Page 1 of Decked Out with Ivy
Chapter 1
Cody Chance rubbed his arms as he stepped off the curb of the airport and into the waiting Black SUV. His agent had arranged the ride for him to some town in the middle of bumfuck New Hampshire. The long sleeve shirt, while fine in LA, was not doing its job in the brisk late November air of the northeast. He slipped his phone out and called Ronnie.
“Are you in the car?” Ronnie asked before he could even utter a hello.
“Yes, but other than my carryon, I have no luggage. This wouldn’t have happened if I flew private.”
“That’s what you get for flying private all over God’s green earth this summer and getting on the radar of climate control activists. Now you’re stuck flying commercial like the rest of us peasants.”
“You fly private, too.”
“Yes, but I’m not a recognizable A-list Hollywood actor.”
“A-list?” He laughed. “If I was A-list, I wouldn’t be in the middle of nowhere about to film a Christmas movie.”
“It’s not just any Christmas movie. Bex Shepard is starring opposite you, and she’s still Hollywood’s It Girl. I would suggest becoming friends with her. She went through a scandal and came out on top. You could use some pointers.”
“Or I could accept this for what it is—a paycheck.”
“With that attitude, you won’t have many more paychecks. Go find some clothes until I can figure out this luggage situation, and I don’t know… maybe try to evoke the Christmas spirit.”
“Why the hell would I do that?”
“Because nobody likes a Scrooge, and right now, nobody likes Cody Chance, either. Find you a Tiny Tim and realize there’s more to life than money and fame.”
“Coming from the woman who made me who I am.”
“I got you roles. I helped make you a star. Your shit attitude is all you, sweetheart.”
Ronnie had discovered Cody at sixteen when he did a casting call for a fruit snack commercial, and with her faith and his work ethic, he quickly went from commercials to background actor in major films to leading roles. He owed his success to her, but she was right. The attitude was all his, thanks to a chip on his shoulder he’d been carrying most of his life.
“I know,” he said. “Sorry.”
“Don’t apologize. Words mean nothing—”
“Without the actions to back them up,” he finished.
“That’s my boy. Make me proud. Now check your phone. I’m sending you a link for a clothing store in Red Maple Falls. Hopefully, they’ll have something to hold you over.”
Ronnie hung up, and Cody glanced at his screen. He rattled the address off to the driver and closed his eyes as he prepared for what could only be considered his biggest nightmare.
A Christmas movie.
He’d rather stand naked in the middle of Antarctica or free dive with great whites. There was nothing about Christmas he liked. Everything from the sounds to the smells to the colors pissed him off.
He leaned toward the driver. “Can you please put anything else on other than Christmas music?”
“Not a fan?” the driver asked.
“No.”
“Of the music or Christmas in general?”
Great, the driver was chatty.“Christmas in general.”
“Then may I ask why you’re going to Red Maple Falls? They love them some Christmas in that town.”
He swallowed and ran a hand under his chin, pulling at the stubble. “To shoot a Christmas movie.”