“Girl, there is nothing wrong with a fling,” Ridley said. “I have them all the time.”
“We know,” Ashanti and Evie said in unison.
“Keeps you young,” Ridley said, taking a sip from her iced tea and letting out anahhhhsound.
“This is a business trip,” Ashanti reminded them.
“Business during the day, orgasms throughout the night. What could be better than that?” Ridley shrugged. “Just make sure to double up on protection, because that man looks like he can get you pregnant just by breathing on you.”
“Just bylookingat you,” Evie said. “I’m stopping at CVS for a pregnancy test on the way home.”
They all burst out laughing.
“There will be none of that going on in New York,” Ashanti said. “Thad is not my type, and vice versa.”
His unfinished question from this morning popped into her mind. When he’d leaned into her car and asked if he learned to like dogs… What? Would that make him her type? It was the only logical follow-through she could think of, but she didn’t want to think about it at all, not when she was spending the next three days in New York with him.
And now Evie and Ridley had put the thought of orgasms in her head.
“I need to get going,” Ashanti said, pulling her purse strap over her shoulder. “I’ll meet you at the daycare, Evie.” She gave Ridley a hug. “Thanks for setting all this up.”
“Do me proud, girl,” Ridley said, squeezing her tight.
Ashanti returned her squeeze. “That’s a promise I’m willing to make and keep.”
21
Thad was in the middle of packing when his cell phone rang.
“Sims,” Thad answered.
“Sims-Williams,” his sister replied.
“What’s up?” Thad asked.
“When were you going to tell me that you were on your way to New York forUp Early with Leah and Luke!” Nadia yelled so loud Thad was sure the neighbors across the street heard her.
“I’m on my way to New York forUp Early with Leah and Luke!,” Thad said. “There you go. Just told you.”
“You get on my very last nerve sometimes,” Nadia said. “Grams said you’ll be on the show Friday morning? I’m going to let the girls stay home to watch it live.”
“It’s not that serious. Definitely doesn’t warrant the girls skipping school. Hey, I can wear jeans and a T-shirt to a podcast, right? Those aren’t on camera or anything.”
“People wear jeans and T-shirts on nationally televised award shows, so I think you’re safe. Just don’t say anything that will make people question whether you’re a real human,” she said.
Thad pulled the phone from his ear and looked at it, even though they weren’t on a video call.
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“I say this with love, Thad, but you can come across as a bit of a robot sometimes. It’s not your fault; you’ve been conditioned not to have feelings.”
“Was that not supposed to sting as much because it was said with love?” he asked.
“Everything stings less when said with love. Oh, and don’t forget about Ree’s wedding in a couple of weeks,” his sister said. “I added a plus-one for you just in case you want to bring Von.”
It wasn’t unusual for Von to join him as his plus-one, but this time the thought settled in Thad’s stomach like a sour oyster. Maybe if he wasn’t such an unfeeling robot, he would have a better chance of bringing a plus-one who wouldn’t leave him at the first sight of a pretty woman in a tight dress.
Thad closed the lid on the carry-on with more force than necessary. The thing couldn’t hold nearly as much as his military rucksack.
