The Taming of the Bastard by Lindy Dale Page B

either which is doubly bizarre. I’ve never been allowed two
consecutive Saturdays off since I’ve worked for them.”
    Sam took his
hand off the ignition key and looked at me. He opened his mouth as
if to speak and then closed it again. Then he turned to the road
with a little half smile. It was almost as if he knew something I
didn’t and it infuriated me when he did. “It’s worked out well for
us, then, hasn’t it?”
    “Guess so.”
    “Anyway,
whatever, it’s great you’re here; I wouldn’t want you to miss this.
A movie marathon is one of the best ways to spend a day, apart from
watching the rugger, of course.”
    And with that
he sped out into the traffic, no response required.
    *****
     
    “What are we
seeing?”
    “A marathon of
three of the best films ever made...” Sam declared, as we arrived
at the cinema and headed in.
    “Cool,” I said.
Any place where I got to sit in the dark with Sam sounded good to
me. Despite my fears about his movie choices being polar opposites
to mine, I wouldn’t have cared if it were a kickboxing marathon. I
was happy simply being with him. It made feel all gooey inside.
    “By the way,
you look lovely today,” Sam added, “I like that top.”
    I’d heard him
say it so often to the girls at The Lederhosen I was
slightly sceptical, but I took him at his word.
    “Thank
you.”
    I noted that he
didn’t seem to feel any of the pressure I did trying to live up to
standards I believed he liked. He was wearing his old denims with a
rip in the crease of the knee and his usual slim fitting, dark,
V-neck t-shirt. At his throat a silver wisp of chain shone. It was
his typical Saturday afternoon gear when he wasn’t covered in mud.
And from the way girls at the refreshment counter were gawking, I
guessed the poor scruffy boy look was popular. He made good eye
candy, my Sam.
    We walked
around the queue and across the star patterned carpet to the double
glass doors that led into the Gold Class Cinema . The foyer
inside was dark, the ceiling twinkling with fairy lights that
looked like a night sky. Clusters of chairs and sofas were dotted
through a lounge area. Movie posters decorated the walls but they
weren’t like the ones in the regular cinema. They were framed,
limited edition, vintage posters. We stopped at the reception and
Sam gave the usher our ticket numbers.
    “We’re in
here?” I asked.
    “Yeah. Alex
said you’d never been, so I thought… why not? It’s not every day
you can get a seat in Gold Class . You have to book weeks in
advance.”
    I looked at him
quizzically.
    “You booked
tickets weeks ago and managed to keep it a secret?” Wow. More and
more, the things he did were showing me another side of Sam. He
wasn’t all cocky smartarse. Under that sexy exterior there lurked
the thoughtful kind of man that others rarely saw, a kind I found
myself warming to. Almost falling for.
    “It would have
been my last attempt to get you to go out with me, if the rugby
thing failed. Lucky really, the well of ideas was running dry.”
    “You’re very
persistent, Sam.”
    “It’s what
makes me so lovable.” He squeezed my hand and a gaggle of
butterflies began to flitter around in my stomach. I have no idea
how he managed to do it but I hoped he was feeling it too. I was
falling for Sam, harder and faster than I cared to admit.
    After taking
our order for drinks and food, the usher led us into the first of
the tiny cinemas and I sat down in the recliner chair and looked at
the people around us, enjoying their Gold Class experience. Big
squishy chairs, side tables to put your snacks on, waiter service
and only thirty or so patrons to fill the whole theatre. It was way
better than I could have ever imagined.
    “This is
awesome,” I gushed excitedly, watching as the waiter place a
gigantic bowl of chocolate balls and two coffees on the table
between us. “Maltesers are my absolute favourite. How did you
know?”
    “I have
ways.”
    I had no doubt
in my mind he