Page 35 of The Love of Our Lives
‘And why not?’ Charlie says. ‘I can’t remember the last time Adam was with someone, not since Claire anyway.’
‘That’s true,’ Sven says.
I can’t help but feel a stab of curiosity and confusion. I thought Adam never stuck in one place, so was Claire a long-term thing? Was it recent? But if I ask any questions, then they’ll definitely think something is going on between us.
And there’s nothing – obviously.
‘It’s nice still having him here at any rate,’ Charlie says, and Sven shoots her a look.
‘Oh yes, he did mention he likes to go away a lot,’ I say, as nonchalantly as I can, but I can’t help feeling vaguely unsettled.
‘He’s still in Edinburgh now,’ Charlie raises one arched eyebrow, ‘so maybe there’s something keeping him here.’
My chest flutters.
‘Here, try this,’ Charlie says now, passing the cocktail she had previously been drinking across to me. ‘I shouldn’t really be drinking right now anyway.’
I don’t ask her why because I’ve only just met her, but I take a small sip of the fruity concoction. The flavours are all kinds of wonderful and I feel myself warming up. ‘Go on,’ she says, ‘you finish it.’
‘Not unless you want me drunk by nine,’ I smile, and Charlie just laughs before pushing it towards Sven.
‘What kind of dancing is it you do anyway?’ I ask.
‘Can’t you tell?’ Charlie indicates at her dress. ‘Swing.’
‘Charlie here likes to do everything full hog, so that includes your everyday outfits.’ Sven grins and I know instinctively I’m going to love these guys.
‘I’ve got to admit,’ I say, ‘I haven’t danced since I was about twelve.’
Charlie looks at me, her big blue eyes aghast. ‘What do you mean?’
Beside her, Sven’s eyes widen in mock-fear. ‘Oh, you’ve done it now,’ he mutters. I look at him confused.
‘Explain again,’ Charlie says, clutching my hand now. ‘You never told me that the first time. What do you mean, you haven’t danced since you were twelve? Because everyone should dance, honey. It’s our God-given right, if I believed in that stuff, I mean.’
‘You just believe in the dance gods,’ Sven says, taking a sip of his pint.
I smile at Charlie’s still vaguely traumatised face. ‘I just . . . never got the chance, I guess.’
‘What about school, or at festivals or parties?’
‘What about disco dancing?’ Sven says, making little pointy actions with his finger.
I shake my head. ‘Not really, no. My older sister was the dancing queen in the family.’
Charlie looks genuinely troubled and I’m worried for a moment if my revelation has actually caused her some damage.
But then she squeezes my hand tighter, looks at me dead on. ‘We can resolve this,’ she says, and before I can say anything, she’s pulled me up to the empty dance floor. Nerves surge through me and people glance over, as Charlie runs off to speak to the DJ in the corner. I look over at Sven, bewildered, but he just grins, gives me two thumbs up. Adam is over at the bar sorting the drinks and clearly hasn’t noticed yet.
‘What’s she doing?’ I try to say to Sven, but my words are immediately swallowed by the music. A sound I’ve definitely heard before.
Swing music.
Oh god.
‘All right,’ Charlie says, rushing back to me. She looks me up and down, repositions me slightly.
‘All right, what?’ I say, and she grins at me.
