and Pahia must’ve broken down. Maybe one of you’d like to share what the hell is so funny.” My impatience is fueled by the sudden churning in my gut. More secretive glances pass through the group.
They seem hesitant to speak up, until Leigh tosses me her phone. “You have to see it to believe it.”
I catch the phone as the bus door closes. That churning settles into something heavier—solid foreboding. “Where’s Nina?” I ask, but the only answer I get is a snort from Leigh. “Where. Is. Nina?” I ask again.
This time a hysterical laugh comes from Reese. Brianne and Leigh lose it, too, all three of them walking in circles to catch their breath. “Look,” Reese says with her hand on her mouth to stifle her giggles. “You just have to watch the video. I could try to explain it, but…God, you’d never believe me. Honestly. You can’t script this stuff. It’s epic. I mean, Nina’s a little odd. Strange, I guess? But seriously, watch the video.”
I grip Leigh’s phone, almost crushing the thing. This can’t be good. With a deep inhale, I press play on the screen.
It’s worse than I imagined. I barely register Nina’s exposed breast. All I see is the way her chin trembles and her eyes well up. There was a time when I would’ve laughed along with this group of insensitive bastards. Instead, I want to wrap Nina in my arms and shield her.
My head flies up. “Where is she?” At my tone, the humor dissolves from their faces.
Reese shrugs. “She left.”
Straightening to my full height, I step up to Queen Bee and lean into her space. “Be specific.”
Bruno frowns and tugs Reese back. Callum puts his hand on my chest. “Cool it, mate. Nina ran to the loo right after. The waitress came by to tell us she got a lift to the hostel. She took off.”
I clench my jaw so tight my teeth hurt. “Let me get this straight. Not one of you went to check on her when she bailed, and you let her hitch a ride on her own. Is that what I’m to understand?”
Callum presses harder on my chest. “Back off, Sam. Nina’s a big girl. She can take care of herself.”
Leigh’s still grinning, Reese is smug as hell as she pops a stick of pink gum in her mouth, Brianne twirls her hair, and the guys are all up in my face. “Assholes,” I mutter. I toss Leigh’s phone on the ground and head for the hostel, ignoring their “Oh, my God” and “What a dick” as I force my leg to move faster.
I practically rip the door from its hinges as I barge inside. I slam my hand on the bell at the front desk.
A young guy saunters out front and yawns into his elbow. “What can I do for ya?”
I grip the counter. “Redhead. Green eyes. Probably a ponytail—Nina something. Have you seen her?”
“Oh, yeah, sure. Kinda hard to forget that one, aye?” He wiggles his eyebrows.
Fucking horndog. “Is she in her dorm?”
“Dorm? Nah. She caught a lift, like, I don’t know, twenty minutes ago? Was hangin’ here with her backpack, lookin’ for someone goin’ south to Rotorua. A couple was drivin’ as far as Waipu. Coastal town about an hour and a half south. Your girl hitched a ride. I stayed with her ’til she left, you know, hopin’ she might stick around.” Again with the eyebrows. “But no luck. She seemed like a nervous wreck.”
“Thanks,” I call, already on my way to the dorm.
I shove my crap in my pack, head to my car, and peel out as fast as this relic of a ride will allow.
* * *
On the drive to Waipu, I alternate between cursing Reese, Brianne, and Leigh for humiliating Nina further with that video, wishing I hadn’t been such a pussy and had gone to the beach, and wondering why the fuck I’m driving in New Zealand, chasing after some random chick.
If it were just because I’m hard up and can’t get enough of Nina’s seductive looks, I’d be checking myself into Crazy Town. But I feel secure in saying it’s all my grandfather’s fault. Dad lectures me regularly to take care of my sister and look out for girls in general, but Pops has a special way with words:
“Women are a gift. You abuse that gift, and your balls are mine.”
“If a girl’s in trouble and you don’t help, I will skin you, boy.”