to the hotel, but she figured a few drinks in the beginning of the night couldn’t hurt. She ended up glad that she took those shots. It wasn’t long after that when Jen dragged them all onto the dance floor. They were not out there long before Tyler found them.

  “Good. You made it,” he said to Jen. “This is Jeff.” He all but shoved Jeff toward Jen before turning his attention to Abbey. She turned away from him.

  He persisted. “I didn’t catch your name earlier.” When she ignored him, he added, “I won’t bite.”

  She couldn’t help but laugh. The liquor was starting to kick in. “Abbey.”

  “Hi Abbey. So your friend mentioned earlier that you’re not from around here?”

  She kept her answers short. “Michigan.”

  “That’s too bad. I think you’d like it here.”

  “Why is that?”

  “Besides the fact that I’m here?” He winked at her.

  “Yes. Besides that.”

  “All the other reasons don’t really matter as much,” he teased.

  While Tyler and Abbey continued their banter, Jen kicked the heat up a notch with Jeff. He was definitely into it, and Kennedy and Mary couldn’t help but watch in amusement. Neither one of them were looking for a fling on this trip, each for her own reasons, however obvious to the others.

  About halfway through the night, Abbey and Tyler disappeared to a table where they could actually hear each other talk. Shortly after that, Jen decided to go home with Jeff, much to Kennedy and Mary’s disapproval. She promised to call them if things got out of control.

  As the club was closing, Mary and Kennedy tracked down Abbey. They practically had to drag her out of there, but before she left, she wrote her phone number down on a napkin for Tyler.

  When they got back to the hotel, Mary reached for the doorknob but Kennedy stopped her.

  “You don’t want to do that.”

  “Why? What’s wrong?” Mary was baffled.

  “See the sign?” Kennedy pointed at the door handle.

  “So? It’s just the ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign for the maid service. I put it up before we left.”

  Kennedy smiled. “Look again.”

  Mary rolled her eyes. “Kennedy, I don’t see what the problem is.”

  Kennedy pointed at the sign and read it. “It says ‘Don’t Disturb,’ not ‘Do Not Disturb,’ see?”

  “So?”

  “So. That’s Jen’s sign. We used to use it in college. She must have decided to bring that guy back here instead.”

  “Oh. I never moved my stuff into our room, though.”

  “You can use some of my pajamas.”

  Abbey came walking down the hallway with a bottle of Gatorade in hand.

  “You’re going to have to bunk down with us tonight Abbey.”

  Abbey didn’t even ask why. She just looked at the door handle. “Oh. Figures.”

  They all piled into Kennedy and Mary’s room. It was a few hours before they fell asleep. They stayed up talking and teasing Abbey about Tyler.

  The next morning they woke to the sound of Abbey’s phone ringing. She answered it then suddenly rushed into the hallway with it.

  Even though she hadn’t drank much, Kennedy felt awful. It was probably a culmination of driving straight through to Santa Fe and then spending their first night there standing in heels. She definitely needed this day to be a spa day.

  She checked the clock. It wasn’t even ten yet. She sat up and turned to Mary. “Room service?”

  “Definitely,” Mary croaked.

  Kennedy ordered breakfast for everyone. She knew what Jen and Abbey would ask for if they were around. After that, she pounded on the door connecting the room to Jen’s.

  Jeff answered the pounding. He was only in his boxers. It was a little too familiar for Kennedy’s liking. “Where’s Jen?”

  “She’s in the shower.”

  “Tell her we ordered her breakfast, then I suggest you take off.” She felt bad for being short with him, but it was too early in the morning to worry about courtesy. She closed the door before he could reply.

  “I need a shower,” said Kennedy.

  Mary was a little surprised by Kennedy’s mood. “It’s all yours.”

  The food came while she was in the shower. Abbey came back to the room with it and knocked on the bathroom door to tell Kennedy it had arrived.

  By the time Kennedy emerged from the bathroom, Jen was in the room and they were all eating. She joined them with a towel still in her hair.

  “What are we doing today, boss?” Jen asked through her mouthful of breakfast burrito.

  “I’m thinking spa day. All that driving did a number on me.” She cracked her back.

  “Oh, that sounds perfect,” Mary commented. “I haven’t been to a spa in I don’t even know how long.”

  Kennedy smiled. “Will that work for you Abs, or have you made other plans?”

  Abbey blushed. “Of course I’ll go. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Who called?” Kennedy pushed.

  “No one.”

  “Then why did you take it in the hall?”

  Abbey didn’t respond.

  “Yeah, I thought so.”

  Jen was watching them like a tennis match. “What are you talking about? Who called her?”

  “My guess is that it was Tyler.”

  Abbey’s cheeks turned a brighter red, giving her away.

  “Nice, Abs. I told you not everything had to be serious,” Jen said between bites.

  Abbey finished her bite before answering, “It’s not like that, Jen. We’re just…friends.”

