Ashanti pulled up Ridley’s text next.
DID YOU FUCK THAT MAN LAST NIGHT?
That text had been followed twenty minutes later by another.
BITCH, CALL ME.
Ashanti closed the app and looked over her shoulder to make sure Thad hadn’t seen it. He was attaching Puddin’ to his leash.
“I need to make a quick call,” she told him, then walked a few yards away so that she could call Ridley.
“What took you so damn long?” Ridley answered. “I texted you an hour ago.”
“Woman, what iswrongwith you?” Ashanti hissed.
“What?” Ridley asked, the epitome of innocence, as if she hadn’t sent those all-caps texts.
“Uh, the texts you sent?” Ashanti asked. “What was that about?”
“Oh,thatwas about you eye-fucking soldier boy the entire time you two were on camera,” Ridley said.
“I was not!”
Please, say I was not.
“Girl, please. I’m surprised that man didn’t need a cigarette after that interview. So did you screw him last night?” Ridley asked.
“No!” Ashanti said.
Did she think about it? All night long. But she would falsely confess to robbing a bank before admitting to the thoughts she’d had of Thad while she lay in bed last night. And in the shower this morning.
“So, what did you think of the interview?” Ashanti asked,steering the conversation away from the subject of Thad and how much she did, indeed, want to screw him.
“It was perfection!” Ridley said. “You were both witty and charming and everything you were supposed to be. Wait, no. It wasn’t perfect because you forgot to bring up the Black entrepreneur contest, but I think you’ll still get a heap of votes because of Luke and Leah.”
“I considered mentioning it, but then I thought it would sound too desperate, like those musicians who plug their upcoming albums when presenting awards at the Grammy’s.”
“That’s what showbiz is all about,” Ridley said. “Oh, and I know the podcast was postponed, but Dom set up this other thing for you all this afternoon. She’s going to email instructions in a minute.”
Ashanti threw her head back and rubbed the space between her eyes. She had beensoclose to getting that nap.
“Another podcast?” Ashanti asked.
“No, a photo shoot. One of the biggest dog charities in New York is putting together their calendar for next year, and when they found out the country’s most famous dogs were in town they, of course, requested Duchess and Puddin’ be in it.”
“I don’t know about this one, Rid. Will a calendar that comes outnextyear really be worth the trouble?”
“Hey, it’s not what you thought you would be doing up there, but it’s still all good. Trust Dom. She wouldn’t have set it up if she didn’t think it would help your overall PR goals. And shag soldier boy tonight.”
“Bye, Ridley,” Ashanti said.
Just as she was about to tuck her phone back into her bag, she got a text from Kara.
Just watched You on L & L. You and Thad look like ur banging each other. You did good tho.
Good God. Exactly what did she do during that segment? She was almost afraid to watch it. She didn’tfeelas if she had been eye-fucking Thad. Then again, can one tell when they’re eye-fucking someone?
I am not banging anyone. And thanks, Ashanti texted back.You should be in class.
