Episode 7666

Extended Summary

Theo drives his car with Ryder shut in the car boot, banging and calling for help. Theo eventually pulls up outside a night club and films on his phone as he opens the boot. Ryder is furious, asking why he’d do this to him. Theo says it’s fun and Ryder wonders why Chloe falls for his act. Theo tells him to look behind and he sees Chloe, Bella and Nikau standing there. Chloe awkwardly says surprise. Inside, Felicity and another young woman are tending bar. Ryder, Chloe, Bella, Nikau and Theo come in, with Chloe explaining they have the VIP lounge to themselves. Ryder thinks it looks expensive but Chloe says he only turns 21 once. Ryder is still unhappy about how he was brought there and Theo says he should be lucky to ride in the car. Chloe draws Ryder’s attention to the cake; Bella and Nikau say they decorated it but Irene made it. Felicity introduces the other woman, Anne, saying she’s their hostess for the evening. Theo asks for champagne, saying it’s on him. Chloe tries to suggest to Ryder that he should thank Theo. Ryder is unimpressed.

Mia and Ari join Tane at Salt. Mia tells him it’s a working dinner: Food is allowed but she has a schedule. Ari warns him she has a folder. Mia says Tane can look after the day-to-day running of the gym and she and Ari can handle the business side. Ari isn’t sure about that but is told he can learn. She and Tane start discussing the technical details, which Ari looks perplexed by. Later, Ari is at the bar as Tane and Mia work out how to schedule the classes. Tane thanks her for having faith in him but asks how they’re going to have time for the baby they adopt.

Chloe tries to get Ryder to dance with her but instead he accepts a top-up from Anne. Bella looks unhappy at seeing Nikau posing for photos with other girls. Chloe sits down next to her and complains about Ryder. Bella suggests that being kidnapped was triggering for him and notes sometimes you can’t help feeling a certain way even if you don’t want to. Chloe goes and apologises to Ryder, asking if he can put it aside and enjoy the night. Ryder seems ready to dance with her until Theo interrupts, causing him to hit the drink again. Later, Nikau wonders why Bella’s at the bar and she comments on his fangirls. Ryder tries to tell Theo to leave but Chloe says she’d rather hang out with Theo than him, going to dance with him. Ryder takes another drink.

Ari, Mia and Tane arrive home. Mia has decided that the best plan is for Tane to take over as manager when she has the baby to look after and show Ari the ropes. Ari isn’t sure that’s a good idea since the gym obviously isn’t his thing but Mia suggests he take a course. Back at the club, Ryder tries to get Anne to dance with him but she refuses, as does Bella given how drunk he is. Ryder again tries to chat Anne up, saying they both work in bars. Felicity asks Anne if she’s okay and Anne says he’s just a drunken teddy bear. Nikau tells Chloe not to let Ryder get to her. Chloe says all he’s done is complain, get wasted and try and make her jealous…which is working. Bella asks Nikau what they’re going to do.

Tane finds Ari outside the house. Ari asks him what he remembers about their dad and Tane recalls he said he’d be bigger than him and Mikaere one day and they’d stop picking on him. Ari says he was always there for them, teaching him to fish, and he worries that he won’t be there for his own child. Tane says the child will have all of them. He gets a text and says he has to take care of things. At the club, Ryder is drunkenly dancing. Felicity and Anne see Tane. Felicity goes over and tells him to leave, saying it’s her workplace. Tane says he’s picking up a drunk mate. Felicity gives him five minutes, then she’s calling security.

Mia joins Ari inside the house. Ari asks if she could stay on as manager while he looks after the baby. He says he doesn’t regret buying the gym but it’s Mia’s thing, not his: Family is his thing, while her career’s important to her as well. At the club, Tane pulls Ryder to his feet. Ryder again tries to pay attention to Anne and Tane tells him not to mess things up with Chloe over a nobody. Anne takes offence at the remark. Ryder pushes Nikau over and is escorted by Tane and security. Tane asks Chloe if she’s coming but Chloe says she’s going to enjoy the party even if Ryder’s too stubborn to and Theo says he’ll look after her. Bella and Nikau say their farewells.

Tane and Nikau take Ryder back to the Parata house, telling him not to wake Ari and Mia. Ryder wonders why they’re in bed. Tane says it’s after midnight and Ryder realises it’s his birthday. He wants to wait up for Chloe but promptly passes out on the couch. Nikau goes and finds Bella at the flat. Bella notes that seeing how Ryder’s jealousy got to Chloe made her see how Nikau must feel and Nikau says that seeing Chloe freak over Ryder made him realise how much she feels. Bella says she’ll work on her issues and notes she doesn’t want to end up like Ryder and Chloe.

Theo is tucking into the birthday cake as Chloe laments how the night worked out. Theo suggests it was his fault but Chloe says Ryder hated the rest of the night as well. She doesn’t fancy going home so Theo suggests they go for a walk. Next morning, the two of them are walking on the beach. Chloe says she’s never seen a sunrise because she and Ryder are usually cooking then. She notes it’s nice to spend time with someone new and isn’t keen to go home and get interrogated by Ryder. Noticing her shivering, Theo gives her his jacket and suggests they go and have breakfast.

Ryder wakes up on the couch and finds Ari staring at him, asking what happened last night. Ryder asks what Chloe said. Ari says she never came home.