Shattered Girl (Emmy)

Chapter 59 I woke up to bright morning sunlight streaming into my window through the trees. Drew was still asleep next to me, and I was able to move without waking him. After a quick shower, I pulled on another tank top and shorts and went in search of coffee. I was the first one downstairs, which surprised me, but I started a pot of coffee for everyone and began pulling fruit out of the fridge to make a fruit salad. I had finished washing the fruit when Mike cdownstairs, only wearing a pair of sleep pants. He stood behind me, resting his hands on my hips, and leaning down to kiss my neck. "Good morning, beautiful; how are you doing this morning?" He asked, while stealthily stealing a strawberry from the pile of clean fruit.

"Hey, those are for breakfast," I told Mike, bumping him out of the w way with my hip. Mike chuckled but leftto the fruit salad while he poured scoffee for both of us. Adding the right amount of creamer, he brought a cup over to me, and I stopped to give him a to thank him. He leaned against the counter next toas we both enjoyed our first cup of coffee. When I was done and began cutting up the fruit again, Mike cup behindagain.

"You never answered my question, honey. How are you doing today?" Setting my knife down, I turned and wrapped my arms around his neck.

"Pretty good, actually. I have no pain anywhere right now, and I slept really well. When one of you is sleeping within bed, I sleep so much better," I admitted. "Thank you for asking." Standing on tiptoes, I him and went back to finishing up the fruit. Mike ran his hand across my butt before going to the fridge and pulling out eggs, and bacon. We worked side by side, talking about our plans for today. I had never been on a boat before, so I was excited about the new experience.

I had put the cooked bacon in the oven to stay warm when Mike turned to me. "Do you think you could handle a short hike today?" He asked.

"I'm pretty sure I can as long as it's not steep or requires rock climbing, or running away from wild animals" I joke. "Why, what did you have in mind?" "Well none of the things you just said but I want to show you something special. It's a fifteen-minute drive from here, and maybe twenty to thirty minutes of hiking depending on how quickly we walk. It's pretty flat. When we were here last summer, the county was working on making it more accessible for people with disabilities." "That sounds like I shouldn't have any trouble then. What tdid you want to go, and what should I wear?" I asked, getting excited about spending - twith Mike.

"Well, we probably won't go out on the boat until this afternoon, so we could go in a little while after breakfast. Your shorts are fine, but I suggest bringing a long-sleeved shirt in case you are cold and a sturdy pair of shoes." "OK, I will change when we are done eating." I told Mike. I was getting plates and silverware out when the rest of the guys started trickling in. As they cin one by one, they each stopped by me, tellinggood morning and givinga . Everyone took their own plate, filled it with food, and took it to the table with their coffee. We had all sat down when Patrick's phone began to ring. Looking at it, he swore, excused himself, and headed downstain.

I looked at the others, "What's going on with Patrick?" I asked.

Probably something with his business or his father," said Jake, around a mouthful of food.

Drew, who was sitting next to Jake, whacked him in the arm. Don't talk with your mouth full, you weren't raised in a barn." Drew scolded. Jake gave him a dirty look but swallowed before he continued.

"As I was saying, when Patrick's phone rings, we normally don't ask. He will tell us w what we need to know," Jake said.

When I was done eating, I pushed my plate away and looked at the rest of the guys. "Mike said we probably won't take the boat out until this afternoon, so he was going to takeon a short hike. Mike nodded.

We should be back around lunch since it's only a fifteen-minute drive, and twenty to thirty minute hike Mike added. I stood and reached for my plate to bring it in the dishwasher, but Jake snatched it from my hands, thenignoring the shocked look on my face, He called over his shoulder as he was turning toward the kitchen. You and Mike made breakfast, so the rest of us will clean up, Jake said. "Go change, Mike will get the packs ready, and you and two can leave?

I thanked Jake for volunteering the others to clean up the breakfast dishes and hurried upstairs to change. I was back a few minutes later, and after giving everyone else a, Mike handeda backpack, helpedput it on and made sure it was adjusted properly, took my hand, and ledoutside. He went to the garage and, taking my pack from me, loaded it into the back of an older truck, and helpedinto the passenger seat, leaning acrossto buckle my seat belt, and ignoring my protests that I was perfectly capable of doing it myself. We were soon on the main road again this theading in the opposite direction from the way we cyesterday, Mike was point things out to me, tellingabout sof their past trips here. He also toldthat where he was takingwas very special to him, because when he was younger his mom had taken him on his first hike here, and that it held alot of good memories. Chapter 59

ifteen minutes later, Mike pulled off the main road onto a smaller dirt one.

We caround a turn and a parking lot sat before us, there were picnic bles off to one side, along with bathrooms. Where the trail began there was a large map, showing several different paths you could take. I grabbed e's hand excitedly, I couldn't wait to explore. 0.8 km From HX