Chapter 53
Chapter Fifty-Three
L auren didn’t sleep well. She never did the night before a flight. Though she usually woke up easily on her own, she still set two alarms on her phone to make sure she’d get up early. She had time to grab breakfast if she went down as soon as it started, at eight. She’d packed the night before after Hudson brought her home. She was tired but wide awake and tossed and turned most of the night.
So when she woke, she was still tired. But she perked up after a shower. She changed into black yoga pants and a t-shirt and sweatshirt. She liked to dress comfortably for long flights. She brought her luggage downstairs with her and went into the dining room. Lisa was there and was pouring herself a cup of coffee. She had a plate of food already and smiled when she saw Lauren.
“Oh, good. I was hoping I’d see you before you headed out today.”
Lauren quickly made herself a plate of eggs, potatoes, and melon and poured a mug of coffee. She joined Lisa at the round table.
“Rhett’s still sleeping, so I don’t think he’ll be down before you go.” Lisa picked up her mug of coffee and took a sip. “I hope your summer went the way you’d hoped it would?”
Lauren wasn’t sure if Lisa was referring to the show or her personal life. “It’s been a great summer. Went by much too fast. We won’t know for sure, until the editing is all done, but I think it’s going to be a good show.”
Lisa’s eyes lit up. “Any last-minute drama that I don’t know about?”
Lauren laughed and filled her on the Billy-Katy-Sami situation.
Lisa shook her head. “What was he thinking? I thought he and Katy looked so cute together.”
“I was hoping it would work out, for both their sakes. I wanted to believe Billy when he said wouldn’t do anything like that again.” Lauren explained her history with Billy.
She looked sympathetic. “That must have been hard for you, at least at first, to have to work with him?”
“It was still kind of fresh then, so it wasn’t easy to see him again. But I knew there was no way I’d ever take him back, so I just focused on work. I thought it might be possible that he’d behave and settle down with Katy. But it’s either not in him or he’s just not ready yet.”
“Could be a little of both. He doesn’t sound like anyone I’d want my girls or anyone I knew to date, though. Now, what about you and that cute guy with the camera? Hunter was it?”
“Hudson. He’s a good friend. We went to dinner last night at Millie’s.”
Lisa raised an eyebrow. “Just a friend?”
“Well, there’s definitely an attraction. And it was a date. Hudson wants to keep dating, but I don’t know how that could work. The earliest that I’m likely to be back here is next year if the show is picked up. And maybe in early December for the Stroll.”
“Oh, you really should try to come then. It’s such a magical time here. Downtown looks straight out of a Hallmark movie—especially if we get a little snow.”
Lauren smiled. “It sounds wonderful.”
“Long-distance relationships can work. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you both.”
“Thank you.” Lauren appreciated Lisa’s encouraging words. She hugged her goodbye when she was ready to head to the airport and said she hoped to see her in December.
It was depressing at first to be back in LA. Lauren missed waking up to the sound of the waves on the beach. She missed breakfast at the inn with Lisa. And she missed seeing Hudson every day. But still, the next two months flew by as she was busy with post-production editing. It was going well and she and Eloise were excited about how the season was shaping up. They had all the cast back in to do individual commentary for different scenes and it was fun to see them all again, even Billy. He was as charming as ever, but it was in a purely friendly way, and she was fine being friends with Billy, now. He’d always been likable, just not a good boyfriend. He was dating someone new now, a pretty young actress, and he was sure that she was the one.
Lauren still wasn’t sure about the long-distance thing with Hudson. They texted daily and talked several times a week, but it wasn’t the same as seeing him in person. She’d been home for two months now and it felt like she was never going to see him again. She knew he was busy with a new project that wasn’t going to end until early December, and it was going to be hard for him to get away before then.
She was feeling a little nervous, too, as she didn’t have a new project lined up for when she finished edits. She wouldn’t know for at least another six months or so if they were getting a second season for Nantucket Influence , and she wanted to get her next job firmed up as soon as possible. She’d talked to her agent earlier that day and supposedly there was something new coming—she was waiting on a call with more details, so hopefully Lauren would hear more in a week or so.
She’d just arrived home, and was surprised that she hadn’t heard from Hudson all day. He usually texted her in the morning or on his lunch break. They’d last talked a few days ago, and she’d told him she was concerned about finding something new. He knew what that was like.
“I’m sure something good will turn up. Is it slowing down much, or are you still working crazy hours?”
“Well, that’s one good thing. As of this week, we’re less busy and I’m out the door by five now, which is nice.”
“I have a couple of long days this week, but it should be better by Thursday. Will you be around Thursday night?” They usually FaceTimed a few times a week.
“Yes, I’ll talk to you then.”