Page 78 of Dancing Fools and All That Jazz
Max stands and shakes her hand. ‘Pleasure to meet you. Your dancing was fantastic. I loved the section in “Dancin’ Fool” where you had to dash back to the group. It put a real smile on my face.’
‘It was terrible mistake.’ Ingrida laughs. ‘But it work out OK. Very nice to meet you, Max.’
‘Ingrida, did you see what happened to Sheila’s Maggots?’
‘Ja. We see from the dressing room. It was very bad, but I could not stop laughing.’
‘Us too.’
‘I laugh so much I cry off one of my false eyelashes.’ She holds up the eyelash between her finger and thumb. ‘I will have to ask Fay to stick it back on.’
‘She’s just there, but I think she’s a bit preoccupied.’
Ingrida glances at Fay and nods back at me. Max indicates for her to take one of the spare chairs at our table.
The rest of the group heads towards us, apart from Monica who is crouched next to Clarissa and has a comforting arm around her.
‘Poor Clarissa. She is just having a moment,’ Asha tells me. ‘She did not see Sheila’s dance. Did you?’
I nod but before I can say more Bonnie and Cath gush, ‘Who have we got here Ruby?’ and ‘Are you going to introduce us to your friend?’
‘Bonnie, put your tongue back in your mouth.’ I wink at them. ‘This is Max.’
‘Max, this is Asha, Bonnie, and Cath. Monica is over there.’
I hold my breath as Max smiles at each one, giving a brief lingering look at Monica in the distance. He gives nothing away but smiles at me as he raises an eyebrow to indicate he’d guessed each dancer correctly.
‘Delighted to meet you all, ladies. Your dancing was excellent. Can I get you all a drink? You certainly deserve one.’
‘Five gin and tonics.’ Cath smiles before adding, ‘To be sure I’m only kidding. We can’t go on the gargle until we’ve finished dancing for the day. Mine’s a Diet Coke.’
The others politely add their orders for soft drinks or water and lots of cake and Max goes to the bar.
We chat and giggle about the Bold as Brass debacle. And then I see Monica walk to the bar where she ends up right next to Max. I find myself tensing. I see Max introducing himself and he goes to shake her hand. She declines and the conversation around me dulls to background noise as I freeze, watching their interaction but unable to hear their exchange. My stomach is churning.
Monica is listening to Max. She’s not smiling. Her arms are crossed and at one point she briefly looks back to where I’m sitting before unfolding her arms and addressing Max again. One hand is now on her waist andthe other is raised palm up, moving sharply up and down as she speaks. The hairs on the back of my neck prickle. I then realise Ingrida has been speaking to me as she leans her head in front of my face, blocking my line of vision to Max and Monica.
I focus on Ingrida. ‘Sorry, what?’
‘Are you OK, Ruby? You do not look well.’
‘What? No… I’m fine…’ I move my head until I can see Max again. Monica’s returning to Clarissa’s table and Max has his back is to me as he pays for the drinks.
Oh God, I should have told him about Vince. It’ll be much worse to have come from Monica. He won’t understand. Hell, she doesn’t understand.
I bite the inside of my lip and feel the metallic taste of blood as I pierce the soft flesh under the pressure. Damn.
By the time I’ve rummaged for a tissue in my bag to dab at the wound, Max has returned to the table with a tray of drinks and cakes. His expression is unreadable, but he doesn’t make eye contact with me.
‘How long are you in Paris?’ Asha asks Max.
‘I’m not sure. I may be travelling back tonight.’ Max doesn’t even look in my direction.
I bend to put the tissue back in my bag, so the table hides my face.
‘Well, Ruby has certainly kept you a secret, Max.’ Bonnie jokingly nudges him.
Bonnie, shut up. I want to kick her.
