‘Just something we did when we were kids,’ he replies. ‘Teaches you manners. Ya’ll don’t have that here?’
Cordelia frowns but I don’t think he was making a dig at her.
‘I look forward to seeing what your body can do,’ Fizz tells him.
I look over at JJ who somehow manages to say ‘don’t we all’ with her eyes. I know her that well.
‘Okay! So. Today’s lesson is about connection. Not perfection,’ Fizz tells us. ‘We want you to feel comfortable together on the dance floor. It’s about movement, trust, and most importantly… chemistry.’
Cordelia squeezes Andy’s hands.
‘Oh my God. Love this for us,’ she says.
Andy smiles, but I don’t know, it can’t be genuine. He hates this corny stuff.
Jake’s arm brushes mine as he shifts his weight. I look at him and he smiles. He doesn’t look fazed or uncomfortable; he’s just here for the ride.
The instructor points at Andy and Cordelia.
‘Bride and groom first!’
The music starts – something slow and vaguely dramatic that I’ve never heard before.
Cordelia steps forward confidently. Andy does his best.
‘Lovely!’ the instructor coos. ‘Now, Andy, your right hand goes on her back. Left hand holds her hand.’
Andy does it carefully but not at all confidently. If this were a video game, he would be doing five things at once – driving a tank while shooting down a helicopter while planting a grenade while screaming things down the headset like ‘your mum’ at a fourteen-year-old.
Cordelia rests her hand on his shoulder and smiles. I try not to pull a face because I’m a cynical old-ish bag now.
‘Now,’ the instructor says, ‘simply sway. Side to side. Feel each other. Really feeeeel each other.’
They sway – and presumably feel each other – really feeeel each other. This is so cringe.
Andy, God love him, looks more like he needs the toilet than he’s feeling the love. I bite my lip to stop myself laughing.
Andy catches my eye mid-sway and gives me a look that says:Help me.
I give him a look that says:I can’t.
The instructor walks around them, nodding.
‘Good. Good! Now, let’s try a simple turn.’
Fizz demonstrates. Cordelia nods like she’s already mastered it in her head. But when Andy does try to turn her, Cordelia spins too fast, her ponytail whipping across his face like a weapon.
Andy splutters and wipes his eyes.
‘Okay! You know what? Great start. Why don’t you take five,’ Fizz suggests. ‘And we can see what Whitney and Jake have to offer.’
Oh, God, I really don’t want to do this. My entire body freezes in protest. This used to happen in PE when I had to do the high jump, or long jump – any kind of jumping really. I would clam up.
‘Come on, darlin’,’ Jake says, offering me his hand. ‘Let’s show ’em how it’s done.’
‘Unless “it’s” failing, I’m not sure I’m much use to you,’ I reply quietly.
As his hand takes mine, I notice that Jake’s palm is warm and soft, not what I was expecting from a man who chops wood and tends horses.