Tracks on the Angel Dust

"Those too."

Meghan saw Will off with some more kissing at the door, just as she had done with

boyfriends at school.

"You'll be here for your usual swim tomorrow?"

"Actually no, I've still got pre-production for the film."

"Really?" said Meghan doing her best to sound displeased.

"Why don't I come by for dinner with takeaways, after the others have gone and you can tell

me how much my performance as an employee displeases you."

"Sounds good, Mr Moreland, but I have to watch my diet."

"What about one of those salad bowl kits I saw in the supermarket? I could get one of those

and toss it for you, and Chinese for myself."

"Deal. We'll try that," she said. Meghan then went to confront Maddie, still watching films

in her mother's bedroom.

"Will's gone home?" said Maddie, surprised. She had thought she might not see her sister

again until morning.

"He's coming tomorrow night," said Meghan. "He said that you seemed uncomfortable that

time Robin came here unexpectedly and we went up to my room."

"I was sorta uncomfortable, I guess," Maddie said, surprised at the question. "Was it that

obvious? That's embarrassing."

Mrs Kowalski stopped the film to better hear the conversation but made no comment.

"Will said he started that card game you were all in when I came down to distract you," said

Meghan.

"He did? That was sweet of him."

"Does that sort of thing worry you? I mean, we could have held off, and been more

discreet."

"It's not so much that I was worried in general," said Maddie, "it's just that, and this is

embarrassing, I had a crush on Robin."

"Oh!" said Meghan. "Did anything happen with this crush?"

"No, no, we said hello a couple of times but he didn't seem to notice me much, and he was

your boyfriend so I didn't do anything, but I couldn't help the crush," said Maddie.

"Half the college girls in America have a crush on Robin," said Meghan. "Do you still have

a crush?"

"After the way he treated you? No way. He's forgotten."

Meghan decided that her sister's crush on a dumped and disgraced former boyfriend where

nothing happened could be forgotten.

"Okay, I'm sorry I didn't know at the time," she said.

"I didn't tell anybody and I tried hard not to show it. Now that he's gone I'm glad. Life is

simpler."

"What about Will?"

"I really like Will," said Maddison, "but I don't have a crush on him. Wait, did you guys

hold off because of me? There was no need."

Meghan shrugged. "Will said I could check my animal urges for one night."

The other Kowalskis laughed.

"As you seem fine, darling," said Mrs Kowalski, "we will move back to the store tomorrow.

You and Will can deal with these animal urges in private."

Will, for his part, drove home thinking that he would have his heart broken by an actress yet

again, but that he couldn't do anything about it.

The next day proved to be a quiet one for Meghan of reading scripts, broken only by a long

session with her personal trainer. Towards the end of the day she happened to mention, casually, to

Mia that Will would be coming over for dinner.

"Dinner?" said Mia. "This is a new development, Will coming over for dinner."

"He was here last night," said Meghan, coyly.

"Huh! You're not making this dinner, I guess?"

"No, Will is bringing it."

"With your mum and Maddie having gone home," said Mia, "there'll be no one to keep an

eye on you two."

"We don't need chaperones."

When Will arrived, this time leaving his car in the garage, Meghan was waiting for him in

the living room in a silver, backless club dress which also took Will's breath away. She took the

food from his hands, put them on a side table and kissed his still open mouth. Will carried her

upstairs.

Pleasantly surprised that her own needs were attended to Meghan also found that, when the

coupling was over, she was allowed to cling. Her preference for holding lovers close had caused

problems with other partners but Will did not mind and his body, Meghan decided, was worth

clinging to. She also liked to talk afterwards and there were matters to discuss.

"There is one thing that has been bothering me," she said. "I'm due to start shooting that

beach volleyball film the week after next and it's in Australia. After that, I more or less have to go

straight to New York for an episode of that series where I'm an alien."

"I had been thinking about that," said Will, who had decided that since he was doomed he

might as well enjoy the good part. "Why don't I come with you?"

Meghan raised her head. "Really?"

