“That’s the worst thing you can do.” He guided her to the center of the boat and turned her toward the ocean. She didn’t want to look at the water. And there was no place to sit. She was willing to sink to the floor, but there wasn’t room. Instead she grabbed the railing and leaned over it. She was beyond pretending she was fine. Pride had fled, leaving desperation it its wake.

Lucas put an arm around her middle and pulled her against him. “Look at the horizon. It’ll help.”

Kate had read something about that, but given the condition of her stomach, she was skeptical. She followed his directions anyway.

“I don’t think we have any medications aboard,” Lucas said.

Her head fell against his chest, and she smothered a moan. How had she lived this long and not known the body could feel so bad? At this point, she wished she could just get it over with, Lucas’s presence notwithstanding.

“You watching the horizon?”

His stubbly chin rubbed against her temple, a welcome distraction. She nodded. The horizon was a fuzzy line against the blue sky. She focused on that line like her life depended on it.

“I’m sorry, Katie.” His hand moved up and down against her side. His stomach was like a solid wall against her back. “I should point us toward shore. The sooner you’re on dry land, the better you’ll feel.” His arms loosened, but she clutched them, fearing dizziness would overtake her.

“Wait,” she said. If only she could sit down.

He tightened his arms, supporting her, and she stared at the horizon. Was the dizziness improving?

“I shouldn’t have let you go down to the cabin earlier. You probably would’ve been fine.”

She hadn’t been feeling right before she’d gone down, but she didn’t have the strength to say so.

“There are saltines and Coke in the cabin. Will you be all right for a minute if I get them?”

Kate wasn’t sure she’d ever feel all right again. She wanted to say no, hesitant to stand without the strength of his support, but she nodded anyway and realized she must have a shred of pride left. She leaned forward on the railing, wishing she’d vomit while he was gone and get it over with.

No such luck. He returned a quick minute later and handed her a cracker. “This’ll help.”

Kate bit into it and followed the cracker with a sip of the Coke he’d brought while he rubbed her shoulders. It seemed her infirmity had granted him touching rights, but it was a welcome distraction. So welcome, she leaned against him moments later and his arms came around her again.