Page 89 of Deck the Hauls

Austin and I had stopped walking now. Austin leaned in and we kissed. Ugh. At least it looked a lot better on screen than it had felt in reality. I doubted anyone could tell I was shriveling inside.

“Oh my god, Dana,” Hannah said. “I think we’ll have to buy the movie so we can pause it and zoom in on your face. What is going on there?”

I stifled a giggle as I focused on Dana’s face on screen, contorted into some type of half-grimace, half-terrifying smile.

“I was trying to smile, but…” Dana glanced at me. “I could tell Austin was being a creep. It was hard to watch.”

“Please never smile like that again,” Jenny said. “That is absolutely horrifying. Someone should turn that into a meme.”

As the credits rolled, Dana grazed my leg with her hand. “You were really good. How are you feeling?”

I stared at where her hand had touched me, and then raised my eyes to meet her gaze.

“Okay, I think. It’s definitely not the best movie in the world, but I didn’t cringe too much at my acting, so hopefully that’s a good sign. And it was like an hour-and-a-half-long advertisement for Sapphire Springs—the farm and Novel Gossip looked incredible.”

“And the storyline wasn’t quite as ‘helpless woman’ as I remember you telling me.”

“I did convince Charles to make a few changes.”

“Well, I thought you were terrific.”

“Thanks.” I smiled at her.

It was a shame we couldn’t CGI Dana into the movie instead of Austin. The story almost mirrored our first dates—even if we didn’t know they were dates at the time. Getting stuck in a tree, ice skating, the Christmas market. It would be nice to have something to remember this all by, once I was back in Brooklyn for good.

Jenny let out an ear-piercing cheer, drawing our attention back to the screen, where the credits were still rolling.

Grumpy Waitress: Dana Hoffman.

Café Owner: George O’Grady.

We whooped.

Then a “Background Talent” header appeared, and Hannah, Olivia, Jenny and Blake’s names appeared, along with half of Sapphire Springs. We all cheered again.

And then, finally, Roz’s name, Red Tractor Farm and Novel Gossip.

After the last copyright notice, I exhaled. Well, there it was.

It wasn’t as bad as I’d expected, but would it be enough to show casting directors and producers what I could do, and reboot my career? I slumped back on the couch. It was doubtful.

Whatever happened, though, I didn’t want to give up acting.

I swallowed. If only there was a way I could have my career and Dana.

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

DANA

I peered out the window at the hundreds of people strolling the sidewalks lining Emily’s street. Cars crawled down the street at a snail’s pace. Even with the windows closed, we could still hear the sounds of excited voices and Christmas music blasting over speakers.

“Isn’t having thousands of people swarming past your house every day for a month incredibly inconvenient?” I asked Emily.

“Well, yes, but you get used to it,” Emily said as she pulled a sweater over her head. “It’s worse on Friday nights and weekends. And honestly, the joy the lights bring other people makes a bit of inconvenience worth it. At least, that’s how we feel. There are a few people on the street who hate it.” Emily tugged the sweater down. “I don’t know why people would buy here, or wouldn’t sell, if they feel like that.”

Emily pulled her black puffer jacket over her sweater and zipped it up. Her brown wavy hair curled out from under a dark-green beanie. She looked like she’d just stepped out from a lead role in a holiday movie. I chuckled. That was exactly what she had done.

Emily stepped toward me and grasped my hand. “Are you sure you’re up to braving the crowds so you can see for yourself?”