Dancing like nobody is watching is cathartic and she definitely needs this kind of release tonight. She feels weightless and free from responsibilities and commitments. Suddenly she flings herself to the ground, the urge to incorporate floor moves into her routine overtaking her. She goes to leap up, envisaging herself doing an impressive star jump, but as she does, her foot trips on … air? … and she finds herself tumbling back to the ground. She goes to spring back up but—

No!

Her knee thumps in pain.

‘Are you all right?’ Ed extends his arm to help her up, the music still thudding, plenty of people watching on.

Darcy looks up at him and instantly tears spring to her eyes. It hurts, it really hurts.

‘Come on, let’s go.’ He wraps his arm around her and she leans into him, hobbling as the pain in her knee throbs.

‘What about Mel?’ she asks suddenly. ‘We can’t leave without her.’

‘Oh, geez, you are drunk. We’ve already been through this.’

‘Oh.’ How much has she had to drink?

When they step out into the street, the cold air feels harsh but good against her face.

‘You’ve been holding out on me for all these years.’

Darcy isn’t sure what he means.

‘Those moves’ He shakes his head, smiling. ‘I wish I’d filmed you.’

‘Was everyone watching?’ She wonders if Ed feels like everything is swaying too.

He laughs, amusement thick on his breath. ‘It was quite the show.’

‘Speaking of shows, how are things with Zoe?’ It’s been on her mind all night, especially after he joked about bringing her earlier, but she hasn’t had enough confidence to ask until now.

‘Darcy.’

‘What?’ She acts innocent.

‘We’ve been through this. She’s my boss.’

‘Your boss who wants to rip your clothes off.’

Even Ed can’t help but smirk at this.

But a wave of nausea suddenly hits. ‘I think I’m going to be sick.’

She leans against a shopfront as Ed pulls her hair back. ‘If you must.’ He rubs her back. ‘Better out than in, I say. You’ll feel better for it tomorrow.’

But the urge to throw up disappears. Just having him rub her back is nice. Ed is so nice. He’s always so nice to her. She turns and, without another thought, leans in and kisses him.

Ed jerks back, as though startled by this, but then he responds, kissing her back, their lips exploring uncharted territory.

Ohhhh …

This is good.

Why haven’t we done this before?

But then Ed yanks back, his hands still holding her around the arms. His face is confused. ‘What are you doing?’

Shit!

What is she doing? She tries to concentrate but thoughts float away before she can focus on any of them.

‘Is this about Zoe?’

Zoe. Huh? ‘No, I don’t think so.’ It’s about … Drew. Oh God. She’s engaged. She has a fiancé.