Castaway Wife, Part 5

[photo: VictoriaAndrea]

We are finally back to the "present" in this book. Find out what happens at the Castaway live show season finale, and the after party. But if you haven't read this book, then do yourself a favor and go back to part 1.

12. Los Angeles

The flight to LA was both long and short. They arrived the morning of the live show, only for Chelsea to quickly leave Andy on his own as she met with the studio to get her ready.

“You’ll be okay?” she asked for the millionth time.

“I’ll be fine,” Andy said, kissing her. “Don’t worry about me. I’ve never been to LA. Maybe I’ll go check out Hollywood.”

Andy didn’t see her until the afternoon, when he came home to find her in the shower. They’d abstained from doing more than kissing since his confession that he wanted her to fuck Todd. They still hadn’t revisited that talk, but it lingered there like a soft buzz, ever present.

Seeing her in the shower, soap suds rolling down her curves and through her cleavage, was a reminder of what could happen later tonight.

He couldn’t resist. He joined her in the shower, his dick already hard, his mind already filled with naughty thoughts. “Hey, how’s your day been?” Andy asked.

“Just got better, now that you’re here.”

It still felt amazing kissing her, pulling her warm, soft body to his, feeling her full tits on his chest. She was still soapy, easy to caress, easy to rub. He shuddered as she wrapped a hand around his cock, transferring that soap to his member as she jerked him off.

“You see him?” Andy asked. There was no doubt who ‘him’ was here.

“Yeah.” She stared up at him. “Everyone was there.”

“Was it weird?”

“Actually, not even a little. It was more like seeing a good friend after a long time.” She bit her lip, realizing what she was implying. “That okay?”

“That’s perfect.” He pushed his hand down between her thighs, fingering her smooth folds. “Anything happen?”

Chelsea started to laugh, but it ended up a moan. “No. Nothing… happened… we just… talked…” She opened her eyes, focusing on him now. “But he told me that… he missed me… at the watch parties I never went to.”

“Now I understand why you turned them all down,” Andy said, putting it together. “You wouldn’t have been able to control yourself.”

Now she did laugh. “I was feeling guilty,” she corrected.

Andy pulled his hand away, and Chelsea moaned in protest. “Now you don’t need to feel guilty,” he said. He kissed her again. “Now you can enjoy it.”

“You’re really going to leave me in this state?” she asked, turning to him as he started to get out of the shower.

He looked at her full-frontal nudity—all the curves, all the tanned flesh. His cock jumped. He wanted more than anything to go to her, press her up against the shower wall, and fuck her. But they’d made it this far. A little more denial would get them through tonight.

“You don’t get to come yet,” he said. “The next time you come, you’ll be with Todd.”

***

The final episode of the season—episode 13—was broadcast before a live studio audience. At the end, all of the contestants would gather on the stage and Molly Reynolds would announce the winner. It was tradition.

The final episode was the network’s opportunity to showcase all of their story arcs they’d edited through the previous 12 episodes and any growth that may have happened, done almost primarily through recaps and slick highlight reels. 

This particular finale was kind of anticlimactic, mostly because everyone figured that Jason had won. The show tried to add some kind of drama, playing up the deeds of the other two contestants, but no one was buying it.

It began at 8 pm, which felt late by Philadelphia standards, but Chelsea had to head to makeup and wardrobe hours before then, leaving Andy once again on his own for dinner. Still, the time passed quickly and before he knew it, he was seated in the studio auditorium with a bunch of strangers, watching the end of one of his favorite shows.

It was so surreal. At times, he almost forgot that his wife played such a pivotal part, only for her to show up in a montage as one of the big threats that the three finalists had vanquished. Then came the inevitable announcement that Jason was the winner, and the show transitioned to an entirely live show, which more closely resembled a talk show.

“What was the hardest part of your time on the island?” Molly Reynolds asked. This was several commercial breaks in and getting close to the end of the evening. She had already prodded out some fun confessions from the other cast members. Now she turned back to Chelsea. “Chelsea, let’s start with you.”

