Page 50 of HER SISTER

Akeyla's dark eyes carefully looked between us as an awkward moment of silence grew between us all.

Suddenly, I slid off of Mili before standing up from the cold ground and offering a hand out to her.

Mili took my hand and stood from the snow with me, and before either of us could give Akeyla an explanation, she suddenly said, "We need your help with the milkshakes."

I gave Mili a confused look, clearly taken aback by the fact that she didn't address what she just witnessed.

Mili only tilted her head slightly as we followed the woman back through the woods and toward the house.

And honestly, I couldn't help but anticipate her bringing it up to Mya as soon as we made it into the warm cabin.

But weirdly enough, I couldn't actually see her doing that—not with her neutral reaction and how her tone still seemed soft and warm.

A part of me wondered if she already had her suspicions or had seen something before.

"Finally you guys are back," Mya said as soon as we entered the house through the tall back doors.

And I couldn't help but feel like a child doing the walk of shame after being caught red-handed.

Terrance suddenly paused his actions at our quietness, "What? What is it?" he questioned as he sat down the jug of milk.

And just like that, Mya was halting her actions too, looking over to the three of us.

Silence settled around us as my stomach quite literally twisted with nervous knots.

Akeyla let out a long sigh, easily making Mya and Terrance's brows furrow.

"They made a snowman without us."

And just like that, it felt like I could breathe again—like someone had literally pumped life back into me.

"Snowwoman," Mili corrected, easily earning a playful nudge from her mom.

Mya dramatically gasped, "No way—how could you guys do this to us? To me?" she said, giving us a look of disapproval.

And the irony of her words was a little too much.

Me and Mili really need to tell her now that we've decided to get back together.

"You guys are sick—you know we do things as a family around here," Terrance said as he scooped more ice cream into the blender.

I forced a smile when all I wanted to do was run over to Mya and spill everything, "You guys took too long," I forced out.

I swear I've never felt more worse than I have right now at this moment.

Mya shook her head, "Well, we're building more tomorrow, so you better not skip out," she said, pointing the spoon in her hands at us.

Mili raised her hands defensively, "I'd rather be there than get killed in my sleep honestly," she joked, easily earning laughs from everyone.

I laughed, and even I couldn't miss how dry it sounded.

This is so fucking bad.

"I'm going to go get the fire pit started while you guys finish up the milkshakes," Akeyla said as she suddenly backed away from us.

And as everyone nodded, I managed to nod as well, even if I felt like I should just go home at this point.

"Ana, did you want to join me?" Akeyla suddenly offered.

And while it sounded like a suggestion to everyone else, I knew she was mostly telling me to come with her.

And apparently, Mili did too—since she suddenly looked over at us.

I nodded with a small smile, "Sounds fun to me," I said, backing away from Mili and everyone else.

Mili suddenly took a protective step toward us, "I can come help too," she said, easily sending some sort of relief through me.

However, that relief was gone as soon as Akeyla said, "No, I think we got it."

Mya motioned Mili over, zoning back into our conversation, "Can you come figure out the peppermint ratio?" she suddenly asked her sister as Terrance ate some of the ice cream.

Mili nodded, looking over at her mom for a quick second, and it almost felt like she was silently communicating with her.

Akeyla suddenly opened the back door as soon as Mili turned back around to Mya, "Everything should already be out here for the fire," she told me.

I nodded, hesitantly following her outside.

—

The silence was painfully obvious between me and Akeyla as the cold air swirled around us.

It's like I wanted to say something but I wasn't quite sure what.

I just didn't want to make this situation even worse than it already was.

And I think that was clear by the way I was keeping my distance between us or how my body seemed to be locked with tension.

"I'm not mad at you, Ana."

Just like that, I was looking over to Akeyla, and I didn't think it was possible to hide the surprise on my face.

I guess I had assumed she would be mad at me—I'm technically the one who's in the middle of all this.

Akeyla flicked on the fire table that we had carefully prepared with wood, "I'm very aware of how Mya feels about Mi messing around with her friends—they've had countless arguments about it, and Mya's lost too many friends to count," she explained, pouring more oil onto the fire, "Losing her friends is why she feels so against it now—I mean this has been an ongoing thing since high school. "

And I couldn't help but frown, imagining a younger version of Mya, who seemingly couldn't keep a friend because of Mili messing around with them.

