I've lost my mind.

Some time, somehow, some way over the last few days, I've completely lost my mind. There was no other explanation for it. Why else would I suddenly be consumed by all thoughts Karma? She's always just been Lanie's best friend to me.

That was definitely not the case now. Which was why I must have lost my fucking mind.

Most of the day yesterday was spent doing this back and forth flirt dance thing with Karma on the beach. The four of us spent hours in the water. We hunted for sand dollars. Played Marco Polo. Then when I suggested that we do a chicken fight, Karma shut that down quickly. saying she was ready to go inside.

And she also avoided any and all attempts I made to dunk her. Hell, even just touching her seemed impossible. But that girl knew how to work it. Watching her take off that cover-up and bend over in front of me was a kind of torture I never knew existed.

It was easier when I was the one in control of the flirting—and when it was any other girl. But with Karma...

Karma complicated things.

While hiding in my room last night, I kept telling myself over and over again that I wasn't going to hang with the girls today. I wasn't going to go down to the beach and I wasn't going to see Karma.

Today was going to be about getting things back to normal. It was going to be spent with me keeping my eyes on other girls. Hitting on other girls and hooking up with other girls.

I also made a promise to myself last night that I would follow through on those things. Made myself repeat them over and over again until I was convinced that I was going to get it done.

Clearly I did a shit job sticking to that plan.

"Harp, did you take my sunscreen?" Lanie asked from beside me as she dug inside her tote bag. "I swear I put it in here last night."

"I don't have it. Sorry."

"I have it," Karma stated, pulling it from her bag. "Hope you don't mind that I borrowed it. I ran out of mine."

"No problem. Just let me know when you're done putting it on."

Goddammit. I really should have stuck to the plan of not being here right now, because I was right about one thing...Karma was way too good at tempting me. Too good at making me want things I shouldn't even be thinking about.

So when she stood up from her towel and reached for the bottom of her cover up, I clenched my teeth. She was wearing that bikini. The one that caught my attention when she flirted with those other guys that were here.

I didn't bother trying not to look this time. At least I remembered to put my sunglasses on when I came down here. Last thing I needed was Lanie and Harper to notice me watching Karma.

And fuck, did I watch.

She started with her legs first, propping her foot on the cooler and smoothing the sunscreen into her skin.

Did she have to do it that slowly?

After what felt like hours later, she started on the other leg. This one she did even more slowly. Taking her time smoothing the white lotion into the skin of her thigh. Then it was her stomach followed by her neck and chest.

I honestly tried to look away then. But apparently that was an impossibility. My eyes stayed glued to her fingers when she applied the sunscreen to her chest. When her hand stilled, my gaze met hers.

The heat that burned in Karma's eyes reminded me of that night at the club when I almost kissed her. If it hadn't been for my little sister who loved to show up at the wrong time then I would have kissed her.

Although I would have preferred somewhere a little more private for my first kiss with Karma. Usually I didn't care about that kinda thing. The old Nate would have kissed any girl, anywhere.

What the hell am I thinking? I am Nate. It's not like I've changed or something. I've just...lost my damn mind. Yep. That was all. And lost minds could still be found.

"Hey, Karma, isn't that the guy from the other day? The one who hit on you when we played volleyball with them?"

Karma's head jerked in the direction that Harper pointed. So did mine.

Lanie was also curious, leaning up in her chair and squinting. "Oh yeah! I think it is. We should go talk to him."

No, Lanie, you really shouldn't.

"I don't know," Karma drawled.

"Come on," Harper whined. "I wanna flirt! And look, his friends are with him again. Maybe we can challenge them to another volleyball game."

I studied Karma's reaction when she glanced awkwardly in my direction before tossing the sunscreen to Lanie.

"I don't really feel like playing volleyball, L. Why don't we go swimming instead."

Why the sudden shyness, Karma?

"We were in the water all day yesterday," Harper said. "Come on! I wanna flirt with some boys!"

