After a quick gossip, the group settled down and Lorelai was happy with how the rest of the meeting went. Everyone was taking the club seriously, wanted to do the reading and enjoy the company of other people who also loved reading. Theyhad discussed their favourite novels and favourite movies, and Lorelai had been pleased to find that everyone had brought their own copy ofThe Wizard of Ozby L Frank Baum. Everyone except Grayson.
‘I had planned to pop to Waterstones after work but it closes far earlier than I had anticipated,’ he explained to Lorelai at the end of the club. Everyone else had left but he remained seated, tea in hand, showing no signs of leaving.
‘So what’s it like working front of house at a cinema?’ he asked, leaning back in his plastic chair.
‘It’s fine.’ Lorelai laughed nervously. His lack of punctuality aside, Grayson appeared genuinely interested in the club and showed an eagerness not only to return next month but to actively participate. And he was always smilingthatsmile.
‘Sorry. That’s was an odd question. It’s just that I work front of house at a theatre nearby so I was trying to find common ground, I suppose.’ His smile had settled into an inconspicuous sort of curve but it was still doing things to her insides. He needed togo.
‘Then you know how dull it can be. Nothing much of interest to report.’ She began to pack away the tea bags, sugar and the very few leftover biscuits in the hope that he would take the hint.
‘Iloveworking at the theatre. Dealing with enraged customers and shouting, “Souvenir brochures for sale! Only ten pounds!” can get tedious pretty quickly but when the show starts, I get to watch it on the big TV monitor in the foyer. The lights dim, the orchestra starts up, the players take their positions… it’s magic.’ Grayson was no longer looking at Lorelai but into the middle distance. She could almost see the theatrics come to life in his eyes.
‘Ten pounds for a programme? No wonder your customers are enraged.’ She softened, returning his smile with a small one of her own while she continued to clear up half full cups of tea. Grayson stood, grabbed the roll of bin bags, unravelled one and followed her around the tiny room, holding it open for her.
‘Tell me about it. We could do with someone like you when front of house gets heated. The way you dealt with those two was…’ He kissed his fingers like a chef tasting his own exquisite dish.
‘Weren’t they just a treat?’ She laughed, and then caught herself. She shouldn’t be enjoying his company this much.
Lorelai disposed of the last of the rubbish and took the bin bag from him, their hands brushing slightly. A rush of warmth exploded through her body. She turned her face away so he wouldn’t see the blush creeping along her cheeks. She must look like Violet Beauregarde fromWilly Wonka & the Chocolate Factoryafter she turned into a blueberry.
‘I guess that when I meet intelligent, open-minded people like you, it restores my faith in humanity so it’s easy to forget how ignorant people can be,’ Grayson said, oblivious.
Lorelai could feel herself yielding to the pull of the conversation and a bubble of panic rose from the pit of her stomach.
‘I need to close up this room or my boss is going to have a fit.’ She snatched the bag from him and opened the door.
‘OK. No need to ask me twice,’ he said, laughing.
Why is he laughing?,Lorelai thought while enjoying the way the corners of his eyes crinkled.
‘But I’ll be back next week.’
‘Oh, sorry but there isn’t a meeting next week. The next timewe meet is at the end of the month.’ Lorelai had begun to close the door so was now speaking to him through a two-inch gap but she still clocked the slight falter in his smile.
‘Actually’ – he rubbed the back of his head, and Lorelai tried to ignore how his bicep flexed, his jacket sleeve tightening around it – ‘I do the matinee at work and get the evening off on Saturdays, so I’ve been coming here every weekend for a while. That’s why I was able to make today’s meeting so if you could always arrange them on a Saturday, I’d appreciate that.’ He flashed her a smile, but it wasn’t charming or suave. It was simply natural and genuine, and Lorelai felt something light up inside her.
‘Barelymade today’s meeting, you mean,’ she corrected, quickly snuffing out whatever had lit up. ‘You’re aLord of the Ringsfan, then?’
‘I am.’ Instinctively, he stood slightly taller. Clearly aproudfan.
‘And you’re coming for the extended director’s cut trilogy marathon next weekend?’
‘That’s the one.’
‘Isn’t that, like… twelve hours? That’s quite a lot of orcs and elves in one sitting.’ Lorelai thought of the usual crowd that attended these showings. They often came dressed as the characters from the movie and she just couldn’t picture Grayson spending hours creating the perfect costume and then wearing it for the best part of a day.
‘This will actually be my second attempt at this marathon. I came two years ago and fell asleep long before they reached Mordor.’
‘Spoilers!’ Lorelai cried out.
Grayson’s mouth fell open. ‘Are you telling me you’ve never seenThe Lord of the Rings?! None of them?’
‘I’m not much of a fantasy fan.’ She held up her hands.
‘Umm…’ He pointed to her beaten-up copy ofThe Wizard of Oz, sitting on a chair behind her.
‘That’s not the same!’ Her voice rose in protest.
