Page 12 of Hounds Ascend
"Did you know his dad was a Hound from Oklahoma City?"
"Nope." Linc's answer is monotone. Flat. He wouldn't tell me even if he did. I roll my eyes. Stupid brother code. Ugh.
Mindy stares at Linc, but he doesn’t say a word. We stand here for a moment before Linc is called off to go do something by Snapper, leaving me and Mindy alone.
“Are you thirsty? That daiquiri didn’t last long, and I could use another one.” Mindy holds up her empty cup.
“Hell yeah. I wish they served liquor around here, though,” I huff.
Mindy walks off to the nearest daiquiri stand while I stand and wait patiently. I look around the parking lot, taking in all the sights. The sun is bright, and the people are plenty.
While I’m lost in space, Carrie and Lucy sneak up on me. Oneminute I was alone, the next they’re right beside me.
"Hey sunshine!" Carrie's enthusiasm never fails to make me smile.
"Hey love!" I wrap her in a hug before turning to hug Lucy.
"What have y’all been doing?" I stare at them.
I snicker and that’s when I notice her eyes. They’re red and glazed. I find the same thing looking at Carrie. "You found weed, didn’t you?"
Carrie nods her head enthusiastically, her excitement evident in her expression. “Yep. Want some?"
"Hell yeah," I say as Mindy approaches with two daiquiris in hand.
"Damn, if I would've known y’all were here I would've grabbed two more."
"That's okay, love. We have something for you, anyway." Carrie grins as she digs a small baggie out of the pocket of her vest. Mindy looks down and smiles.
"I don't know if my boss is gonna approve of that."
"That's why we're walking over to the beach." Carrie points toward the empty beach across the parking lot.
"Let's go, what you waitin’ on?" Mindy asks, walking ahead of us.
I can’t think of a time in the four years that Mindy and I have been friends that I’d ever seen her smoke anything other than a cigarette. I smile internally at the fact that I’m getting to smoke with my best friend for the first time. Hell, it had probably been just that long since the last time I smoked. It isn’t my thing, butwhat would it hurt to live on the edge a little bit.
The walk to the beach is short and from the looks of it, no one has even noticed that we’re even gone. I’m sure I will have to hear about leaving without saying anything to Cass. Carrie and Lucy are chatting along the way, but I zone out. My head is stuck in the clouds, or more-so, the sand. The beach is stunning and as I breathe in the welcoming scent, I can’t help but smile. The waves crash along the shoreline and the salt-filled air infiltrates my senses. I want to run, full sprint, toward the water, but I fight the urge. Mindy is in the middle of a conversation with Lucy and Carrie when we reach a spot far enough away.
“That sunset is gorgeous.” Mindy looks out at the horizon, causing the rest of us to look out at the big, orange blob that appears to be slowly submerging itself into the ocean. The hues of orange and red glimmer atop the water and the view is breathtaking. No one else is around and I decide this is a good spot, so I plop down. The sand is cool on my legs and although the sand is my least favorite part, I don’t mind it so much.
Carrie takes a seat next to me and rests her head on my shoulder. She pulls a baggie with luscious green weed in it then pulls a small pipe from her other pocket. Mindy and Lucy sit down around us.
“Here.” Carrie hands me the pipe that she just loaded. I sigh then take a deep breath. I take it before I can talk myself out of it, bring it to my lips and take a hit. The burn is a familiar one as the smoke permeates my lungs. Hello old friend.
I hold it in for as long as I can before I attempt to slowly let itout without coughing. I fail miserably, though, and cough just as I blow out the last bit of smoke that was left. I raise it again and take another hit before passing it to Mindy.
Mindy grins as she takes it from me and does the same. My buzz begins to kick in already and I feel the tug at the corner of my lips. I have a love-hate relationship with being high. I love the way it makes me feel; heavy yet relaxed, but I hate how I generally get so tired after smoking. Mindy exhales her second hit and passes it back to Carrie. Carrie takes one hit then hands it to Lucy, who politely declines.
Evidently this isn’t a normal occurrence for Lucy who seems rather high as it is.
“I really fucking needed that,” I say, looking at Carrie.
“You good or you want some more?” Carrie asks, holding the pipe out to me.
I wave my hand in dismissal. “Oh, no. I’mreallygood. If I smoke anymore, I’ll be sleeping right here.”
Mindy giggles, catching my attention. “What?”
