Thad shoved the tarp at him before he could even think of reaching for Ashanti’s hand.
“Take care of this for me,” he said. “Ashanti and I have private business to discuss.”
“No, no, he can stay,” Ashanti said. “This affects him too. Well, in a way.”
“Really?” Von asked. “You looking to partner up with us, aren’t you?” He winked. “I’ve been thinking about ways we can work together. I told you I used to train dogs in the military, right?”
“Yes, you told her that,” Thad said. He turned his shoulders so that he was partially blocking Von. “Why did you need to see me so urgently?”
She took a deep breath, as if steadying herself. Thad braced for whatever she was about to throw his way.
“I received an interesting email today with averyinteresting request. Do either of you watch morning news shows?”
“No.” Thad frowned.
“I’m usually running in the morning,” Von said. “I’ve had to add two miles to my daily run to combat all the great food I’ve been eating since moving to New Orleans.” He patted his flat stomach. “Gotta keep up this physique.”
“Why do you ask?” Thad directed at Ashanti.
“A producer fromUp Early with Leah and Luke!contacted me this afternoon.”
“Whaaa?” Von said. “My mom loves Leah and Luke.”
“Everyone loves Leah and Luke. They have the highest-rated morning show in the country. They saw Puddin’ and Duchess’s viral video and want them on their show.”
“No shit!” Von said. “Those little dogs are making a name for themselves, huh? That’s crazy.”
“It’s absolutely bananas. The phones at Barkingham Palace have not stopped ringing since that video went viral. Someone even tagged our Instagram page with a Duchess andPuddin’ tattoo. We later found out it was only a temporary tattoo, but still, bananas right?”
Just then, Thad felt a couple of raindrops. He looked up at the dark sky. “Looks like that rain that’s been threatening to fall all day is finally here. Let’s take this inside.”
He wanted to send Von straight to his car, but Ashanti said this affected him too. Although Thad still wasn’t sure how.
They piled into the parlor. It was now just a hollowed-out space with several wall studs that would need to be replaced.
“Wow,” Ashanti said. “You all are making quick work of gutting my—this house,” she said.
“It turns out walls are easy to take down when they’re mostly rotted.” Thad grabbed several bottles of water from the ice chest they kept on the site. He offered her one, but she shook her head.
“No, thank you.”
“I’ll take one,” Von said.
He credited years of strict discipline drilled into him by the United States Army with stopping him from launching the bottle at Von’s head with the force of an FGM-148 Javelin missile.
Puddin’ started barking from the back room; he must have smelled Ashanti in the house. Their moldy, dusty surroundings couldn’t mask that slightly floral, slightly peachy scent that wreaked the most delicious havoc on Thad’s senses.
“Where’s Puddin’?” Ashanti asked, heading in the direction of the barking.
“He’s fine,” Thad said. “We keep him locked up to keep him safe.”
She opened the door to the downstairs bathroom that was just off to the right of the parlor. Puddin’ charged at her.
“Hey there, boy,” Ashanti said, rubbing the top of the dog’s poofy head. “I missed you today.” She looked up at Thad and Von, her expression both irritated and mournful. “I was at home making doggy treats all day. I didn’t get a chance to visit the daycare.”
She patted Puddin’ on the head, then ordered him back to the mound of blankets Thad had fashioned into a makeshift dog bed. Her choosing to leave Puddin’ in the bathroom was a clear indication of how important she deemed this conversation.
“Looks like the rain has stopped already,” she said, tipping her head toward the opened front door as she returned to the parlor. She clasped her hands in front of her. “So, aboutUp Early with Leah and Luke!”
