Never a Perfect Moment by Cathy Cole Page B

awkward,” said Ollie, loudly.
    Eve paled. Polly had spent the whole wedding wanting Ollie to get in touch. Now all she wanted to do was kick him for being an insensitive idiot. Eve was clearly uncomfortable enough, did Ollie really have to point it out to everyone? Once again, the question raised its head. How could she ever go out with someone like Ollie?
    â€œDo you want to go home, Eve?” she said stiffly. “Our shift is almost over.”
    Eve was watching the brides as they danced. “Are their parents here?” she asked.
    Lila pointed to a table of older people, all sitting together and talking over bottles of wine. Eve sat down at the nearest table. She looked almost winded.
    â€œMaybe there’s hope for me yet,” she said.
    Brody broke into a rousing tune that saw a surge of people heading for the dance floor.
    â€œCatchy,” said Josh. Polly saw his eyes flicker towards Lila.
    Polly chanced a glance at Ollie, and saw that he was looking at her steadily. “Dance?” he said.
    Polly took his hand and followed him to the dance floor in a daze. This was unexpected. Was he giving her another chance? What would happen now?
    Rhi had joined in on the song. She sang with Brody, their feet tapping the stage in rhythm.
    It was impossible to resist the Charleston beat. Josh had joined them now, and Lila too. Polly threw herself into the music, whirling under Ollie’s arms and stamping her feet with the rest of the room.
    â€œWow,” said Eve breathlessly as the song came to an end and the room broke into cheers. “I am so having a twenties theme for my next party. Who’s coming?”
    â€œMe!” Ollie said, laughing.
    â€œFine, twist my arm,” said Josh.
    The tempo changed. Brody and Rhi segued into a slow song that had couples moving closer together on the dance floor.
    â€œNothing like a song about broken hearts to get the party going,” said Josh.
    Ollie was about to pull Polly towards him. But she didn’t know what to say to him – should she apologize for turning him away last night? Or wait for him to say something? Polly’s hands were sweaty. Desperate for a distraction, she grabbed Josh’s hand instead.
    â€œAsk Lila to dance,” she said in a low voice.
    â€œI don’t know where she is,” said Josh, blushing.
    â€œShe’s right here… ” Polly’s voice trailed away. Lila had been dancing beside her just a moment ago, but now she’d gone.
    â€œThere!” Polly pointed towards a pale green feathery headdress across the dance floor. She gave Josh a little push in the small of the back, propelling him across the marquee to where Lila was standing by the bar. “Go on! What have you got to lose?”
    â€œFine,” Josh sighed. “I’ll ask her. Wish me luck.”
    You won’t need luck.
    The words died before they reached Polly’s lips as the people on the dance floor shifted and they could see Lila more clearly. Leaning across the bar, oblivious to the fact she was being watched, Lila was kissing the bartender.
    â€œRight,” said Josh, turning back around. In an agony of embarrassment, Polly caught him by the arm.
    â€œDon’t think badly of Lila, Josh. She’s still grieving about Ryan. She’s confused… ”
    Josh shook her hand off. “Maybe Lila isn’t the girl I thought she was.”
    Lila pulled back from the bartender, laughing. She stopped abruptly as she saw Josh’s back disappearing through the crowd. As Polly caught her eye, she looked furious.
    Polly had a horrible feeling she had just put her nose where it wasn’t wanted.

ELEVEN
    There was a burst of applause. People in the room were standing up around their tables, clapping hard as Rhi and Brody took their final bows, smiling and waving, and prepared to leave the stage.
    When Polly looked back at the bar, Lila and the bartender had