Before answering, Chelsea seemed to look out into the crowd, blinded by the lights. She was looking for him, and Andy did his best to smile and stay calm, knowing that another camera was probably trained on him. He buried the queasy sensation that had been riding him for months now.

Chelsea turned back to Molly and answered. “Definitely being away from home. Missing my support network.” She looked at the rest of the contestants. “You all don’t know this, but I’m actually married. Eight years last October.”

“You never told anyone,” Molly stated, unfazed. She must have known. “Why not share that?”

“I never said that I wasn’t, either,” Chelsea pointed out, blushing. “But yeah, it was deliberate. We talked about it.” She looked out towards where she thought Andy sat, growing so red that she eventually covered her face with her hands and laughed nervously.

Molly was relentless, dragging out the confession, just as she did week after week on the show. “What am I seeing here?” the host asked.

“I’m really not this kind of person, Molly, I swear.” When she pulled her hands away, she was more composed. “But we just thought… guys would be more open to working with me if they thought they had a chance.”

Molly gave her an easy out. “Hey, girl, don’t be embarrassed. Use what you’ve got. Your sexuality is just as potent a tool as your ability to climb a tree or solve a puzzle.”

It was hard not to imagine what Chelsea saw—this same host, naked and having group sex with some of the other Castaways.

Jason, the flirtatious winner, didn’t help when he added, “Listen to Molly. She definitely knows what she’s talking about.”

“Oh, you,” Molly said, smiling as she waved her hand at the man. “Jason here is the real pro. He had all of you wrapped around his finger.”

There was definitely something between those two. Andy saw it, and wondered again if anything had happened. He’d been doing a lot of that kind of wondering.

“Okay, I think it’s time to take one last break,” Molly said, looking at the camera. “When we get back, we’ll get a preview of season 26, then say goodbye to these Castaways.”

***

After the live show wrapped, Andy finally got up on stage to reunite with Chelsea. She was talking with Kim, a petite redhead who was one of her first allies on the show. When she was “cast away” early, it forced Chelsea to change tactics, starting to work with Todd.

This close to Chelsea, Andy could see all the makeup that the network had applied for the cameras. When he gave her a friendly kiss hello, careful not to smudge her lipstick, it felt… awkward. “Hey,” he whispered, painfully aware of Kim standing there, probably thinking, So this is the husband.

The nervousness that Chelsea had carried with her through the past 12 episodes was back. That had been fine in the privacy of their house, but here, in front of another contestant, it was embarrassing. He didn’t want to deal with it, so he looked around and said, “This is all so surreal.” 

It wasn’t a lie. He looked out into the auditorium, the vastness of the seating now emptying as people filtered out. It was huge, and Chelsea had been near the center of it all. 

“Yeah,” Chelsea agreed.

“I don’t know if I could have gotten on stage and talked in front of all these people.” What he was really saying was, I don’t know how the old Chelsea handled it all.

Kim answered for them. “Well, we couldn’t see anyone. Lights were fucking bright as hell. But we were also among friends, as weird as it sounds.” She put her arms around Chelsea, who was so much taller. “We only hung out for, like, what? A week? But goddamn, I feel closer to you than most of my sorority sisters.”

Kim had been a chatty player on the show, a boisterous source of entertainment. Her personality was as different from Chelsea’s as their sizes, which made them a fun pair. As she chattered away, though, Chelsea studied Andy. He felt her eyes, felt her empathetic concern. He gave her a reassuring nod before turning to study the stage instead.

They’d set the stage like they were back on the island. There were fake palm trees around, a tiki theme that gave off a mildly distasteful feeling of appropriation. The torches burning around the set, Andy noticed, were fake. In fact, that was his general takeaway—it was all fake. The show, too, he realized.

He stepped up to Chelsea and took her into his arms. In her heels, she was practically eye level with him. Those eyes sparkled now with eyeshadow and liner, glowing soft brown and ever-concerned. 

“I’m good, Chelsea,” he whispered. They’d talked about this. He’d reassured her every moment he could in the days leading up to this reunion, but she still never fully believed him. They’d made the decision together that she’d reveal her secret on live national television.