"Besides," Lanie added, "didn't you say that you wanted to find a guy for—"

"Okay, okay," Karma interjected a little too quickly. She cleared her throat a few times, clearly put off by this whole thing. She glanced at the group of guys again. "Are you guys sure you wanna play volleyball, though? Can't we do something else?"

It was my turn to glance over at the guys Lanie mentioned. I saw the four of them standing by the volleyball net. And I knew which one hit on Karma. I remembered him from that day I spied on her while I tried to hook up with some girl.

But there weren't just four guys there today. There was also a girl. This could be fun.

Rising from my chair, I rubbed my hands together. "I'm down for some volleyball. It's been awhile since I played. Right, L?"

"Yes! Let's all go play. And it looks like there's a girl over there for you, Nate," Lanie teased.

I flashed Karma a smirk. "Yeah, I do see a girl for me."

Once the four of us joined Karma's ogler, his three friends, and the random girl, we had to select teams. Naturally, the guy interested in Karma wanted to be on her team. So I did the smart thing and offered to switch so I could be on the random girl's team.

On one side of the net was Karma, the ogler, Lanie and one of his friends. On my side of the net was me, random girl, Harper, and a guy she picked for our team because she was obviously feeling him. The other friend didn't feel like playing.

"Who's serving first?" the ogler asked.

"We will." I picked up the white volleyball from the sand. I stared straight at Karma as I positioned the ball in my hands.

The first serve went well over the net, perfectly aimed for the ogler. He jumped and hit it, sending it back to our side where Harper was able to lean back and pop it back over. This time the ball went towards Lanie and she missed. Terribly.

"Wow, L. How long has it been since you've played?"

With a glare at me she said, "Shut up, Nate. We're just getting started."

"So how much longer do you have here?" the ogler asked Karma just as Lanie served the ball over the net.

I listened closely for the answer while Harper's crush hit the ball.

Karma cleared her throat nervously. "Um, like six days, I think."

Lanie served the ball over the net again. This time it came in my direction. Unfortunately, I was so distracted that I missed it and it landed out of bounds in the sand.

"Here you go," the random girl said when she picked up the ball and handed it to me with a shy smile. "I'm Alli. What's your name?"

I had a feeling Karma was listening so I returned the smile. "I'm Nate. It's a pleasure to meet you." I held the ball up. "And thanks for this."

She nibbled her bottom lip. "Anytime."

After random girl—sorry, Alli—walked back to her spot, I chanced a look at the girl I was actually interested in. And just as I suspected, she was watching closely. Of course that was until the ogler got her attention again.

"Since you have some time before going back to New York, I was hoping you might like to join me for—Whoa!" He clutched the side of his head where I may have 'accidentally' aimed the ball when I served it. "What the hell man?"

"Sorry," I called. "Thought you were ready."

Karma's glare of annoyance wasn't a surprise. And I had a feeling I was going to pay for that later. But I didn't really give a damn because now it was my turn to drive her crazy.

"Serve it, Karma!" Harper whined. "Let's keep going until one of our teams reaches ten points."

Even with her sunglasses on, I knew Karma had her gaze locked with mine. And the way I was looking at her sent a clear message: bring it on.

She served the ball and it came straight at me. I hit it, sending it over the net and in Lanie's general direction. She missed and fell face first into the sand.

Everyone chuckled. Well, everyone except Lanie.

"Ha ha! Very funny." She got to her feet and tried to brush the sand off. "I'm good. It's my turn to serve."

This time when Lanie served it, the ball came flying at Alli's face. Her hand wouldn't have been fast enough to shield her face, but luckily I was able to catch it just before it could make a bruise.

She gasped with surprise and looked at me with wide eyes. "Oh my—that was going to hurt." She reached out and placed her hand on my forearm. "Thank you. That would have been a terrible black eye." Sultry smile. "Is there anything I can do to thank you properly?"

Annnnnnd done.

***

Happy Sunday! There's a new chapter of Falling Into Place coming tomorrow!

Xoxo

🖤