Lauren and I went to see a film together every Saturday night. We had been best friends since college, but had since then gone on to live and work in separate towns, and had decided that our cinema ritual was our time each week to catch up. Normally we would have driven into town, but Lauren had just started a new job, so we had both got cabs so that we could indulge in a few celebratory drinks in the bar opposite the cinema box office. Lauren had chosen the film that night, a slasher horror that wasn't really the sort of thing I would have picked, so it was quite nice to be having a drink first to calm my nerves! We sat in the bar smoking Silk Cut and sipping vodka and tonics. Lauren was telling me about a man in her new office who had caught her eye, and I was watching the people queuing up at the box office, trying to guess what film they might be going to see.
"Is he there tonight Lisa?" Lauren asked me, giving me a knowing smile.
My cheeks flushed, although I would swear it was the vodka that did it, not the fact that Lauren had caught me looking at the cute guy who worked at the box office window. He wasn't there every Saturday, but he knew Lauren and I as regulars anyway. I loved his sexy smile, and the way his eyes lit up with recognition when he served us. I didn't want to admit it to Lauren, but there was no disguising that I enjoyed our Saturday night outings more when he was working. I adored his confident, deep green eyes that sparkled from behind wire framed designer glasses, and the short brown hair that looked so soft I longed to stroke it. His uniform - with a name tag that informed us he was called Ian - showed off his slim, attractive body to maximum effect.
"Come on then, let's go over and say hi to lover-boy," Lauren smirked. "Your turn to buy the tickets Lisa, but I'm sure you don't mind."
I thumped her playfully as we walked over to queue up at Ian's window.
"What'll it be tonight ladies?" Ian asked when we reached the head of the queue.
"What do you fancy Lisa?" Lauren asked me as she stared straight at Ian.
I wanted the floor to swallow me up there and then. I mumbled the name of the film to him, and fumbled in my purse for a twenty pound note, wishing I had had the right change so that I could have got away quicker.
"Does the film come with your recommendation Ian?" Lauren asked. I was glad she wasn't driving tonight, as she was quite clearly tipsy already.