Chapter 50
Chapter Fifty
L auren, Eloise, and the rest of the production team arrived at the Galley Beach restaurant twenty minutes before the rest of the cast was due to arrive. Lauren was stunned by how beautiful the setting was. The restaurant was set on the beach and had seating inside overlooking the ocean and also had many tables outside, directly on the beach. The restaurant manager showed them to the two tables that were reserved for their group. There were no tables in front of them and they had a breathtaking view of the ocean. The sand was white and soft, and Lauren was tempted to take off her shoes.
She’d filled Hudson in earlier on what they’d seen in the overnight film.
He shook his head in disgust and when they arrived at the restaurant asked if Katy had said anything to Billy yet.
“Anna waited until just before they left. So, I don’t know when she plans to say something.
“Okay, we’ll be ready.”
Lauren and Eloise had strategized earlier about seat placement for the dinner and put place cards at each seat. Once that was done, they took their seats, while Hudson, Mike, and Tom set up their cameras around the big table where the cast would be sitting. They chose the seats at the end, close enough to the main table that they’d be able to overhear most of the conversation. Lauren slipped her sandals off to dip her feet in the soft sand. It had been years since she’d spent so much time on the beach, and it was another thing she was going to miss when she was back in LA.
The cast filed in and Lauren watched as they looked for their place cards. They’d put Anna and Katy next to each other in the middle of the table, with Billy and Sami directly across from them. Lauren noticed that Sami’s face whitened when she realized that she’d been placed next to Billy and across from Anna and Katy. She glanced toward Lauren and Eloise, and Lauren smiled ever so slightly. Sami knew that they knew what had happened. What she didn’t know was if Katy was aware of it yet. Billy was completely oblivious. He didn’t seem concerned, though it should have crossed his mind that production would have viewed the film from his room. He was being his usual charming self, joking and laughing with everyone around him.
Once everyone was seated, their servers came around and took drink orders for both tables. Lauren and Eloise both ordered chardonnay and when their servers returned with their cocktails, they put their food orders in. Lauren and Eloise both went with the miso buttered lobster.
The dinner was relatively uneventful until they were on dessert. The chocolate mousse that was served to everyone in their party was light and decadent at the same time. Lauren had just taken her first bite when she heard Katy’s voice.
“I thought it might be fun to go around the table and have everyone mention their favorite thing about this experience and something that surprised them.”
Anna spoke first. “That’s a great idea. My favorite thing is also what surprised me the most. I didn’t expect that I would meet someone special here, but then I met Jason.”
He leaned over and gave her a kiss. “Can I just say ditto?”
Everyone laughed, and they continued around the table. When they got to Sami, she looked slightly uncomfortable. “I guess my favorite thing about Nantucket is the beach, and a nice surprise has been making new friends here.” She smiled all around the table and lingered on Billy for a moment before diving into her dessert. No one else at the table probably noticed it—except for Katy and Anna and, of course, Lauren, Eloise and Hudson.
Billy went next and before he spoke, he flashed that slow smile that used to melt Lauren’s heart. She was immune to its effect now, though. “My favorite thing has been meeting Katy. And my biggest surprise is that I finally feel like I might be ready to settle down.”
Lauren almost spit out her chocolate mousse. She realized what Billy was doing. He’d figured out that they were onto him and he was setting the stage to do damage control with Katy. But she didn’t think there was any coming back from this with Katy. At least she hoped she was smarter than that.
They continued around the table until it was Katy’s turn. She took her last bite of chocolate mousse, picked up her napkin to dab at the sides of her mouth, and then she looked directly at Billy and spoke calmly. “My favorite thing was meeting you. I thought this was the beginning of something really special and I was eager to continue dating when the show wrapped. What surprised me the most?” She glanced Sami’s way and narrowed her eyes, and then glared at Billy. “When I found out that Sami slept in your room last night—and I know you did more than sleep. I really liked you, Billy. How could you do that?” Her voice broke, and she reached for her glass of water and looked away.
Sami looked horrified, and Billy froze, unsure of what to say to fix the situation. Sami spoke first. “Katy, I’m so sorry. It didn’t mean anything. We both just had a little too much to drink, and it just happened. It won’t ever happen again, I promise.”
Katy sent her a withering look. “At this point, I don’t care if it does. Maybe you two should be together.” She stood and grabbed her purse. “All I know is that I am ready to go home and I couldn’t be happier that this is our last night.” She started to walk off, and Billy got up and went after her. “Katy wait.” She stopped and faced him. He tried flashing her the smile that had always gotten him out of trouble before, but she just shook her head and started to turn away. He reached out and took her hand. “Katy, please. It really didn’t mean anything. You have to believe me. I mean, it’s not like you and I were exclusive. Sami and I just hooked up. It happens. But, if you want, we can be exclusive. I really do want to make it work with you. Give me another chance, please?”
She hesitated for a moment and both tables were silent, waiting for her to respond. Lauren worried that she might agree to give Billy a second chance. That she might be convinced by his reasoning that they weren’t exclusively dating yet.
But Katy pulled her hand from his and shook her head. She looked at him sadly. “I think this is just who you are, Billy. And this isn’t what I want. I deserve better.”
She walked away and Lauren was relieved. Katy definitely deserved better than what Billy was able to give her.
“I’m not going to let this ruin my last night here,” Katy sniffed. Anna had just handed her a glass of pinot grigio and they were on the back deck of the share house, looking out at the ocean. Everyone was back from dinner and it was just starting to get dark. “I mean, of course, it totally ruined my night, but I’m not going to go hide in my room. I’m going to stay up for a bit and visit with everyone—except Billy and Sami, and then I’ll go to bed, get a good night’s sleep and I am very much looking forward to going home and sleeping in my own apartment tomorrow.”
“I’m looking forward to going home, too. We’ll have dinner during the week if you’re up for it?” Anna suggested.
“I’d love that. I’m ready for things to get back to normal. I’ll get over Billy. It just hurts—I really thought it could work. I guess that was stupid, though, given his history.”
Anna sipped her wine. “It’s not stupid. I think we always want to see the good in people, to hope that they’d behave the way we’d expect. He’s charming. I get why you fell for him.”
Billy tried to talk to Katy again later that night, but she brushed him off. Anna heard her say, “Billy, I meant it. Go talk to Sami.” She walked over to her.
“Are you okay?”
Katy smiled. “I’m fine. Or rather I will be fine. I just don’t want to talk to Billy. There’s no point to it, and it’s too hard right now.” She yawned and glanced at her watch.
“It’s almost ten. I think I’m going to call it a night.”
“Okay, I’ll be up soon, too.”