“The dick ones,” Yari says, looking at me like why do I have to explain this? “I mean, we know Chase has been trying again. Did he wear you down?”
“Or wear you out?” Billie flashes a wanton grin and pulls out a cigarette. “You girls don’t mind if I smoke, do you?”
“Yes,” Yari and I answer in unison.
“Whuh?” Billie asks, the word distorted by the cigarette dangling between her lips. “Where am I supposed to smoke? It’s like the whole world has turned on nicotine.”
“Because the whole world has turned on nicotine,” I say. “Around the time we found out it kills you.”
“But it’s not fair.” Billie pouts, still managing to suck on her cigarette like she’ll get some of the effect even with it unlit. “I’m sure it’s a violation of our civil rights.”
“Please don’t tell two women of color that not being able to freely smoke your cigarette is part of the struggle,” Yari says.
“But the struggle is real,” Billie insists. “And we smokers do have rights.”
“Excuse me, White Girl Magic, but with all the shit wrong in the world,” I say, having to suppress my laughter, “you’re standing up for lung cancer? That’s your soap box?”
“We all have vices,” Billie says, trying to sound earnest, but her lips are starting to twitch, too.
“Just don’t blow your vice in my face.” Yari chuckles. “But we’re getting distracted from the matter at hand. Lo, how is celibacy treating you?”
“It’s only been a few weeks.”
“Yeah, but you can’t go cold jerky,” Yari says, chewing on her meat stick.
“I think you mean cold turkey,” Billie corrects.
“I mean cold . . .” Yari mimes pushing the meat stick in and out of her mouth. “. . . jerky.”
“That’s so bad,” I say with distaste. “I’ve gone weeks without sex before, so I’m fine.”
I don’t mention that the only time I think about sex is around Kenan. They’d run with that, and justifiably so.
“Just promise that if you break your vow with Kenan Ross,” Yari says, eyes closed and hands pressed together as if in prayer, “you’ll tell us how big his dick is.”
Billie snorts, and I roll my eyes.