Page 191 of The Coldest: Stay Dangerous Part 2

She’s been quiet herself. I know she met up with Bleach and Miko recently, but the fruits of that conversation, she hasn’t told me. So I’ve been waiting her out, enjoying the little things I miss about having a sister.

Every so often, she sighs, or cuts her eyes to me. Her fingers will trace the fingerwaves of her new pixie cut. Now, she’s doomscrolling on her phone.

“I can sit like this all day,” I breathe, shifting so that I’m laying on my stomach. My carpet is so thick, I don’t feel the floor at all. “I love the rain.”

“The rain sucks,” she spits. I hear her phone thump against the floor before she joins me on her back. “It always reminds me of sex.”

My cheek rests on the backs of my hands as I turn to her, grinning. “Fredo and Slime?”

A full body shudder runs through her before she nods. “I didn’t know what the hell I had back then. Those two turned me out so bad… I tried to have a ho phase in college. Why not? You know… nothing ever came close. Not even the threesomes I had. Them niggas ruined me. I can’t believe the best sex I ever had was when I was eighteen.”

“Let me guess, to the soundtrack of rain, too?”

Ju faces me. Sadness fills her eyes, even as a grin pulls at her lips. “There was this storm once… it rained for like three days. We planned out our whole lives, including Mars. Hanging out with them was so fun; I mean, duh, they were so fine and had money. But that storm… I fell in love with both of them. And now every time it rains I think about how they made me shout it as we made love.”

“Have you reached out to Slime yet?”

Ju blinks, dislodging a tear from her lashes. “I can’t even tell Blanche about Mars. I had the perfect opportunity, but then I chickened out. Then Miko tells me she’s married to Ty-Ty, and I spent the rest of the day crying and looking at old pictures. Sometimes I can’t believe someone I knew for only five months changed my life in such a permanent way, but if I’m this fucked up, then I know Gio… no, Wyn. I don’t think I’m going to reach out. Not anytime soon.”

I keep the words I want to say to myself. Ju knows she’s hurting, she doesn’t need me to point it out. And besides, maybe she liked Fredo more than Slime. Maybe they wouldn’t be able to be anything without their third in their trio.

I shift onto my back as well, eyes locking onto the chandelier in my kitchen. “Stop waiting for the right time, and just do it. We’ve been back like what–eight months? You said Blanche isn’t even close with the rest of your family, so I doubt she’d tell your mom, if that’s your hang-up. In fact, text her right now.” My body stretches over hers for her phone, but she pushes it out the way.

“I’m not texting her I have a son, crazy lady. Next time I see her… before her birthday, definitely. Maybe I’ll just pop up with him.”

My phone begins to vibrate as she continues to plan out things I know she won’t do. One thing I’ve learned about Ju is sometimes, she’s all talk and no action. That, on top of her struggles with people pleasing, are whooping her up and down the street at all times. Caring for Mars full time has made her grow exponentially, but only when it comes to being a mother. Standing up for herself and her choices is still near impossible for her. And unfortunately, my love for arguing Rico down keeps her from flexing more of her authority as Mars’s mom, when it’s so easy for me to go up for her.

Seeing Deucey’s name, I grin and answer the facetime. The screen is dark, and I sit up straight when I hear sniffles coming from his end.

“Deucey? What’s wrong?”

“Can you come get me?” he hiccups.

Ju sits up, too, glancing at my phone.

“What’s wrong, booski? Where’s your parents?”

“They keep fighting. All they do is fight, Auntie. Ever since Ma went to the doctor. It gets so bad sometimes. I don’t wanna be here. Can I come with you?”

My teeth sink into the meat of my lip as I stand. Ju’s already in my bedroom, waking up Mars for where ever we’re about to go.

“Where’s Rue?”

“With Papa Patch. We’re supposed to go to Uncle Cheese’s dinner but–”

“No. Go and lock your door, then pack some clothes. I got my PS5 out of storage so don’t pack that. I’ll be there in like thirty minutes.”

Light shines on the screen when Deucey opens his closet door. They got my baby hiding in the closet?!

Deucey wipes his face with the hand holding his phone. Distantly, I hear those buffoons yelling and carrying on, and I start cracking my knuckles. These niggas have lost their minds.

“Please hurry, Auntie.”

“I’m putting on my shoes now, Deucey Doo. You wanna stay on the phone with me?”

“No,” he sniffs. “Just hurry.”

“I will.” I let him hang up, just as Ju and Mars walk into the living room.