Page 82 of Fake It 'Til You Sleigh It

Another performance for the public. He knows exactly how to make it feel sincere, because it’s his job to convince all women to believe in the fantasy… Apparently that includes me.

He’s a much better actor than I give him credit for.

I paste on a smile, playing my part. “Are you just kissing me to get out of helping with orders?”

Ethan smirks. “Is it that obvious?”

I’m about to respond when Darla’s chipper voice cuts through the air. “Ladies, we got a brand-new batch of Chathan shirts in flamingo pink! If you buy yours now, Ethan and Chase will sign them!”

I gotta hand it to Darla. That woman pounces on trends faster than a cat on a mouse.

The crowd surges forward like they’re racing to an all-you-can-eat hottie buffet, but Ethan’s focus is on me. He holds me tight, his fingers tracing the gentle features of my face, and it makes my heart flutter.

“Hey,” I whisper. “We need to talk about Gail.”

Ethan’s gaze doesn’t falter. “What about her?” he says. “The online meltdown thing? Meh, it’s fine.”

“You’ve seen it? And you’re not worried?”

He shrugs. “It’ll blow over, Chase. Fans get upset, they vent, they move on. It’s the circle of celebrity life.”

“This is serious. Look at what she’s posting!” I shove my phone at him, scrolling through Gail’s “Ethan Addicts” fan page feed.

Wake up, Ethan Addicts! Your beloved star and his stone-cold director are nothing but Hollywood smoke and mirrors. #CHATHANisFake

Calling for a boycott: Forget the countdown to Christmas. This year, let’s all #CountdownToCHATHANBreakup

Betting pool: How long before that shady witch Chase dumps Ethan? I’m betting on Christmas Eve for maximum drama. #CHATHANisOver

Ethan’s smile finally wavers. “Ouch. But hey, give yourself some credit. She’s implying you’re doing the dumping and not me. That’s something, right?”

I ignore his attempt at humor. “There’s more. Look at this thread she started, breaking down every interaction we’ve had on camera. She’s got screenshots, body language analysis, the works.”

“Wow… When Gail commits to something, she really commits.”

“This isn’t funny,” I snap. “We didn’t hit our subscriber goal yesterday, and today’s looking even worse. All our hard work could go down the drain because I told her the only action she gets is from her vibrator and her creepy Ethan-shaped body pillow.”

“You played the jealous girlfriend part pretty well. If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were actually jealous.”

Ethan falls silent for a moment, his gaze shifting from the phone to my face, those eyes of his searching, probing. Like he wants to tell me something, but the words fail him.

Darla’s spunky voice interrupts. “Ethan! Chase! The shirts are ready for signing. We’ve got a line of fans waiting. Y’all better get a move on!”

“Coming, Mama!” His mouth finds mine, gentle but insistent. “Stop worrying about the subscribers. I’ve got this—I’ve got you.”

We work our way to the autograph table together, hands entwined. For the first time in my career, the lines between fiction and reality are blurring. This whole thing is spiraling out of control. I’m losing grip on what’s real and what’s part of the act.

I’ve always been the one behind the scenes, the one calling the shots. But with Ethan, I feel like I am no longer in command. And that fucking terrifies me.

Unlike the movies I write, I have no idea how this story ends.

***

“This is my house.I have to defend it!” Ethan declares, striking a heroic pose.

I’m perched on the edge of the couch next to Darla, watching the Barrett men act out scenes fromHome Alone. Apparently, this is another cherished family tradition.

Doug and Nolan are playing theWet Bandits, chasing Ethan around the living room performing the movie’s pranks. They’re slipping, sliding, and fake-punching with the coordination of drunken sorority girls playing a game of Twister blindfolded.

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