Naya pressed it to her lips and inhaled like she saw Lina do.Right away, she started coughing, and her eyes started to water.It took a few minutes for her to steady her breathing and relax.
Tara grinned.“That always happens the first time.Try it again, but take a smaller puff.”
Naya tried it again, and this time she barely inhaled, but it was enough that she felt her lungs expand.She blew it out and smiled.She tried another time, and it got easier.
Someone called her name, and she turned her head.Right away, she felt dizzy and couldn’t focus.Instead of being scared, she giggled.She pressed a hand to her mouth in shock.When she looked at the other women, they all started laughing, which set her off again.
They finally settled down, and the joint was passed around again.
“We want to know about your biker, Naya?”Tara asked.
“Oh my God.He’s ...perfect.”Naya started to giggle.“He’s so strong and handsome.”She frowned.“But he’s not mine and will never be mine.”
“Why?”Lina asked.
“Because I could never face him again, even if he wanted to have anything to do with me.”
“What’s his name?”Lindsey asked.
“Dutch.”
“Where are you from?”Lina asked.
“Baton Rouge, Louisiana,” Naya said.
“Do you miss it?”Tara asked.
Naya thought about it a moment and then shook her head.“No.I miss a few people, but not the place.If I had family there, I’d want to be there.”
“Did you have a family?”Harley asked.
“Yes, my mother.”
“Where is she?”Amelia asked.
“I woke up one morning several months ago to a note she left.She took off with a guy she’d just met and told me it was time to grow up.”
“What a bitch,” Amelia growled, making everyone laugh.
“Where is she now?”Lindsey asked.
“I have no idea.I haven’t seen her since she left,” Naya said.The others were quiet and looking at her with pity and compassion, making tears prick her eyes.
“Where are the brownies?”Naya asked, suddenly starving and wanting to distract everyone.Someone handed her a napkin with a large brownie on it.She had never eaten anything so fast in her life.It was like she hadn’t eaten for a week instead of a few hours.
“Can I...?”Naya said and stopped.
“Can you what?”Tara asked.
Naya looked at her in confusion.“I can’t remember.”She started laughing until her cheeks hurt.“Oh, wait, I want another glass of that ambrosia.”
That set off the girls again.
Lindsey shook her head.“I think you’ve had enough, girl.You’ll thank me in the morning.You could take a few more puffs, though.”
“Okay, I’ll take it.”
Naya reached for the pot and took another slow draw.She coughed a few times and handed it off.