Before Chelsea could respond, though, Kim interjected. “You’ve got a great guy here, Chels.” She had a wide smile, exactly the same as the woman I’d watched on the show. Maybe it wasn’t so fake, after all.

“Oh, I know I do,” Chelsea said, squeezing him harder.

Andy flushed, taking a look around the stage once again. Most of the Castaways were still up here, chatting with one another—and various family members and partners. They all seemed to like one another. 

Jason, the winner, sauntered over to us. I could practically feel this man’s charisma. He was a stocky guy, not traditionally good looking, but he more than made up for it in presence. He’d grown a mustache since the show had been filmed, and it somehow worked for him. Everything seemed to work for this gregarious guy.

“So you’re Chelsea’s man,” he said, sticking his hand out to Andy. “I knew she had secrets, but this one’s a doozy. Nice to meet you.”

Andy took it, although Chelsea never stepped away. “You’re not hitting on my husband now, too, are you?” she joked.

“I would never,” Jason said. “I only save it for the ladies.”

Kim snorted. “Or the guys with the ‘ladies’ you’re trying to hit on.”

Jason grinned, not denying it. “You’re all going to the post-show party, right?”

“Of course,” Kim said.

For us, the question carried a lot more meaning. Todd would be there—Todd, and all the possibilities that came with him. “We’ll be there, too,” Andy answered for them. “Wouldn’t miss it.”

“Wonderful,” Jason said. “How long’s everyone staying in LA?”

“We’re staying through the weekend,” Andy said. “Figured if we were taking off work to travel in the middle of the week, might as well make a vacation of it.”

“Same!” Kim said. She batted her lashes and added, “I think LA agrees with me, too. Love this weather.”

Chelsea laughed. “I couldn’t agree more.”

“I’m throwing a party tomorrow,” Jason said.

“To celebrate you,” Chelsea shot back. She wasn’t usually this snarky, although she delivered it with a smile, as if chiding a younger brother. “How perfect.”

Jason let it roll off him. “To thank you for voting for me, yes. It’s at a bar in Santa Monica. You should all come.”

Someone from the studio came over and instructed us that things were moving back to the hotel, where everyone was staying. Castaway members were being taken separately, so Andy and Chelsea said their goodbyes. Before she could ask him again, Andy repeated one more time, “I’m good, sweetheart. Stop worrying about me, and have fun with your friends.”

“I love you, Andy.”

Kim sighed. “Now I see why you kept him secret.”

Andy watched Chelsea go, surrounded by all those one-time strangers whose video introductions he’d once watched. Andy was shuffled onto a charter bus with actual strangers.

***

“I can’t believe the librarian’s married,” a guy on the bus said, sitting just behind Andy.

Another guy, also behind him, added, “She definitely didn’t act like it on the show.”

“My brother says that she and Todd were even tighter than what you saw on the show. Said that they only aired a small portion of the time those two spent with each other, towards the end.”

“Yeah, that’s what I figured. Either she’s one really good fucking actress, or her husband’s got a big problem on his hands.”

“I bet they did it that last night before the vote. Her bent over a palm tree, the moon behind them, as he drilled her.”

The guys laughed. Even knowing it wasn’t true, Andy felt a mixture of humiliation and excitement.

“Who’s your brother?” the second guy asked.

“Jason!”

“Oh, sweet. You going to see a cut of those winnings?” And the two left the subject of ‘the librarian,’ moving on to what they’d do if they were suddenly millionaires. Still, the first bit landed pretty hard on Andy.

“You’re the husband, aren’t you?” the quiet voice of the woman sitting at his side said.

His quick look gave her his answer.

“I thought so.” She wasn’t accusatory, more like a therapist confirming something. “You okay?”

“I told her to… act single.” He’d not actually said that to anyone except Chelsea. It felt pretty good to get off his chest. They didn’t have many friends as a couple, and none of the people at his work watched the show.

To his surprise, the woman said, “I know.”

“What?”

