Uncharted Read online

  “Ok, your turn. Finish your questions,” she said. She rolled over onto her back. It brought her slightly closer to him, but she didn’t seem to notice.

  “Where are you from?” he asked.

  “I’m not answering that.”

  “Ok, have we been driving toward or away from where you’re from?”

  She thought for a moment. “I guess I can answer that. Away.”

  “What’s your last name?”

  “Not answering that either.”

  “Geez lady. You sure are confidential about weird things. Can I at least get your middle name?”

  “Dawn.”

  “Kennedy Dawn. I like it. And it makes my little pet name for you all the more appropriate.” He smiled, and she returned it. “Your secret talent?”

  “I play guitar. No one knows that.”

  “Why don’t you tell people?”

  “I don’t like to play for other people. I play for myself.”

  “Any siblings?”

  “An older sister.”

  “Do you get along?”

  “Not anymore. We can barely be in the same room for five minutes.”

  “Why are you really on this road trip?”

  “I answered that already.” She turned her head to him.

  “No. You kind of skated around your real reason.”

  She looked a bit taken aback.

  “I’m intuitive like that. So, tell me, why are you really on this trip?”

  She eyed him a bit longer then stared at the ceiling. “Fine. I’m running away. Not literally, and not permanently. I just need a break from my disaster of a life. That guy from high school I told you about? I ran into him after college. We dated for a while and it ended badly, only he didn’t seem to think it was truly over. So, I took off.” She looked at him again. Her eyes became slightly glassy. “Happy?”

  “No, actually. I don’t like that it makes you that upset.”

  “Only two questions left.” She was determined not to let this awful subject go on any longer or ruin the night.

  “Right. Two questions. They’re going to get personal.”

  “Can’t get much more personal than your last question.”

  “Sure I can. What’s your favorite part of your body?”

  Good question. She didn’t really know.

  “My eyes,” she said.

  “That doesn’t count. That’s only a portion of your face. You would have to say your face if you wanted to say your eyes.” He smiled.

  “Ok, fine, my legs then. I suppose that will count?”

  He nodded. “Sure does. And I see why you like them, but you have better…parts.” He paused but didn’t want to give her a chance to retort. “Moving along. My last question…you seem to be avoiding these types of questions, but this is one of the least personal of this type, so I really hope you’ll answer.”

  “That’s quite the buildup. You seem nervous about asking.” She liked the idea of him being nervous.

  “No, not nervous. Ok, here it is. The last question. What’s your bra size?”

  “Oh my god, are you serious?”

  “Come on, it’s not that personal. I’m just curious. Gotta know if my judgment is right.”

  “What size do you think?”

  “Nope. Your questions are done. You just have to answer.”

  “Well, it’s none of your business.”

  His face dropped slightly. He had known it would be a long shot for her to answer.

  “New question,” she said.

  He stared into space as he tried to think of a new question.

  “Ok, stop thinking about my boobs,” she said. She threw a pillow at him and interrupted his thought process.

  He laughed. “And you think starting a pillow fight is a good way to pull my thoughts away from that? Not likely.” He threw it back at her.

  “I’m not starting a pillow fight. Just trying to be nice about hitting you.” She turned on her side, facing him, and adjusted the sweater as it got twisted up.

  He suddenly realized how stupid he had been. Here she was, moving around and changing positions like crazy, and all he did was sit on the edge of the bed like a doofus. He had perfect chances to get closer, cozier, without ulterior motives. Might as well take a chance. He mimicked her and laid on his side toward her.

  It was silent for a while. Both of them seemed to be processing what they had just learned about the other. Kennedy was first to break the quiet. “What are you thinking?”

  “A lot of things.”

  She raised her eyebrow as a silent push for him to continue.

  “I’m hungry. I want a drink.”

  “Wow, how deep.”

  “You didn’t let me finish.” He smiled and readjusted his head on the pillow, slyly moving closer. “I’m also thinking about how unusual you are. It’s refreshing. I wish I knew more. I wish I understood why. How you became who you are.” He looked back and forth between her eyes as though they would answer him. “Plus a few more…miscellaneous thoughts.”

  “Well, I don’t know about all that, but I’m pretty hungry myself. What do you say we venture out? I think I saw a bar down the road. They probably serve food.”

  “Yeah, but just one problem: you can’t get in.”

  “Sure I can.”

  He looked confused.

  “Trust me.” She sat up on the bed and held out her undershirt for him to hold down while she removed his sweater. She threw it at his face when she got it off. “I’ll go get fancied up. Meet me in the lobby in ten minutes.”

  “Is that all you need? Just ten?”

  She gave him a threatening look.

  “I’m kidding. I’m kidding. You look fine how you are. Just go like that.”

  “Ten minutes. Lobby.” And she was out the door.

