Runaway

Chapter 4

Nikki smiled broadly, watching Diego throw bad jokes at Aline and Marina, who were faking offenses. Two weeks have passed since her arrival at Naples and the woman was spending almost all her time with the small group Brian had met her with. Though she knew them only for a few days, the locals have grown close to her heart. But she was much closer with Brian and Marina. After the Latina realized Nikki wasn't a threat and that she wasn't interested in Brian, she became much more friendly. Nikki had to admit this was warming her heart.

She closed her eyes, trying to soak up a little more of the sun's warmth. Her relaxing was interrupted soon by the cold water hitting the upper part of her body. She jumped up, spreading her arms. Brian was standing behind her and dying of laughter, holding an empty plastic container in his hands.

„Asshole!" she yelled, a small smile creeping onto her face. „You could've just woken me up, not throw a water on me."

Brian was laughing loudly, clutching his belly.

„I'm sorry!" he barely managed to say. „I had to!"

Nikki just shrugged and stood up. Sunbathing didn't make any sense now, because she was wet anyway.

„Hey, where are you going?!"

She faced him again, winking.

„In the water!"

Brian watched her going between the waves until he felt somebody pulling his arm. He locked eyes with his ex-girlfriend's. Marina smiled innocently.

„Took you long enough to get here," she said.

„Yeah, thanks to Dan. Jerk was hung over again. It took him half an hour to get to the store."

Marina's mood instantly changed from playful to anxious. The brunette released Brian's arm and took a deep breath.

„What are we going to do with him?" she asked, hoping that he had a proper answer. But Brian just shrugged helplessly.

„I don't think we can do much. It is how it is."

„I'm tired of watching everyone give up on him. Dan doesn't deserve this. You know he can't help himself."

The blonde man shrugged again.

„What do you want me to do?!" he asked, becoming defensive. „Do I have to remind you that I've already tried everything? I don't know what else to do, Marina!"

Marina was trying to say something, but she was interrupted by a voice they both knew well.

„What's going on?" Nikki asked, standing behind them.

They both faced her, Brian nervously scratching the back of his neck. Nikki had caught them unprepared.

„Don't worry," he replied. „Everything is fine."

She watched them suspiciously for a few minutes, but eventually, she stopped with the interrogation and retrieved her belongings. Aline and Diego were still discussing something. She took the towel, wiping her face with it and then lay down on the white deck chair again.

„Hey, are you two coming to my hotel for the party today?" she asked them, drawing their attention to herself.

Both of her friends looked at her curiously.

„Sorry, I can't. My family has some kind of gathering, so I have to be there. I made Diego accompany me," Aline replied, shrugging.

Nikki frowned.

„Brian, David, and Marina?"

„As far as I know, David and Marina are working. I'm not sure about Brian's plans."