Or is it for the ratings?
Is he trying to initiate the kissing curse for votes? Cashing in on my marriage troubles to further us in the show. Either way, he’s out of line. It’s so inappropriate.
‘Shelly, we’ve known each other a long time.’ Concern oozes in his voice. My head is fit to explode.
Lifting my palm to hover in front of his face, I jolt backwards and motion towards the microphone, reminding him. ‘Ben, you’ve come to be one of my closest friends since we reconnected on the show. I value your friendship more than you’ll ever know.’
His face falls and I feel like I’ve kicked a puppy while they’re down, but I had no idea he felt this way. Still felt this way. Ever really felt this way. But it’s not reciprocated and never will be, whatever happens now between me and Marcus. Ben’s wasted enough time. He needs to move on. I need to express it in a manner that’s delicate but direct.
‘I care about you. And I appreciate how you’ve been here for me, day in, day out. Lifted me on the days I’ve been down. I’ll never forget it. And I hope we’ll continue to be friends long after the show. Until then, we’ve got work to do.’ I motion to the other couples who are already practicing their dances under the beady eyes of their given teacher.
Slick Rick clicks his fingers impatiently at Aisling, who can apparently do no right this morning.
Ben catches my hand as I pull away from him. ‘Can we at least go for a drink after work?’
‘Not the best idea.’ Defiantly, I flick my middle finger up in the direction of the nearest camera and stick my tongue out.
The paso doble is hard. For once, I actually wish we had Slick Rick as our teacher, instead we have to make do with another male teacher, sporting a seedy moustache and a heavy looking gold necklace. Glancing at it leads me to touch my own.
Could Marcus really have been unfaithful? And if he was, is it still burning bright between the two of them after all these years? And if it is, why the hell hasn’t he just left me for her?
I can’t believe I’m even having to contemplate this again. It still seems so hard to comprehend, yet even a stranger can spot the resemblance there. The knowledge I’m not crazy offers little comfort.
An almighty clatter erupts from behind us, causing me to leap towards Ben. Spinning round, I see Natalie on the floor, her features screwed into an expression of utter agony as she clutches her right ankle, which is twisted into a position that makes me nauseous to even look at.
‘Nobody panic,’ Teddy cries, his voice an octave from breaking point. I’m not sure if it’s Natalie’s ankle that has the blood draining from his face, or the fact that he’s going to have find a replacement at such short notice.
By the time the paramedics have arrived, the place is bedlam. Gathering round Natalie, almost everyone has their own diagnosis.
‘It’s definitely a fracture,’ Gemma says, a hint of regret in her tone. At the initial meet and greet, I never imagined I’d be saying this but she seems to be thawing to us all as the competition progresses.
‘No, I think it’s a ligament.’ Michael kneels next to her. ‘Ligaments are actually way worse. They take forever to heal.’ I give him a swift nudge with my foot to quieten him.
‘What? No point lying to her.’ Michael shrugs. Typical man, blunt to the point it’s painful. ‘Sorry, sweetheart. I think our place on this show could be over. But what an original meet-cute we now have to tell our grandkids.’
‘This has never happened before.’ Teddy makes no secret of his primary concern. ‘We’ll need to bring in some wild cards or we won’t have enough contestants left for a competitive semi-final at the weekend.’
Wild cards?
Either they’ve forgotten we’re listening, or they simply don’t care at this stage. I only hope the camera is recording their indiscretion. Perhaps it’ll take the focus off my marital problems. Doubtful, really doubtful.
‘This is a disaster.’
It is for poor Natalie, who sits quietly with her head in her hands until she’s carried off on a stretcher. Although if it’s a toss-up between her broken ankle and my smashed heart, I’d pick her ankle any day. It will undoubtably heal faster. At least she has Michael.
* * *
With all the footage of Natalie’s fall and the shock news about the wild cards, the state of my marriage is not the first thing on the live audience’s mind. But when it’s mine and Ben’s turn to take centre stage, the questions come rolling in, though most of them are from Aaron, who has no problem voicing what the audience are dying to know.
‘Shelly and Ben, you’ve have been tasked with the paso doble this week, how are you finding it?’
‘Tough,’ Ben and I say in unison. He gives my shoulder a solitary squeeze. For all these weeks, I thought his obvious affection for me was just for the show, for the ratings. I hope the friendship we’ve built the past couple of months will survive.
‘Shelly…’ Aaron bows his head in mock concern, and I know without a shadow of doubt where he’s going with this. The audience are oddly silent. ‘I’m sorry if it’s a sensitive matter, but we have to address the information that aired on Ava Armstrong’s breakfast show this morning – especially as,’ he places a finger in his ear piece, as if he’s only receiving some sort of groundbreaking news this very second, ‘it’s just been confirmed that following Natalie’s injury, Ava Armstrong will be one of the wild cards on the show this weekend.’
The audience erupt with a mixed response. Some boo, others cheer. Ava has been a household name for the past ten years. Eddie Harrington had dealings with her a few years ago. He claims she’s not nearly as bad in real life as the show she presents makes her out to be, but given it was her who broke the story on my marital problems this morning, she is one of several people I’d cheerfully throttle right now.
‘Wonderful.’ I keep my tone neutral, even though my blood boils inside. ‘I’m sure we’ll have loads to talk about.’ I raise my eyebrows at the audience and poke my tongue out, which raises a few murmured giggles.
