Page 11 of The Note

When Lauren moved to California to pursue her dream of composing film scores, May assumed whatever had been going on between her and Welliver had ended. In the years that passed, May would occasionally ask if Lauren was seeinganyone, and the answer was always no. Too focused on her career, she said. Too hard to find a man who would love her for the right reasons. Too independent to live her life around another person at this point. Too accustomed to living alone. In short, not interested.

It was only after Welliver’s involvement in Lauren’s appointment to the Houston Symphony became public that it was apparent the connection between the two of them extended well beyond that final camp summer. May had no idea what if any role Welliver played in Lauren’s life today, but she suspected that Lauren did not know the feeling of strolling down the street, happy and carefree, hand in hand with someone she loved.

Kelsey pulled her phone from her purse and snapped a photo of the two notes. “And I’m keeping these,” she said, carefully slipping the flattened napkins into the side pocket of her bag. “Maybe I’ll even make a little scrapbook or something.”

“I have to admit,” May said, “that was pretty therapeutic. My desire to key their car has passed.”

“Excellent,” Lauren said. “So no one’s getting arrested today. Now what should we do?” She rubbed her palms together in anticipation.

“Find a place with more booze,” Kelsey said. “And food. We really need to eat some food.” She reached into her bag to apply a fresh coat of lip gloss.

“There’s an independent bookstore I wanted tocheck out,” May said. “And a donut shop that’s supposed to be really good.” She began looking up locations on her phone.

“Yes to books,” Kelsey said, “and a triple yes to donuts.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Lauren said. “And May and I already talked about it. We are getting this bill.”

“No, that’s crazy. I’m the one who picked the place,” Kelsey said.

“Which is fabulous, by the way,” Lauren said, signaling to the passing waitress. “And we can go Dutch for dinner.”

“Fine, you win.”

May placed her phone in the middle of the table to share the map on her screen as she and Lauren handed their credit cards to the server. “Oh, this is perfect. The bookstore is at the end of this street by the water, and then the donut place is at the corner, right by our car.”

“I have to pee so bad,” Kelsey said, lowering her voice. “You guys go ahead to the bookstore and I’ll catch up to you.”

*

They were passing a bichon frise sharing steak tartare with his owner outside a French bistro when May asked Lauren if she thought they should get an Uber after all the drinks they’d had.

“Kelsey’s responsible,” Lauren said. “She wouldtell us if she wasn’t okay to drive. And she really wasn’t kidding about having a Viking’s liver. That girl could drink a linebacker under the table.”

May nodded, but could not silence the voice in her head telling her that something was going to go wrong.

“Hey, it’s your call,” Lauren said, “and if you’re worried about being the enforcer, I can tell her it was my decision. Just say the word.”

If they took an Uber back to East Hampton, she’d have to ask Kelsey to drive her back to pick up Josh’s car in the morning or pay for another ride to come to Sag Harbor alone. “No, it’s okay. I guess I’m still adjusting to not being at the prosecutor’s office anymore.”

She was still adjusting to everything.

8

In the origin story of their friendship, Kelsey was always the prettier, richer, bolder, brasher, more fabulous one. When they first stepped onto the deck at Showfish, May felt herself shrink, immediately feeling Plain Jane in her simple black shirt-dress and sandals compared to the Hamptons Chic that was on full display. But Kelsey seemed immediately at home, chatting up the hostess and scoring them an A-list table by the deck’s edge, overlooking the marina.

Even in their primo spot, the Jimmy Buffett song that was playing over the speakers as they finished dinner was barely audible beneath thesounds of overly excited, alcohol-fueled summer voices. May had wanted to go to Rowdy Hall in East Hampton, both because it was much chiller than its name would suggest and because it was relatively close to the rental house. Lauren was the one who decided they should find a place near the water, and Kelsey decided she had a craving for lobster, so they had made the trip all the way to Montauk on the east end of the South Fork. At least Lauren had been right about Kelsey’s driving skills. Not a single swerve detected.

Kelsey had just ordered a round of espresso martinis for dessert when her phone buzzed on the table.

She snuck a quick peek. “It’s Nate,” she said. “Bummer. He didn’t get the commercial he was hoping to shoot next week.” Nate was still trying to make a go of it as an actor in New York City, but May’s impression was that he was nowhere close to becoming a success. If she had to guess, Kelsey was probably finding a way to supplement his income. “But that means he’s free to come out on Monday. Speak now, Lauren, or forever hold your peace.”

Lauren smiled and shook her head. “I already told you. I’m good. I kind of like how he acts like a little brother around me, so sweet and respectful. My brothers still treat me like I’m in middle school.”

May had been expecting Lauren and Kelsey to try to convince her to stay longer. She had even packed extra underwear just in case she changed her mind. Now that wouldn’t be an option with another person taking over her room at the house—especially when that person was Nate.

Kelsey made a show of widening her eyes as she scrolled through the message. “He said he’s going to take the early train, so maybe he’ll get a chance to see you before you head home, May. Very … interesting.”

Lauren bumped one knee against May’s, smirking. “Maybe he’s coming to sweep you off your feet,” she said. “One last chance for a ride on some strange before you’re locked down for life.”

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