Page 166 of The Coldest: Stay Dangerous Part 2

She doesn’t falter, doesn’t stop, nor does she come toward me. I smile at her, hoping it comes off friendly. I’d heard she came up to the studio after I left my first day back, and acted a complete fool on Cochise in the lobby before he dragged her into a supply closet for thirty minutes. Now that I see she’s truly from the other side, I bet she really is giving him a run for his money.

Her lips twitch, and she winks at me before turning and walking right up to Apache Beverly, Grimey, and Cochise a few feet away. The way he looks at her… I’ve seen this look before, but not on him. I have no doubt Cochise loved me. Not only did he tell me, he showed it every day, even when I didn’t deserve it.

But seeing this smoldering look on his face, even though it’s dim and the room is beginning to fill with smoke, I know for certain Cochise was never in love with me. Not like how he is in love with her.

My heart eases, just a little, and a smile blooms on my face. My tummy tightens when I realize where I have seen that look before.

Every time Rico looks at me.

“So that’s his fiancée? She was just in Palace with us,” Turkey says.

“She refuses to come to Daddy’s House, or set foot in East Kenton, so I couldn’t connect the dots,” Patience replies.

“Sounds like Dy. She’s putting him through it,” another girl snickers. I glance to my right, and see we’re not alone anymore.

Tyree’s here, with his new wife, Emiko. Auty raves about her, and how she knew her when she was a kid. Her red hair falls in voluminous curls around her face, and she looks just as young as Cochise’s fiancée does. In fact, she looks the exact opposite of Tyree’s type. Her black dress is short and tight on her bottom heavy frame, but next to her friend and her black dress, it’s easy to see she either hasn’t learned or refrains from showing off her God-given assets. I can’t wait to pick her brain. She’s been interesting to me ever since Auty let it slip that he married her after tripping on shrooms, and while I’d never tell him to his face, I’ve always felt a little protective of Tyree, from way back when he and Rico had it out on my front lawn.

I shift my attention back to Cochise and his fiancée. Apache looks like his usual constipated self, and offense pours out of him as the woman brings Cochise’s lips to hers and begins making out with him, right there, in front of everyone.

“She’s just what he needs.” Cochise could always keep his father at bay, but Apache Beverly needs more than to be placated. He needs someone to cuss his ass out and threaten him to treat his son right or else. And Little Miss Bloody Princess seems like the one to do it.

I unlock my phone and tell Rico I’m on my way out, before turning to Emiko. “Hopefully one day soon I can meet you foreal. Congrats though, and welcome to the family.”

I blow her a kiss before turning to Turkey. “Walk me out.”

He nods, and says something to Patience while I hug Auty.

“You’re leaving?” she asks. I nod against her neck before ending our hug.

“You have fun tonight. I’ll come over tomorrow and we can talk about what’s going on with you.”

“Wyn–”

“Nope. The twin realm is all messed up, and it’s not me. Something’s wrong, and you are gonna tell me what it is. Just us. Okay?”

She rolls her eyes, but nods, and only then do I lean over and hug Patience.

Feeling bold, and wanting to make sure we’re good, I walk over to Grime, Cochise, and his fiancée. She chucks up her chin, and I can practically hear her armor go up.

“You outta here?” Grime asks.

I nod, keeping my eyes on the woman. Moving my clutch and phone to my left hand, I wave with my right.

“Hi, I’m Wynter. It’s so nice to finally meet you.”

She blinks, clearly caught off guard. She looks at Cochise, who just smirks down at her, trying to lick her gloss off his lips.

“Uh, hi. I’m… Dayeli.”

“Never heard yo slob ass this flustered,” Grimey cackles, but I pay him no mind.

I also don’t let her either, pulling her into a hug before she can think.

“He’s lucky to have you,” I whisper. “Congrats, seriously. We don’t have to be friends, but I want you to know how happy I am to meet you.”

When I let go of her, she’s even more bewildered. I wave to Cochise, congratulate him on his album again, and let Turkey guide me out of Geronimo Land toward the side exit.

Rico’s waiting for me, in his new classic Impala. He nods at Turkey, before unlocking his doors for me to slide inside.