Page 62 of The Beachgoers
“Oh, I’ll bet. Now listen, guy,” Trent tells him. “One thing before I leave. I really need footage of you and Maris for the show’s intro. Should’ve grabbed some this morning, at your barn.”
“Come on. You got shots of me in my studio. Isn’t that good enough?”
“But I need yourwife, and your life, in the show’s opening credits. Not just work stuff. And it’s crunch time now. So tell Maris,” Trent says, nodding toward the packed dining room, “she’s on the roster next week.”
“Oh, man,” Jason says with a long breath, right as Nick walks past.
“Oh man, what?” Nick asks, grabbing Jason’s shoulders from behind. “Sup, dude?”
Jason waves him off and turns again to Trent.
“So… we good, Barlow?” Trent starts backing toward the inn’s main entrance further down the hallway.
Jason looks past him to the door, then to the dining room—hopping already. “Yeah, yeah,” he tells his slowly departing producer. “I’ll set something up with Maris. You better get going.”
“Thanks. Give my best to the bride and groom.” Still backing up, Trent says, “And hey, enjoy the rest of the party—and your last weekend off.” Trent turns then, calling over his shoulder, “Last bit of freedom before we hit the ground running Tuesday, after Labor Day!”
Jason watches him go. “Livin’ the good life, am I?” he yells after him.
Without turning, Trent gives a wave. He sends a quick goodbye to Elsa before pushing through the inn’s front door, out onto the evening.
* * *
Jason wastes no time getting back to the dining room and whatever hot-dog delicacy Elsa’s got cooking.
“What was that all about?” Matt asks when Jason passes his chair.
“With Trent?” Jason asks back, high-fiving Evan and Hailey as they suddenly scoot past. “Just business.”
“Your boss conducts business on a Friday night?” Eva tosses out there.
“No rest for the weary,” Jason lets on as he works his way back to his chair.
“What did he want?” Maris adds as Jason slips off his sport jacket and hangs it over the chairback.
“Trent? Wants to book you for next week. Says he needs footage ofyouto use in theCastaway Cottageopening intro.” Jason sits beside Maris and pulls his chair in. “You know, to show some of my personal side. Show the people in my life.”
Maris tips her head and looks at Jason. “But I’m notinyour life right now,” she says.
Says loud enough for everyone to hear. Loud enough to quiet the table. To raise eyebrows. To get Jason to throw a sidelong glance at his slightly looped wife and her empty shot glass on that table.
“Hey,heyguys!” Kyle calls out, giving a fist pump as he and Lauren sweep into the room just then. “What’d we miss?”
Cheers ring out as the two of them circle the table. Yes, the raised eyebrows are gone and forgotten as the happy couple takes hugs and kisses and backslaps from the guests. Slowly the bride and groom walk around the room—Kyle shaking hands with the guys, Lauren chatting here and there.
But when the couple gets to Maris and himself, Lauren does a little more. Bending low behind Jason’s chair, she whispers near his ear, “Come outside with me?”
