Then he leaned down and whispered in my ear. ‘But in exchange, you must stay for the whole show.’
His breath was hot, his accent making my own breath catch in my throat. I wasn’t ready for this. My insides were still spiky and raw. Every thought digging something needle-like into my heart. But I couldn’t help being intrigued by him and how openly nice he was. With Theo it had always been an effort. Just trying to get him to be nice to me so I could have thisfabricated feeling in my stomach. The one I’d invented by a forced compliment.
‘I’ll stay,’ I said, watching him as he walked away. I sipped the Kir royale, feeling my rage dilute.
I watched Felix as he bent over and picked up a table like it was nothing but cardboard. His sleeves were still rolled up and I found myself gazing at his forearms, where the tendons strained.
I listened to him shout something in French across the bar, then laugh at the reply. His whole face lit up, and I forced Ari and Theo completely out of my head.
The whole bar area was full now and they’d made a little stage. The staff had disappeared, including Felix. All the kids were talking to each other excitedly.
I scanned the crowd and spotted Wren on a little chair. I felt a flash of guilt that I’d forgotten to text Mum and Dad about the show, but here they were anyway. She was in the front row, and there was Rue beside her, looking sullen. Probably because she was sitting on a chair when all the other kids were on the ground. She hated anything that made her stand out like that. But Rue and Wren being here also meant Mum and Dad were here somewhere. I moved my chair even further back out of view.
Then the music started. Deep bass beats that vibrated the ground. Wren’s face was a picture; she was so excited. She wasn’t like me and Rue. We were cut from the same cloth. Wren saw all this fun and beauty in everything. Must be nice to be like that.
I only looked away because the staff had started to comeon to the stage. Well, I presumed it was the staff. They were all dressed up in ridiculous animal outfits. I tried to work out which one Felix was. The dog? The lion? The pig? Then I saw his trainers. The black-and-white checked Vans. The lion. And it was hilarious, watching him dance the way he did. They must have been so hot in there. I drank my champagne and watched the whole show just like I’d been told. And I didn’t think about Theo or Ari once.
My phone buzzed.
DAD: Where are you? We came out after you made a scene. Join us at the bar if you’d like to spend time with your family.
I ignored it and shifted my chair further away from the crowd. Felix was good at dancing, and the kids were absolutely loving it. I sat there until everybody started leaving, keeping my head down as I watched Rue and Wren get up and look for Mum and Dad.
DAD: We’re going back to the mobile home now, what are you doing?
I ignored his message again and picked up my glass, making my way behind the bar, out of the eyeline of Rue and Wren.
Then I felt a hand touch my waist, and I jumped.
‘Wow!’ I said.
‘Did I scare you?’ I turned round to see a lion talking to me.
‘Felix?’ I asked, cocking my head and trying to look through the little eye holes.
He pulled off his lion head and revealed a beautiful, sweaty, smiling face.
‘You liked the show?’ he asked, wiping his forehead with his paw.
‘I did. I liked the dancing,’ I said.
‘You like to dance?’ He took my hand and twisted me round, catching me off guard and making me smile.
‘Peut-être,’ I replied.
‘Ah youdospeak French,’ he teased.
‘Un petit peu.’ I smiled, thanks to the champagne.
‘You will come back tomorrow?’ His eyes were wide. Eager.
‘Peut-être,’ I repeated, sticking to the words I was brave enough to use.
‘I hope you will. I will be here, working. I think I must go and get out from this costume.’ Felix sucked air in, filling his cheeks, and blew it out like a deflating balloon. ‘I am very hot.’
Yes, he was.
I leaned against the wooden post that was attached to the bar and watched him as he peeled the lion costume halfway down. And then he was just standing there topless, and I couldn’t help but stare. Toned, tanned, muscles more defined because of the sweat and breathlessness.
