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walk down the runway for me would be a disaster.
    When we reached the dock, Max climbed out of the gondola and helped me up on to the dock.  
    “Are you okay?” The gondolier looked me over.  
    “Yes, I’m okay. I’m sorry I caused so much trouble.”
    “You saved me.” He smiled. “That was a very nice thing to do.”
    “Maybe, but I rocked the boat in the first place.”
    “If I hadn’t been going so fast, we never would have had any problems. I should have checked the boat before we set out. I’m very sorry that your ride was disrupted. Please, if you would be willing, return any time for a free ride. I will make sure the gondola is in perfect shape before we set out.”
    I forced a smile but I couldn’t imagine getting back on a gondola. I shivered as my soaked clothes clung to my body.  
    “Let’s get you dry.” Max steered me away from the dock.  
    “Max, there’s no way that I can do these runway shows. Look what’s happened now. I can’t even go for a simple boat ride without causing a disaster.”
    “Sammy, you’re reading too much into it. You got scared, then you were brave enough to try to catch the gondolier and ended up in the water yourself. That’s nothing to be ashamed of.”  
    “It isn’t?” I looked at all of the people who stared back at me as I walked toward the parking lot. “It sure seems to me that it might be.”
    “Sammy, what is this all about?” Max caught my hand in his. “Ever since we got here you’ve been doubting and second-guessing yourself. Did something happen to make you insecure? Was it something I did?”
    “No, of course not. I just think maybe this tour was a bad idea.” I sighed and wrung out the bottom of my shirt. “Look, Max, there are people who are meant to be in the limelight and people who aren’t. I just don’t think I’m one of those people who should be out in front.”
    He lifted his eyebrows. “Too bad.”
    “What?” I stared at him. Max usually came to my defense. He usually talked me out of my self-doubt. This was different.  
    “Too bad. You’re already here. You’re already in the limelight. You can’t back out now.”
    “Sure I can. It’s called booking a plane ticket.”
    “No, it’s called a violation of a contract.” He crossed his arms. “You have no choice but to continue with the tour, or you’re going to lose everything that you’ve worked so hard for. Is that what you want?”  
    “No, of course it’s not what I want.” I narrowed my eyes. “Why are you being so cruel?”
    “I’m not being cruel. I want you to snap out of this. So you fell in the water. Yes, it happens. Yes it does seem to happen a little more often to you, but that’s just part of life. We still have a job to do while we’re here. My job is to keep you on track. Your job is to keep inspiring your readers. If you’re not doing your job, then clearly I’m not doing my job. Something has gone wrong here, and we need to fix it.” He glanced at his watch. “Fast. There isn’t time for being gentle.”  
    I frowned. I could agree with most of what he’d said, but that didn’t mean that I liked it. In fact, I definitely didn’t like it.  
    “Bullying me isn’t going to fix anything.”
    “This isn’t bullying. I know you. I know that you’re far more resilient than this. This is me trying to awaken that fierceness in you. The Sammy I love won’t let anything get between herself and her success.” He brushed my damp hair back from my face. “You’ve let all of this get to you. You’re still exactly who you were when you first started writing, Sammy. You’re still that amazing, determined woman who completely transformed her life. That is the person who will be walking down the runway.”  
    “No.” I shook my head. “No, I’m not going to do it. Take me back to the hotel.” I pulled back from his touch.
    He sighed and handed me my helmet. I put it on. When I climbed onto the back of the bike, I tried not to