Page 79 of Total Ship Show

“What do you mean you can’t? Can’t what?” I hold the piece of paper in my hand staring at it for many long minutes wondering what the fuck could’ve happened between my getting a shower and now. I’m at a complete loss but I have to find her.

I throw on a t-shirt and grab my phone, hoping maybe she’ll return my texts if I try, and that’s when I see a text waiting for me from my best friend.

Kohen: Sounds like you found yourself a rockin’ cruise call-girl.

I narrow my eyes when I see this text came through about ten minutes ago.

Is it possible Adrienne saw this text?

I scroll up a bit and reread the rest of our conversation.

Shit.

In hindsight I wouldn’t blame her if she saw this and got scared off, but it’s not at all what it looks like. It’s not at all what she thinks. My behavior with previous women is less than stellar, I know that. I’ve done stupid things. I’ve made poor decisions. We’ve discussed my past relationships. She knows where things stand. I may have been an idiot in my younger years, but I’ve never once disrespected a woman and I’ve certainly never once disrespected Adrienne.

On the contrary.

I’m in love with her.

I thought after tonight she was with me.

I thought perhaps she felt the same.

That we might be able to work out some kind of plan to be together.

So why is she gone?

Swinging my door open, I look left and then right hoping I’ll spot her in the hallway but she’s not here. Jolting myself forward I jog down the hall careful to look in every small space I can find on my way to the elevators.

Maybe she went back to her old room?

A few floors below my stateroom, I locate the room she was given and stand outside the door listening for anything. Any sign whatsoever that tells me she’s in there. But I don’t hear a thing. I want to pound the fuck out of this door. I want to scream and shout until Adrienne comes out and talks to me – if she’s even in there – but if her friend hears me, or worse, Jock Strap James, it would humiliate her and I don’t want to hurt her.

That’s the last thing I want to do.

I knock ever so lightly and say her name hoping she’s on the other side of this door and will answer.

“Adrienne? It’s me. Can you open the door?”

No answer.

“Please, Babe. Can we talk?”

No answer.

Fuck!

Back in my room, I shoot her several texts over the next few hours, but they all go unanswered. It’s almost two in the morning and my energy is draining fast. I want to keep looking for her, but my body is a treacherous bitch and sleep overtakes me before I can decide where to look next.

* * *

“Yo, bro!” Aiden shouts when I finally meander back to my family in the theater where we all wait to disembark. “Saw you running like a bat out of hell earlier. What’s going on? Everything alright?”

No. Everything is not alright.

Everything is messed up right now.

And I’m not handling it well.

---