“Hi Paul. Hey Morgan, who’s this?” Jesse asked.
“Oh! Will, this is Jesse. Jesse, this is Will. We’re writing a script,” Morgan then gave Will a grin, “and then Will is going to actually direct it. Uncle Zac organised it.”
“Studied being a director and then got an interest in scripts as well,” Will said, holding out his hand to Jesse. “I’ve seen some of your movies. You’re very good.”
“Thanks. I’m just going…” he gestured towards the kitchen.
Morgan and Will went back to working and Jesse joined Paul.
“And you’re actually letting that happen?” he asked Paul in a low voice.
Paul gave him a confused look.
“Uhh, yeah…”
“Aren’t you the least bit worried that she might -”
“Cheat?” Paul asked his voice even lower. “Jesse, get a grip. You’ve known her a lot longer than I have. You should know that’s the last thing Morgan would do.”
“Oh I trust Morgan. It’s just that… Will…”
Paul laughed.
“I don’t know why you’re even concerned. She’s my girlfriend, not yours. Let’s face it, man, in our professions we’re always going to meet attractive people who will throw themselves at us. I know you and Caro trust each other. Well, Morgan and I trust each other too. I’m not the least bit worried about Will.”
“If she’s working on a script with him, they’re going to be working for hours with each other. While no one else is here.”
Paul shrugged.
“Big deal. I hang around models all day and get photographed in my underwear. Why should I worry about Morgan working with some young, up and coming director when I’m doing something ten times as worse?”
Jesse managed a laugh.
“Okay, okay, I take the point. I just wouldn’t want you to lose her, man. She’s such a great person.”
“Yeah, she is,” Paul agreed wholeheartedly.
“Hey! Where is everyone?” came a familiar call.
“We’re in here Caro,” Jesse called, walking to greet her.
They met at the doorway and Jesse gave her a hug and a kiss.
“How’d it go?” he asked.
“Oh, good, good,” Morgan replied. “Until I discovered my car had been smashed into.”
“What?”
“I just come out of backstage, head to the car, and to what? To see that there was no darn way I could possibly drive that thing legally. And whoever the jerk was who did it didn’t even leave a note! Had to call a tow truck and call the cops… argh!”
“How did you get home? Cab?”
“Oh, umm, one of the people in the audience had been hanging around late and offered to give me a ride.”
“I thought you didn’t like taking rides with complete strangers.”
“Well, I don’t. But I thought in this case I’d make an exception,” a small smile crossed her face. “Does the name Colin Hanks mean anything to you?”
“Colin Hanks watches dinner theatre?” asked Morgan.
“And Alexa Hanks. And Cam and Mac Hanks. And Melinda Hanks,” Caroline grinned. “I met them all. And then they had the nerve to call me a good actor and tease me with the possibility of showing up in future projects. But uhh, I think I’ll believe that when I see it.”
“Swap particulars?” asked Paul.
“Yep. We seemed to get along pretty well. But uhh, I don’t know if they’ll actually call.”
“Well, maybe they will, and maybe they won’t. Nonetheless, I wish you’d met in better circumstances,” Jesse said.
“Me too. Argh, I have a million phone calls to make in the morning.”