I internally cringed at the idea of Mili with anyone else, hating even the slightest image of it.

"Most of the time, it wouldn't even be Mi who initiated anything—instead, it would be Mya's friends, which managed to hurt Mya worse," Akeyla said, and I couldn't help but nod, knowing how Frankie was acting the other day.

It definitely made sense why Mya was also telling me to steer clear—I mean, her friends had initiated stuff with her sister before.

But am I any better?

I'm probably worse.

"Don't get me wrong, Mi was wrong for still letting it happen, and I don't approve of what you guys are doing," Akeyla suddenly added.

And I couldn't help but furrow my brows, hesitantly sitting down on the sectional beside her.

"But?" I suddenly whispered, realizing she had left that statement a little open-ended.

Akeyla suddenly looked to me, "But..." she trailed off, and I couldn't miss the slow smile that managed to grow on her lips, "You guys looked so.

.." she tilted her head to herself as she searched for the right term, "Happy," she finally breathed out, and I couldn't begin to fight the growing warmness inside of me.

It felt oddly nice to hear the word from Mili's mom.

Happy—we looked happy.

"And I don't know, it was the way you were looking at my daughter—and how she was looking at you..." she trailed off slightly, "I guess I've never seen her like that," Akeyla said, and I couldn't miss how honest her tone sounded.

My smile managed to grow, "I really like her," I whispered, hoping that she knew I genuinely cared for Mili.

Akeyla hummed, "From the sight I saw earlier, it looked like more than that," she said, and I couldn't miss the insinuation in her tone.

But before I could manage to question her statement, she said, "I also know that you care about Mya—she sees you as a sister and I know you see her as one too."

I nodded hesitantly, knowing exactly where this was going.

"Now this is between you three, so I'm not getting involved—but you guys really need to tell her," Akeyla said, and I couldn't miss her suddenly stern tone.

I didn't hesitate to nod, "I know-I know," I forced out, suddenly feeling my stomach grow tangled with anxious knots, "I just don't want to hurt her," I admitted.

Yes, Mili and I have had our ups and downs—but let's be real, I could've told Mya this entire time.

Even when me and Mili weren't together.

I had subconsciously been avoiding the conversation with her from the start.

All because of a stupid promise.

Akeyla pursed her lips into a frown, gently pulling me into her side—and the warm motherly hug was enough to earn a broken sigh from me.

"I'm sorry to say it Ana, but Mya's going to be hurt regardless," she suddenly sighed, "But how she finds out means the world's difference," she added, and I couldn't help but feel dread creep up on me.

I really don't want to lose Mya.

"You seriously don't want her to hear about this from anyone else except for you guys—so you really need to tell her as soon as possible," Akeyla suggested.

And before either of us could say anything else, the back door was opening.

"Wow don't tell me you're replacing me," Mya joked as she took in the sight of me and Akeyla side hugging on the couch.

Akeyla laughed as we pulled back from the hug, "How could anyone possibly replace you?" she joked as Mya sat down beside her, causing her to pull her into a hug.

Meanwhile, Terrance was bringing out a tray with the milkshakes as Mili walked out behind him.

And I had to fight the urge to lean into Mili when she sat down beside me—leaving a respectful distance between us as Terrance sat on the other side of her, passing out our milkshake as we sat by the warm fire.

I looked over to Mili, easily feeling her eyes on me, and almost as soon as our eyes connected she mouthed—

Everything okay?

I subtly nodded once, looking past her at the other stuff they brought out, "S'mores?" I suddenly questioned.

Terrance didn't hesitate to nod, "These milkshakes aren't complete without them," he determined as he stood to turn on the tall heaters surrounding the couch.

And even if it should've been too cold to drink milkshakes, somehow with the combined heat from the heaters and fire table—I felt toasty warm, especially when Mya ran inside to grab a few blankets.

It was odd—the laughing, milkshake drinking, and s'mores making somehow made me feel so complete inside.

And with the twinkling stars and mountain view in front of us, I couldn't ask for a better way to spend my night.