"Happy birthday!" Lanie came running up to me with a huge smile and threw her arms around me.

"Thank you, L." She pulled away from me and I gestured to the guests. "I told you not to do this."

She waved my statement away. Just like she always did. "Never mind that. You know you love it." She looked to Karma. "You told him, didn't you?"

"No, I didn't"
"Yes, she did."

Lanie rolled her eyes. "I knew you couldn't keep a secret, Karma. No matter," she said with a smile. "You managed to bring him here. I can't be mad at that." Lanie clapped her hands together. "Alright! Go mingle! There's food in the kitchen and presents on the table."

Lanie sauntered off towards Ayden and I let out a nervous breath. My anxiety was not good right now. Nope. Not at all.

"Happy birthday, mate," Jackson drawled as he came over. He was carrying my nephew who reached his little arms out to me with a smile.

"Thanks, Jackson." I gestured to Karma. "Have you met Karma? She's an old friend of Harper and Lanie's."

I didn't know how it would sound if I said she was my ex. Or my current-sometimes-fuck-buddy. Yeah, that was a little hard to explain.

Jackson smiled and offered her his hand. "I don't think I've had the pleasure. It's nice to meet you. I'm Jackson Reese."

Karma smiled when she recognized the name and shook his hand. "Yes. You're Harper's fiancée, right?"

Something passed over Jackson's expression. I heard they were having issues. "Yes," he said before clearing his throat. "I actually promised her a drink. I'll see you to around."

Following Jackson was Ryan, Danielle, Jaime, and Ayden. They all wished me a happy birthday and we had some non-important small talk. There was music playing throughout the house as some of the party goers danced and ate.

Feeling overwhelmed, I walked into the kitchen and opened a bottle of Jack. My hand shook as I poured it. "Fuck."

"I got it."

Karma took the bottle from me and poured me a glass before she poured one for herself.

"Thanks."

She took a sip of the whiskey and watched me over the rim of her glass. "You okay?"

I took a large gulp and nodded. "Yeah. It's just a lot. I haven't drank much lately, so I guess I'm feeling more these past few days."

That wasn't a good thing. I was feeling my anxiety more. I was feeling alone. I was feeling...I looked up at Karma.

"Why aren't you out there mingling with the masses?" I asked quietly.

She sighed and leaned against the counter. "Honestly, everyone's lives have changed so much over the past decade. I love them and I miss them, but they almost feel like—"

"Strangers?"

Her eyes met mine. "Yeah."

"Karma? There you are!" A petite blonde woman came barging into the kitchen and embraced Karma.

"Abby, I'm glad you made it!" Once they pulled apart, Karma introduced us. "Abby, this is Nathan."

Abby looked over at me and ran her gaze over my body. She wasn't checking me out, she was doing the job of best friend.

I offered her my hand. "It's nice to meet you."

She took my hand and glanced to Karma. "Damn, girl. He is fine."

"Abby!"

I chuckled as Karma covered her face with embarrassment. Ah. So this was that Abby. The one Karma was talking to at the café.

"What?" her friend asked innocently. "He is."

Karma cleared her throat. "Abby, why don't you go look for Lanie. She's been wanting to meet you."

Abby gave me one more look before she walked out of the kitchen.

Karma could barely make eye contact with me. "I'm sorry about that. She can be a little blunt sometimes."

I chuckled and shook my head. "It's okay. I owe her a thank you, actually."

"What for?"

I lowered my voice. "Sexcycling, remember?"

Karma groaned and started to leave the kitchen. "I'm going to look for Harper."

I watched her leave and somehow resisted the urge to follow after her. As I watched every one enjoying themselves, I couldn't help but feel...lucky. Even with all the shit that's happened to me, I still had this group of people I called my family.

When I saw Karma laughing with Harper, Danielle, Lanie, and Abby, there was a sharp pain in my chest. If I hadn't have ended it with Karma, she wouldn't have taken off and lost her closest friends. I kept telling myself that it was because her mom made me. Shit, maybe part of it was. But I'm the one who left her. I'm the one who hurt her. I don't deserve her. I didn't even deserve the small chunks of time that I've had with her recently.

Ayden came into the kitchen and grabbed a beer. "Hey, man. You okay?"

I crossed my arms over my chest. I wish everyone would stop asking me that. "Yeah. I'm alright. You?"

He took a swig of the Bud Light. "I'm good. Better."

I looked at Lanie. "She looks happy."

"Yeah. I told her this might be, you know, too much for you. But she insisted that it would be for the best."

I snickered. "That sounds like L."

"She'll probably kill me for telling you this, but she's been trying to get you back together with Karma."

