Blayne snorted. “Yeah, a book no one wants to read, Clint.”
“Yeah, well, it looks like your girlfriend wants to read my book.”
Blayne’s eyes flicked to Kaylee’s face then back at Clint. “Huh, I wouldn’t date a college girl. They’re too snooty for me.”
Like I would date a homeless guy, Kaylee thought, the heat rising to her face. Ignoring the sting his words left deep inside, she avoided looking at him and smiled at Clint instead. “I’d love to hear your story, Clint.”
“Hah! Told you, Blayne.” Clint laughed. “Mine isn’t as dramatic as Demarcus’s. I turned eighteen and left home to pursue legal pot. I couldn’t wait to move to Colorado, where I could partake to my heart’s content and not have to worry about going to jail. I didn’t count on the fact that others of my ilk had the same idea. Or that, even in a state where it’s legal, no one wants to hire a pothead.”
“Yeah,” Kaylee said. “I’ve heard that many employers still do drug testing and won’t hire you if it’s in your system, even though it is legal here.”
“Even after I figured that out, though, I was like, ‘no big deal! I’ll just get a job at one of the pot shops!’” He shrugged. “Come to find out, they don’t really like to hire people who might be tempted to try out their wares. Skim a little off the top. Help themselves.”
“How long have you been here, in Colorado?”
“About nine months.”
“Why didn’t you just go home when you couldn’t find a job?”
“No way to get home. Plus, my parents have a rule—once you move out, you aren’t allowed to move back in. And I doubt they’d bend that rule for me. I was pretty much a douchebag when I left. They weren’t real thrilled about my choice of pot as an antianxiety fix, ya’ know?”
She knew. Sort of. Her parents would not have taken that well, either. Just one more question and she’d leave. It had become increasingly uncomfortable since Clint’s “girlfriend” remark and Blayne’s tart answer. “How did you find Mama C?”
“I heard about her. One of the old bums over by the city hall saw me begging a hotdog stand owner for some food. He told me where to find her and that she might be able to hook me up with something to eat.”
“And he’s been hanging around ever since,” Mama C said. She shuffled over to her upside-down bucket and lowered herself with a grunt. “He’s been off the weed for long enough now that he needs to start looking for a job. Isn’t that right, Clint?”
Clint ducked his head. “Yes, Mama. I’ll get right on that first thing next week.”
Kaylee’s phone vibrated in her pocket. She pulled it out. A text message from Allie: Where are you? Thought you were coming to dinner with us.
“Oh, crap,” she said. “I have to go. Thanks for talking to me.” She turned to Mama C. “When can I come back? I have some follow-up questions for you if that’s okay.”
“That’s okay. Stop by tomorrow, chances are we’ll still be here.” The old woman raised an eyebrow. “Might be nice if you’d bring some food to share with the group.”
“Yes, yes. Of course.” Kaylee chastised herself for not thinking of that. “See you tomorrow.”
“It’s about time!” Allie yelled out as Kaylee made her way to their table.
Kaylee’s face burned as servers and customers looked at her. Allie had never been a good judge of just how far her voice could carry. But, from the smirk on her face, Kaylee thought she’d known this time. She knew how easily Kaylee got embarrassed.
Max smiled and shook his head before turning to Allie and signing, “Stop embarrassing her.”
Sliding into the booth across from them, Kaylee caught her friend’s twinkling eyes and showed her the first sign language gesture she’d ever learned—it wasn’t exactly an ASL approved sign, but it got the point across with just the use of a single finger.
“Where have you been?” Allie asked with a laugh.
“Working on my thesis project.”
“Of course. Aren’t you supposed to let me or Max know when you’re going into the dangerous parts of town? You promised, remember?”
“I thought I told you,” Kaylee stammered. “You must have forgotten.”
Allie tapped a finger to the side of her head. “This mind is like a steel trap. Once something goes in, it never lets go. Try again.”
Kaylee sighed. “Fine. I forgot to tell you. I guess I should tell you I’m going down there again tomorrow.”
“Are you all done with finals, then?” Max asked.
“Yes, thank goodness.”
A male server stepped up to the table and smiled at Kaylee. “I’m glad you made it, your friends were starting to worry. Can I get you something to drink?”
“I’ll have water with lemon, please.”
“Okay. Are you all ready to order?”
They ordered, and when the server walked away, Max asked, “How are things going with your thesis project?”
“Slow but good. I made some progress breaking into the inner circle today. I have a feeling the hardest story to get is going to be Mama C’s. Most of her crew seem more than willing to talk about themselves.”
“You might have to take off your interviewer hat and put on your investigator hat.” Allie took a sip of her Diet Coke.
“Yeah.” Kaylee looked down at the table. “I might have to.”
“Pizza and breadsticks.” Kaylee handed the hot pizza box to Demarcus then shrugged a shoulder and smiled at Mama C. “I brought some fruit and canned goods, too, for later.”
Mama C took the bags from her, her eyebrows forming a V as she studied Kaylee. “Thank you.”
Kaylee looked around, a small heartbeat of disappointment fluttered when she didn’t see Blayne among the group.
Mama C chuckled. “He’ll be around shortly. I sent him on an errand.”
“I…uh…I wasn’t…” Heat rushed up her face in stark contrast to the freezing air.
“Of course you weren’t.” Mama C laughed again. “Let’s
