Forty-eight. Seventy-one.
Climbing fast as the algorithm picks up that I'm broadcasting and pushes it to more feeds.
"We are LIVE!" I announce, grinning at the camera with genuine enthusiasm. "Hi, my book addictive darlings! I've been gone for a hot minute, but I'm back and ready to share the most amazing adventure with you!"
The comments start flooding in immediately—a waterfall of greetings and questions and emojis scrolling past faster than I can read them.
WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN???
MISSED YOU SO MUCH
omg you're in a car??
WHO IS THAT IN THE BACKGROUND
"I'm literally on a road trip adventure," I continue, watching the viewer count climb past one hundred, "with an unexpected guest!"
I wait, letting the anticipation build.
The numbers skyrocket—two hundred, three hundred, four hundred. Hearts and fire emojis fill the comment section. People are sharing the stream. Tagging friends. The algorithm is picking this up.
This is what I've been working toward for years. Real-time engagement. People who care enough to drop everything and watch. The kind of audience that brands notice.
"Should I give you guys a sneak peek of where we're headed?" I ask, biting my lip like I'm debating whether to spill a secret.
The comments explode.
YES YES YES
TELL US EVERYTHING
spill the tea sis
Then Nash does something unexpected—he opens the windows wider.Both of them. The passenger side I'd crackedearlier for fresh air and now his driver's side too, rolling them down until cold December wind can rush through the cab unimpeded.
Cold November wind rushes through the cab with dramatic force, catching my hair and whipping it around my face like I'm the star of some indie music video. The winter air carries a symphony of scents—pine forests from the tree line visible in the distance, snow-covered fields that smell clean and sharp, the faint sweetness of woodsmoke from chimneys in town. It's crisp and perfect and exactly the kind of atmospheric footage that gets engagement.
He's doing this on purpose. This grumpy Alpha, who claimed he didn't understand social media or care about content, is actively helping me create engaging, cinematic footage. Creating atmosphere. Making magic happen.
My heart does this weird fluttery thing that has nothing to do with the cold air.
I giggle—can't help it, the sound bubbling up genuine and delighted—and flip the camera to rear-facing mode so my followers can see what I'm seeing.
The town appears ahead through the windshield, getting closer with each passing second, materializing from the gray winter landscape like something from a snow globe come to life. Buildings emerge from the countryside—first just dark shapes, then details become clear as we approach.
"See that adorable little town up ahead?" I narrate, keeping the camera as steady as possible despite the truck's movement and my excitement. "That's Millbrook! I'm heading there to check out all the Christmas festivities they have going on because hello, Christmas is literally upon us and I am SO here for it!"
The town looks absolutely picturesque even from this distance.
A white church steeple rises against the cloudy sky like something from a postcard, its cross visible at the peak. Main Street is visible now—a strip of buildings lining both sides, storefronts with large windows, and what looks like Christmas decorations absolutely everywhere. Lights are strung between vintage-style lamp posts even though it's daytime, creating this webwork of holiday cheer overhead.
Everything looks compact and charming in that quintessential small-town way that makes city people nostalgic for places they've never actually been to. The kind of town where everyone knows everyone, and the local diner serves the best pie in three counties, and people still leave their doors unlocked.
I flip the camera back to selfie mode, making sure I'm centered in the frame with good lighting despite the overcast sky.
"So here's the exciting news that I'm literally buzzing about," I say, my enthusiasm building with each word as I imagine all the content possibilities. "For the next six weeks—yes, SIX WEEKS—I'm going to be sharing ALL the festivities that small towns across the region have to offer! Every Christmas market, every holiday event, every cozy tradition that makes this season absolutely magical!"
The viewer count hits five hundred. Hearts are pouring in.
