Page 14

Five

After satisfying their appetites with juicy roast beef, Yorkshire puddings, pakoras, and chicken tikka masala, disco divas and smooth movers headed back downstairs to the pub’s main floor for the evening’s festivities.

Sat in a corner, Alex laid her head on her boyfriend’s shoulder, a champagne-fueled buzz pushing their earlier argument to the back of her mind. She nibbled the chocolate icing curls on her second cupcake. A third cupcake, a peace offering from Mark, tempted from a plate balancing on her lap. His arm rested happily along her shoulder, the two of them captivated by Freddie’s superhuman efforts on the dance floor.

Brimming with more energy than a double-shot Americano, Freddie was giving two of Naomi’s sari-wearing aunties a dance clinic, showing off his fluid moves during The Jacksons’ “Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)”. To his left, Simon unapologetically thrashed about, but his lack of rhythm and punchy movements repelled fellow revelers, concerned for their safety.

Lucy squeezed through the crowd, carrying a pudgy baby dressed in a lavishly beaded white dress.

“Wow, wedding favours sure have changed.” Mark gave the sprog a wide berth.

Lucy bounced the little one in her arms. “Ha! Meet Jasmine, Naomi’s niece. Isn’t she adorable?” She thrust the baby in Alex’s face. “Smell her. I could just eat her up!”

“Erm, thanks, but I’ll stick to the cupcakes.” Alex didn’t budge.

“Well, at least hold her. See what it might be like for you and Mark to play happy families.”

Alex scrunched up her nose and popped a piece of the third cupcake into her mouth. Lucy stared back at her, a wriggly Jasmine dangling over Alex’s lap. “You’ll never know unless you get some practice in. Go on, she won’t bite…”

The DJ segued from the King of Pop into “Let Go for Tonight” by Foxes. Alex perked up, her foot tapping anxiously to the beat. “No, but she’ll probably puke on me.” She handed her crumb-sprinkled plate to a passing server and dabbed her lips with a napkin.

Mark laughed and snaked his hand around his girlfriend’s waist. “Lucy, you know better. If it’s not furry and meowing, Lex isn’t interested.”

“We should dance before the DJ switches to ABBA again.” Alex’s eyes darted past Lucy, blinking rapidly at the guests flailing about and throwing shapes behind her friend’s back. Several pairs of abandoned Jimmy Choos and studded Valentino pumps littered the perimeter of the dance floor.

Lucy’s shoulders fell. “I know, it’s your favourite song. Go. I’ll return Jazzy to her mum and meet you there.”

Mark barely had time to loosen his tie before Alex kicked off her heels, grabbed his hand, and pulled him into the pack of gyrating bodies. No surprise, Freddie and Simon were bouncing around in the centre.

“About time, ya wallflowers.” Freddie yanked Alex away from Mark, twirling her into his chest. “Hey, Sparkly Girl! To quote that glitter pixie, Kylie Minogue, ‘Your disco needs you!”’

He smooched her cheek and released her back to Mark, the three of them joining Simon’s pogoing spree, jumping up and down and singing the lyrics at the top of their lungs. Lucy, now free of Jazzy, invaded their huddle. Even the bride and groom joined in, dragging Harry in their wake.

Alex beamed at her friends—everyone who mattered was here. She threw her arms around Mark’s neck, her hips rocking in time with his. She would’ve been perfectly happy for the moment to go on with no end in sight, all her fears and worries temporarily lost to the music. If only you could live within a song, a perfect little bubble where love ruled and the lyrics sang out your most heartfelt feelings, a musical haven where work commitments couldn’t steal away your boyfriend, leaving loneliness and frustration in his place.

The DJ mixed into a slower tune, perfect for a romantic clinch on the dance floor. Parched from their marathon dance-off, Freddie and Simon dashed to the bar while Harry snatched Lucy’s hand before she could slip away. Alex stepped back into her heels.

“Ooh, this one’s an oldie. Must be for the parents.” Mark pulled Alex close as they swayed together on the dance floor. He kissed her tenderly as if he had all the time in the world.

Taking a breath, Alex explained, “It’s the Cars, ‘Drive’…”

Mark smirked. “You and your ol’ musical cheese. Good thing you’re cute with it.”

“This song’s not cheesy, it’s beautiful.” She smiled, feeling safe in his arms. “So, what do you think?”

“About what, this song?”

“Not the song, silly.” She licked her lips and played with the hair at the nape of his neck.

“Oh, you minx!” Mark’s eyes fell to the plunging v-neck of her dress. “Maybe I should disappear for weeks on end more often.”

“Don’t you dare.”

“Is this a hint? Time to sneak away…” His whisper gave in to his lips kissing their way down her neck as his fingers dug into her waist, pulling her closer.

“Tempting—” Alex gasped as his tongue slipped along the nape of her neck. Warmth surged through her body, flushing her cheeks. “But Naomi would kill us.” Her fingers disappeared into his thick hair.

“No, she wouldn’t. She’d understand.” His mouth claimed hers again, his tongue daring her to leave everyone behind.