He looked at her now. She was cute—dark hair, nose stud, nerd-girl glasses, slight Puerto Rican accent. “I’m Camila, a producer on the show. I was assigned to Chelsea. You know all the interviews and confessionals that happen on the beach? I’m one of the people asking the questions.”

Andy recognized the name, saying, “Oh, so you’re Camila. Chelsea talked about you.”

“Good things, I hope?”

“Very good,” he said. “She liked you a lot.”

“That’s kind of my deal,” she said, adjusting her glasses. “Well, that and being a release valve. Sometimes the contestants need to just talk, free from the cameras, you know?”

“Well, thank you for that. From both of us.”

She smiled. “My pleasure. I love my job sometimes. Nice to put a face to a name, too. She talked about you all the time.”

Andy felt kind of embarrassed.

She leaned in and added, “Don’t worry about what those guys said. They don’t know anything.”

Andy only flushed more, seeking to change the subject. “So you get to spend several months out of the year living in the Caribbean. That’s pretty nice.”

Camila studied him for a moment before letting the subject go. She nodded. “I can’t complain. Although one thing I’ll say is that it’s hard to have a social life outside of work. With two seasons shot a year, we’re out there about four to five months. What guy would want to start something with me?”

“I’m sure you wouldn’t have that much trouble.” As soon as he said it, he felt embarrassed.

Camila just laughed. “You sound just like Chelsea. You two are too kind.”

“So you two talked?”

“We did. She’s a great woman, and it sounds like you’re a great guy. Not many husbands would be able to let their wives have that much freedom.”

Phrased like that put all kinds of pressure on Andy—in his gut, his chest, his pants. And like that, they were back on Chelsea.

Camila said, “You really told her to be like Felicity from season 12? You know that’s really not her personality?”

“I know, but I didn’t want her to hold anything back,” he said. “And it seems like she did a pretty good job, unless that was all editing.”

“Some of it was, but she did surprise all of us in production. We don’t like to play favorites, but a few of us were rooting for her. She’s such a badass.”

“Wasn’t always like that,” Andy said.

“I know! I did the first interviews with her. She was like a country mouse. It was so cute. You know what’s funny though? She kind of set the tone for the whole season. Season of the Showmance, some of us were calling it. It was like, when the others saw this unassuming librarian introvert flirting, it gave everyone permission. Usually, that kind of behavior is a red flag and gets you cast away as a threat. With Chelsea, they all kind of coupled up.”

“Yeah.” Andy didn’t know what to say to that.

“But she was never like Felicity. Not really. She didn’t have a cutthroat nature.”

“So it really was hard to cast Todd off?”

Camila seemed to realize that she’d said too much, her eyes going wide behind her glasses.

Andy sought to reassure her. “It’s okay, really.”

Still, Camila hesitated before saying, “She was really upset about it afterwards, and before, she was so torn.”

Jealousy pulsated through him. “I remember watching that episode,” he said. “It was well done, from a production perspective.”

Camila winced. “Hard to watch?”

Andy lowered his voice. “Can I be honest?”

“Of course,” she said. “I’m used to it.”

He went ahead and confessed before he could fully think it through. “It was one of the hottest things I’ve ever seen.”

Camila lifted her eyebrows and pushed her glasses further up the bridge of her nose.

“I mean, it was also tough,” he quickly added. “Having her by my side when we were watching made it easier, but…” God, why did he confess that it was hot. His face burned. “I’m sorry, I don’t know what I’m talking about.”

“It’s okay, Andy. I get it.”

“You do?”

“You’re not the only guy who’s felt that way about their partner. You’d be surprised at how many contestants have come into the game with a partner back home who’s… open-minded.”

Andy sighed. “Less open-minded, more fatalistic.”

“Explain that.” She sounded like Molly Reynolds, or like the producer that she was, who was used to interviewing contestants.

“I don’t want to lose her,” he mumbled. “I used to be scared shitless about that.” Something about Camila and the way she looked at him, those dark eyes so full of empathy, made him open up in a way that he’d never been able to before. It felt great. “I’d worry that one day, she’d wake up, look at me, look at herself, and realize she could do so much better.”

