Page 66 of Good Enough

They’d made a game of it with the poker chips they had found in the game closet. Each of the actors had one hundred dollars in poker chips. Every time someone made a mistake, she made an annoying buzzer sound. Whichever actor screwed up would then throw a dollar chip into a bucket at the center of the table, usually amidst much groaning from the payer and a lot of ribbing from the non-payers. Then, they went back to the top of the scene and started over. If you lost all of your chips, you had to buy more in five hundred dollar increments, and the money went to the local school for supplies.

“Enigma! Stop staring at Vixen’s tits, or we’ll never get through this stupid scene,” Dawg teased. “Those kids are going to have one-to-one computers the rate you’re going.”

Vixen rolled her eyes and looked plaintively at Kai. “I want more money. These guys are ridiculous.”

“Bullshit, sweetheart. You love us, and you know it,” Dawg teased.

Ignoring the banter, Kai dropped down on one knee to the floor and checked out the wrap around her foot. “How’s the ankle?”

“Better. The doctor taught Enigma how to re-wrap it in case he’s not around and I need it changed.” She looked at Kai with an apology in her eyes. “He said I’m not allowed to run yet, so Waters suggested I take Enigma with me to the dock and go practice some diving stuff.”

“It’s okay. We don’t want you taking the risk of re-injuring it. Swimming shouldn’t be too strenuous on it as long as you don’t push too hard.” She checked her watch to see that they were just shy of start time for the day. Standing up, she clapped her hands. “Okay, Lazarus, lead the rest of this motley crew out to the course. We’ll start there.”

Grumbling and groaning good-naturedly, the men headed out, somebody challenging the others to a race. Kai shook her head as they left. They really were overgrown teenage boys.

Vixen was still at the table, closing up her script and clearing the dishes.

Kai cleared her throat. “Waters isn’t here. That’s odd. Did he say where he was going?”

That sounded casual, didn’t it?

“He said he had an errand to run in Coxen Hole and that he’d be back ASAP. Said he forgot something at home that he needed.” Vixen was smiling but not looking at Kai. “I can’t imagine what that would have been? I mean, considering the War Room was closed all afternoon and evening, and nobody could find either of you anywhere yesterday, it is a mystery.” Vixen looked up at her director with overly innocent eyes and batted her eyelashes rapidly.

Both women looked at each other for a moment, then the corner of Vixen’s mouth twitched. Kai couldn’t keep the laughter inside, which then led to Vixen joining in. “Oh my God,” Kai lamented when she was done laughing, her hands covering her cheeks in embarrassment.

“No worries, Kubrick. Everyone’s thrilled you two hooked up. We’ve been watching him watch you ever since we got here. We were wondering when Soldier Boy was going to finish reconnaissance and head into battle. So to speak.”

Kai’s head tipped back to look at the ceiling. “So glad to know my actors have nothing better to do than spy on me.”

“Lazarus has been trying to push him into making a move by being territorial. And I kept pushing my boobs into him. Wow, did that make him uncomfortable. He kept looking to see if you noticed. Way too much fun. Did it work?”

“I wondered why Lazarus was being overly attentive.” She shrugged. “Waters did ask me to clarify what my connection was to Lazarus. I’d say my answer”—she paused—“seemed to satisfy him. As for you, I just assumed you were trying to get his attention.”

“Pfft. Waters is way too intense for me. Scares the crap out of me, actually. So.” Vixen put her hands flat on the table and leaned over it so she could whisper to Kai. “Is he as awesome as he looks?”

Will she keep this between us? Can I trust her?

As if reading her mind, Vixen drew an “X” across her chest, then put a finger to her lips. “To the grave, sister. As long as I get updates.”

“Will you share what’s going on with you and Enigma?” Kai was sure that her eyes and voice were giving away her desperation for an outlet to share.

“I would love to share with someone. You know him well, and I’m so out of my league. But he’s impossible to resist,” Vixen confessed. “And it feels like he’s interested in more than just during the filming run.” She sighed and shook her head. “So. Deal?”

“Deal.”

“I want deets. Is he skilled?”

Kai glanced down the hallway to make sure the men were long gone and that Waters hadn’t returned yet. Kai mirrored her stance and whispered back, “Skills with thrills.”

The women burst into a fit of giggles.

21

MARCH 7TH

Waters

As soon as Waters was a mile from the house, he pulled the Jeep down a dirt track turnoff and into the trees. He didn’t have to wait long before the back flap opened to allow Nemo to roll into the storage compartment, and the side door opened to allow TB to cram himself into the passenger seat. Waters didn’t look at them. He just sat in the driver’s seat, drank his bottled water, and waited.

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