  He tucked the sweater she was wearing under the covers on the bed hoping to preserve the smell. After rummaging in his bag, he pulled out a pair of jeans and a button-down shirt. Once he was dressed, he headed to the lobby to wait.

  The Drink

  Less than ten minutes later, Kennedy walked off the elevator. She looked absolutely stunning in black dress pants with a glittery belt and a red v-neck shirt. She had heals on which made her a few inches taller, but she was still shorter than Emmerick. Her hair was freshly brushed, but that was all she had done to it. She had on eyeliner, mascara, and lipstick. It was the first time he had ever seen her wear any of it, and he noted that she wore it well.

  When she approached him he couldn’t help himself. “Wow. You look fantastic. I feel underdressed now.”

  “You’re a boy. You’re supposed to be underdressed.”

  He led her outside. She headed to her car, and he to his bike. “Where are you going?” She stopped walking. She looked confused.

  He looked to his bike. “Where does it look like I’m going?”

  “I know, but it’s like four blocks away. What’s the point in driving separate? Just jump in my car.”

  He obeyed.

  When they got to the bar, she got out of the car before he could get around to her side to open her door. That irritated him slightly, but he knew that it was just how she was.

  When they got to the door, the bouncer was checking IDs. Emmerick got nervous. Would they check hers? Would they let her in anyway?

  They checked Emmerick’s and let him by without a problem. When it was Kennedy’s turn, sure enough, they asked for her ID. She had it ready. What is she doing? She should have pretended like she couldn’t find it, and then I could reassure the bouncer that she’s with me and of age. The bouncer looked from her to her ID a few times.

  “You look different all done up.”

  “Yeah, that’s what I hear.”

  “This your first trip to a bar?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Happy belated birthday. Let the bartender know that Mikey’s buying you your first drink.” He smiled.

  “Thanks!” She smiled at him as he let her pass.


  What just happened? That must be one good fake ID. “That was interesting,” he commented as she approached. “Who’s the picture of on your ID?”

  “It’s me.”

  “Wow, that must have cost a fortune. I hear that getting a fake with your photo is the priciest way to go.”

  “Who said it’s a fake?”

  He was bewildered. “But you said… You said you weren’t twenty-one.”

  “Right, but I said I was almost twenty-one.” She smiled. “My birthday was yesterday.”

  “Seriously?! Why didn’t you tell me?? I would have gotten you something.”

  “And that’s precisely why. Besides, I had a good birthday. You did get me something. Fun.” She smiled at him as they walked up to the bar.

  He took over when the bartender approached and told him about Mikey and Kennedy’s first drink. He expected her to order some fruity drink like a Fuzzy Navel or Sex on the Beach. When she asked for a shot of whiskey, he couldn’t help but be impressed. He got one for himself as well, along with a beer.

  “To the birthday girl.” He raised his shot. She clanked hers against his before taking it.

  Emmerick quickly switched to his beer to wash down the burning in his throat. Kennedy laughed at him before turning back to the bartender and getting a Long Island Iced Tea.

  They found a table away from the dance floor. She had not had enough to drink for that. She looked around; it was pretty crowded with a surprisingly young crowd. As she looked around, so did Emmerick.

  He was paying attention to all the men who were paying attention to Kennedy. He didn’t like it. Hopefully none of them would be ballsy enough to approach her when he was with her. For all they knew, she was his girlfriend.

  As they sat and drank, they talked. Kennedy asked for more stories about Emmerick’s sisters and provided a few about her sister. His stories were quite entertaining and they laughed often. Kennedy finally started relaxing. She felt she could let her guard down more than she usually did, and it had nothing to do with the alcohol.

  When her drink was empty, she got up to get another.

  “Where are you going?”

  “I need another Long Island.”

  “I’ll go get it.”

  “I’m perfectly capable. Besides, you’ve been able to order drinks for how many years? This is my first time. Well, first time legally…” She gave him a coy smile before turning to disappear into the crowd.

  So that’s how she already had her drink figured out. It took most women ages to finally settle on what they liked to drink. That was why they got so sick on that notorious birthday, at least that was his opinion.

  After a few minutes, Kennedy returned to the table with another Long Island and a shot. “This guy asked me to dance, so I’ll be back in a little bit.” She took her shot. “You should find someone to dance with too.” She took a long sip of her long island.

  He couldn’t believe it. Someone beat him to the punch. The ass. “Are you sure? You don’t even know the guy.”

  “Yeah. And I didn’t even know you when you hijacked my road trip, now did I?” She said it quietly, but she was leaning forward so he could hear her. When straightening out, she lost her balance and tumbled into him a bit. Alcohol must hit her pretty fast. She seems much more friendly than usual.

  Instead of just catching herself and standing up again, she caught herself and lingered. With her arms on his shoulders, it was almost hug-like. If he had only been standing… She giggled and leaned in more. Her forehead rested on his chest. Once she was composed, she stood up again and walked back toward the bar.