Camila heard the shift in tense. “Used to? But not anymore?”

“I guess this show changed both of us.”

“Or maybe,” she said, “it’s just unlocked something that’s always been there.”

The bus pulled up to the hotel. People started filtering out. Camila reached over and squeezed his hand. “It was nice to meet you, Andy. You’re a great guy, and now I’m even more jealous of Chelsea.”

13. The After Party

“I feel like I say this at every single one of these, but I think Season 25 has been the best season we’ve ever done.” There was no stage for Molly Reynolds to stand on, but the host made due, standing in a small clearing amidst the gathered crowd.

The post-show party was held on the top floor of the same hotel that most of the out-of-towners were staying in. Made it convenient for those with families to slip away before it got too late, and for everyone else to drink without having to worry about driving home.

“You all made this possible, both the sixteen wonderful contestants, yes, but also the rest of you for sharing all that time away from you.” Molly folded her hands together and held them to her bosom. “I know it’s never easy to be apart from one another, so truly, from the bottom of my heart, thank you.” She gestured to the winner, Jason, at her side. “And once again, congratulations, Jason!”

Applause rang through the luxurious reception space.

“Now, enjoy, everyone. No one’s going to cast away anyone. Stay as long as you like. Eat and drink as much as you want. Relax. Have fun!”

The crowd around her dispersed. Andy looked around, seeking Chelsea out. This high up, the large windows gave a spectacular view of the LA sprawl glittering below them. A wide veranda offered outdoor space for people to chill and smoke in the cool, California evening air. He knew this was supposedly only friends and family, but it seemed like there were hundreds of people here.

Chelsea found him first. “Hey, there you are.”

“I was just looking for you.”

“Sorry. Some of the others wanted to do a Castaway shot.” She looked guilty for leaving him alone for so long.

Or maybe guilty for other reasons, a devilish voice whispered. His heart quickened. He pushed it away.

“It’s okay, Chels, seriously. I get it. Remember when I dragged you to my high school reunion?”

“Yeah, that was weird. You didn’t remember half of your friends’ names.”

“I was never really close to any of them.” He scratched the back of his neck, thinking back to how awkward that was. He really just wanted to go to show Chelsea off to them, a thing that he’d never tell her. “But what was really weird, for me, about it was the two worlds clashing. I had my high school life and group of ‘friends’ and then my life with you.”

She nodded. “Yeah, this is kind of like that, I guess.” He could smell the booze on her breath. It felt reckless, underlining the reckless direction that this night could go. He suddenly hoped that it would. Chelsea, thank goodness, couldn’t read his mind, and said, “So weird to see everyone all cleaned up.”

Andy let her lead the subject away from his forbidden hopes. “I bet this is pretty different from your makeshift shelter on the edge of the beach.”

“Yeah.” She looked contemplative, as if weighing something. Andy checked her out once again. Her tight bodycon dress was unlike any that she’d ever put on before, selected by the studio, but with no complaints from him. It was so short, and in her heels, her legs looked endless.

“You know, they’re all thinking the same about you,” he said.

Chelsea could still blush at a compliment. That was comforting. “But this isn’t really me.”

“But it is. At least a part of you, anyway. Just like those dolled up people you see are part of them.”

“Mmm hmm.”

“And I bet it’s fun to get to know more of them, right?” He wanted to call out Todd, specifically, but couldn’t find the courage. “If you want to go and keep catching up, I can just…” He looked towards the exit. “I don’t mind turning in early.”

The thought of leaving her completely alone, with alcohol and Todd and all those reunion vibes flowing, was as irresistible to Andy as a flame is to a moth. But Chelsea wasn’t having it.

“You’re not leaving me alone, mister.” She took his hand. “Come on, let me introduce you.” Then, in a callback to his reunion, she added knowingly, “It’s my turn to show you off.”

What’s funny was that Andy already knew all of her Castaway friends, in a sense. He’d watched them weekly. He’d spent more time than even Chelsea knew watching the supplemental videos that the network posted online. They weren’t strangers. They were people he’d watched struggle and grow over the last 12 hour-and-a-half long episodes, and here they all were, gathered together like normal people.

