“Oh please, we were kids, and I’m pretty sure he’s gay you know.”
“That’s not what I’ve heard! There have been girlfriends you know. But no one matches up. No wonder, he’s set the bar high by comparing them to my beautiful Granddaughter.”
I rolled my eyes and headed back to my room loaded down with my shopping bags. I’d never win this argument with Nan, I hadn’t won it in twenty four years so I wouldn’t win it today. I wondered what Joe would make of someone like Simon. What would Simon make of Joe? I think Simon would be scared out of his wits and Joe would be baffled at how gentle Simon was. If two men could ever be polar opposites it was Simon and Joe.
Just then Nan popped her head round the door.
“Salsa at seven! We leave at six thirty so I can get a decent parking space okay. You’ll love it Ella, its great fun.”
“Okay but if I decide to sit out and watch then let me, no harassing me or dragging me up to the teacher okay!”
“Yes, yes, I’ll behave.” She grinned.
When six thirty came I headed out with Nan. She was wearing some strange red silky skirt with lace around the bottom and a red t-shirt on top. The last thing I would expect to see my Nan wearing was a skirt like this. I was in jeans and a tight white t-shirt. I really had no intention of getting up and doing any kind of dancing this evening.
When we got to the community centre or dance studio as Nan kept calling it, she introduced me to all her crowd. Harold looked like he was ready for strictly come dancing in a tight shiny grey shirt and even tighter black trousers. They should have been banned on people his age, he looked ridiculous, he didn’t care though, he looked proud as a peacock. It was clear that the other older ladies in Nan’s gang were vying for Harold’s attention, but he only had eyes for my Nan. Us Reid women knew how to keep the men on their toes.
When seven o’clock came I sneakily tiptoed backwards to find a chair at the back and slid down it to make myself as small as possible. I had stashed a magazine in my handbag to read in case I got bored so I pulled that out and hid behind it.
“Evening ladies, and Harold. How are we all today?” A deep male voice spoke out to the hall full of Nans and older Mums, oh and Harold. I peeked out from my magazine. Holy crap I could see what Nan meant now. The Salsa teacher was kind of hot. Robyn and Chris would have been all over him like a rash, depending which way he was inclined. He had dark hair slicked back and a square jaw that was cleanly shaved. His mouth had a cheeky smirk that never went away, only got bigger and cheekier. He was wearing a tight black shirt and trousers, but unlike Harold he could so carry it off. Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad to watch after all.
“So tonight we will start with the Mambo in our couples, do I have a spare to demonstrate with tonight?” he asked.
Several women moved forward but Nan piped up, “My Granddaughter doesn’t have a partner.”
Fantastic! The woman never knew when to shut up. All the women in the group spun round to shoot daggers at me as Mr Salsa Hottie’s eyes nearly flew out of his sockets. He probably wasn’t used to seeing someone under sixty at his dance class.
“I’m only here to watch.” I said apologetically, waving my hand to indicate that ‘No I’m not moving from this spot thanks’.
“No one sits down in Paolo’s dance class.” He said sashaying over to me and grabbing my hand to pull me up and to the front of the class. I could feel the heat in my body rising to my chest and neck then into my cheeks. I was mortified to be on show like this, but Nan was beaming back at me and loving every minute. I would so get my revenge on her.
“So ladies, Harold, watch closely as we demonstrate the beauty and seduction of the Mambo.”
Paolo pressed play on the CD player and stalked over to me with hunter’s eyes. He grabbed me tight around the waist making me give a startled cry. I heard Nan chuckle and I wanted to turn and give her a death stare but there wasn’t time. Before I knew what was happening he was pushing me forwards and backwards shimmying his hips and throwing me around. I was pretty sure the Mambo wasn’t supposed to be danced this close. Where was my dance space like they taught Baby in Dirty Dancing? I had zero arm space right now, but hey what did I know, I just went with the flow.
Once he had finished throwing me around, the hall erupted into applause and Paolo instructed them all to dance with their partner. I went to sit back down but he grabbed my hand and pulled me around the floor as he went around praising everyone.
An hour later when the class was finished he spun me round and held me close to him.
“I hope you will come back next week to help me demonstrate.” He said in a phoney Latino accent.
“I’m only here to visit my Nan, I doubt I’ll be here next week.” I gave a fake sigh as I tried to prize my hand out of his sweaty grasp.
“I must get your number then before you leave. I’m sure we can find time to schedule in some private practise.”
Urgh this guy was beyond slimy. I couldn’t wait to escape, I felt like I was the female skunk in those Pepe Le Pew cartoons from when I was a kid. He was all grabby and way too persistent for my liking.
“I’m sorry Paolo I have to get home to my husband and three kids.” I lied, but that just seemed to make him more eager.
“You can put my Granddaughter down now Paolo.” Nan appeared behind us and Paolo laughed as he kissed my hand and let me go then turned to do the same gesture to Nan.
“Oh get off, you see me every week, no need to kiss my hand like I’m the blooming Godfather.” She snapped and I couldn’t help stifling a laugh. She always knew how to put people in their place.
“She’s pregnant you know so no slipping her your number either Paolo, I know your moves.” She wagged her finger in his face now.
He held his hand to his chest in mock exasperation and tried to look offended.
“You might be easy on the eye but I know all about your little tete a tetes around these parts so mark my words Paul, you won’t get very far with my Ella, she gets all her sass from me.” I couldn’t help smirking at Nan’s reference to his real name and I linked arms with her as we headed back out to the car park, leaving a very flustered Paolo/Paul behind us.