‘You’re going backtoday?’ Leo said and I stuffed a croissant in my mouth to stifle a giggle.
‘YES!’ Heidi huffed. ‘So I’ll say goodbye now and may the best agency win when we reach the other side. No hard feelings either way, eh?’
‘Absolutely. A fair fight, no dirty play, and let’s go for drinks either way,’ Leo said, holding his arms out for a hug.
I couldn’t decide if that was an accidental rhyme or something he said to everyone. An Amplify agency catchphrase.
‘Let’s not make promises we can’t keep,’ Heidi said, graciously dodging him and flouncing off to the omelette station.
‘Left hanging!’ Zach said, with a chuckle, going in for a hug with Leo instead. ‘Worth a try though, mate.’
‘It’s my Manc manners,’ Leo replied, flushing red. ‘I can’t help myself.’
‘Lads, I’ll take you for commiseration drinks once we’re reappointed,’ I whispered conspiratorially. ‘OK?’
‘And if you’re not?’ Leo stared at me, knowing the answer full well. ‘I love how you’re already planning to be a sore loser.’
‘It doesn’t hurt to plan ahead,’ Zach said, stuffing a custard pie in his mouth.
‘I’ll see you boys back on the ship. Careful not to make yourselves sick.’
***
‘How are your snake hips?’ Leo asked, as we followed Dahlia into the Adonis Lounge for the salsa classes. The activities schedule was never-ending.
‘Well… they don’t lie, that’s for sure, and they’re telling me they’ll need replacing in five to ten years. Overuse has sent them skewwhiff.’
Leo laughed.
‘Jeez – oversharing much?’ Zach said, with a look of disgust.
‘How about you two? Are you dancers?’ I asked, flexing my toes.
‘Depends on the dance,’ Leo said.
‘Country dancing? Tap dancing?’ I suggested. ‘Lap dancing?’
‘Oh yeah, all of that,’ Leo said, with twinkly eyes. ‘I’m known as the lap-dancing lion by theMagic Mikeguys.’
‘Nice,’ I said, trying not to smile. ‘Have you got a costume?’
‘Wouldn’t you like to know.’
‘If it’s breakdancing, I’m down,’ Zach said, doing a cringey body pop. No one wanted to see that.
‘I heard you can do the worm, Leo?’
‘Maybe in my younger days, but it’s been a while,’ he said, with a wink.
The Adonis Lounge was wall-to-wall mirrors, with a barre running along one side and a shiny wooden floor. It took me back to my adult ballet lessons, which had served as a weekly reminder that I had the grace of an elephant. I eventually mastered the plié, which was really just bending both legs, but my swan lake dreams were crushed in week six when the teacher snapped that we weresupposed to be dancing, notclodding around like heavy lumps.
Sculptures of noble heads sat on plinths at the far side of the room and there was a heavy black curtain at the back. I was surprised to see so many people mingling and chatting, waiting for ‘class’ to start.
The lights dimmed and there was an automatic hush as J-Lo’s ‘Let’s Get Loud’ started blaring from invisible speakers and Brooke ran in to join us.
‘Ladies and gentlemennn,’ Dahlia bellowed into a microphone, making me jump. ‘May I introduce you to your dance teachers today, and this year’s International Ballroom Dancing Champions, Chico and Catarina Enchalezzzzzz!’
The curtain whipped to one side and a perma-tanned couple burst into the room. The woman was in a silverbustier and froufrou skirt, and the man was trussed up like a space turkey in a ruffled waistcoat and silver trousers.
