Page 1 of The Holiday Fakers
CHAPTER 1
PIPER
“Brody King and Secret New Woman Caught Loved Up at Hipster Hangout!” screams the Google Alert on my phone.
My thumb moves faster than you can sayclickbait, but when the photos accompanying the headline flash onto the screen, my heart slams to a stop.
Whuhhht?
The chaos of the Brooklyn coffee shop is drowned out by the roaring in my ears.
I can’t breathe.
The world around me shatters, crashing me into a new reality. One where Brody King, famous model, infamous actor, and the man who walked out of my life twelve years ago, is loved up with … me?
“Piper, you okay?”
The barista’s dark brows are slanted with concern.
I gape at her.
“Bad news?”
Shoving my phone away, I force the corners of my mouth up. My fake smile doesn’t work, because she immediately thrusts the empty coffee cup with my name on it behind her at a colleague, then leans forward.
“What the hell happened to you?”
I move closer, my thick scarf toppling a pile of cellophane-wrapped Christmas cookies at the edge of the counter.
“What’s the date?” I whisper urgently.
“December thirteenth. Have you missed an appointment?”
“Do I look the same to you?”
I spin in a circle, my purse swinging wildly, knocking one of the cookies to the floor.
“Uh …”
I rescue the cookie and pop back up again. “Do I look any different?”
“I don’t think so?”
“Are you sure?”
I turn again, slower this time, like I’m my five-year-old niece showing off a new outfit.
Her nose wrinkles. “Did you do something with your hair?”
I shake my head, then a flash of adrenaline shoots through me, stronger than any caffeine.
“Wait a minute. Do elves exist? Wizards? For real? I meanreallyreal.”
Her eyes snap wide. “No, no, definitely not. You got lost down another online rabbit hole?”
I scan her face. “Is the world the same as yesterday?”
“That’s kind of a deep question. It’s not possible for it to be exactly the?—”
