‘Great!’ the instructor says, pointing at us. ‘Perfect. You’re engaged, right? You can tell! Love it.’
I smile with all my teeth and none of my sincerity.
Andy is watching. I can feel it. Like a laser on my skin. I mean, obviously they’re all watching – him, Cordelia, JJ and Fizz – but Andy always feels like he’s really watching me when I’m with Jake, like he’s my own personal CCTV camera.
I try not to look at him because, if I do, I will collapse in shame. This is everything we make fun of. I don’t know how we’re going to let the other get away with it.
‘Okay!’ the instructor says, turning to Jake. ‘You lead.’
His mouth twitches, giving away his confidence.
He places his right hand lightly at my waist. So lightly. Enough to show me that he’s there, but not enough to make me feel held in place.
I place my hand on his shoulder – at this point it’s probably best I get it over with.
‘Just sway,’ the instructor calls. ‘Side to side. Feel the connection.’
Jake sways, I sway, and at first I feel like I’m made of wood but, I don’t know, the more we do it, the more I can feel myself loosening up.
The movement becomes easier. Smoother. And then, annoyingly, it becomes natural, as if we do this sort of thing together all the time.
‘Oh, wow, I hope you don’t mind me saying this, but you can tell which couples have it great in the bedroom when you watch them dance, and you too are on fire,’ Fizz shouts over the music.
I do mind her saying it. I mind so much, for so many reasons.
‘Yes! That! Look at you two!’ Fizz goes on.
And then, unprompted, Jake pulls a trick out of his bag of rizz. He spins me, effortlessly, leading me exactly where he wants me to go before catching me in his arms again. I do nothing, it’s all Jake and gravity, but I feel like a fucking ballerina right now. I wonder if that looks as cool as it feels.
‘Wooo!’ JJ calls out. ‘Go Whit!’
We end up closer than we started, my face pressed against his chest.
I look up to see his eyes meet mine, and for a second it’s easy to forget where I am. To forget Fizz, Andy, Cordelia, even JJ. It’s like it’s just me and Jake and nothing else matters.
It’s only when we hear the commotion outside that we’re torn apart.
We all hurry outside, following a panicked voice coming from the stables next door.
‘Grab that… No… Hold the… He’s loose!’
The sound of screaming and a horse in distress makes my blood curdle.
We watch one of the bigger horses charge off towards the gardens.
Jake stops for a second, his whole body changing as he analyses the situation, then it’s like a switch flicks inside him.
Then he springs to action. He runs over to the paddock, where Biscuits is, and mounts her. I run after him.
‘Can I help?’ I ask.
‘Sure,’ he replies, extending his hand.
I take his hand only for him to lift me up onto the back of the horse too.
‘You’re the only other person she doesn’t try to bite,’ he says with a smile.
And then we’re off, galloping towards the gardens, chasing down the loose horse. It’s charging through the gardens now, people screaming, jumping out of the way, but Jake is cool and calm. He gets close, herding the runaway horse towards a tall hedge, forcing it to stop. He hands me Biscuits’ reins. Then, he approaches the loose horse, talking to it, soothing it, calming it down, and then he gets on its back, stroking its head, telling it that it’s going to be okay. Suddenly, the horse is fine, nice and chill, and Jake can ride it over to me.