Page 62 of The Coldest: Stay Dangerous Part 2

“Nah.” I finally flick my gaze to Snow. Her eyebrows kiss, like I’m the one being unreasonable. Like she always does.

She don’t even remember her slip of the tongue. She couldn’t, the way she holds my gaze. Acting like I don’t know her biggest transgression against me.

Fasho.

I hold out my hand and shift my gaze to Mars. “Let’s go inside.”

Mars looks to Snow, but I keep my eyes on him. She must nod, because he inches up, and places his hand on mine.

Without another word, we walk back inside. But we go past his room, toward mine.

Where I have a screen door that leads to a patio.

Miele slips in behind us.

“What are you doing?” she asks lowly.

“We going to see NiNi.”

Miele gasps, and takes my other hand.

“Rico–”

I squeeze her hand, silencing her.

Thankfully, she listens. She doesn’t know the full story, but NiNi has his own issues with their father, so she’s familiar enough.

Just like she knows why we going to see NiNi.

Them muthafuckas are prolly having a grand old time laughing at my expense.

Luney fasho gon’ have the last laugh.

Wyn

“Come on, Ma. Let’s sit down.” Pooh wraps an arm around Nan’s shoulders and guides her inside, with me following.

Nan has been quiet about it, but something happened to her while she was gone. She came back speaking English, a little nicer, and was serious about having her whole family here for her birthday.

Which happens to be the same day as mine.

I wonder what type of Come To Jesus moment she had all those months back. Instead of ignoring me, she’s actually been trying to teach me Spanish whenever I’m stuck with her.

And she’s been leaving me in charge of caring for Mars, which he loves, since he’s still been stuck on me like white on rice since his mama peeled out on him.

Rico has forbidden anyone to even mention Ju, but Miele tells me they still talk, and she still lets Mars talk to her when she keeps him.

I guess Mars is learning to keep secrets from Rico, seeing as how when Pooh sauntered out onto the deck earlier, Mars knew exactly who his Pawpaw was.

“I’m gonna go lay down,” Nan mutters. “I’m fine, Pooh Bear. Sit with Snow.”

That’s another new thing. Nan calling me Snow or Snowball. Rico smirks every time he hears it.

Nan pats Pooh on the arm and shuffles out, leaving us in the kitchen area. I go to the fridge and get out the carafe of orange juice.

“I didn’t think when I showed up for my mother’s birthday, I’d find you here,” he says as I pour us both a glass of juice.

I just shrug, a smile playing on my lips. “I never thought I’d see you again, to be honest. Still got that jheri curl.”