Page 54 of The Coldest: Stay Dangerous Part 2

There’s a pool going on how long it’ll take for Ju and Wyn to bump heads about that. Even Miele put in for twelve hours from when we get back to the hotel.

Reno put in for thirty minutes from when they meet.

I’ve never really felt anxiety like this before. I know that’s why I went and got my tongue repierced. The thought process of having to care for a new piercing felt better than catering to the feelings of two women who have egos as big as their heads.

Ju, I don’t really give a fuck about. But she’s flighty enough, and I need her to be stable enough to bond with Mars for this next week.

Snow… it would be a lie to say I didn’t care what she thinks, especially since I remember vividly how her face crumbled when I told her about Nan’s mind games. Games she’s still playing, if I go by what I overheard what was said the other night.

I didn’t lie to Snow; I have and will never look at Ju as anything but my brother’s baby mama. In a perfect world, all three of us would unite to give Mars the best week of his life.

But as good as that sounds, I know women enough to know that one of my cousins is gonna win the thousand dollar pool.

Ju’s getting off the plane as we pull onto the tarmac. Miele hops out of the car and runs to her before Reno can even stop it.

Through it all, they’ve managed to remain good friends, though that doesn’t surprise me. Miele reminds me a lot of Shad in the way everyone just loves them.

Reno and I get out of the car and Ju gives us both hugs before I grab her suitcase to put in the car.

Miele and Ju dominate the conversation on the way back. My knee keeps jumping as Reno goes the exact speed limit. I’ll give him his credit; as messy as our cousins are, he doesn’t want a showdown any more than I do. But we’re not far from the hotel, and all too soon, we’re pulling past it, to the villa.

Miele told us this morning that she let Snow know that we were coming back with Ju. She and Mars are right inside, watching tv. My hands begin to sweat so bad they slip on the handle of Ju’s suitcase, making me wipe them on my pants.

Miele bumps me with her hip as we all clamber up the stairs.

Cartoons can be heard as we open the door; most likely Scooby Doo. I look to the right, at the door that led to where Snow was chained up. For a brief moment, my breath slows to normal.

I can always just chain her up again.

“Where’s my big warrior boy?!” Ju belts.

Mars’s feet slap against the floor as he runs toward us, braids flying in the air. Snow walks behind him, her arms behind her back with a small smile spreading on her face.

Her hair’s half an inch now, with small red curls finally covering her head. When it’s not raining, she’s outside working with whichever cousin wants to steal her away, and between that and our daily workouts, she looks healthier than I’ve seen her in a long time. The baby tee she has on shows off the outline of her abs trying to form. Her tan makes the tattoos that stretch down her arms pop even more. And since I make her ass do fifty one-legged RDLs, that little ass she got is growing, too.

Though I think I should stop that.

Mars barrels into Ju, hugging her waist. Both their smiles are big, and for one whole second, I’m glad she’s here.

One whole second.

Because the next second, Ju notices Snow, and the whole room freezes over.

Miele or Reno coughs, I can’t tell. I’m too busy walking further into the room until I’m between them, breaking off Ju’s glare.

“Hi, Ju. You may not remember me–”

“I remember you, Wynter.” Ju blinks as Snow’s natural scent flirts with my nostrils. She’s standing next to me now, but I keep my eyes on Ju and Mars.

“Mommy, Wynter Snow did my hair, do you like it?” Mars asks her.

Ju waits a bated breath before smiling down at him. “I love your hair, baby. Let’s go to your room, I know you got some new toys.” She looks up at me, hooding her eyes. “You can take my luggage to the room.”

She doesn’t spare us another glance as Mars pulls her away. Only then do I look at Snow.

She’s already looking at me, fists clenched at her sides. The question is there in her eyes; are you sure you never fucked?

I try to convey to her the answer, but I don’t know if she sees it, or if she’s seeing what she wants. She just scoffs, and shakes her head before turning and walking toward the courtyard.