Let's Play, page 8
Stretches over, Escorpião started going over the fundamentals with them. Ginga, meia lua de frente, esquiva, cocorinha…
The newbies eventually had to pair off and practice their moves on each other. She was with Matt. Gabriela was having a wonderful time. She and Matt laughed every time they messed up and tried to help each other out the best way they could. The wider group was similarly occupied. At one point, when she and Matt got into a little laughing fit, she caught Sean’s eyes, and he was frowning. Almost immediately, he adjusted his face to a tight smile. She wondered what that was about.
When they broke for some water before the roda, Sean came over to her carrying a tambourine.
‘Do you want to try out the pandeiro?’ His smile was a lot more relaxed this time.
‘Pandeiro?’
‘Tambourine,’ he answered, translating.
‘Ah! Sure.’
Sean demonstrated the simple rhythm required for the roda, and she copied it easily. Then, Mestre Escorpião signalled that it was time. Sean encouraged her to join the musicians to play the pandeiro, with him in the centre on the main instrument, the berimbau. He started playing first and sang a hauntingly beautiful song to open the roda. His voice really was beautiful. Then, when the student on the drums started playing, he indicated with a nod that she could join in with the pandeiro.
It was a whole different experience being one of the musicians tonight. There was an energy that was building in the room, and they were the ones that were driving it. The students in the roda playing Capoeira dodged and weaved and tricked their opponents, all with cunning smiles on their faces. At the end of every pairing, they shook the hand of their opponent, touched their chest where their heart is or nodded as a sign of respect to each other.
After a little while, both she and Sean were relieved of playing the berimbau and pandeiro. She was about to take up a position with the rest of the students around the roda, clapping and singing, when Sean stopped her.
‘Let’s play.’
She accepted his request with an incline of her head. They crouched at the foot of the berimbau, waiting for the two students in the roda at that moment to finish. When it was their turn, they both did an aú, a cartwheel, to enter the roda. Gabriela felt a little more confident than in the last class. She executed the kicks that she knew and in turn did an esquiva, which was an escape, whenever Sean kicked at her. He did all of these with a cunning grin on his face. Then, she decided to try out a kick that Mestre Escorpião had taught them earlier tonight called the meia lua de compasso, compass half-moon. This kick involved mimicking a drawing compass shape with your hands wide on the floor, your bottom up, then swinging one leg up and around as if you were drawing a semi-circle with a compass. Then, something happened that she did not expect. Sean easily avoided her kick by going under it. While her kick was still in progress, he slowly hooked one of his own feet around her supporting foot’s ankle and pulled, effectively pulling her leg right out from under her. She fell flat on her arse.
Sean grinned and then extended a hand to help her up. She took it and grinned back. She knew that this bump on the behind was part and parcel of the learning process.
As the roda wound down, Mestre Escorpião, who was now on the atabaque, the drum, drastically changed the rhythm. Gabriela recognised the rhythm to be samba.
Someone shouted, ‘Samba de roda!’ Then, instead of a Capoeira roda, it became a samba circle. The students stopped playing Capoeira but started challenging each other to a samba battle. It reminded Gabriela a little of that famous dance battle in the musical, West Side Story. It was so much fun to see. Next thing she knew, the new guy, Matt, grabbed her hand and pulled her into the circle for a dance. He smiled, and she laughed, and they enjoyed themselves. Next, Oksana and another one of the students took a turn in the samba circle. The energy in the room was phenomenal right up to the moment Mestre Escorpião took his drumming up to a crescendo, held it there, and then ended the music with one final ‘bang’. Everyone was jovial, and hugs went around the room. Even Matt gave her a hug. Caught up in the fun of it all, she happily reciprocated. The only thing that tainted the moment was when her eyes found Sean’s when she was still in Matt’s embrace. If she didn’t know better, she could have sworn his bright blue eyes looked dark. Everyone seemed to be smiling and laughing, except for Sean.
What is up with him?
The impromptu party broke up, and people started to leave. On her way to her bag, one of the girls, whom she had met earlier, started chatting with her.
‘Hey, Gabriela, you had some nice moves out there,’ said Jennifer happily.
