Page 122 of Haze of Obedience

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I don't know how much time passes. It could be minutes or hours. I'm so wrapped up in him I don't hear Axel clear his throat and only come back to reality when Dirk pulls back to respond to him. "I'm not sure if we're going to wait it out here or attempt Mexico. But you two go to, Nicaragua."

"Thanks." Axel goes inside.

"How do you feel about redheads?" I ask Dirk.

He grins. "Any hair color on you, I'm down with."

"What about green eyes?"

"You'll be sexy like always, but nothing will ever be better than your real eyes."

I pat his cheeks. "Aww. Aren't you sweet?"

"For the record, I kissed you, so you still owe me a kiss."

"Well then, I guess I'll save it for a rainy day." I slip under his shirt and trace over the arrows on his V.

He raises his eyebrows.

"You still haven't told me what you think when you stare at your arrows in the mirror."

He shakes his head and laughs. "Go dye your hair."

We go inside, and Penelope and I step into the bathroom.

"Zoe, I feel horrible putting you in any danger."

"Don't apologize. Your daughter is the most important thing."

She sniffles. "Thank you. I know—"

"Stop. Let's not discuss it anymore." I shake the dye box. "Now, have you done this before?"

"Yes."

"Good because I haven't."

We spend the next hour coloring my hair, and when she washes it off, she mutters, "Oh."

"What's wrong?"

"It's umm...umm..."

"What?"

"Cheerful?"

"Why do I get the feeling that isn't good?"

"Umm...everything looks great on you so..."

I spin and check out my reflection in the mirror. "Oh..."

And it's wet, so it's only going to get lighter.

"Tinker sure did pick a red one," I say, holding a few strands out and seeing it glow in the light. "My hair is more orange, wouldn't you say?"

"I swear I did exactly as the box said," Penelope mumbles.

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