He found himself in the company of Kim and Janice, the 44-year-old single mom. She looked fantastic in a strapless tube top and a pair of painted-on white pants. She had a guy with her, who seemed more interested in Rescue, the resort they all went to after being cast off.

“Biggest surprise about Rescue?” the guy asked.

“All the condoms,” Janice said with a laugh. “They were everywhere.”

“So glad for those!” Kim said.

Janice looked shocked, although Andy was pretty sure it wasn’t genuine.

Someone else said, “Didn’t you have a girlfriend at home? I thought you were a lesbian.”

“Yes, I did have a girlfriend. That didn’t last. Also, not a lesbian. The show likes to keep our personas in a neat box, but personally, I like to keep my options open.” With a giggle, she added, “and when you get a bunch of sex-deprived twenty and thirty somethings together, there were a lot of options.”

“My biggest surprise was how much Molly uses the F bomb,” Chelsea said. She seemed eager to change the subject. It worked. Andy looked over at the host, who was currently laughing at something Jason was saying, her hand resting on his arm. She seemed so gregariously friendly. 

“Really?” he asked. “I can’t imagine her being nasty to anyone.”

“Not nasty or mean,” Chelsea clarified. “She’s not, like, a diva.”

Janice picked it up from Chelsea. “She just likes to swear. Like, before we started filming that first scene on the boat, she addressed contestants and crew by saying, ‘Alright everyone, we’re going to have a great fucking season. Let’s get a ‘fuck ya!’”

Kim laughed. “I knew I loved that woman. She’s everything you see on TV, only times one thousand.”

Andy watched Molly whisper something to Jason before turning back to the group. “So did she and Jason ever…?”

Chelsea said, “I told you, hon, they didn’t. She wouldn’t sleep with one of the finalists because of ethics.”

“Well, she may not have slept with him, but there were definitely others…” Kim said.

“No. Who?” someone asked.

“Nope.” Kim mimicked zipping her lips closed. “Rumor mill is closed for business. That’s for cast only.”

Chelsea and Andy exchanged a look. As far as Andy was aware, Chelsea hadn’t told Kim about what she’d witnessed, so there must have been more. It was still hard to believe that the host, so professional and put together, did that. 

Janice was looking at Molly and Jason flirting and said, “I think it’s happening tonight, and with the winner named, it’s time to make up for lost time.”

“Excuse me, Chelsea,” someone said, approaching the group. “Your turn to do your final interview.” It was a woman from the network wearing a Castaway polo. “Actually, why don’t you two come, too,” she said to Janice and Kim. “It’s been a nightmare trying to round everyone up.”

“One second,” Kim said. She stopped a passing caterer, taking two glasses of wine from him and handing them to Chelsea and Janice before taking one of her own. “The best interviews come with the right lubrication.”

With that, Andy watched the three former competitors be led away. The rest of the group dissipated, leaving Andy awkwardly alone.

***

Andy found himself in a small group that included Brooklyn and Kyle, the golden couple. If any pairing deserved the name, it was those two with their blond hair and their All-American good looks.

In normal circumstances, he would have been intimidated to even talk to a pair like that. Here, though, with some drinks in him and that uncanny feeling of familiarity he had towards them just from watching the show, he found his voice.

“Congrats on the engagement.”

“Thanks.” It was clear by the way that they looked at him that they had no idea who he was. No one in this group seemed to. It was a feeling Andy was used to, one that followed him throughout his life. Here, though, he took comfort in that anonymity. 

“It’s nice to see that some things on the show were real,” he said.

“Oh, it was all real,” Brooklyn corrected.

“They edited some stuff for dramatic effect, but I didn’t see anything on there that didn’t seem right.”

“What about David and Harry?”

“Definitely real,” Kyle said. “Those two were sharing a room at Rescue when I finally got cast away. Although obviously it didn’t work out. I think they were just blowing off steam.”

“And each other,” Brooklyn added.

“For sure.”