‘You weren’t so bad yourself.’
‘So, are you coming to Guarana with us tonight?’ Jennifer enquired.
‘What’s that?
‘A Brazilian nightclub. Some of us are going to grab some food and forro the night away.’
Gabriela understood now. ‘Yeah, Sean invited me. I’m looking forward to it. Though I don’t know how to forro. Sean said he’d teach me.’
‘You’ll get it in no time!’
Gabriela and Jennifer chatted away quite happily and then Oksana joined them too.
Then Jennifer asked, ‘So, how long have you and Sean been together?’
Gabriela tensed and then tried to keep an easy smile on her face. She and Sean hadn’t had that conversation themselves yet and she didn’t want to jinx anything by saying too much.
‘We’re not. I mean, we only met recently.’
A knowing look passed between Jennifer and Oksana. The only thing was, Gabriela was the only one who didn’t know what the look meant.
Thankfully, Sean rescued her at that moment.
‘Are these two busy bodies bothering you?’
Jennifer rolled her eyes at him. ‘We’re just keeping your… friend, company, Raposo,’ she said innocently.
‘Sure you were!’ Sean smiled sardonically and then laughed.
After that, Gabriela went with Jennifer and Oksana to the changing rooms, where they showered and changed for tonight’s festivities.
Before she’d walked out of the studio, though, Sean grabbed her hand, lowered his head and spoke into her ear so that only she could hear.
‘I’ll meet you out front whenever you’re ready.’
Gabriela could smell the scent that was his and his alone. The scent she was now so intimately familiar with. Their eyes met, and a promise passed between them.
Because she didn’t trust herself to speak, she only nodded and left with the girls.
CHAPTER 8
- rolê -
Sean stood outside the Sports Centre entrance chatting with five of the other guys from the school, including Mestre Escorpião. They were all suitably dressed, semi-formally, for the night ahead. He had elected to wear a navy, long-sleeved shirt, dark trousers and brown leather shoes. It was the unofficial tradition of the Jogo Arrepiado Capoeira to go out to dance forro on Friday nights. The people who went varied every week and whenever Sean joined them, he always enjoyed himself. Most of the people in the school, he’d known for years and he always felt at ease in their company. They were a little family.
The club they usually went to, Guarana, was always buzzing. A bonus was that it also served food, which was perfect because they were always starving after an energised class. The club was also never short of beautiful women who wanted to dance and on occasion, more.
This Friday, Sean realised, felt more special, though. For the hundredth time, it felt, he glanced inside for Gabriela. He’d spent two days without seeing her, and it had been a kind of torture. In this time, he’d been managing an internal audit at his office, meeting with his investors and doing the paperwork to acquire the new Knightsbridge property, and through all of it, the one constant on his mind was Gabriela Espinosa. He’d never met anyone quite like her. She was smart, funny, ambitious and sexy as hell! He couldn’t remember the last time a woman had turned him on as much as she had. It was very difficult to keep his body in check whenever he was near her and also, to keep his irritation at bay when he saw the new student Matthew with his hands on her. He’d noted the way Matthew had looked at her that first night. He’d watched as Matthew scanned her up and down with obvious interest. He’d caught himself grinding his teeth. Then, again tonight, as she danced with Matthew in Samba de Roda and then he’d hugged her after. He realised that he had no right to feel this annoyed. He had no claim on Gabriela. They’d slept with each other and hung out, but that was it.
Christ, they’d only just met, and he was drawn to her in the most primal way. On top of all of that, she seemed to be enjoying this sport which he loved so much and devoted so much of his life to. She seemed to be fitting right in with some of the senior students too. She fit into his world…
Sean needed to put the matter of Gabriela into perspective. He enjoyed her company, and they obviously had great chemistry. He needed to focus on that and only that.
Not long after, he heard chattering women’s voices and looked over to the entrance to see if it was coming from the ladies they were waiting for. It was. They all looked lovely as always, but Sean only had eyes for one of them.
Gabriela!
She was a knockout. She was wearing a burgundy, cocktail-style dress with thin straps and a ‘v’ neckline that perfectly accentuated her breasts. He held her eyes as she walked out, desire written all over his face.