  Kennedy called the hotel spa to make appointments for them after they finished breakfast. They had some time before they had to be there, so the two who had yet to shower did so. Kennedy took the downtime to write out a rough draft of the events from the night before and that morning.

  The rest of their day was spent at the hotel spa, and they decided to call it a night afterwards. When Jen woke the next day, she found a note from Abbey saying that she met Tyler for breakfast but would be meeting up with them at lunch.

  They spent the rest of the trip soaking in the local culture and attractions. They even remembered to go back and paint their pottery pieces. Every so often, Tyler would tag along on one of their outings.

  As the trip went on, Abbey started disappearing to meet Tyler more often. In the beginning, Jen teased her about it, but after Abbey stopped reacting to it, Jen eventually stopped teasing. When it was finally time to head home, Abbey spent an entire day with Tyler. Before they left the morning after, he even joined them for breakfast.

  On the trek home, they made many more stops than they had on the way to Santa Fe. It ended up taking them half a week to get home. Once they finally did, Kennedy dropped everyone off before returning the rental car and calling Mitch for a ride home.

  After dropping her bags off in the laundry room, Kennedy fired up her computer to check her messages. The only one she had was from Claire letting Kennedy know that when she told Emmerick about their conversation, it seemed to snap him back to reality.

  Kennedy sighed and logged out. How could I have any influence over him anymore? When did I have that influence to begin with?

  As she fell onto her bed, her thoughts trailed back to her first road trip. She tried to push the memories out but fell asleep before having any success.

  The Apology

&nb
sp; Emmerick stumbled into his parent’s house. They had insisted that he come to the family dinner, and he had stopped at the bar on the way there. While trying to put his coat on the rack, he accidentally knocked it over, and it put him into a laughing fit.

  Rebecca came rushing into the room to make sure everything was ok.

  “Hey Mom,” Emmerick managed to choke out through his laughter.

  “Emmerick! What on earth?” She looked at the coat rack on the floor. “Oh, never mind. Dinner was done twenty minutes ago! Get in here.” She guided him to the dining room table.

  He sat across from Claire.

  Rebecca started filling his plate.

  “I can do that myself, mom. I’m not a child.”

  He grabbed the spoon out of her hand and proceeded to put mashed potatoes on his plate. Most of it ended up on the table, and he started laughing again.

  “Right, not a child,” Claire said under her breath.

  It caught Emmerick’s attention. “What was that?”

  “You think you’re not a child?”

  “Of course. I’m an adult.”

  “Well, you sure don’t act like it.”

  Rachel tried to defuse the situation. “Claire, calm down.”

  “No! I’m sick of him acting like this.”

  Emmerick was bewildered. What is she talking about? “Acting like what?”

  “Like a freaking eighteen-year-old who’s just discovered alcohol.”

  “You’re ridiculous.” Emmerick started adding more food to his plate.

  “No, that would be you, Em,” Claire fired back.

  “Well, I guess you’re entitled to your opinion, even if it is wrong.”

  “You know, I’m not the only one who thinks so.” It was time for Claire to play the Kennedy card.

  Emmerick sighed and rolled his eyes. “What are you talking about? No one else seems to be making an issue.” He gestured to everyone at the table.

  “Kennedy.”

  The name hit Emmerick like a bullet. “Kennedy? What the hell does Kennedy have to do with this? She’s not around. She left me! Remember? We weren’t even together and the bitch left me!”

  Jim spoke up. “Emmerick, that’s no way to talk about—”

  “Shove it, Dad.”

  Claire cut in before Jim could start yelling. “I went and saw her during one of my work trips. I told her what you’ve been doing, how you’ve been acting like a drunken college kid. You know what she said?”

  “I really don’t care,” Emmerick lied.

  “She said she thought you were acting like an ‘immature prat’ and that you should act your age. That you’re being an idiot and you need to grow up!”

  Emmerick sighed angrily.

  “She has a point,” Rachel commented.

  Emmerick stood.

  “Emmerick, what are you doing? You haven’t even touched your food. Sit down,” Rebecca pleaded.

  Emmerick ignored her. He went to the door and slammed it behind him. Who did they think they were? Telling him that he was out of line. Siding with the woman who did this to him. It was her fault that he was acting this way. He was only trying to forget about her, exactly like his family told him to do.

  He got in his car and started driving back to the bar where he had been earlier in the day. As he passed by it, he saw the bouncer escorting an unruly drunk out. He realized that he wasn’t much different than the man being escorted, and he didn’t like that. He didn’t like that he had become someone Kennedy didn’t approve of, someone she wouldn’t even recognize.

  He kept driving until he made it home and went straight into the shower to sober up. Kennedy was right, of course. So was Claire. He wasn’t being himself. He was acting worse than he had when he was a teenager. Even all of his friends had abandoned him.

