I Almost Got Him to Say Yes to Dinner!
Tuesday work nights can be exciting too.
All is dark, dingy and quiet on the second floor of Shark Hotel, Sydney.
Not many people are there when I arrive - only the lady at reception and two to three couples outside on the wooden floor. I glance to the right to find that some of the guys and Carrie, members from our beginner’s performance group are already there. Seeing Carrie wear the tassels underneath her coat, I couldn’t help but laugh uncontrollably.
James… who I had been trying to grab dinner with for the past couple of weeks has arrived too… sitting calmly on the couch in his black shirt and trousers. Behind the couch to which James is sitting at, there is a one sided mirror room whereby one of the elite salsa/bachata couples were practising in front of a mobile strapped onto one of the corners of the room- just like you would for a GPS car. James and I joke around a bit before I scan the hotel and so happen to see Jason (ie. the friend who I met through Heartbreak X back at university) talking to the receptionist. My immediate reflex was to turn back, panicking.
“Ah shit shit shit shit shit shit,” I cussed underneath my breath. I am trying to hide but I can’t help but look back.
“What what what what?” Kris asks.
“ That guy there talking to the receptionist. I know him from uni- I don’t want him to see me like this.”
By “this” I meant- wearing the ugliest dress I had ever seen in my life performing my first salsa choreography routine…
I glance back and forth, feeling awkward- by now I was positive that he had seen me and had caught me looking.
“I don’t know if I should go say hi to him… I kind of really don’t want to…”
I decided to take the hiding approach.
I really, really didn’t want him to recognise me on stage- both nervous about performing but even more so wearing a dress I absolutely despised. I hadn’t seen Jason in more than two years since graduating from university and starting work. I tried to hide behind James, who was conveniently very tall.
“Li, you’re suddenly so shy!” James exclaimed.
“Yeah I’m incredibly embarrassed to have him see me like his gahhh…”
“I reckon he saw you.”
I think over and over before I decide to suck it up and go over to talk to him. I make small chat with him like oh what classes he was taking, bachata was slower etc. Jason is wearing a very crisp white shirt and tailored navy pants. I learnt that he had taken on salsa classes a lot earlier than me, took a break and now came back.
“So this is your first chorey then?” he asks.
“Yeah.”
“That’s good, how’s it going? Where’s your partner?”
“Ah, my partner isn’t here yet. And it’s okay but the costume is so ugly…” and I signal to Carrie who had now already put on the dress- all leopard, tassels, belt and backless detail.
“Oh wow, that dress looks so old! Who picked it?”
I didn’t respond and smile nervously. Where do I even begin with that? Thankfully, it’s time for Jason’s class and the conversation comes to an end.
I go back to change and a couple of minutes later, Frank- my middle aged Maserati driving, (suspected) real property investor, golf playing dance partner arrives. There is a big commotion about Frank’s movements as we practise- of how smooth he is when James comes over and jokes,
“So, Frank what’s for dinner? Have you eaten already?”
We both laugh, as this was one of the strategies we had discussed to crack the Frank enigma — what did he do for a living? How did he build up all of his wealth?
“Yes, I have eaten,” Frank smiles.
“So what did you eat? Did you go out and eat?” James continues.
“No I make at home,” Frank replies… giving no details to work with whatsoever.
“What did you make?”
“Lot’s of stir fries and hot pot! You can put anything into the hot pot.”
And then just like that- it was time for James, Frank, I and the other 6–7 couples to do our choreography performance run. I am incredibly stiff and finding it a bit hard to breathe- especially because I know Jason is on the other side watching… what if he went back to Heartbreak X and told him about how embarrassingly bad I was… “oh hey, you haven’t talked to her in two years but this is what you are missing out on…”
I am so grateful that I am positioned in the back, making me a lot less conspicuous. Thankfully- the song and its lyrics “Love can be so right, things can go so wrong.. No matter where, no matter what…” with its notable 8 counts on repeat, distinct beats and rhythm kept me in the zone and drowned out the rest of the noise. The performance was over before I knew it.
Oliver, the ten times world salsa champion coach comes to give a review performance talk with the group and Danni, our trainer looks pleased. I nudge closer to James, as I didn’t want to see Jason’s expression. James looks back and then it was time for them to change back.
James and I walk out together- my heart racing… this was the perfect opportunity before performance week ended next week (and I may never see him ever again) to ask him to dinner.
And magically, like music to my ears… he says,
“What are you doing now?”
I didn’t really respond immediately and continue walking- how do I play it cool but still sound keen? As they walk together to the stairs, it was time to say goodbye to the other couples in the group- Dave, Donovan, Ronnie and Paul.
Finally, James and I are alone, together. Carrie is still perfecting her styling with Danni at the back of the stairs- asking to nail every timing, every count, every beat…
James and I walk down the first flight of stairs together, and just as I was about to ask, “Wanna have dinner together now?”, Carrie almost screams, “Is that James?”.
Carrie and Danni lean down to look over the bar to which Danni says, “James, can we borrow you for 10 minutes?”
James says sure and runs back and I leave despite all urges to stay as my own partner and the rest of the group had left…
On the train back home, I excitedly typed to Gina on Messenger how close I was to asking him out to dinner… recounting every single minute detail including the bit about James being Heartbreak X’s friend and that connection there.
It was at that very moment to which I was hoping that James would message me… to which he did- recounting every little detail as to how Carrie monopolised Danni’s time for a good 45 minutes but then added a short sweet message at the end,
“You should have stayed”.
I couldn’t help smiling on the rest of the train ride back home.
That was how exciting Tuesdays could be.
