10. Wyn #2
My hands shoot to my head, the prickly new hairs stabbing at my palms. God, I must look a mess. Thankfully, Mars’s eyes look like they're getting heavy, so I lick my lips and continue.
“So, I get all the dye stuff together, and I put it on his hair, then put a plastic bag on it so it can take. So we hear the ice cream truck outside, and so we go get some ice cream. Two strawberry shortcakes. Well, I accidentally locked us out of my house, and you don’t know this, but you only have so much time to wash out the dye. ”
I pull my hands into my lap and gaze at my fingers. The bandage on my hand is completely soiled. My acrylics have been chewed off, and my natural nails are soft and brittle from not taking care of them.
It’ll take months for them to grow back strong. Months I probably have, knowing Auty and Rico.
Fredo would save me. When Auty and I would get into it too bad, he’d always sit us down. It wouldn’t get anywhere, not really. But it was one of the few times he’d intervene, and remind me of how we were before.
He wouldn’t let me be stuck here with Rico. He would probably have kidnapped me himself, but I’d rather be with him. At least I’d have internet.
“So we had to think quick,” I continue, a lump growing in my throat.
The memory is so vivid in my mind’s eye, it’s like I’m twenty-one again.
“We had to go around my house to my backyard, and I grabbed the water hose, and sprayed him all the way down. White tee ruined from the dye. He was freezing by the time Turkey was able to break into my house to let us in. But his hair came out really nice, so he wasn’t too mad. ”
My eyes shift back to the bed, and my smile brightens.
Mars is asleep, his mouth slightly parted.
I stand as quietly as I can, wishing him a goodnight before I ease out of his room and close the door behind me.
The smile melts instantly.
This nigga has some explaining to do.
I vaguely remember this hallway from the night before, so I creep toward the door on the other side, before bursting in.
Sure enough, it’s Rico’s bedroom. New patched up wall. Clinically clean, like the psychopath he is. I mean, the sheets look like a maid–
“Yes, Snow?”
I turn to my left, toward the bathroom door, and blanch.
Richard Alvarez, in all his half naked glory.
Bronzed skin stretching over lean muscles. He was lanky before, the last time I’d seen his body.
Not anymore.
Rico’s still thin, but definitely solid. Veins line corded muscles on his forearms. Pectoral muscles that are probably heavenly to lay on. Six abs. An Adonis belt I could eat on, leading to that one-eyed monster clad in tight, black briefs.
My eyes balloon as it begins to stiffen. I snatch my gaze back to his face, wincing when his good eye, not covered in an eye patch, is narrowed at me.
“Did you need something?”
I stab a thumb into the air, shaking my head free of any impure thoughts. I hate this man. This infuriatingly sexy man.
“So, about the kid who is claiming Fredo is his dad?”
Rico’s back stiffens, and I fold my arms.
“Don’t even try it, Richard. You just said–”
“I know what I said, Snow.” He saunters across the room, disappearing into what is probably his closet.
I guessed right, because seconds later he’s strolling toward me with black shorts hanging off his tapered waist.
Jesus Christ.
The sex appeal wafting off him makes me that much more self-conscious of the grime covering my body, and fuzz growing underneath my arms.
“C’mere.” He gestures for me to follow him, and I oblige in my half-drunken state.
It’s possible to be drunk off lust, right?
It’s been so long since I’ve felt that way.
But then I think about the last time, and my lip curls.
Good. I’m remembering I hate him.
He grabs his first-aid kit and I plop down on the toilet, presenting my hand to him.
He takes off the bandage, tsking at me before throwing the soiled gauze in the trashcan.
“Does it hurt?”
“No. Well, a little when you pulled it off, but it’s okay.”
He grunts, cleaning the cut as gently as he can with antiseptic wipes.
I curl my toes at the pain, but other than that, I take it to the chin.
It’s on the tip of my tongue to apologize for cutting him.
After all, I can’t take my eyes off the ridiculous eye patch, but I refrain.
I’m tired of apologizing. And I’m tired of feeling bad.
I don’t think I could ever want to hurt someone, but it does feel good to not be the only one hurt for once.
So instead, I blurt, “I didn’t know you had so much family.”
“Nan has a lot of cousins. Most of the older ones stay here, but their children and grandchildren are all over.”
“And where is ‘here’?”
“Corazal.” He says it with an accent.
“How old is Miele?”
His lips twitch at the mention of her. “Twenty-two.”
“She’s directly related to Hoop Earring?”
Rico throws away the used wipes, flicking his gaze to me before grabbing the gauze. “Reno is her first cousin, yes. NiNi is her brother.”
I file away their names. NiNi, I’m assuming, was the giant man who shushed her in Spanish.
We were the only people younger than forty at the table, excluding Mars.
“Okay. So, about Mars.”
Rico sighs, clenching his jaw. He meets my gaze while continuing to wrap my cleaned cut.
“I’m sure you thought he was my son at first.”
I narrow my eyes. “It’s definitely less surprising than Fredo knocking someone up. Especially someone here. He was into Ju pretty heavy–”
“You know Ju?” Rico asks, his fingers digging into my wrist.
I snatch my hand back, the gauze loosening immediately onto my hand. “Watch it!” I hiss.
Rico switches from leaning onto the counter, to crouching in front of me. Reluctantly, I give him back my hand, and he starts over.
“What do you know about her? In the spirit of being honest.”
I scoff, rolling my eyes. “I asked you a question first, but fine. She was… Fredo’s girlfriend.”
Rico wraps from athletic tape around the gauze and presses down so it sticks. “Just Fredo’s girl? Not Slime’s?”
My lips pull as he meets my gaze. When I only shrug, he stands, bringing me face to face with his crotch.
A strong hand collars my throat,and he tilts my gaze to his. I snort, full on giggling when he tightens his hold just a bit.
“I’m sorry. It’s just, you really have on an eye patch,” I cackle.
Suddenly, I’m airborne, by my neck.
I squeal as I land hard on the counter, with one-eyed Rico crowding my space.