The Chameleon Effect by Joe Arden

Author:Joe Arden [Arden, Joe]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Amazon: B0B89BJMD3
Goodreads: 61834714
Publisher: #PrB.rating#4.58
Published: 2022-09-12T23:00:00+00:00

Waking up Thursday morning, I am quite simply a ball of nerves. I decide on an impromptu morning paddle board session to even me out. Tonight is a big night. After eight years of hustle and almost a decade of rejection, tonight I make my television debut. I try to find some inner harmony through some outer balance work, but I’m spending more time in the Pacific than I am on my board today. One source of calm keeps flying through my thoughts: Raven. Last night, I’d sent Lexi’s measurements over to her via text and we proceeded to chat all night. Emojis, GIFs, dragon costume Pinterest boards… we covered it all with our thumbs. And I loved every stinking second of it. But as quickly as those memories fill me up, the anxiety about seeing myself on TV returns, and off the board I fall. I paddle back to shore resigned to the fact that calm just won’t be a prevalent mood today. Only so much I can control.

That evening, Von picks me up to take me over to my brother’s place for a special screening of my episode. I’m touched that Ryan and Hazel want to make a big deal out of this, but we were going to come over regardless since Ryan’s the only person I know who still has actual cable anymore. When Devontay and I pull up to my brother’s place, black and gold balloons hang from the front gate and, not going to lie, pull on my heart strings. Feels good to have people who want to celebrate my wins with me. The gate hangs ajar and when we walk through, they’ve laid a red carpet out leading to the entrance to their house with more swaying balloons inviting us in.

“Your family loves you, man,” Devontay says sincerely with a firm squeeze of my shoulder.

Words fail me in the moment, so I pat Von on the back and we walk up the steps.

“There he is, the man of the hour,” Hazel announces lyrically as we walk in.

“Uncle Will!” Lexi exclaims, barreling into me. “I’m so excited you’re going to be on TV tonight.”

“I’m excited too, Lexi Sprout.”

“It means I get to stay up past my bedtime,” she confesses in full voice.

“And there it is. Truth hurts, bud,” Von laughs as he makes his way to the kitchen island to greet Ryan and Hazel. He’s got his eyes on the generous food spread laid out too.

“You guys. This is a lot,” I say taking it all in. “You didn’t need to do all this. It’s just a couple scenes on a show.”

“This is your television debut, little brother. Of course, we had to do this,” Ryan puts in.

Hazel pops the top on a bottle of Sparkling Apple Cider and passes glasses around to all of us.

“To the first of many,” Hazel toasts with her arm raised.

We all clink glasses and repeat her refrain.

“Now dig in, everyone. I tried to do an Idaho theme for the

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