He didn’t have the guts to ask about Chelsea. Someone else, though, didn’t have the same hang-up. “What about Todd and Chelsea? They seemed close.”

“Oh, they definitely were close.” Brooklyn was low-key catty about it, which made sense since Chelsea had orchestrated her elimination, then Kyle’s the next week. “Honestly, it was more obvious on the beach than the show made it seem.”

“There was plenty of ‘cuddling for warmth’ happening at night between those two,” Kyle added.

Andy lost his voice, his pulse pounding so hard he wondered if this was what a heart attack felt like. He even knew about those little moments. After her confession, Chelsea had filled him in on a few details, although each one felt like pulling a tooth from her.

“Just cuddling?” someone else asked.

“I mean, there are cameras everywhere, and apparently she’s married, so yeah, just cuddling,” Kyle said.

“And at Rescue?”

Andy held his breath. How much did everyone know? He still wasn’t sure. He wasn’t sure that he wanted to know… yet he definitely did.

“Honestly, I don’t know,” Kyle responded. Andy relaxed a little. “They were definitely still flirty.”

“Are you kidding me, Kyle?” Brooklyn came back. “I think they definitely hooked up. Did we not watch the same show? If not for all those cameras, those two would have been fucking by day 15, and they were at Rescue for what, four? Five nights? Plenty of time, plenty of opportunity, and there sure as hell was plenty of lust.”

“I feel bad for her husband,” someone said. “To have to watch that right beside her? I’m surprised he came to this thing.”

Andy’s face lit up as the others laughed. He laughed right along with them, suddenly wanting to be anywhere but there. Did one of them know that he was actually Chelsea’s cuck husband? Were those eyes on him, judging him, thinking him such a pathetic sap?

“Speak of the devils,” Brooklyn said, turning her eyes towards the elevators. Chelsea and Todd were walking out, laughing with one another. They looked good like that, like a couple, like lovers.

“Wonder where they’re coming from,” Kyle said, chuckling.

Brooklyn made a loop with her thumb and forefinger, brought it to her mouth, and mimed giving a blowjob. It was so juvenile, but got right to the heart of Andy’s fantasy. God, was it true? The rest of them laughed, especially when Chelsea took a glass of wine from a passing caterer and sipped.

Brooklyn said, “Yeah, wash out the taste of come, you slut, before hubby discovers you.”

Andy got out of there. Enough was enough. Time to hide. He didn’t head towards Chelsea and Todd, though, aware of all the eyes on the two. Last thing he wanted to do was out himself as the husband to this bunch. 

Slinking away, hearing their snarky laughs, it felt like high school all over again. He went somewhere to hide.

He went out to the veranda, needing some fresh air after the stifling crowds and even more stifling conversation. He wondered if this was how Chelsea felt on the show, needing space away from these people. It’s why she so often found herself sitting on the beach, staring at the horizon.

Here, the view to the horizon was filled with LA’s sprawl, a grid of lights that ended only at the dark hills beyond. There was a beauty to that, too, an ocean of humanity.

There were people out here, although not as dense as inside. They left him alone, carrying on their conversations. He caught snippets of them. Most were about Jason and how masterfully he won this year, slipping under the radar with his charm until it was too late.

“I liked Chelsea’s chances,” a woman said. Andy braced himself for some comment about her and Todd, but it never came.

“She was a total badass. They all saw it coming, yet she still made it to the final four.”

“If she’d been one second quicker on that last challenge, she would have won.”

“One hundred percent.”

It was enough to put the wind back into Andy’s sails. Ever since the episode that Chelsea had entered into her secret pact with Todd, Andy had been consumed by it. Everything was framed by that relationship. He filtered out everything else, all other discussion. It was refreshing to realize that most people didn’t see it that way.

“Everyone’s going on about how great a social game Jason played, but man, I think Chelsea’s was better.”

Andy kept looking out at the horizon, smiling to himself as he eavesdropped.

“She had all the relationships shored up. She was adaptable. I think the show made a bigger deal out of her and Todd. He wasn’t her only ally. You don’t make it that far with just one.”

