His hand cuts a slow path around my waist, like we’re about to embrace for a salsa. His hips tuck against me. Together, we lean in as his palm finds a space on top of my hand. I can feel his breath misting against my hair. My pulse is galloping.
Gently, we move the cue. It misses. Not just the ball we were aiming for, but everything.
Without moving my body, I turn my head to look at him.
‘Damn,’ he whispers. ‘Sorry.’
My eyes drop to his mouth.
‘You’re forgiven.’
My desire to kiss him sweeps in like a hurricane.
‘Have you finished here?’
I blink and stand up. Two guys are awaiting their turn, pool cues in hand.
‘It’s all yours,’ Sam says, clearing his throat.
‘Yes, go ahead. We’re off to dance.’
At that, I grab him by the hand and hear him groan.
‘Oh . . . must we?’ He’s still shaking his head in protest as we get down the steps.
‘A deal’s a deal.’
‘I’m terrible. I’ve told you. I have zero co-ordination.’
‘I don’t mind!’
‘Oh, you will. I was a dad dancer before I was even a dad.
I strongly suggest you back out now. Save yourself.’
I am laughing hysterically now but shake my head, refusing to let him off. ‘That would be no fun at all,’ I say, as Whitney Houston’s ‘I Wanna Dance with Somebody’explodes through the speakers. I find a small corner of the dance floor just for us and I start to move my body. Sam, meanwhile, sort of . . . shuffles.
Contrary to claims, he isn’t really a dad dancer. To be that, he’d have to actually dance. Instead, he simply sways in time to the music, looking self-conscious in a way I’ve literally never seen him before. And I can’t help it. I try not to let it happen. But a smile spreads across my face.
‘I told you!’ he protests, laughing.
‘I’m not smiling atyou,’ I grin, innocently.
‘Now who’s patronising?’
‘I just can’t help thinking that it might help to relax into it if you actually . . . you know . . . moved. Comeon. Nobody knows you here. You can look as bad as you like. It’s never stopped me.’
I raise my hands above my head as the music beats in my sternum and, for a blissful, probably drunken, moment, I close my eyes and lose myself in it. Self-awareness creeps over me within moments. But when I open my eyes, he’s still smiling at me.
‘Don’t stop,’ he says.
And the way he looks at me then just dissolves me, like sugar in hot milk. I snake my hips towards him as he slides both hands around my waist, drawing me in. I rest my hand at the side of his neck as he sighs into my ear. ‘You are so gorgeous. Always were.’
I pull back slightly as the music fades in my ears.
He dips his head for a small, testing kiss. It instantly overtakes us both. We make out on the dance floor like teenagers at a prom, uninhibited, oblivious to the world around us. It’s only the jolt of an elbow in my back, followed by a swift apology from its owner, that brings me back to earth. I look up at Sam.
‘What do you think. Should we get out of here?’
