Dirk says, "We have to go take care of something else. Andre will stay here with you, ladies."
"You're leaving?" My chest tightens.
"I shouldn't be gone long. Do me a favor and listen to Andre, though?"
I tilt my head.
He raises his eyebrows.
I smirk. "Fine."
He winks and steps in front of me but then freezes. "See you soon."
"O...okay."
He glances around the room and then back at me and leaves with Tinker out the back door.
My racing heart thumps so loud I'm sure everyone can hear it. As soon as the door shuts, I cross the room, open it, and step outside. "Dirk."
He turns. "You can't be outside."
"I know. I'm sorry. Just..."
"I'll meet you at the car," he tells Tinker then steps in front of me. "What's wrong, my Little Diva?"
"I um...um..." I let out a big breath.
He strokes my cheek and frowns. "Tell me what's wrong."
"Stay safe."
His lips twitch. "I will."
I should go back inside, but I don't. I can't seem to move. I'm frozen, taking in every feature of his beautiful face, not sure why I came out here but compelled not to let him leave without seeing him first.
He comes so close I inhale him. He brushes his lips on mine. "I have a shameless request."
"What?" I whisper.
"Dirk, let's go," Axel steps outside.
No! I want to know what he was going to ask.
Dirk sighs. "Go inside, my Little Diva. I'll be back soon."
"Ask me when you get back?"
"Yes." He pecks me and pats my ass.
I obey him, and when I enter the kitchen, I say, "Let's make some dinner. It'll be nice to have something besides snake."
"Snake?" Naomi asks.
"Yep. Dirk has a thing for snakes."
"He does pride himself on his ability to hunt those suckers," Andre confirms.
I snort, thinking about when he killed the snake by hurling a knife at it.
"It's protein," Naomi offers.
"A good rattlesnake can taste like Tilapia," Andre continues.
"Feels like I've been eating chicken forever. Let's see what Tinker has for us to make." I open the fridge, hoping Tinker has ingredients so I can make Dirk tamales.
Andre announces, "I'm going to shower."
Naomi follows him within a few minutes.
"Looks like those two are about to have some fun shower time," I remark.
Penelope smirks. "And what about you?"
"What about me? What about you?" I throw back at her and do a happy dance when I find the final ingredient I need to make my recipe.
"Not sure what you are talking about."
"Please. He's tall, dark, and handsome, and you're gorgeous and could be a runway model. Plus, I saw how he looked at you."
"How he looked at me?" Red creeps up her face.
"Yep."
I fill a pot of water and turn it on to boil. I sort through Tinker's cooking utensils and pans, so I have everything I need.
The water doesn't take long to boil. I put the strainer over it to steam the husks, and the house shakes. The pot of water flies off the stove and comes crashing down on my arm.
Sharp, prickly pain covers my arm, and I scream.
"Zoe. Penelope," Andre yells.
"Kitchen," Penelope replies and jumps up. She moves me to the sink and holds my arm under cool water.
"Oh God! It hurts so bad!"
"Shhh." She holds my head to her chest.
Andre comes into the kitchen in a towel. "What happened?"
"I think we just had a small earthquake. The pot fell on her arm," Penelope says.
My arm is red and blistering quickly.
"Let me get my first aid kit," he replies.
Naomi comes into the kitchen. "I'll get it."
"I'll go put clothes on."
Naomi gets the kit, and Andre comes back dressed. He puts a clean dish towel down and puts my arm on it. "Take her rings off."
Naomi pulls them off my fingers.
Penelope strokes my hair.
All I can concentrate on is the horrible sensation on my arm.
Andre applies lotion and bandages it. It happens so quickly I don't even look at what's in the lotion. He hands me a pain killer. "Take this."
I hesitate and almost take it. "No thanks."
"It's just over the counter. It'll help with the pain."
"No," I cry out.
He holds up his hands. "Okay. You don't have to."
Chill out. You're going to freak everyone out and then end up having to tell Naomi and Andre.
Penelope gives me a sympathetic glance.
She probably remembers how horrible it was to live with me during my first detox with Santiago.