The port town was bustling with activity at the local market, vendors hawked their wares loudly over each other to locals and tourists alike. The aroma of grilled fish, fresh fruits, and exotic spices created a tantalizing mix filling the air. Under the early afternoon sun, the heat was stifling, pushing most people to stay in the shade cast by tarps and shade sails overhead. The vibrant colors of the market stalls played in the light and shadow as the locals strode with practiced ease against the meandering traffic of tourists.

Chuck pulled a small wagon loaded with a cooler, struggling to keep up with the diminutive Lucia as she made her way through the crowds. She stopped only at the stalls she already knew supplied the freshest ingredients. His crew shirt had quickly become sticky with sweat, the heat getting to him without the constant breeze of the ocean. The rough cobblestones underfoot made each step deliberate and caught occasionally at the wagon's oversized wheels, jolting the cooler as it bounced along behind him.

Lucia, out of her usual kitchen whites, wore a bright, colorful dress that fell just below her knees, adorned in a playful floral pattern in shades of red, yellow and blue. Her strappy sandals allowed her to navigate the cobblestone streets with ease. Her dark, curly hair was pulled back into a high ponytail, keeping it off her face and highlighting her cheerful smile. A stack of colorful bangles on her wrist jingled softly as she gestured animatedly while talking to vendors.

Towering above most of the market-goers, Chuck served as a landmark of Lucia's location for Carina. She had opted to join them in the market rather than dine with Sarah and Bryce, and followed a few paces back with an amused smirk on her face as the locals leered at her exceptionally short white dress. A floppy sun hat kept the sun off her face and let her crystal green eyes scan the vendor stalls.

Morgan had taken it upon himself to guard Carina from what he saw as unwanted advances, using his larger than life personality as he shouted in Spanish at the occasional suitor who wandered too close. Carina seemed to delight in the game of luring men in, only to have Morgan chase them away.

Lucia led them to a large vegetable stall, the aisles too narrow for even the small wagon. Lucia turned to Chuck. "Mijo, you wait out here." As Morgan and Carina caught up, she indicated to Morgan. "And you cariño, I need your hands in here." Lucia fixed Carina with an appraising look as she decided whether she had authority over the younger woman.

Carina, met Lucia's gaze for a beat, then offered a slight nod. "I'll stay here with Curls."

Lucia, satisfied with the arrangement, smiled warmly at the younger woman. "Good, and you be nice to him. We won't be long." With that, she disappeared into the throng, Morgan in tow, leaving Chuck and Carina alone in the bustling market.

Chuck pulled the small wagon to the side and opened the cooler, pulling out two bottles of waters from amongst the carefully selected produce and offered one to Carina. They each took a long, refreshing gulp, quenching their thirst that was building from the heat of the day.

Carina's eyes were on Chuck as he took a long pull from his water. "You know," She began, "I think you'd be good for her."

Chuck choked on the water in his surprise. "I'm sorry, what?"

"Sarah." She clarified, as though it were the most obvious thing in the world. "I think you'd be good for her."

Chuck stared at her wide eyed. "I don't… but she's… and Bryce… I mean…" He stuttered.

Carina waved him off with an eye roll. "Bryce isn't good for her. He's… convenient. Compatible, sure. Fun, sometimes." She tilted her head as she assessed Chuck. "But Bryce doesn't make her want to be a better person."

Chuck ran a hand through his hair and rubbed at his neck. His eyes he scanned a nearby tray of jackfruit as he tried to grapple with her words. "I don't know… That doesn't mean she's interested in me."

Carina cocked an eyebrow at him, a knowing smile playing at her lips. "Oh Chuckles, I'm not sure she knows it yet, but she is. And it's pretty clear you are too."

"Well, yeah." Chuck's voice dropped, quieter now, as if admitting it aloud made it more real. "She's… she's amazing. Caring, smart, a total badass when it comes to jellyfish. And she's… she's just" He trailed off, unable to find words that did her justice, the image of Sarah's bright smile flashing in his mind. "But it doesn't matter. Once this trip is over, we'll never see each other again."

