“Sohowlis business going, Thad?” Seth asked with a dorky laugh. Ashanti winced.
“It hasn’t opened yet,” Thad answered with the enthusiasm of a wet slug.
“But you can follow Thad and his business partner’s journey as they renovate a beautiful home in one of New Orleans’s quirkiest neighborhoods. You may even see Puddin’ helping with demolition, right Thad?” Ashanti asked, trying to signal to him to lighten up.
“Uh, yeah,” Thad said.
Despite his continued aloofness and Seth trying way too hard to crack said aloofness, she thought the podcast was a great start to their media junket.
Beth and Seth ended the broadcast with promises to keep in touch, then immediately ushered Ashanti, Thad, and the dogs out of their tiny studio. Apparently there was some kind of podcaster gala in New Jersey tonight that was a must-do.
Thad turned to her on the sidewalk as they waited for their Uber to arrive.
“Be straight with me, are the Leah and Luke folks like that?”
“Not at all,” Ashanti said with a laugh. “Leah and Luke have much more chill.”
“Thank God.”
“You could have been a little more chill yourself,” she said. “Poor Seth was trying so hard to be your friend.”
“I would rather go through a year of basic training than be friends with Seth,” he said.
Ashanti burst out laughing.
Their Uber pulled up and Thad opened the door and motioned for her to get in, followed by Duchess and Puddin’.
“We don’t have their harnesses, so please drive carefully,” Ashanti told the driver. She hadn’t thought about how they would get around Manhattan. She hated riding with Duchess not strapped into her little doggy seat belt.
Her phone rang just as the driver was pulling away.
“It’s Ridley,” she said to Thad, rolling her eyes as she answered. “Hey, Rid.”
“Put the phone on speaker so soldier boy can hear me,” Ridley said.
This wasn’t good. Ashanti bit the side of her lip.
“Um, she wants to talk to you,” Ashanti said. She switched the call to speaker. “You’re on speaker.”
“Thaddeus?” Ridley asked.
“I’m here.”
“Loosen the fuck up.”
Thad jerked his head back. “Excuse me?”
“You looked and sounded like you were in pain during that podcast. Lighten up. You are too fucking hot to be so uptight.”
“I don’t think that was supposed to be a compliment,” Thad said.
“It wasn’t a compliment. It was an order. I told you both before you left New Orleans not to blow this chance. You have twelve hours to learn how to be charismatic. Do not go on that show tomorrow looking like you just ate a bowl of stewed prunes, okay?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Thad answered.
“Shanti, you were amazing. Hell, even Duchess and Puddin’ were amazing with their little doggy kisses. Carry that same energy over to the studio tomorrow. I gotta go. I’ll call you later tonight.”
Ridley disconnected the call.