  Once the hot water ran out, Emmerick crashed on his bed for the night. When he woke the next morning, he called Kyle and Patrick and asked them if they would meet him for breakfast. They were reluctant but agreed.

  Emmerick made it to the restaurant first. When Kyle and Patrick arrived, they sat down across from him.

  “Hey guys. Thanks for coming.”

  Kyle was the first to respond. “What’s this about?”

  “I just wanted to apologize. I’ve been acting like an idiot and getting way too drunk. If I’ve done anything to piss you off or anything, I’m sorry.”

  “Hey man, don’t worry about it,” Patrick replied.

  Kyle was more skeptical. “Why now? We haven’t heard from you in months and suddenly you’re a changed man?”

  Emmerick sighed. He had hoped that they would just forgive him, no questions asked. He should have known better. “I guess I hit rock bottom. And I realized, no matter how much I drank, it still wasn’t making me forget…” he paused. He didn’t want to tell them it had to do with Kennedy. “So, anyway, I’m done drinking for a while.”

  The waitress came to fill up Emmerick’s coffee mug and took their orders. The table was silent after she left.

  Emmerick tried to get them talking. “How’s Sara doing?” he asked Patrick.

  “She’s good. I’m popping the question soon.”

  “Huge mistake!” Kyle teased.

  Emmerick relaxed. They were starting to act normal. “Good for you, Patrick. You guys are perfect for each other.”

  Patrick smiled. “Thanks.”

  “Hey, speaking of Sara, do you think you can get Emilee’s number from her? I need to apologize to her too.”

  Patrick looked unsure.

  “Come on, Patrick. I owe the girl an explanation,” Emmerick pleaded.

  “No, it’s not that, it’s just…she’s sort of seeing someone.”

  Emmerick smiled. “All the better. I don’t want to date the girl, I just want to apologize.”

  “Yeah, well, you’re going to have to ask Kyle about that.”

  “Why?” Emmerick didn’t get it.

  Kyle laughed. “You dumb ass. I’m dating her.”

  “You? Are you kidding? How did that happen?”

  Kyle smiled. “I guess with you being such an idiot it made me look like a decent guy.”

  Patrick burst out laughing.

  Emmerick looked between his two friends. “What am I missing?”

  “He’s completely different around her. It’s even starting to change how he acts when she’s not around,” Patrick explained. “He’s whipped.”

  Kyle snickered. “For one to be whipped he needs to be getting some.”

  “Oh, wow,” Emmerick commented. “You must really like her if you’re with her and she isn’t even putting out. You’re changing your behavior without even getting any.” He started laughing. He missed hanging out with his friends.

  “Oh, ha ha. Laugh it up.” Kyle flicked his straw wrapper at Emmerick as the waitress approached to set their food down. She did not seem amused. After she walked away they had trouble containing their laughter.

  They continued to joke around while they ate. By the time they left, Kyle agreed to let Emmerick have the chance to apologize to Emilee, and they made plans to go bowling during the weekend.

  All Emmerick had to do next was find a job. Every time he saw a store front with a ‘now hiring’ sign, he went inside for an application. Two dozen stops later, he headed home.

  He hung his keys on a hook near the door before taking a look around. He was disgusted with what he saw: old take-out containers littered about, ungodly amounts of empty beer bottles on every available flat surface, and a sink full of dirty dishes threatening to topple over onto the floor.

  Emmerick spent the rest of the day cleaning. He took all of his empty bottles to the recycling center on his way to the grocery store. No more wasting money on bad take-out.

  His grocery bill was much higher than he had hoped for, but considering he had absolutely nothing in his cupboards, it could have been worse. When he got back home, he cooked himself a small dinner and went to bed.

  The next day was ab
out making amends with his family. He invited them over to his place for dinner. When they all finally arrived, they seemed rather angry. Emma was the last to arrive and he hugged her when she came in.

  “Thanks for coming Emma,” he said.

  “Been a long time since you’ve cooked for us, Em,” Claire pointed out.

  “Yeah, well, it’s really not fair to make mom cook so that I can apologize for acting like a total ass.”

  He went back to the kitchen to finish up cooking. After he brought all of the food to the table, he retrieved a bottle of wine. When he approached the table with it, his family exchanged looks.

  Emmerick uncorked the wine and poured a glass for everyone but himself. He stuck with water. “To family,” he said while raising his glass.

  Everyone repeated his sentiment and sipped from their glasses.

  “You guys dig in, and I’ll talk.” He paused to make sure there would be no objections. “First of all, I’m sorry about the other day. It was incredibly rude of me and completely immature, as Claire pointed out. Dad, I’m really sorry about how I spoke to you. I know I should never speak about a woman like that, and of course I didn’t mean it. I was just angry. Mom, I’m sorry I ruined your dinner. I didn’t get a chance to taste it, but I’m sure it was excellent, and I know you put a lot of effort into it.”