Page 17 of The Coldest: Stay Dangerous Part 2

We hug for long moments, before we both let go and try to discreetly wipe our faces before bursting into giggles.

Summy narrows her eyes at the top of my head. “What’s going on with your hair, Wynnie?”

I shrug. Curls have sprouted sporadically on my head, but I still look like someone’s overchewed barbie doll.

Whoever set this up couldn’t even give me a–

A beanie appears snug on my head.

“I don’t know. The details are a little murky.”

“Well, I don’t have much time, so stall me on that. I’ll just cut to the chase.”

She reaches over and pinches me hard on my arm.

“Hey–”

“I told you to keep Auty close!”

I pinch her back, and even though I can feel her skin underneath my fingers, she doesn’t flinch or acknowledge any pain.

“I tried–”

“Not hard enough! I mean, why didn’t you just tell her about Mom and Dad? Why do you take on everything like that? And don’t get me started on your car accident!”

“Because! You told me to look after her!”

Summy slaps her forehead. “Wynnie…”

I hunch my shoulders, trying to make myself appear as small as I feel. The projector is on the day I found out my parents disappeared. I looked so frazzled, adding up bills by hand and looking up the addresses to pay the different utilities in person.

“I was just trying to be a good big sister.”

Summy squeezes my knee, prompting me to meet her gaze.

“First, let me say, you did what you thought was best, and it worked out. I’m proud of you for stepping up.”

My shoulders drop just a little, since I know there’s a but coming.

“But,” she continues, making my shoulders hike up again, “you and Auty are twins, Wynnie. Six minutes apart. You are an older sister by six minutes. When I said to hold onto Auty, I meant to remember you’re a twin for a reason. You have always had your head in the clouds, while Auty always put her head in the sand. Both of you needed to meet in the middle. I know you were just protecting her, but letting her keep her head in the sand only made her resent you even more.”

“Well, the feeling’s mutual. She’s the reason I’m here, bald, and watching my pathetic life play out for you to see.” I fold my arms over my chest, wishing I could conjure up an inkling of hatred for Auty.

No such luck.

“The good thing about you both being alive is… you can get back on track.”

I snort as the projector switches to one of our last arguments. Auty was in rare form, accusing me of lying about my relationship with our parents. She swears I’m closer to Mom than I let on, and I have this bad habit of laughing at every low blow Auty deals me. The only reason she didn’t try to fight me was YT calling and asking me to go to lunch with her and Brina.

Her face is contorted as she spouts insults at me. Patience and Turkey are gone, as are the kids, so she gets as loud as she wants.

For the most part, I let her. Guilt, definitely. Guilt from asking her to come with me, and inadvertently ruining her life. Guilt from not being who she needs me to be, even if she can’t reciprocate what she requires.

“Me and Auty are way past the point of reconciling, Summy. She has her own family.”

“And you’re her sister!” Summy says, confusion evident. “You’re her family, Wynnie. Stop doing that.”

“What?”