"Sure, it's a bit intense for this stage of whatever this is but it is more convenient for the

work I do for you to actually be in the same place as the diva, and I can do my writing anywhere, so

why don't I stay with you? You draw a suite right?"

Meghan considered this for a moment. Maybe it was "intense" as Will said, but she had

been thinking about asking Will to come anyway and, after that night, if he was coming he might as

well stay with her.

"Are you going to come with me on the flight over?" she said.

"On the private jet Mia says is lined up? Sure. A private jet sounds interesting enough, but if

I come she gets to sit with Jake and I get to sit with the star."

"Jake is coming?" said Meghan.

"He got an assistant director gig last minute on this film. You'll have an ally in the

directorial camp. From what I hear of your director you might need one."

The Italian born director, Paolo Amato had a reputation for brilliance combined with

arrogance and an ego that stood out even in Hollywood. No one knew just exactly why he had

ended up directing a by-the-numbers romance involving rival beach volleyball men's and women's

teams, but a few guessed that he had clashed too often with senior executives in major studios to get

a project better suited to his talents. Meghan, for her part, thought that if she could survive the chaos

of the New York Affair shoot she could survive anything, and she was collecting a nice fee.

The next morning at the usual start of the day conference, as Will splashed up and down the

pool – pre-production on Party Town Terror was on hold for a day or so – Mia received the news

that Will would also be on the jet and staying in Meghan's hotel suite with a smile.

"I see," she said. "You two had a good dinner last night?"

"Pretty good," said Meghan, coyly, "when we got to it".

"Uh-huh! Anyway, this means that I don't have to entertain the diva in the plane and get to

sit with my boyfriend."

"Yep, Will has to entertain the diva," said Meghan, cheerfully.

Poor Emma would be left behind to handle posts on multiple social media outlets, monitor

news items and, perhaps, catch up on the streaming dramas she had been following.

The one major item for that day was a photoshoot, using Meghan's pool, for a line of swim

wear to kick off the fledgling Bad Diva fashion label. This involved the usual tonne of equipment

and numerous crew members including the photographer himself and two male models, one to do

the shoot with Meghan and one spare. The photographer, Joel, the first to arrive and very interested

to meet Will, referred to the two models as "nice boys". These nice boys arrived later holding

hands.

"They're all good friends of mine and incredibly gay," said Meghan quietly to Will.

"I sorta got the gay part," said Will.

"No leaving, like with that other shoot. Coffee for the cast later?"

"Of course," said Will.

After Joel had fussed around with screens and lights, he got Meghan and the main model,

Mason, to jump into the pool near the deep end and submerge themselves fully briefly then fussed

around some more over the way the light reflected off their skin, getting make-up lady Miranda to

rub some cream on muscle lines. Finally, he was satisfied to the point of asking Meghan, who was

wearing one of the new swimwear line to take off both her top and bikini bottom. These were

placed in artful disarray by the edge of the pool, along with a pair of wet men's bathers to one side.

"Shuffle down a little, darlings," said Joel, "I need to see a little more cleavage from Meg…

just a little more, okay that should do it. Hug her Mason, pretend you're hetro."

"It's so different hugging a girl," said Mason, who had known Meghan since a photoshoot

while she was still in high school. "Two big bumps. Is that hunk riding a laptop on your dining

room table the latest?"

"Yep. His name is Will. He works for me as a consultant."

"Now darlings let's get passionate," said Joel. "Meghan, darling, I want your best cry of

passion – you're on the camera side so you're on Mason's left cheek."

"Really?" said Mason, "And what does he consult on, Ms Kowalski?"

"Everyone asks that," said Meghan, settling her cheek on Mason's. "He's sweet, but he's

also proved a very useful consultant."

"Mouth open, cry of passion, Meg," said Joel, taking the first shots. "Remember you've

ripped each other's swimmers off to have fabulous sex in the pool. Hold Meg closer Mason.

Remember, for this shot you're hetro. I hope the water's warm. That helps the passion. That's

excellent darlings. Bit more ecstasy Meghan, sweetie. Keep it hot Mason."

