Theyâre at Lesediâs house and Chloe feels like her skin is crawling. She feels like she has a sudden case of psoriasis. Because Nadine is looking at a snake with bedroom eyes.
A snake.
âC-careful, china,â she tries to murmur, but itâs like Nadine doesnât hear her. Sheâs holding the snake behind its head, and itâs curling around her forearm. Chloe takes a couple of steps and flanks Nadine, clutching her elbow, inclines her head.
âWhich one is the bad one?â she says. âRed touches black...youâre...how does it go?â
The tongue whispers in and out of the snakeâs mouth and Chloe feels a shudder as her hair stands on end. She wants to step back, but her eyes flick back up to Lesedi, who is watching her with some interest.
âYour--er--hubby, heâs all right with this, then?â Chloe says, louder, pointing to the red-yellow-black striped reptile Nadine is dreamily ogling. âHe doesnât worry about getting a little bite in the middle of the night?â
She barely catches Lesedi rolling her eyes.
âSnakes are misunderstood, you know. You should try petting Suri. Her scales are so shiny and soft.â
âBut your--â
âJonathan isnât scared of her, no,â Lesedi says breezily, inspecting some beads at the end of her gorgeous braids. âHe knows my snakes are part of the package.â
Chloe looks down, sees Nadine having lifted her arm now, the tongue flicking in and out, the snakeâs tail in constant motion. Because Nadine is petting it. She is running her other handâs finger down its back gently. Chloe wishes she was that snake right now.
âAll right,â Chloe mutters, and reaches over, squinting, before drawing her hand back. âNope. I think Iâll g-go wait in the car, love, somethingâs just--I--â she takes a deep breath as Lesedi laughs.
But at least the sound wakes Nadine out of her reverie.
âJa, go on, back to your mum,â Nadine says, and holds the snake out, letting Lesedi grip its head. It slithers off effortlessly, its movement so smooth that if it werenât for the rapid animation of the layered stripes it wouldnât even look like movement. Itâs like itâs being pulled on a string forward. Uncanny.
Chloe canât help it. She winds her fingers around the forearm vacated by the reptile, thumb smoothing Nadineâs skin.
âOnly a little poisonous,â Lesedi says with a smile. âYou chickened out?â
âChloe is the real Indiana Jones,â Nadine says.
Lesedi blinks at her.
âThe--the guy in the hat,â Chloe stammers. âRaiders of the Lost Ark? âSnakes, why did it have to be snakesâ?
âI get it...â Lesedi says. Slowly. âI just...assumed...donât you lot have the taipan in Australia? Youâre scared of a little coralsnake?â
âYeeeah, about that,â Chloe says, laughing awkwardly. âThink itâs why Iâm not their biggest fan.â
âHave you seen one?â
âOh, of course, love. I had one as my maths teacher.â
Lesediâs laugh tumbles out before she can hide it, and Chloeâs hand climbs down to clasp Nadineâs. Even though Nadine is looking at her with dangerously raised brows. Even though Chloe can feel a conversation coming along about how to properly act in front of Nadineâs friends.
âCome on,â Lesedi says, rubbing her eye delicately, âWere you bitten by one as a child or not?â
âI donât think sheâd have survived if she had,â Nadine says, turning to the door.
âHe bit everyone who failed his class.â
âChloe.â
âRight,â Lesedi said flatly.
After an awkward goodbye--Chloe bit her lip at the hug Lesedi gave Nadine--they were in the courtyard, walking to the parking lot, and Chloe was bracing.
âYou know you donât have to worry about her,â Nadine says, sighing, as they stop at opposite doors of her car.
âYou--what--â Chloe splutters. âThe--the snake?â
âReally?â Nadine drops into the driverâs seat, âActing isnât your forte.â
âShut up.â













