Page 460 - Some Dance to Remember

430 Jack Fritscher

“So droll,” January said. “You are so droll. I love it. Don’t you love
it, Maggie?”
“Hexum has real appeal,” Kweenie said. “His muscle isn’t overdone.”
“He’s a natural,” Ryan said. “He has the face. He has a body. But he’s
not blond. He doesn’t have a moustache.”
“He looks to me,” January said, “like he has the hormones to grow
one. Besides, he’s almost blond. We can help his hair along. With Sly’s
personal trainer we can even pump his muscle up. He’d be perfect.”
“He’s already perfect,” Ryan said.
January winked. “Keep Hexum’s picture, darling,” she said. “There’s
rumors he’s gay, but he just laughs at them.”
“A man,” Ryan said, “after my own heart.”
Kweenie leveled with Ryan. “Let me warn you. Hexum is January’s
bait.”
“Why Maggie!” January feigned surprise.
“I told her your manuscript was too personal. That you’d never option
it for a TV movie.”
“Is this reverse psychology?” Ryan asked. “Or what?”
“Darling!” January said. “Think of it. You can help on the adaptation
of the script. You can log your first screen credit. You can be on the set.”
“She means you can try for yourself to get into Jon-Erik’s pants.”
Ryan was chagrined. “Do I seem that venal to you?”
“Everybody,” January said, “seems that venal to me. Look at that
photo. Look at that hunk.” She pulled a sheaf of papers from her hootchy-
kootchy Gucci briefcase. “Look at this contract.” She waved the folder.
“We’ll be casting tons of bodybuilders for atmosphere people for the gym
locales and the contest scenes. Bodybuilding is so in now. Especially with
women entering the sport.”
Ryan’s face flushed. He swallowed his comment about women on
male steroids.
January handed him the option contract. “It could be your valedic-
tory valentine to Kick.” She paused. “You will, of course, have to tone
down the sex.”
“I give you permission,” Kweenie said, “to write it from my point of
view.”
Ryan would not touch the folder. “Leave it,” he said.
January placed it on the table. “Then you will think about it.” She
rattled all her bracelets.
“I’ll think about it.”
January was triumphant. “You’re an angel.” She looked at her watch.

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