“Nothing’s going on, babe. She just wanted to play a little. You know how it is.” He smirks in my direction.
Kyle pulls me behind him, probably aware I’m about to go batshit on this asshole.
“Fuck you, dude. You grabbed her ass,” he defends me.
Candy speaks up. “Is that true, babe?” she pouts. “You know I don’t like to play with girls, just other boys.” She looks directly at Kyle and smiles.
That’s when I lose it. “Oh, fuck no, bitch,” I sneer. “You don’t get to look at my brother like that.” And I bolt in front of him, ready to tear her cheap extensions out.
Kyle holds me back by my shoulder and demands the camera from Brad. “Give her back the camera and we’ll be done here,” he suggests and takes a step toward the guy.
“I don’t think so,” Brad says and tosses – yes tosses – my thousand-dollar camera to Candy. “I think we’re just going to take this and go.”
“Don’t fucking do this,” I plead. They have the upper hand here and I’m not sure what else to do but beg.
Now is the time where I wish Lucas were here with his ninja skills. He would know what to do in this situation. Unfortunately for us, Brad and Candy are in the presence of a five-foot-nothing barista and a teenager who unsuccessfully tried to rob a business. We aren’t exactly equipped to handle this kind of showdown.
How in the hell could this have happened twice in one week?
Kyle makes a move towards Candy, and Brad takes advantage of the moment by sucker punching him in the ribs.
“No!” I yell too late, as Kyle falls to the sand. The couple use the distraction to bolt, and they run down the beach with my camera, laughing like two hyenas as they disappear without looking back.
I don’t even try to go after them and instead focus my attention on Kyle, dropping to my knees. “Are you okay?” I ask, even though it’s a stupid question.
I try to assess the damage like I know what I’m looking for but I’m utterly clueless. He’s in pain, that’s the only thing I’m sure of.
“I’m fine,” he groans. “I think he just bruised my ribs. It was a cheap shot.”
I breathe out a relieved breath. “Let’s get you up and make sure there’s no permanent damage. I’m calling the police. We need to report these guys.”
“No ambulance, though. Okay?”
I look him over and he seems fine, so I relent.
It doesn’t take long for the cops to show up and for me to file a report. They tell me that this type of stuff is all too common with the internet these days, and the couple probably didn’t even use their real names. They couldn’t guarantee that I would get my camera back and gave some bullshit answer as to when I’ll hear from them.
“I am so sorry,” I tell Kyle when we’re finally back on the road. “I’m still going to pay you for today, but I can’t have you join me again. This was an epic disaster.”
“I’ll be fine. Don’t worry about me.”
I blow out a shaky breath. “How are your ribs feeling?”
“Better,” he says.
I nod, unsure if he’s lying or not. “I’ve got to tell your mom about this, you know?”
“Can I tell her?” he asks. “I just don’t want you to get caught in the crossfire, and I know she’s not going to be too ecstatic about the whole thing.”
I hesitate. I don’t want him to defend me in any way because at the end of the day, his mom entrusted me with hiscare, and I didn’t deliver. “I’m the adult. It’s my responsibility to disclose what happened.”
He rolls his eyes. “I’m an adult too. But I just want to ease her into it because she’s already having a rough day today. I’ll tell her tonight. I promise.”
I shouldn’t let him do it on his own, but I cave. “Fine. But I want her to call me when it’s said and done.”
“That’s fine. Do you think the cops are going to get your camera back though?”
I shake my head. “Not a chance. It’s probably already been pawned by now. Those two knew what they were doing. I have a feeling this wasn’t the first time they’ve scammed someone like that.”