Suddenly Mason stopped hugging Meghan and pushed her away.

"I'm sorry, Meghan, darling," he said. "I love you madly but I can't do the hetro thing

anymore."

"What?" said Meghan.

"Mason, sweetie, this isn't the time," said Joel.

"I can't deny who I am, even for a photoshoot with an old friend." Mason nearly vaulted out

of the pool. "Tom it's time."

"Oh goodie," said Tom, the backup model, who flung aside the fashion magazine he had

been reading and picked up his bag. "Let's blow this boring, hetro shoot and have fun."

"But you can't run out in the middle of a shoot!" protested Joel. "Give me a couple more

hours of hetro."

"No, no I can't do it any longer," said Mason, "give me men's fashion shoots only, sweetie."

"I won't give you anything if you run out on me now," retorted Joel.

Mason grabbed his bag.

"Hey, we're meant to be getting passionate here," said Meghan, indignantly from the pool

"Sorry Meg," said Mason, "Love you. I'll call."

"Nice to meet you Meghan," called Tom. "We'll send you a wedding invite."

The happy couple dashed off together, hand in hand, followed by a stream of curses and

threats from Joel which they ignored.

Meghan, still standing naked in the pool, was astonished.

"Can we get anyone else?" she finally asked Joel.

"I had Tom as backup because it's difficult getting top models in at short notice. I never

thought they'd run off with one another. Even when we get someone I'd still have to set it all up

again. How long are you in LA?"

"Just another week or so and then I'll be gone for weeks. … Say, what about Will?"

"The hunk in your living room? He'd do on one level, but he's not pro model is he?"

"Does he need to be?" said Meghan. "For the shot you want, it's me mostly and just a part

of the guy's body. Will's got the body for sure. He's former national swimming team."

"Oh, okay," said Joel, brightening up. "It's worth trying, and I get a peek myself."

A little later Will was out by the pool in his own bathers still wet from his morning swim,

being appraised by Joel.

"Nice, nice," said the photographer. "Just darken him up a little, Miranda honey, and

emphasise the muscle lines on the parts that we will see."

Eventually, Will was directed to jump in the pool and submerge fully for a second or two.

Miranda flicked the hair around to give it that mussed-up, spontaneous look. The writer then got to

hold Meghan.

"You're totally naked," exclaimed Will. "I didn't realise."

"Is that a problem, Mr Moreland?"

He ran his fingers gently down the side of her body, making her gasp. She liked Will's

touch. They kissed.

"Maybe it's more of an opportunity," said Will kissing her neck and shoulder.

"This shoot's got a different feel," said Joel. "I like it. This could work."

Will and Meghan kissed. Will cupped Meghan's left breast in his hand and gently caressed

the nipple with his thumb as Violet had taught him, until Joel said, "ah guys, it's a photoshoot."

They broke apart, Meghan giggling. "I can feel that you're interested," she whispered.

"You mean there?" said Will picking her up and letting her slide down with her legs around

him. She gasped, her cheek against his which is where Joel wanted it.

"That's it, that's good darlings," said Joel.

"Then I could try this," said Will moving his hand between her legs.

Meghan gasped louder, then gave a little cry.

"Oh my!" said Miranda.

Joel kept clicking away as Meghan gasped again, digging her fingers into Will's back and

pressing her body against his until she convulsed.

"You are wicked, Will Moreland," she said, kissing his cheek repeatedly, "absolutely

wicked".

"I do have one thing to say," said Will. "Ouch!" and he gestured at Meghan's nails digging

into his back.

"Oh sorry!" She tried rubbing the area and ended up with traces of blood on her fingers.

"You didn't say anything," she chided.

"Didn't want to spoil the moment for you. It was an interesting moment."

"It was, but you didn't get much out of it?"

"You can make it up to me later," he said.

"I can do that," she said.

They kissed again, initially ignoring Joel trying to get them to separate. Miranda giggled.

"Guys, guys!" said Joel, becoming exasperated. "time to come up for air, there's a lot to get

through yet."

Will and Meghan broke apart, laughing.