"Did you meet any boys in Florida?" 

After I nearly choked on my water, I sat the glass on the dining room table and took a few deep breaths. My dad wasn't really one to beat around the bush when it came to details about my life.

Under normal circumstances, I didn't mind sharing details about my life with him. He and I had always been close and I always felt like I could tell him anything. But when it came to this—to boys? Nope.

And especially not this boy.

"No, dad. No boys." 

I wasn't a liar by habit, and that was a big fat lie, but I couldn't tell him the truth. I didn't even know that the truth was. Whatever the hell all that was with Nathan was over and done with. 

"What happens in Florida stays in Florida." 

It made me feel a little better when he said that. And it made me feel a little sad, too. I was just all types of confused. Especially after that time spent in my room before we left for the flight back home.

The way he held me made me feel so incredibly safe. But it also scared me in a way. I believed him when he said he hadn't held other girls like that. I'm pretty sure we all knew Nathan Jenkins wasn't that much of a cuddler. 

Except with me apparently. 

"I'm surprised, Karma. I thought you'd bring home a boyfriend that I would say wasn't good enough for you. Then you would rebel when I ordered you to break up with him causing you to date in secret." 

That's a little too close to home, Dad.

My mom entered the dining room at exactly the wrong moment with a stern look. "She doesn't have time for boys right now, Hank. She has more important things to worry about."

Here we go. "Don't worry, mom," I drawled. "My application is submitted, and I did a virtual tour when I got back. I'm all set. You can quiz me if you want."

Okay, that last part was meant as a joke and I regretted saying it immediately. Knowing my mom, she might actually quiz me.  

When Nathan found me crying in my room, I had just gotten off the phone with my mom. She found out I lied about applying to USF and blew a fuse. I still didn't want to go there, but I needed to relieve some of the stress that all this was causing. 

So as soon as I got home, I finally sent in my application and did the damn tour virtually. She seemed happy about that. For now, at least. I was just glad to have her off my back. 

"That's wonderful news," she exclaimed with a smile. "I'm telling you, Karma, this is going to be the—"

"Best thing for me. Yeah, I know, mom." Hiking my thumb over my shoulder, I said, "I'm going to go finish unpacking and get acquainted with my new schedule for school."

After a few hugs, another congratulations, and my father trying to stuff me with more meatloaf, I finally made it into my bedroom. Even with everything I was dealing with at home, a part of me was glad to be back. The sooner things got back to normal, the better.

Speaking of normal...

Looking down, I grimaced at my duffle bag that was still packed from the beach trip. Whenever I traveled I always unpacked as soon as I got home. It was a pet peeve from mine. 

But after spending the whole car ride to the airport, and the time on the plane thinking about Nathan, I didn't have the energy. I got dropped off yesterday by Lanie's mom—who had a concerned look on her face, by the way—and then I came straight into my room and dropped my duffle bag right where it currently sat.

Hours. I spent hours thinking about the pros and cons of taking a risk with Nathan. But every scenario ended the same way: him cheating with one of those bimbos, the friendship between Lanie and I broken, or the worst...he breaks my heart.

"Karma!" My mother called from the kitchen. "Lanie's on the phone!"

With a heavy sigh, I walked back to the kitchen to grab the cordless phone. "Thanks, mom." I stuck the phone between my ear and shoulder the way back to my room, then shut the door behind me. "Hey, L. What's up?"

"Not much. Just got done baking some cookies with my mom. Oh, and she invited you to come to Coney Island with us for the carnival this Saturday." 

Shit. "I don't know, Lanie." What was I going to say? "I'm not sure I'm up for a carnival after the beach and...the sun. It takes a lot out of a person." 

Jesus, I sounded crazy. 

"Okay, you sound like a crazy person right now. Come on, it'll be fun! Harper's coming to. It'll be a girl's night. Plus, it's on my mom. So all the rides, fried food, and games we want." 

First of all, I wasn't going to let her mother foot the whole bill for me. Second... "Wait, did you say girl's night?" 

"Yeah, it's just you, me, Harper, and my mom. My dad said there's a baseball game on or something, so he isn't coming. And you know how much Nate hates going  to those things. He has plans with his friend, I think. Or is it Deep Throat Debbie, again? Eh, oh well. I can't keep up anymore." 

Neither could I. And the thought of Nathan with that bimbo, or any other Happy Meal, made me want to punch something. 

"Say that you'll come, Karma. Pleaseeeee. Who else is going to ride the Tilt-A-Whirl with me?"

"Fine," I groaned. "Okay. I'll be there. But you're driving." 

"I hate driving your car!" 

"I know," I teased, "that's why you're doing it." 

Suddenly my mind flashbacked to Driver's Ed a couple years ago. Lanie failed the test a few times, poor thing. I loved her to death, but the girl was a horrible driver. 

"On second thought, I'll drive." 

"Hey! I'm better now!"

"Sure you are. I'm driving and I'll pick you and Harper up from your house. Just make sure you're ready. I don't want to get there and wait for an hour while you decide on an outfit." 

I could practically see Lanie rolling her eyes. 

"That only happened once! And it wasn't for an hour, Karma." 

"You're right. It was an hour and a half. I was being generous." 

"Whatever," she drawled. "I'm just glad you're coming. Harper said she has big news for us." 

Uh oh. "Big news? What kind of big news?"

Now that concerned me. Whenever Harper had 'big news' it usually involved a boy or some type of jaw-dropping drama. I shuttered at the thought of what it could be this time.

"No idea. I tried all my tricks of the trade to get her to spill, but she wouldn't budge. Guess we gotta wait until Saturday." 

Given everything that happened in Florida, getting away with the girls and going to the carnival sounded just like what the doctor ordered. As long as he-who-must-not-be-named wasn't there.

The last thing I needed was for him to put the charm on me again in front of Harper and Lanie. We agreed that nothing would happen again, but Nathan wasn't known for his ability to control himself when it came to flirting. 

And I wasn't sure how much longer I could keep my guard up around him, either. Every time we were alone together, he's somehow been able to subtly chip away at that wall around my heart. My defenses against him were weakening and I was scared that it was only a matter of time before they came crumbling down. 

"Karma, my mom's calling me to help her with the dishes. Talk to you tomorrow?" 

"Yeah," I mumbled. "Tomorrow. Bye, L."

Hanging up the phone, I sat on the end of my bed. When did everything become so complicated in my life? I'd like to think it was when my mom first approached me about USF. She made the whole thing seem like it was my idea at first. I was excited and started researching everything about it. Then when my mom mentioned the housing, it hit me: I wouldn't be going to school with my best friends. 

But that still didn't feel like the point in my life where everything changed.

"What are we doing, Nathan? We can't—"

He pressed his fingers to my lips. "Shh. Don't listen to your mind right now, Karma. Trust me. I'm not either." He brushed my hair back before cupping my face. "Listen to your body, gorgeous. Just feel. Feel me."

It was that night at the club. Everything changed that night.

I changed.