_________
Marama stood against the admin building as usual after school. She smiled as Erin approached.
“Thanks again, Erin,” she said. “My salmon sushi was yum.”
No mention of any accidents or lost bicycle. Erin feigned composure. “Sure thing. Any time.”
“It’s a nice ride.”
“Thanks. It’s Felicity’s. Did you lock it up?”
“It was tricky, but I think I did it right.”
“Awesome.”
Relieved, Erin circled back around the admin building to the bike rack. She congratulated herself for being cool. New Zealand cool, which was different from being cool in Wheaton. Cool in Wheaton was more about what she owned, how she dressed, and how she managed adults. Here, it was about being laid back. Ironically, she had to work pretty hard at that.
Felicity’s bike was nowhere to be found. Erin perused the length of the bike rack five times before dropping her books and running back to Marama, who also was nowhere to be found.
This wasn’t happening. Hamish and Felicity would be pissed. Any equity Erin had built up after her Not American Good comment would disappear. What could she do?
“Erin?” Jade called out. “Something wrong?”
“I lost Felicity’s bike. It’s not on the rack.”
Jade grabbed Erin’s upper arm. “Look at me. Relax. We’ll look together.”
Jade followed Erin around the admin building, where only three bikes remained. Everyone else had cleared off after school.
“Well, I guess it isn’t lost among the throngs,” Jade said. “You’re sure this is where you left it?”
“Does it matter? I don’t see a bike lying out in the open, either.”
“Touchy.”
“Sorry. It’s just—she kind of thinks I’m spoiled and irresponsible. This is going to seal the deal for her.”
Jade’s face softened. “It will turn up. Are you sure you locked it here?
“I lent it to Marama at lunch because she wanted sushi.” She wanted to say Marama was flighty.
While Erin explained, some huge guy picked up one of the remaining bikes. Two girls casually collected the last two. Erin wasn’t expecting Felicity’s bike to magically materialize when all the other bikes were taken, but still, the empty bike rack pained her.
What have I done?
“I’m sorry, Erin. I have to catch the next bus or Mum will be furious. You going to be okay here?”
Erin nodded, though she was decidedly not okay. She was screwed.
Jade turned back two times on her way off campus. The second time, she gave a thumb’s up, as if everything would be just fine.
Erin walked to the middle of campus. No bike. Between buildings and around the canteen. No bike. The racks were still empty when she passed by on her way to—yes, the bus.
Erin felt like an asshole for losing Felicity’s bike. Her birthday present. A thousand-dollar bike! A thousand dollars was undoubtedly a lot of money for Hamish. Without a bike, Felicity had no transportation to work until she could shell out a thousand dollars for another bike.
And she’d believe Erin was irresponsible.
If you can fix it for under a thousand dollars, it’s not a problem.
Erin probably could fix this problem for around a thousand dollars. Did that count? The only consequence of buying a thousand-dollar bike was a very angry dad, and he’d get over it.
A thousand dollars wouldn’t affect her parents’ bottom line. And Felicity would have a bike and wouldn’t be out the money.
And—if Erin was really good—Felicity and Hamish would never know she’d lost it.
Erin needed empathy.
And help.
And wheels.
She called Hank.
FORTY-EIGHT
A half hour later, Erin and Hank entered Spokes, Hank’s best guess for the shop where Hamish had bought Felicity’s bike.
After much deliberation, they agreed on a make and model. When they explained the dilemma to the guy working the shop, he checked his books and proved that Erin and Hank had no clue what they were talking about. Felicity’s had been a limited-edition women’s Diamondback, and Spokes had only one left in stock.
Another woman in the shop was keen to hear about this particular model.
Erin dialed Marama to be sure there was no other way out of this situation. Unfortunately, Erin was unable to play cool. Instead, she left a breathless message asking for Marama’s assurance that she’d locked up the bike.
“Can we think about it for a minute?” Erin asked the shopkeeper, who immediately started touting the bike’s features to the other customer.
Really? Today? She couldn’t have come looking tomorrow?
“What do you think?” Hank said.
“If Marama didn’t lock it, there is a small possibility someone accidentally took it home.”
“Were there any bikes left on the rack?”
“Empty.”
“So, where did the accidental bike borrower leave their own bike?”
Damn. “Maybe someone took it for a joyride?”
“Doubtful.” Hank’s fake, hopeful smile didn’t help.
She scowled. “You look like a helpful person, but you’re not all that helpful.”
“Anything that sounds helpful would be a lie. I’m not going to lie to you.”
“What would you do?”
“I wouldn’t lend a friend my mother’s sweet ride, that’s for sure.”
Hank wasn’t sure how to react when sobs heaved out of Erin. He wrapped his arms around her but was tentative about actually touching her with his hands.
It was fake comfort.
He whispered, “Call Felicity. Tell her what happened and ask her what she’d like you to do.”
“No chance.”
The shopkeeper adjusted a helmet onto the head of the other woman and let her take a test ride on the street.
“We can look for it tonight. And tomorrow.”
That sounded like the sanest option, but Erin felt certain that by tomorrow she wouldn’t be able to buy a replacement. Spokes wouldn’t have another one for two months.
Marama called. “I promise you that I locked it. I locked it up at Bush Inn and at Ilam the same way you had it locked: through the frame and the wheel. I don’t know what else to tell you.”
She could say she was joking. She could say she’d split the cost of a new bike.
No. This was on Erin. Felicity would be back in two days. Erin
