Page 108 of Stains of Desire

Penelope bites on her smile. Tinker and I exchange a glance.

Dirk's definitely met his match.

Dirk places his hand on her biceps and says something, and they get up and go outside.

Penelope sits up straight and puts her hands over her face.

"Give them a few minutes, and I'll go talk to Dirk," I say.

"I don't want to put Zoe in danger."

"I know. But we're adults. Millie is a child. Dirk just needs a few minutes to grasp the situation. It's the right thing to do."

"Why does every choice have to be so hard? Why does someone always have to sacrifice or take a risk for something good to happen?"

I squeeze her hand. "It won't be like this forever, green eyes."

She stays silent.

"Tinker, do you know how far the earthquake damage stretches?"

"I heard through the middle of Honduras."

"And you have someone to get us through the border of Nicaragua?"

"Yep. You should be able to sail through."

I stroke Penelope's red hair. "This is good." I kiss her forehead and rise.

Time to talk sense into Dirk.

When I step outside, Zoe and Dirk are in a hot and heavy kiss. I clear my throat.

Dirk pulls back. "I'm not sure if we're going to wait it out here or attempt Mexico. But you two go to Nicaragua."

That's my best friend.

"Thanks." I nod and go back inside and tell Penelope the issue is solved.

Dirk and Zoe come in. Penelope and Zoe go off to dye her hair.

Tinker, Dirk, and I discuss the logistics for both our situations.

Zoe and Penelope come back into the room, and I try to hide my surprise. Her hair is neon orange. I glance at Penelope, who cringes.

Zoe sits on Dirk's lap. "How do you like my hair?"

His eyes widen. "It looks..."

"Go on."

"You're sexy with any color hair. I already told you that."

And he means it.

"Right. But what about this hair?" Zoe holds a fistful out.

"You look beautiful, as always," Dirk says with a straight face.