Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 96284 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 481(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 321(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96284 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 481(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 321(@300wpm)
Okay, we were good to go—and just in time for Jake’s and Joel’s voices to come closer.
“…no, I’m just glad Roe sent me that email with the instructions,” I heard Joel say. “I’ve never been interviewed before.”
I had all the forethought. Being interviewed and streamed to millions of people could probably sound intimidating, but we were so casual around here that guests relaxed pretty fast. And “instructions” was a stretch. I sent an email to all our guests about what to expect, along with some helpful tips and tricks.
“You got nothin’ to worry about,” Jake replied. “If Roe can make me comfortable enough to host a podcast, you appearing on one will be a walk in the park.”
I smiled and turned to the door just as they entered, and I extended a hand to Joel. “Good to see you again, Joel.”
He smiled back and shook my hand. “You too, man. I like your office. It was nothing like what I expected.”
I chuckled. That’s what everyone said. When you mentioned office and headquarters, people immediately assumed skyscrapers, bullpens, and corporate.
Joel was very easy on the eyes—tall, hella fit, and with a charming smile—and since Jake had told me about Joel’s text message, I couldn’t help but wonder if our Coastie was…not straight, too. And if he was interested in Jake.
We covered the chitchat part while Jake got the camera ready, and I reassured Joel this was very relaxed. It was breakfast and coffee and conversation. People just happened to be listening or watching somewhere.
“You can count on Roe,” Jake said. “If you get off track or forget what you were gonna say, he’ll pick things up.”
“I’ve had a lot of practice with that one.” I nodded at Jake.
Joel grinned and got seated. The table was turned so everyone was visible on camera, with him sitting closer to Jake on one side, and I was across from them.
A screen popped up on my laptop, indicating the camera was on. Then Jake made his way to his seat, and…yeah, I mean, sure, if you were into tall, hot military dudes, they looked good next to each other. Joel with his dark-blue USCG T-shirt, Jake with one that read Two Condor Chicks Production.
I’d grown up in the wrong family, and I had the wrong friends. Because it was only in my circle I could possibly feel short at 5’11”. I was fucking taller than average. But then I’d grown up with 6’5” monsters, and now I shared my career with a 6’3” jarhead. Joel was up there too, and add biceps and ink, and maybe I should hit the gym more.
Fuck.
No donut for me this morning.
Instead, I poured some yogurt into my bowl and added boring granola, some bananas, and dried cranberries.
“Sixty seconds till seven AM,” Jake said. “Headphones on.”
“So you do this every morning?” Joel wondered.
“Monday to Friday, unless we’re off filming,” I answered.
“Dig in.” Jake nodded at the food and grabbed some for himself—or a lot of it. Yogurt, croissant, two donuts… Because certain people could eat anything and it didn’t affect their physique.
I took a swig of my coffee and watched the clock on my laptop. At seven AM sharp, I pushed record and turned on the intro. I adjusted my headphones and counted down.
“Good morning, everyone. You’re Off Topic with Roe Finlay and Jake Denver,” I said. “I’m Roe, Jake’s stuffing his face with a donut, and we have Joel Hayward with the Coast Guard here today. Welcome to LA, Joel.”
“Thanks. It’s good to be here,” he answered.
“It’s a good fuckin’ donut too,” Jake added with his mouth full.
I grinned. “Can I start a military fight by saying this is perfect meme material? We have the Marine who’s got powdered sugar all over his face, and we have the Coast Guard sniper eating plain yogurt.”
Jake coughed around a chuckle. “Uh, oorah?”
Joel found that funny too.
Ice: broken.
I shook my head. “I remember back in the day when we read focus-group results for Nomads and how viewers seemed to enjoy watching Jake eat. I’m not sure that would be true anymore.”
“Leave me the fuck alone,” he laughed. “Today’s about Joel.”
Fair enough, that was plenty of razzing for a minute. I smiled and shifted my focus to Joel. “He’s got a point. We’re shining a bright light on the Coast Guard today, partly because Jake and I are in the middle of filming a new series, and that’s where Joel and his team come in. Last fall, we spent a week with you guys aboard one of your cutters—and correct me if I’m wrong here, you use the term cutter for any ship or vessel you have permanent crews on?”
Joel set down his coffee mug and cleared his throat. “Basically, they’re our home on the water. They do have assigned crews on board, and depending on the size of the vessel, they stay out for weeks or months at a time.”