Page 10 of Night and Day
His rumbling laugh resonated in her throat and she longed to join in, to feel that light. She couldn’t imagine her stomach ever unwinding itself, not until she got her life sorted and made it out of this cursed, backwards-ass country.
“I’m sorry,” Izzy hiccupped, wiping his eyes. “I know it sucks, but one day you might look back and see this as a really good story. It’s got drama, divine intervention, everything.”
Mia watched the glistening teardrops spilling from the corners of his eyes, jealousy tightening her chest. He laughed and cried so effortlessly. What was wrong with her that she couldn’t do the same?
Chapter 6
Izzy sped along themotorway as it wound between the river and the blue-green Taupiri mountains, enjoying the open road after Auckland’s congestion. He wondered what Mia might have thought about the views had she been awake. She’d admitted spending the previous night at Sydney airport, and dozed off around Pokeno. He couldn’t stop glancing at the sleeping woman, holding his breath every time she sucked in a sudden inhale, shoulders fluttering.
Izzy wondered if sleeping this early in the evening would mess up her circadian rhythm, but he didn’t have the heart to keep her awake. She’d made it clear she wanted out of New Zealand on the first available flight, so it probably didn’t matter when she slept. Still, he hoped the passport and other matters would take a little longer. Maybe he could show her around and change her mind about New Zealand. He couldn’t let her leave thinking his home country was some kind of crime-infested hellhole. Her experience may have been typical in some other countries, but not here.
Gradually, the green hills levelled into flat, green fields as they approached Hamilton, the dairy central of New Zealand. Tractor dealerships and workshops flashed by as they entered the ugly side of town, dominated by a hotchpotch of small businesses with sun-faded signs. Izzy negotiated each roundabout and traffic light smoothly, hoping Mia would sleep through the unflattering introduction. To his relief, he made it past the hospital (also ugly) and into the rundown but reasonably leafy suburb of Bader.
Izzy pulled into his driveway, exhaling in despair. The golden late evening light did nothing to hide the state of his crumbling rental. Apart from one film school buddy who’d been practically homeless, he hadn’t entertained guests in years. Whenever his family brought it up, he argued that the rent was cheap. Not that it excused the chipped paint and cracked concrete steps.
As Izzy killed the engine, Mia woke with a start. “Is this where you live?”
“It’s better inside,” Izzy grumbled.
He got out and circled the vehicle, but before he reached the handle, the door flew open and Mia stepped out, crashing into his chest.
“What are you doing?” she asked, brushing her shirt, cheeks flaming bright.
“Sorry.” Izzy took a step back. His heart pounded as if in the middle of a gym workout, every fibre of his body on high alert. Nobody had invaded his personal space in years. “I was going to open the door for you.”
She stared at him, her eyes huge. “Nobody opens the door for me.”
Izzy frowned, trying to follow her logic. “You mean nobody isallowedto open a door for you?”
She blinked in confusion. “No, I mean, it doesn’t happen to me.” She paused, looking past him. “I don’t think it happens to anyone in the twenty-first century. I’m not a damsel in distress.”
A wayward smile tugged at Izzy’s mouth. “Well, actually...”
Mia folded her arms, sticking her chin out. “Come on! I know I’m in trouble, but I didn’t expect to be rescued. I only wanted to borrow some money.”
Izzy felt irritation brewing in his gut. Hadn’t they covered this already? “If you’re expecting me to throw you some cash and walk away... That’s not how we treat visitors in my country. That’s not how I was brought up. You called me asking for help, which makes you my personal responsibility. I don’t take that lightly.”