"Only if you two choose that." Carina shook her head at him, her usual teasing tone replaced by something sincere. "I'm serious Curls, she's my best friend and I only want what's best for her. If you care about her, you need to tell her. Don't let fear hold you back."

Before Chuck could respond, Lucia and Morgan reappeared, loaded with vegetables to fill the cooler. Carina's words hung in the air as the conversation shifted to lunch plans, but Chuck couldn't shake the weight of them. As they left the stall, he found his thoughts returning to Sarah and the possibility that maybe, just maybe, Carina was right.

o-o-o-o-o

Later that night, Chuck was alone in his and Morgan's bunk room. It was cooler than most nights, a welcome reprieve after the heat of the day. With the yacht docked, they were able to open more of the small windows on the lower deck to let the fresh air wash through. The faint aromas of fresh fish and crustaceans mixed with the smell of the salt soaked lumber of the dock. The lapping of the water against the hull was muted, only small waves in the port occasionally pushing the yacht against the dock and causing the groans of the timber and fenders on the boat squealing as they scraped against the old tires acting as bumpers on the dock.

The dim light of the single overhead light cast shadows on the walls. The door was open, and the lights of the port could be seen streaming in the hallway along the floor. Chuck was seated at the small desk, idly tapping his foot as he looked at the screen of the laptop Sarah had given him, a constant reminder of her generosity. His mouse hovered over the apply button, nerves holding him back from finishing the application with the single click.

This was it, the chance he'd been dreaming about for years. But what if he wasn't good enough? What if they saw through the years of underemployment and dismissed him as a lost cause? He might have been a decent applicant when he graduated high school nearly ten years ago, but now? The thought of another rejection weighed heavily on him.

His cursor tracked away from the 'Apply' towards the close button, ready to abandon the idea altogether when loud voices outside disturbed him. Frowning, Chuck stood up, the chair scraping the floor as he pushed it back. He walked out of his room, curiosity pulling him down the narrow hallway toward the open lower deck.

He could hear Casey's deep, gravelly voice, filled with frustration "Damn fool, you couldn't have stopped her for a second? Maybe given her some water?"

Chuck paused in the shadows, leaning against the wall as Casey and Bryce came into view. Casey, dressed in green cargo shorts and matching button up shirt, looked more like a soldier on leave than a tourist.

Bryce, on the other hand, was the epitome of disheveled charm in his black suit, the tie loose and his jacket unbuttoned. "We were having fun, Casey." Bryce argued, his tone light despite the situation, his words slurring slightly. "She's a grown woman, not a child."

Chuck froze as he caught the sight of Sarah's hair bouncing along at Casey's back, her form slumped over Casey's shoulder. An uneasy knot tightened in his stomach Carina's words from earlier replayed in his mind. Was this what Carina meant? Bryce's idea of 'fun' seemed more selfish than caring.

"Grown woman or not, as her partner, you're supposed to look out for her." Casey's tone was full of venom.

"Partner?" Bryce scoffed, unwilling to take responsibility. "She only had a handful of drinks!"

Their argument continued as they ascended the stairs, voices fading as they headed toward the staterooms. Chuck remained rooted in place, staring after them, his mind racing. Carina's words from earlier in the day echoed in his mind, filling the silence left in their wake.

Shaking off the uneasy feeling in his gut, Chuck turned and made his way back to his room. The laptop screen still glowed faintly in the dim light, the 'Apply' button prominent in the center. He sat down, heart pounding in his chest. Carina was right, maybe not about Sarah, but about him. He couldn't let fear dictate his choices anymore.

With a deep breath, he clicked the button, sealing his decision. The confirmation message popped up on the screen, and for the first time in a long while, Chuck felt a glimmer of hope.