Page 100 of Payback
I frown when I feel Allie tense in my arms. “Wait…Aren’t those the dance instructors who trained us at that dance studio Vi took us all to?” she asks, looking up at me for confirmation.
I lift my hand to block the sunlight from my eyes for a closer look. “It might be. I’m not sure.”
She presses her lips into a fine line, but our attention is back on the courtyard when the music shifts from smooth and dreamy Sinatra to feel-good, punchy pop. The song “Perfect Strangers” by Jonas Blue fills the space as several other couples hustle out onto the concrete, wrapping each other in their arms. The remaining crowd backs off further when the chorus starts and the dancers begin waltzing beside each other in perfect unison, like they’ve rehearsed this number a thousand times.
We watch for a minute, enjoying the show, and I’m doing my best to hide my pleased smile because Allie still thinks she’s witnessing something that has nothing to do with us. Then she catches sight of movement to the left and looks over to see yet another group coming in. This groups falls in step with the other, making at least twenty people dancing to a song that talks about complete strangers having a night together that could change them. As I allow myself to listen to the familiar lyrics, my emotions threaten to give the secret away.
The reasons Allie came into my life may have been because of her ill-conceived payback plan, but that payback set us up for the perfect comeback. So for that, I’ll never regret our first night together.
Suddenly, the music shifts again to Ed Sheeran’s “Photograph,” and Allie’s grip on my arm tightens to a near painful squeeze when she sees a new set of dancers emerging.
Mac and Freya tango out to the front of the dancers and stop smack dab in the middle of everyone. Mac has a rose clenched between his teeth as he dips Freya dramatically and almost drops her on the ground. She whacks his shoulder and then grabs the rose out of his mouth and tosses it behind her. Allie looks at me, silently asking, “What the fuck?”
I smile proudly and point to the next group strolling out to join our friends.
Allie turns her attention to them, and I hear her gasp as my mom, my sisters, and my gran make their way to the front of the dancers as Mac and Freya and the other couples behind them spread out into two rows. As soon as they are in place, everyone begins dancing in unison.
“Roan, what is this?” Allie asks, her voice garbled and thick with unshed tears.
I wrap my arm around her shoulders and kiss the top of her head. “Keep watching.”
She shakes her head in disbelief, covering her mouth as everyone performs simple moves that even my gran can pull off. I have an inner battle with myself about who I want to watch more…The dancers or Allie.
Allie wins. I think she might win forever.
Suddenly, her eyes go to the right and she lets out a small cry as her own family marches in together.
Her father, Charles, and her mother, Karen—whom Charles helped me get in touch with—lead the pack of Vaughn and the rest of his Harris bunch into the courtyard. First there’s Gareth with Milo in his arms and Sloan walking hand-in-hand with Sophia. Then there’s Booker and Poppy with their twins practically dragging them out toward the other dancers. Next there’s Vi and Hayden, who has Rocky perched up on his shoulders, waving to the crowd.
Behind Rocky is the proud new father, Tanner—in all his bearded, man-bunned glory—holding his three-week-old baby girl. Belle is walking beside him, anxiously checking on Joey, who appears to be asleep and missing out on all the jol.
Bringing in the rear is a hugely pregnant Indie walking with Camden, who is holding onto her like she might tip over at any minute. Honestly, I wasn’t sure they were going to make it. Indie is due any day now, but she practically forced me to hurry up this flash mob proposal idea because she didn’t want to miss out on it for something silly like childbirth.
The Harrises really are the fucking best. And they all look so happy, it may as well be their sister getting engaged, not just their cousin.
I look down and Allie is a crying mess, shaking uncontrollably as she covers the shock on her face. The noises coming out of her sound somewhat alarming, but I won’t say anything because I’m fighting back some really unmanly sobs myself.Fucking hell, there’s something in my eye.
The Harris crew joins in with the choreography that they’ve been rehearsing for weeks now in that little dance studio. It was a mess to organise, but ag, it’s a perfect mess right now. Sort of like Allie and me.
Sophia attempts to spin the twin boys because that was her choreographed dance, but the boys are more interested in running around like little terrors and stealing the show with their devil-like cuteness. Vi is crying full tears as Hayden marches to his own beat with Rocky bouncing on his shoulders. It’s perfection.
Even Charles is dancing. Although, he’s dancing quite poorly. But he looks proud and happy all the same. I’m glad he’s a part of this. And I’m glad he gave me his blessing to ask his daughter to marry me because there’s no way for me to live in this world without her.
Finally, the notes of Ed Sheeran fade, so I quickly pull Allie down to the bottom of the steps for the big finale. She’s laughing and crying as she notices the cameras popping out from behind the bushes in addition to all the strangers filming the scene on their phones.
Let them film it. This is a memory I give my full consent to record.
I position Allie on the edge of the makeshift dance floor and take my position, front and centre of the crew. Tanner and Gareth both pass off their babies, and Allie’s face lights up when the next song starts.
“I’m Too Sexy” blares through the speakers, and the Harris Brothers all whoop with excitement as the dancers leave the area open for them and me. Two brothers flank me on either side with Mac in the back as the six of us bounce to the beat until the vocals start again. Once the verse begins, we bust into a routine that we worked on day and night with my mother via Skype.
Like I said…A fucking mess.
But fuck it, we’re owning it now.
Allie howls with laughter as the rest of our family lines a makeshift catwalk for us six to strut down. Tanner lies down at the front to take fake pictures that we all pose for like paparazzi whores.
When the “I’m Too Sexy” chorus repeats, the five of us slowly begin to unbutton our shirts. But before we get too far, the ladies run out to stop us, shoving the other guys to the back of the courtyard and leaving me out here all alone.
