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Within minutes, the camera is set up, facing the reception area, which Hannah cleared while we were at the Christmas market. She even put up some more Christmas décor in the background.
"Okay." I roll my shoulders, then pull the Santa costume out of my backpack. "Let's get this show started, shall we?"
"Seriously? As Santa?" Hannah giggles.
"Hey, I'm doing masked content usually." I pull some fake-beard hair out of my mouth. "I love Brooke, but I also love not having my face on the internet. It's too late for those two, though." I point at Nic and Lauren, who stick out their tongues at me.
"You do you." Hannah giggles and disappears into the hallway to get the animals.
"Let's do mine first so I can get out of this fucking beard," I joke and pull on the Santa hat. Then I pull more plastic hair out of my mouth, because every time I open my mouth, it gets in there. “Beauty first, or what is the saying? Just watch, my fans will obliterate yours.”
"Look at you, all committed." Lauren grins and swats my hand away to adjust the beard herself. "It's like watching my little brother grow up. And you’re wrong, my fans have this in the bag."
“I’m older than you, don’t treat me like a child.” I swat her hand away. To nobody’s surprise, we settled on a new competition. It’s called ‘who can make their fans donate the most to Brooke’s shelter’ and I’m confident I’ll win.
"You’re not sending him to prom, Lauren." Nic nudges her with her elbow. "He's shooting a damn video, not going to war."
"You're right." She can’t help but smoothen my Santa jacket before she takes a step back. Joke’s on her, because I’m putting my leather jacket on over it. Otherwise, my fans might not recognize me on their front pages.
"Okay. Kieran, since she loves you so much, I figured you could hold Daisy." Hannah hands me the black bunny.
First, the little black fluff ball tries to escape, but when I coo at her, she recognizes me and relaxes.
"Right, we're besties now, aren't we?"
Her adoption papers are already filled out on my kitchen counter. Never thought I'd get a bunny, but the pet distribution system chose me, apparently. I don't have much of a choice at this point. I’m helpless against those big, black eyes and the adorable way Daisy scrunches her nose when she munches on carrot pieces.
"Give me Luna and Bean, too. We can be a black gang."
"They're antsy today, though. You might have to bribe them with some treats." She points to a box behind me.
"Okay." I roll my shoulders, grab a few treats, and spread them on the counter.
Hannah returns with both cats. They are trying to wiggle out of her arms, but once she sets them down and they find the treats, they’re content.
"Nic, hit it before they flee."
She makes a quick countdown with her fingers. I face the camera and put on my well-practiced social media smile.
"Ho, ho, ho, guys! A little break from my usual content for a personal matter. You know, there's this wonderful girl called Brooke with a huge heart for traumatized and abandoned animals such as these three cuties.” I hold up Bean and Luna towards the camera, “and she needs our help."
"I am back," I announce loudly, holding up a second Santa hat for Brooke.
"Thank goodness." She sighs and eyes it skeptically. "What was so important? You were gone for a while."
"It's a secret." I lean in for a kiss, but she puts her palm over my mouth.
"I'm not kissing you with this ridiculous Santa beard. Sorry, Baby. It’s a no."
I draw back with a pout. "Fair enough."
"What do you have for me there?" She looks at the two mugs in my hands with the greed of someone who stood in the cold for an hour and aches for a hot drink.
"Mulled wine." I hand her one. "With alcohol to warm you from the inside. Here you go."
"You’re the best. Cheers." She clinks her mug against mine. Her white breath mingles with the steam coming from the beverage, and she takes a sip.
The carousel music comes to an end. I set my wine down quickly, take a deep breath and put on my extroverted face to make the next group pay good money to get on the carousel.