It was a cool spring evening, so she carried her jacket over one arm and her gym bag in the other. He quickly took the bag from her.
‘Wait here,’ he told her. ‘I’ll put our bags in my car. I’ll leave it parked here and get it tomorrow.
She nodded. ‘Ok,’ she said huskily.
◆◆◆
Sean left them, went to his car and was back in a flash. The other girls had elected to leave their things in lockers in the Centre or in their respective vehicles. The ten of them piled into a couple of black cabs and arrived at club Guarana in under fifteen minutes. It had a great vibe, and the music sounded amazing. They had an area reserved and they quickly ordered some delicious morsels. Sean helped her pick as she hadn’t had much experience with Brazilian food. Everything he helped her select tasted amazing. And everyone was nice and welcoming to her, so she felt like part of the group.
When they’d finished their food, the group either paired off and hit the dance floor or were asked to dance by one of the club’s other patrons.
‘So, are you going to ask me to dance or what?’ Gabriela asked. They were the only ones still at the table and Sean had barely taken his eyes off her. Under his gaze, she felt like the most desirable woman in the world.
He inclined his head. ‘Yes, I think we should.’
He took her to the dancefloor and gave her a quick demonstration. There were some similarities to salsa, so that made it easier for her. Pretty soon, Sean had swept her around the dance floor, and she was fully enjoying herself. He was an excellent dancer and very good at leading.
After a while, they headed back to the table and before she could take her place next to Sean, Jennifer, Oksana and the other girl with them, Kemi, grabbed her and pulled her back out to join them. The girls had a good laugh. After a song, a couple of guys came over to them and asked Gabriela and Oksana to dance. Gabriela hesitated for a second.
‘Go on, Gabriela,’ shouted Jennifer encouragingly over the music. Things are relaxed here. Sean won’t care. He dances with lots of girls here too.’
Not that she wouldn’t have danced with the guy if she really wanted to, Sean or no, as she was a grown woman. Her hesitation was out of a sense to courtesy. And though as yet undefined, there was definitely something between them. Jennifer’s words did, however, give the final nudge to not overthink this. She took guy’s hand, and they started dancing.
‘I’m new to this dance to so go easy on me,’ she shouted over the music, but had to get close to his ear to make sure he heard her. He smiled and nodded, and they carried on.
They danced about three songs when Gabriela realised she needed a drink. Dancing forró was fun, but the energy of it really took it out of you. She excused herself from her dance partner and headed back to the table. When she got there, Sean was nowhere in sight. Only Escorpião and another student, Luís, were there, deep in conversation. She sat down and sipped on her caipirinha, an amazing cocktail made with cachaça, which is a Brazilian spirit, brown sugar and lime.
She scanned the club, trying to spot Sean. She wondered if he was dancing with someone else, but she quickly realised he wasn’t dancing. Then, there was a parting of the crowd and she spotted him from the back over at the bar. And, he wasn’t alone. There was a leggy brunette next to him. Her hand caressing his back confirmed that she wasn’t just some random club-goer. When she leaned over and started whispering something in his ear, there was no doubt in her mind that he knew her.
Gabriela suddenly started feeling sick to her stomach. She knew she had no right to be reacting this way. Two weeks ago, she didn’t even know Sean existed. Sure they’d slept together, and amazing though it was, in the grand scheme of things, it didn’t really mean anything. There were no agreements, no declarations, nothing of this nature made between them. He could do as he pleased. They both could.
Suddenly, Jennifer and Oksana dropped down on the chairs next to her, chattering. Gabriela had barely acknowledged them, her eyes still glued to Sean and the woman.
‘Where’s Sean?’ It was Jennifer.
She received no answer from Gabriela, though Jennifer did follow the line of her gaze.
Jennifer went on, poking Oksana with one hand and pointing to where Sean was with the other woman, ‘Wait, is that Bruna with Sean?’
‘Oh my God,’ exclaimed Oksana. ‘That conniving little…’
Gabriela’s interest swung over to Jennifer and Oksana upon hearing these little titbits.
‘Who’s Bruna?’ she asked.
Jennifer met Gabriela’s eyes, ