“Exactly. And not only that, but without our water putting out your daily forest fires, all your princely mansions would be lying in big piles of ash.”
He eyed me in amusement. “Damn, Kenzie, let me flick that gigantic chip off your shoulder.”
Yeah, maybe I was a little defensive, but it was hard not to be bitter when we were the ones producingthe most water and they were the ones consuming it all. I took in Kyle’s sun-kissed skin. Yep, I bet his pool was filled full of our damn water.
“So where exactly are you from?” he asked. “The Bay Area?”
“Why do you people think the state ends in San Francisco?”
“Oh, wait.” He snickered. “It doesn’t?”
“No,” I laughed. “Our state is hella long. It actually goes up a few hundred more miles, and that’s where I live. Have you ever heard of Humboldt County?”
Kyle gasped as his eyes ignited with wonder. “The pot capital of the world?”
“That would be the place,” I nodded in affirmation.
“Very cool,” Kyle nodded, impressed. “Is April 20tha holiday up there for you?” 4-20 being the unofficial day that potheads the world over came out to rejoice.
“Oh, yeah. The government buildings close and everything.”
I took in Kyle’s smug expression. Typical So-Cal boy. “Let me guess – you’re a beach bum, surfer dude?”
“Something like that,” he grinned. “And I’m assuming you’re a Bigfoot enthusiast?”
I stopped in my tracks, coughing out a laugh. I was thoroughly impressed with his comeback. “I like him just fine.”
“Hey, so I gotta ask – is it true what they say about mythical creatures with big feet?”
I think I might have snorted in response. Okay, it was official. Kyle was funny.
“Honestly, last time I saw him, I wasn’t that impressed.”
Kyle laughed at my retort. “You’re not one of those psychos that has given an eyewitness account of his existence, are you?”
I crossed my arms over my body. “Are you implying that Bigfoot isn’t real?”
“God no. Just because no actual, sane human being has ever seen him doesn’t mean he hasn’t been clomping through the woods for the past four hundred years.”
“He has a museum, Kyle,” I replied, my voice high-pitched and condemning.
“Oh, I’m sure he does.” His eyes twinkled in delight. “So, Kenzie, be honest – how many times a day do you say ‘hella’?”
“Oh, I’d say at least a third less than you say ‘like’,” I replied, flinging his insult right back at him.
We stared each other down. This was a stand-off I didn’t intend to lose.
“Actually, Kyle, you really impress me.”
“Do I?”
“Yeah. I can’t believe a So Cal boy like yourself can survive an entire month without Starbucks. It’s very brave of you.”
“Thank you. It’s been a rough couple days so far, but I’m enduring. And actually I was thinking the same thing about a nice Nor-Cal girl like yourself and surviving a month away from pot.”
I laughed despite myself, wracking my brain for some snappy one-liner, but I had nothing. Kyle was just too quick, and I had a bad feeling that he had an arsenal of comebacks at his disposal. There would be no way to compete with him.
I threw my hands up in defeat. “You win.”
