Page 45 of The Singles Club

I stared out the window, my leg bouncing up and down. A brunette with long hair stood in front of the building, looking down at her phone. She glanced around as if looking for someone.

“Is that her?” Max asked.

“I think so.”

“Wow. She’s very attractive.”

She was but had that Barbara Stanwyck vibe going on. Sultry, knowing, one step ahead.

“Well, what are you waiting for?”

“Nothing.” I took in a deep breath and got out of the car. She smiled up at me as I walked toward her. “You must be Lexy.”

“And you must be Justin.”

I gestured toward the doors. “Shall we?”

Lexy didn’t walk, she strutted, showing off her curves. Immediately I got the feeling that this was a mistake. I paid for our tickets and looked over at the concession stand. I didn’t much like to eat during a movie. All I could hear was crunching in my head. I liked to have the full experience of a film without all the distractions. Unfortunately, most didn’t share my preference.

“Would you like something to snack on? A drink?”

“Of course. How can anyone watch a film without hot buttered popcorn? It’s part of the whole movie experience.”

I didn’t answer but instead forced a smile as we headed to the counter.

“How about we share a large popcorn?”

“Sounds good,” I lied.

She ordered the popcorn and a medium soda. I ordered a bottled water.

“Have you seen this one before,Some Like It Hot?” I asked.

“No, but I love the title.” She winked at me and glided her way toward the theater doors.

If she thought the title was an accurate indicator for the movie, she was in for a big surprise. One of the best comedies of all time. I resisted the urge to talk about the film’s screenwriter, Billy Wilder, and how he was a genius of his era. Somehow I doubted she would be into that.

I wondered if Vivian liked Billy Wilder movies.

Inside was beautiful, like stepping from a time machine straight into a Vaudeville theatre in the early 1920s. The focal point was the arch over the stage and the murals above the gold art deco trim. How had I not known this place existed before?

Lexy headed down the aisle, and I silently prayed she would pick somewhere in the middle, but instead, she turned to the very last row.

Maybe it wasn’t so bad. It did give a good view of this theater I was already falling in love with.

There were about ten other people scattered throughout, and only a few more came in before the lights dimmed.

Lexy plopped the popcorn in my lap and scooped some out before tossing it into her mouth. “Very buttery.” She licked her fingers slow and steady, her eyes firmly set on mine.

I swallowed and turned away, shifting in my seat. “This is one of Billy Wilder’s best,” I whispered. “You like any of his movies?” I usually hated talking once the lights dimmed, but the desperate need to cool things down was my top priority.

“He’s okay, but I do loveDouble Indemnity.” She reached for more popcorn as the opening credits began. “Oops.” Her hand touched my thigh, and my whole body stiffened as her fingers inched between my legs. “Sorry, dropped a corn.” She took her hand away.

“That’s okay,” I said, focusing on the screen.

At the part where the speakeasy was being raided by cops and Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis made their escape, Lexy uncrossed her legs, then re-crossed them, her foot touching my leg.

It suddenly felt really hot, and I itched to get out of my sweater.