Page 45 of Take It Till You Make It
“I really do have a fantastic following.”
Crispin cocks his head. “Is that why you do it? For the fans?”
I think about it before answering. “Honestly, Dad and I made up the skits long before there was a venue for us to post them on. We’ve been doing them since I was three, when he stuck a brunette wig on my head and had me pose as the Mona Lisa and then do a quick change to become “The Girl with the Pearl Earring” in a neighborhood variety show we hosted in our front yard. Anyway, I always did it because it was fun, and I got to spend time with Dad. I’m not sure when my focus shifted to making our fans happy, but it definitely did shift. I became obsessed with getting positive, happy comments so that I knew what we posted resonated.”
Crispin nods slowly. “Ah. So, that’s why it bothers you that the comments are about me. It isn’tyoumaking your fans happy.”
“Hmmm. I guess you’re right.”
“Let’s give them what they want then.” Crispin points to himself. “Interview me.”
I shake my head. “Not yet. I want it to be about the behind-the-scenes stuff first.”
“You interviewed Sally!” Crispin looks between us.
“She’s not a star yet. It will help her career to get the early exposure, and she’s beautiful and sweet, and we had a ton of fun doing the interview.” Sally nods. “So, my fans will love to meet her next week when her episode airs. You would just hijack my show further. Look what happened just from a single mention of you. But I promise, you’ll get your opportunity.”
Sulking, he pokes his food with his fork. “Sure, I will.”
I wad up my napkin and throw it at him. “Baby.”
He rewards me with a stunningly genuine smile. Yeah, Crispin is hijacking more than my channel these days.
“Oh, speaking of babies, we can’t go Sunday night,” Sally says.
My brows arch to my hairline. “Are you…pregnant?”
“What?” Sally looks confused.
“You said, “Speaking of babies.””
She barks out a laugh. “No, River’s little sister is coming to town. It was kind of a joke, but I guess now that I’m replaying it in my head, you wouldn’t have understood that.”
“Bring her along!” Crispin offers. “Surely, she’ll like stars too.”
“I’m sure she does.” Sally looks between the two of us. “Are you sure? It feels like we’re taking over your night.”
I jerk backward. “Our night? Nonsense. The night belongs to all of us.” I deliver the last line in my most magnanimous tone and gesture widely with my arm.
Sally snorts but then sobers. “I’m sure she’d really love it. And I’m sure she’ll be on her best non-fangirl behavior. She’s hung out with Tod Strapper before and never made a fool of herself.”
Crispin narrows his eyes. “Are you saying Tod Strapper is a bigger deal than me?”
As I ask, “Why has she hung out with Tod Strapper before?”
Sally laughs at Crispin, but responds to me. “Haven’t I ever told you how I got this role in the first place?”
I shake my head. She tilts hers back and looks up at the ceiling. “You’re gonna love how ridiculous this story is.”
Crispin and I lean forward, and I say, “Continue.”
She spends the rest of lunch telling us about her walk-on part in Tod Strapper’s big sci-fi movie and how, being the generous guy he is, he made sure they had a pre-screening, complete with red carpet and paparazzi, in her hometown, since that’s where they shot the movie.
“My aunt came to the screening and that’s where one of the executive producers of this movie saw us together and knew we should play the mother/daughter roles.”
“That’s so cool! He just looked at you and said, ‘I want you in my next movie.’?” I ask.
She shrugs. “Sort of. He was walking past and took a double-take. He knew my aunt already, so he stopped to ask who I was, mentioned that he knew of a movie that needed a mother/daughter casting, and said he’d be in touch.”
