"What do you mean we're stuck out here? We can't be stuck out here, Nathan! We're in the middle of the damn ocean!"

Okay...technically we were nowhere near the middle of the ocean, but now wasn't the time to correct a panicked Karma.

"It's going to be okay, Karma." I was hoping that would calm her down a little.

She tried and failed to turn around to yell at me some more. "We are not okay! It's not like we can swim back, Nathan. We wouldn't make it. Besides, we would get eaten if we tried it!"

"Karma, stop! You're going to tip us. You need to sit still."

She stopped moving and buried her face in her hands. For a second I thought she was...No. She couldn't be.

"Are you crying?"

"No," she mumbled into her hands.

Yes, she was. "Karma, look at me." Face still hidden, she shook her head. "Look at me or I'm going to get off this jet ski and swim to the front so I can see your face. And if I get eaten, it's going to be your fault."

Her head snapped in my direction and she glared at me as fresh tears rolled down her cheeks. "Don't say that!"

I cupped her face with my hands, wiping the tears away with my thumbs. What was it about this girl that had my chest aching at the sight of her crying?

"Listen closely, Karma. We will be okay. The jet ski probably just sucked up some debris. It shouldn't be too hard to get it out. But first I want you to tell me why you're so rattled."

Given her state, I wasn't surprised when she didn't push my hands away. She just sniffled before explaining, "It's kind of a phobia."

That made me frown. "The water? But you go swimming in the ocean all the time."

"Not the ocean. It's more of a fear of being stranded out here. Like on a boat or something." More sniffles. "It's why I never minded when the jet ski plans got cancelled before."

"Why didn't you tell the girls that? They would have done something else."

She looked away shamefully. "Harper already paid for this. And I didn't want to seem like a chicken."

Well that made sense. Karma was a prideful person, but she was also very selfless. Even though she was scared, she didn't want to ruin Harper and Lanie's plans. Now one of her greatest fears was happening. I just needed to figure out how to get this damn thing started.

I took a deep breath before I looked her in the eye. "Do you trust me, Karma?"

"That's a loaded question, Nathan."

"About this. Do you trust me with this. Our situation."

"Yes."

I gave her a shop nod. "Good. I think I know how to fix it. My uncle had a jet ski and I watched him fix it when something similar happened." This part wasn't going to be easy for her to hear. "Listen carefully, Karma. First thing I need to do is rock the ski."

Her eyes widened. "What? No! You said it could tip if—"

"I know what I said. And it still can. But I have to shake it to try and get out whatever it could have sucked up. I'll be careful."

Even though she said she trusted me, I could tell she was terrified. "What if I fall off?"

"You won't. Besides you have your life jacket on. And if you did fall off, I can pull you up."

"Don't joke like that!"

"I'm not joking," I said softly. "Okay, how about this. I want you to hold on to the handles of the ski. Like I did when I was driving."

She turned back around and placed her shaky hands on the grips. "Like this?"

"Yes, but tighter. Tighter, Karma. There you go. Now I'm going to put my hands on yours." I reached around her and placed my hands on top of hers. "Like this. Is that okay?"

She nodded.

"Okay good. Now I'm going to stand behind you and rock the ski. But I won't let you fall off." I squeezed her hands to reassure her before placing my lips by her ear. "I got you, Karma. You're safe with me. I promise."

Once she seemed to settle, I stood behind her and gave the ski a few good shakes. Karma gasped a few times,but I didn't stop to check on her. The faster I got this over with, the better.

After a few more hard shakes, I was ready to try the ignition again. I reinserted the key and gave it a turn.

It started instantly.

"Thank god," she breathed.

"You said it. Ready to head back?'

"Yes, please."

The ride back to the shore wasn't as exciting as the first part of this little excursion. We also had to stop midway when Lanie and Harper approached us on their jet skit. They asked where we were headed and why we were going back early.

Karma was still a little rattled so I tried to come up with something quick. Apparently my excuse of having to meet a date and telling them that Karma wanted to get some food was believable enough for them.

When we finally made it back to shore, I helped Karma off the jet ski and out of her life jacket. She waited quietly while I spoke to the manager about what happened. He seemed impressed that I was able to get it working and thanked me for letting him know. He informed me he would have it serviced before it was taken out again.

I walked back over to where Karma was waiting. She was still a little pale when I cupped her face with my hand. Her eyes lifted to mine.

"You wanna go inside?" I asked her softly.

"Yes."

I placed my hand against the small over her back. "Come one. I'll take you upstairs."

We had to make a pit stop to where my mom and dad were set up on the sand to retrieve Karma's bag and my key card I dropped off here earlier. My parents asked how the ride was and I was quick to tell them it was great. My mom eyed Karma with concern before raising a questioning brow towards me.

The woman was too intuitive for her own good. We always wondered where Lanie got it from. Clearly it wasn't my dad. In an attempt to avoid her asking the wrong thing, I shook my head at my mom. Thankfully she seemed to get it.

I felt a strong urge to take Karma's hand the whole way back to the hotel and during the ride up the elevator, but I didn't give in. After the whole hot tub thing, and me agreeing that we weren't anything and were never going to be anything, I felt like it would be betraying that promise.

After we finally got back to the condo, Karma came to a stop right inside the door.

"You need anything?"

She glanced in the direction of the kitchen. "I'm probably going to get something to eat."

I followed her into the kitchen, knowing exactly what she was craving. When she reached for the freezer handle, I grabbed her hand.

"I'll get it." I padded the counter top. "Sit."

A little bit of the real Karma started coming out again when she snapped. "I can get it myself, Nathan."

Opening the freezer, I grabbed a pint of Rocky Road ice cream. "I know you can get it yourself," I told her as I grabbed a spoon. "But I'm choosing to do it for you. Now sit."

With the classic Karma eye roll, she hopped up on the counter. I popped the top off of the ice cream and dipped the spoon into it before handing her the pint.

"For you."

This time I got a half smile. "Thanks."

Taking a step back, I leaned against the fridge and watched her as she scooped spoonful after spoonful of her creamy stress reliver. Funny, I could actually see the anxiety melt away with every bite.

"Better?"

She looked up at me and scoffed. "God, you must think I'm pathetic."

"Not at all."

With a disbelieving look she said, "Come on, with the way I acted out there? I really am a joke."

My mom's dealt with anxiety over the years, so I knew it was a very real thing. I just wished I knew how to help Karma and make her believe that she in fact wasn't a joke. Nowhere near it.

"You aren't pathetic, Karma. You have a phobia. And being stranded in the ocean is an understandable one to have." When she just sighed heavily I asked, "You okay?"

She arched a brow. "That's another loaded question, Nathan."

That was the theme of the day wasn't it? Loaded questions. I just wish she believed me last night in the hot tub. She really did mean something to me. I had no idea why, but she did. Hell, I couldn't blame her for not trusting me, though. And if she wouldn't give me a chance to show her, I was never going to gain her trust.

Pushing myself off the fridge I took a step towards the hallway. "I'll leave you be."

"Wait." This time she was the one who caught my hand.

I turned towards her.

At first, she didn't say anything. She just looked into my eyes. Then she surprised the hell out of me by giving me a kiss on the cheek. My shock grew even more when she wrapped her arms around my neck and pulled me closer. Since she was still sitting on the counter, she spread her legs so my body could fit between them.

"Thank you," she breathed again into my neck. "Thank you for helping me out there, Nathan. It...it meant a lot."

I returned her hug and closed my eyes tight.

"You're welcome," I whispered, stroking her back. "I meant what I said, Karma. I got you."

Maybe there was hope for the two of us.