Page 8 of Fake It 'Til You Sleigh It

“And we’re live! Christmasis sneaking up on us—less than two weeks away! We’re celebrating the best of the holidays every morning. I’m your host, Madison Morgan, and you’re watching Rise and Glow LA.”

Madison sparkles under the lights. With her flawless smile and her sleek blonde bob, she’s everyone’s bestie. Her excitement is contagious, and the audience dances along as she struts around, high-fiving fans.

The holiday set is a straight-up winter wonderland, like the North Pole got a Hollywood facelift. Pine garlands decked out with sparkling ornaments line the walls, and snowflakes dangle from the ceiling, glinting like tiny diamonds. Every available surface has been yassified.

Chase and I are perched on our chairs, waiting for our cue like obedient circus animals. I’m channeling my inner sexy Santa, cooler than a cucumber in a friggin’ ice bath, while Chase is…Holy hell!

I catch a whiff of what I can only describe as “Eau de Panic” wafting off her. It’s a delightful bouquet of flop sweat, the mint gum she’s been furiously chomping, and the unmistakable scent of fear. Her knees are bouncing like she’s got a goddamn earthquake happening in her pants. At this rate, she’s gonna rocket off that chair like a jittery jack-in-the-box.

Is that genuine fear in Chase’s eyes? Shit, it is. The woman is trembling, much like I was when she made me reshoot a kiss scene forty-seven times in sub-zero temperatures… during a snowstorm! Where the hell is my iron-willed director—the one known for making grown men cry on set? Since when did I start caring about Chase’s feelings?Damn. I must be coming down with something.

I place a hand on her thigh. “Easy there, Sonic,” I whisper. “You need to spit your gum out. And settle down before you drill a hole through the floor.”

“Touch me again, Barrett, and you’ll be singing ‘Jingle Bells’ in a voice so high, Mariah Carey will be jealous.”

“Copy that,” I whisper, removing my hand but not my gaze. I’m about to tell her to take a breath when—

“Today I’m here with the hunky star of the new Christmas movie,Fa La La Love,on the Cherish Channel. He’s theKing of Christmas. Let’s hear it for Ethan Barrett!”

The audience erupts in applause. I live for this—the attention, the showboating. I love an audience that just wants to have a good time. I give an appreciative grin and wave. “Thanks for having me, Madison. Always a pleasure to spread some holiday cheer.”

“And with you is your co-star, Chase Pemberton,” Madison continues.

“Actually, I’m the writer and director,” Chase corrects, her tone so icy it could freeze my balls off. “His co-star, Erin Calloway, is on mandatory bed rest, so… here I am.”

Oof.The audience’s enthusiasm deflates faster than a dollar-store air mattress.

“We’re all really thrilled for Erin,” I cut in with practiced ease. “She’s about to have a happy, healthy baby boy.”

The crowd collectively ‘awws,’ and just like that, we’re back on track.

Madison launches into our backstory, explaining how many movies Chase and I have done together. Then, as if our ‘let me do the talking’ convo never happened, Chase jumps in.

“I actually discovered Ethan,” she says, a hint of pride in her voice. “It’s a really funny story.”

Oh boy. Here we go.

“He was a nobody. Ethan was doing foot fungus commercials before I cast him.”

“What can I say? You saw what a fun-GUY I was, so you had to scoop me up, didn’t ya,” I joke, steering us back to safer waters.“But seriously, we have such a strong connection. I mean, how else do you explain us collaborating on film after film? We can practically read each other’s thoughts.”

I shoot Chase a “shut the hell up” look, and her eyes narrow.Message received.

Madison presents to the camera with a glimmer in her eyes. “Chase, tell us why you love making romantic movies about the holidays. You must have had amazing Christmases as a kid. Your movies are so magical.”

Chase freezes, like Santa getting caught by Mrs. Claus on Grindr. “Well, umm…”

Oh my God, Chase. That was an easy one.

“We both love to sprinkle in that childhood charm,” I jump in smoothly. “My family absolutely loves Christmas, so it’s a piece of cake for me to bring that joy to each character I play. It’s the best holiday there is.”

The women in the audience swoon and clap. One of them yells, “We love you, Ethan!”

I pretend to blush and blow a kiss. “Right back at you, gorgeous!”

Chase regains her voice. “So, um, the Cherish Channel has this super cool... promotion thingy. For Christmas. New subscribers get their first month free! Isn’t that... neat?”

“Let’s take questions from the audience,” Madison says, ignoring Chase’s lead.

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