‘Yeah. I’m hoping some other people will join in – but if you really want to dance, I’ll dance with you.’
The noise of the crowd and the music seemed to dim and my awareness of him went into overdrive. The temptation of dancing was enough in itself really. I hadn’t danced for so long and I wanted to. I actually wanted to, for the first time in ages. And when I threw in the prospect of dancing with Nick all my nerve endings got busy fizzing with the memory of his chest against mine when we crashed together in the alleyway. The heat and the smell of him.
‘Yes please and thank you.’ I took his hands in mine before he could change his mind and moved into the space between the stage and the crowd, tugging him along with me. I let go of his hand, pulling all my bravado up to the surface, so I could wind my arms loosely around his neck. He automatically put his hands on my waist and I shivered. My jacket was only short and raising my arms had lifted it so that his fingers were actually underneath it, just one layer between his skin and mine. A pulse was beating through my whole body in time with the music.
‘Right…you’re going to have to show me how to do this.’ He was near enough I felt the vibration of his voice more than I could hear him.
‘This was your idea.’
‘Yeah, but I don’t think I’ve ever danced to this kind of music. What is it?’
‘Folk. And you dance the same way you’d dance to any music. Listen to the beat and move with it however you like. There aren’t any rules.’ I began to dip and swing my hips in time to the lively beat, starting him off easy in case he took fright and ran off.
He only moved a bit, still glancing from side to side, until I tightened my grip and my hip brushed the front of his long coat. He gave me his full attention then and the moment his eyes locked on mine, it was like a switch flicked in his body and he moved in perfect time with me.
The space we maintained between our bodies felt simultaneously like miles and like nothing at all. Suddenly, the night was not as freezing cold.
The band moved into another song, which was so fast, full of drums and frenzied ukulele that it was like they were daring us to kick it up a notch. Game on.
‘Hold on tight.’ I grinned and his eyes widened. I grabbed one of his hands from my waist to move him into a traditional hold so that I could start using my feet properly. That slightly frightened expression was back on his face again, like he’d accidentally got himself coupled to runaway train. He had no choice but to follow or let go but luckily, like earlier, he followed as I quick-stepped him side to side and round and round.
I squeezed his hand in thanks and he squeezed back and again it was like once he stopped worrying about it and focused on me, he just clicked into my rhythm.
And then he was leading the spins across the space in the road we had claimed, my boots somehow always finding purchase on the cobbles. The crowd were clapping and cheering and I was getting dizzy as the Christmas lights whirled by us, and the music seemed to grow even faster, my blood rushing through my body, our warm breaths puffing out in quick pants in the cold night air and mingling. Nick twirled me under his arm and I had to grab at the reindeer antlers, which I’d completely forgotten about, so they didn’t get knocked off my head, holding them with one hand as my back collided with his chest. I looked up at him, my gasping laughter echoed in his face.
And then the song was over.
We unravelled ourselves but Nick kept hold of my hand and we realised some of the onlookers were still clapping. We took a little bow together before we walked away from the stage back to the pavement at the side, as though we were a celebrity couple offStrictly Come Dancing.
‘That was fun.’ I tiptoed up to speak into his ear, unable to relax my face out of a big grin. ‘Thank you.’
‘My pleasure.’ He let go of my hand and pointed towards one of the stalls selling cups of warm cider and mulled wine. ‘I think I need a drink now though.’
‘Normally you have the Dutch courage before you do something like dancing in front of a crowd of strangers,’ I pointed out.
‘Yeah. That would make more sense.’ His smile wouldn’t seem to quit either and I couldn’t quite believe this was the same man I’d crashed into in the alleyway yesterday. He cocked his head to the side quizzically and I was mortified to realise I’d been staring at him. I cleared my throat and started fiddling with the lopsided antlers that were all tangled up in my hair.
‘Here, d’you want them straightened up again or off?’ He stepped closer and gently started pulling the teeth free of my hair.
‘I don’t—’ My response died in my throat as I caught sight of a dark figure standing on the edge of the crowd, watching us.
‘What is it?’ Nick extricated the antlers from my head and followed my gaze over to Stephen. ‘Oh.’ Nick lifted his hand to acknowledge his brother and Stephen waved back in the same perfunctory manner.
Silence grew between us. I couldn’t say what made Nick grow quiet but for my part it seemed like anything I said would plunge me into an even more awkward situation somehow.
‘I should go join him.’ Nick tucked his hands into his pockets and tipped his head in his brother’s direction.
‘Of course. I’ve got to get home anyway.’ I really did. This Cinderella had stayed out well past her curfew, which would probably explain why she now had pumpkin all over her face.
‘You’ll be okay walking back?’
‘It’s not far. You go. Goodnight, Nick.’
‘Night.’
I spun on my heel before I had to look at Stephen again, particularly before I had to look at Nick and Stephen together, although I knew I wouldn’t be able to escape that weirdness forever.
As I passed by Lydia’s shop and rounded the corner away from the main high street, the snow began to fall. I held my hand out and watched a white flake float down and dissolve onto my glove. They had finally predicted the weather correctly – all I could hope was that Mum was waiting back at the hotel for me. I picked up my pace.