My eyes went to Karma. She was holding little Nate in her arms. She had the biggest smile on her face as she rocked him and continued talking to the girls.

"I know," I breathed. It wasn't surprising that Lanie was involved. I would be more concerned if she hadn't been.

"I know you said there's nothing there, but I see the way you look at her, and the way she looks at you. There's definitely something there, Nate."

Ayden was my best friend and I trusted him completely. That's why I didn't stop the words from coming out.

"You're right. There is something there." I let out a heavy sigh. "Karma and I hooked up in Florida. We promised it wouldn't continue when we got back."

"Has it?"

"We kissed today, but it hasn't gone any further."

Ayden came and stood next to me. "Do you want it to?"

I watched Karma kiss little Nate on the forehead before handing him over to Lanie. "It would be so easy for me and her to just fall back into our relationship," I said quietly. "It's insane how easy it would be."

"But?"

"I can't be with her again if I can't tell her the truth about why I left her in the first place."

Ayden sounded as frustrated as I was. "Maybe you should-"

"I can't," I snapped. "Sorry. It's just a sore subject. She can't ever know the truth."

Ayden pushed off the counter and took a few steps before he turned to me. "Nate, I know this is your call, but she seems like an amazing girl. She really cares about you. Maybe you should think about it before you give up on her. If you make the wrong choice, you could lose the best thing that's ever happened to you."

After Ayden left me alone in the kitchen, I decided it was best to join the party. After I threw back some more Jack and Cokes, I definitely mellowed out. I ate, talked, and laughed with the guys. Lanie brought out the cake later on and made me make a wish. At first, I didn't know what to wish for. But then I glanced at Karma. She met my stare with a smile and that did it. I made my wish.

Once the party settled down, I told everyone I would open presents tomorrow and call them to say thank you. I was tired and mentally drained. I had no idea where Karma had run off to. It wasn't like her to leave without saying goodbye to me. I needed some air, so I went on my back porch and leaned against the screen door.

Maybe Ayden was right. Maybe I am making a mistake by not being with Karma. But how could I when I couldn't be honest with her?

Chime-chime

I pulled my cell phone out of my pocket.

Karma: Come to your room.

Chills shot down my spin all the way to my dick. I came in from the backyard and went straight to my room. Thankfully Lanie and Ayden were already in their room. I stepped inside my room and shut the door behind me. It was almost pitch dark except for the glow from the few candles that Karma must have lit.

Speaking of Karma, she came out of my bathroom and sauntered towards me. She was as gorgeous as ever.

"I thought you left," I told her quietly.

She stopped in front of me and ran her hands over my chest before wrapping them around my neck. "I couldn't leave without giving you your present." Her eyes fell to the chain she gave me. "Well," she smiled up at me, "your other present."

A corner of my mouth lifted. "My other present, huh?"

"Mhm." She leaned close to me and started kissing my neck. "Don't you want your present, Nathan?"

My dick was so hard for her, I could barely keep the rational side of me together.

"Karma, are you—fuck. Keep doing that," I moaned as she kissed and sucked at my neck. "Are you sure this is a good idea? I mean...we said only in Florida."

At first, I thought she wasn't going to answer. Then I felt her tongue trace the shell of my ear before she nipped at the lobe.

"I'm wet for you, Nathan."

To prove it, she took my hand and led it between her legs. Christ, she wasn't wearing any panties. My fingers stroked her; teasing her soft skin before finally slipping one inside.

"Karma..." I didn't know what I was going to say. I wanted to tell her to leave. I wanted to tell her to stay. I wanted to tell her this was a bad fucking idea. But nothing came out of my mouth.

"Nathan," she moaned as she wrapped her hand around the base of my neck. "You didn't answer my question."

I could barely think as the softest part of her soaked my fingers. I slid another one inside her and she gasped in my ear. I missed this side of Karma. The one that wasn't shy.

My voice was ragged. "What question?"

"My question," she said as she panted, "was whether or not you want your present."

"Yes," I hissed as she rubbed me through my pants.

"Move your hand," she whispered in my ear.

When I did, I thought she was going to kiss me. She didn't. First, she pulled my shirt over my head and tossed it aside. Then she put her lips to my chest and kissed her way down my body until she was on her knees in front of me. Her eyes never left mine as she unbuttoned and unzipped my pants.

Ever since Karma has returned to my life, I've felt like I was on the edge of a cliff—trying desperately to keep my balance. I was trying everything I could to not fall over it and land in the deep ocean that was mine and Karma's relationship. It was as if the lightest breeze would push me over that edge and into loving Karma again.

As I watched Karma snake her tongue out and flick it over the head of my dick...a hard gust of wind blew me right over that fucking edge.