Page 59 of The Coldest: Stay Dangerous Part 2
Rico
I break into a smile as soon as the black screen fades into an office. Haze leans into the camera, her own smile waning as she narrows her eyes.
“Rico–”
“It’s just a scratch,” I say. “Occupational hazard.”
“But… it’s your face. Are they–”
“Dead? What you think?” I smirk. It’s funny how she doesn’t think it could be Snow. I’ve always noticed how much one infantilizes the other. Neither feels the other can do much on their own, and yet the way they go about compensating for that makes no sense.
For years, Snow kept Haze in the dark about what really was going on in their home. So many times, Fredo and I would share a glance at how Haze would lament on shit that either never happened or wasn’t true, though neither one of us ever corrected her.
And now, Haze sends all types of articles and self-help books and long-winded rants about keeping Snow clean, if the tropical air is best for her supposed “sickly” nature.
Yes, they’re fraternal twins. But they act like they don’t share most of the same DNA.
I think the disconnect comes from having separate birthdays.
Snow turns thirty tomorrow, while Haze turns thirty the day after.
Which is why we are on a video call. Her present from me came the day before, and whether or not we were in the same city, she always wanted me to watch her open it.
“No killing while you’re watching Wyn,” she scolds. “I know she’s pushing your buttons–”
“Your sister is safe. You talked to her yesterday, no?”
“For a little… she doesn’t tell me much, only wants to talk to Deucey about that damn imaginary friend of his… I think she’s mad at me.”
“Why would she be mad at you?”
Haze shrugs, averting her eyes. “She’s probably mad I made her go to Belize with you. It’s not like you like her for real. Plus, her birthday is tomorrow, and I know you’re not gonna do anything special–”
“Who says? Nan’s baking a cake today. We singing and shit.”
Haze giggles. “Nan ain’t baking shit. And you for sure aren’t singing. For real, Rico. Do something nice for her. We turn thirty.”
For all the years I’ve known Snow, this will only be the second birthday I’ve spent with her. The first one, she turned sixteen and we were together. That summer was a mess, since I couldn’t be as reckless as I needed to be, while still putting in major work. Me and Ty-Ty ended up having to lay low, and by the time I got to my phone, I had missed it. But that didn’t stop me from getting her a chain.
She was always so understanding back then. She never acted jealous, or tried to go upside my head like the homies’ bitches. Nah, Snow was my good girl. Always waiting for me. Always holding it down. No one knew who her nigga was, they just knew she had one, and she wasn’t going.
How would it be once she went back to the States? She couldn’t stay here forever. Snow had a life, a career, a family. Is she gonna get back with Cochise? Am I gonna have to go back on my word and murk a First Nation Prince?
“I’ll do something nice for her, Haze. Open your gift; I gotta make sure Nan’s birthday dinner is straight, too.”
“I always forget they share a birthday,” Haze mutters, bringing my gift for her to the camera. “Do they get along? Probably not.”
I smirk, thinking of Nan refusing to speak English around Snow. She claims it’s to help her learn, but I know it’s just her playing mind games. “They’re cool. Snow’s doing well here. When do you think she’ll be okay to come home?”
Haze opens one side of the box with her nails. “Whenever you come back, just bring her here. I’ve talked to PC about easing her back into recording, and it’s nothing to clear out the guest room for her. So it’s really up to you–ooo! Thank you!”
Haze really shouldn’t have said that.
If it’s up to me, she’s staying indefinitely.
Haze takes the Milky Way Lego set out of the shipping box and swoons, before beaming at me. “I’ma do this with Deucey. He has this new imaginary friend named Mars and it’s all he talks about.”
I lick my lips and crack my knuckles. “How you know he imaginary? Ain’t he a little old for that?”