  This is not good, he thought. He would definitely have to keep a close eye on her. He saw her walking to the dance floor with the ass. He looked pompous. He had spiky, blonde-tipped hair and frat boy clothes. Emmerick wouldn’t be surprised if the ass tried to put GHB in her drink.

  At least Kennedy was somewhat cautious. She held her drink with her hand over the top of it and didn’t put it down until she finished it. When one of the ass’s buddies tried to hand her a shot of something, she shook her head and leaned forward to say something in his ear. He tried to insist, but she refused.

  That’s good. She’s at least a smart drunk.

  Once both her hands were free, she started dancing more thoroughly. Not at all how she danced in her car. In her car she was silly. Goofy. This was sexy.

  She pressed herself up to the ass and put her arms around his neck when they weren’t above her head. He had his hands on her lower back holding her up against him. His buddy came up behind her and they sandwiched her in. She seemed to enjoy it. She turned to dance with his friend, with the same sex appeal.

  The ass took advantage of her facing away from him. He put his hands on her hips then slipped them into the front pockets of her pants.

  He pulled her into him so hard she stumbled a bit. He helped move her hips in a way that he enjoyed. His buddy got closer to her front. She coyly tried to get the ass’s hands out of her pockets. His arms didn’t respond. They didn’t retreat.

  She tried to turn back around but he didn’t allow it. She started panicking. The ass’s friend took over her front pockets and pulled her into him. She felt relieved, however momentarily. Shortly after she bumped into the friend, he moved his hands into her back pockets. The ass put his hands on her waist and started moving them north. She panicked again.

  Everything after that happened so fast she wasn’t sure exactly what did happen. She couldn’t feel the ass behind her anymore. She turned to look, and he was on the ground. When she turned back to his friend, she saw Emmerick’s fist making contact with his face. What is he doing? Kennedy wondered.

  He grabbed her hand and led her back to their table before the bouncer could get there to see who did it. The bouncer assumed the ass and his friend had fought each other, so he escorted them both out.

  Kennedy looked at her feet. “Thanks,” she said sheepishly.

  “If you don’t want that kind of attention, don’t dance so sexy.” There was outright anger in his voice.

  “What? I wasn’t. I was just dancing.” She was shocked. She looked into his eyes. Why is he angry with me? I didn’t start that. Those guys took it too far.

  “Right.” He steadied his voice. “‘Just dancing.’ How about I go get myself another shot or two, then you and I ‘just dance,’ sound like a plan?”

  “Sure!” She beamed. “While you’re up there, can you get me another tea?”

  “I think you’ve had enough.”

  She pouted, “I’m fine. I promise.” She pouted more as he disappeared to the bar.

  He returned with a beer, a shot, and a tea. His face revealed he had taken two shots at the bar without chasing them with his beer before returning to the table with the third. He was about to do something that was not the kind of thing he usually did. He needed his liquid courage, even if he would regret it in the morning.

  She clapped her hands the way a child would when pleased then took her drink from his hands. He downed his shot, followed by about half of his beer.

  She was in the middle of drinking her tea when he grabbed her hand and led her back to the dance floor. As he led her through the people, toward the center, she started dancing. He didn’t want to be on the edge of the dancing; there were more witnesses that way. In the middle, everyone around you was too drunk and too concentrated on their dancing to pay attention to you.

  When he stopped walking, she bumped into him, but recovered quickly by turning it into dancing. Her body pressed against his. She grabbed his hands and put them on her waist.

  He could feel her skin; the bottom of her shirt didn’t quite meet the top of her pants. She felt soft and smooth. As she danced in front of him, he felt how she moved her body. Definitely sexy dancing.

  He tried to loosen up with her and enjoy himself, but the beer bottle was getting in the way. He chugged the rest of it and stuck the empty in his pocket.

  With his hands free, he gri
pped her waist a little tighter. She responded by moving closer to him. He hadn’t realized that was possible until she did it. She had her hands on his abdomen. As the song changed, she straddled his leg. Of course it was the leg with the bottle in the pocket.

  Her eyes widened and she looked up at him. He laughed as he shook his head, understanding her misunderstanding. She looked down and saw the bottle and laughed too, falling into him. He motioned for her to wait and then disappeared momentarily to discard the empty.

  When he came back, she resumed her position and her dance. She started singing the song as she danced, and he couldn’t help but loosen up after that. If only I could hear her better. Hear what her voice sounds like, so I wouldn’t have to wonder anymore.

  Halfway through the song, she turned her backside to him and danced up against him. He kept his hands on her waist. They sometimes shifted down to her hips when his arms got tired or he stopped paying attention, but they didn’t linger there long.

  She kept turning around, dancing this way for a while, then switching to that way. The highlight of the night came for him when she faced him and led his hands into her back pockets. It was close to heaven for him. She had her arms resting on his shoulders.