Andy nodded, although his nerves were back. Here’s where someone speculates on whether the two hooked up, or how surprised they were that she was actually married.

“Jason wouldn’t have won if she wasn’t playing. People always talk about how the physical guys are the big threats, but Chelsea redefined that.”

“Girl power,” another said. “That chick changed the game from here on out.”

Or not. The women moved on, disappearing back inside. Andy stayed out there, unable to stop smiling to himself. Chelsea was amazing in so many ways, and he was still discovering new surprises. Life was change, and he was happy that he could change with her.

He was still outside on the veranda when Chelsea joined him. The evening air was crisp, and in her little dress, she shivered. “You doing okay?” she asked.

“Yeah.” All the overheard conversations, the secret humiliations, his profound excitement were packed into that ‘yeah.’ Chelsea heard it, too.

“I saw you talking to Brooklyn and Kyle.”

“A lovely couple.” They laughed at how untrue that was.

“Any fun stories there?”

“They don’t know what went down at Rescue between you… two.” Still hard for him to say Todd’s name. “But they were definitely speculating.”

“I’m sorry.”

“They didn’t know who I was,” he said. “So actually, it was really hot to hear.”

“I still don’t fully understand it.”

“But you believe it now?”

Chelsea nodded. “Coming to terms with it.”

“I saw you talking with Todd.” Andy existed in a semi-permanent state of arousal, but now his pants really started to grow tight. It didn’t help to watch his wife blush at that. Then he asked her the question she’d just posed to him. “Any fun stories there?”

“We did a quick interview together. Camila thought it would be cute to show us just as friends.”

Andy was getting warm beneath his clothes. “I bet it was cute.”

Chelsea stepped closer. “After, on our way out, I took his hand and pulled him into a little meeting room.”

Her eyes were locked on Andy’s, and there was no hiding from that. She saw everything—his fear, his angst, his excitement. She definitely saw the way he gulped before asking, “Did you?”

“Would you be upset if I did?”

“No,” he said. There was barely enough air in his lungs to push that word out.

“And what if I told you that in that little meeting room, I locked the door, got on my knees, and gave Todd a blowjob?”

Andy shuddered, Brooklyn’s snarky comment about washing Todd’s come out with champagne coming to mind. It was the closest that he’d ever gotten to coming without any contact.

“Really?”

“No.” She was so close he could smell the clean, lavender scent of her shampoo. He could see the mascara they’d applied around her eyes. “But I did kiss him.”

In some ways, that landed harder than the idea of a blowjob. It hit hard because he knew it was true.

“I bet he liked that.” Their voices low, just loud enough to carry the short distance between them. In the moment, they were alone in all the bustle of the party.

“You like the idea, too,” she said.

“Yes.”

“He gave me this.” Between them, she produced a card, and for a second, Andy didn’t know what he was looking at. “What should I do?”

Then it dawned on him. It was a hotel keycard. Todd’s hotel keycard.

“I’m okay if you want to go,” he said. “And I’ll be here when you come back.” He studied her, watching her battle desire and propriety in those large and luminous eyes—eyes that had captivated audiences for the last two months.

“Are you sure?” Her question was enough of an answer for him. Andy was suddenly weightless.

“I’m so sure.”

She nodded. “I love you, Andy.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and squeezed him tightly. “I love you so, so much.”

“I love you, too, Chels, and I love what you’re about to do.” They kissed one another—a goodbye-for-now kiss. “Stay with him as long as you want. I’ll be there for you when you’re back, and I want to hear all about it.”

“God, you’re amazing.” She kissed him one last time before stepping away. Andy watched her go, her curves shifting beneath that tight, pale pink dress. He couldn’t believe he was letting a woman like that walk away.

Then again, she wasn’t leaving. She’d come back to him. He knew that now. She glanced back one last time, smiling at him. Then someone passed between them and she was gone.

End of part 5

Just one more part to this story awaits, although as I wrote in the Castaway Wife community thread, there will be two more parts that I've written that I may keep in the final book. Everyone's been amazing here, and I love reading your thoughts, feedback, and support. Thank you so much!

Read Part 6 now.