Page 126 of Haze of Obedience

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"Really?"

"Yep."

"Awesome."

"If the van's a rockin' don't come a knockin'!" she sings.

"Glad you have high hopes for tonight," I tease.

"You're going to have to show me that you're still interested in me when I have fluorescent hair."

I snort. "That isn't ever going to be an issue. Besides, you've had it in the past."

"Pink and blue are more acceptable than orange."

"I don't know. I think it's growing on me. About eight years ago your yellow was pretty bright."

She groans. "Don't remind me of the past hair failures my stylists gave me."

"You were still smoking hot."

"I thought you weren't a liar?"

"I'm not."

"You are right now."

"I can't help it if I think you're sexy, no matter what."

"Maybe you've been hanging around Tinker too much, and he's worn off on you."

"Nope. Hey, I forgot to ask you how your voice feels?"

She touches her throat. "It's better. This is the longest break I've gotten in years from singing."

"Except for your dirty little performance last night."

She blushes. "That wasn't strenuous singing."

"Whatever you want to call it, I'm up for an encore whenever you feel the need."

She laughs. "I'll keep that in mind."

We drive for hours. The farther away from Omoa we get, the less damage we see from the earthquake.

Zoe's stomach growls.

"Let's eat dinner." I veer off to the side of the road, and she pulls out the leftover tamales.

"How long until we get to the border?" she asks.

"Probably another three to four hours. We can cross tonight. Tinker said we can stay on the El Salvador side of the border on his friend's property. Tomorrow we should be able to get through a good portion of Guatemala."

Zoe turns in her seat to face me. "What happens when we get to Bermuda?"

"We figure out the next steps."

She wrinkles her forehead.

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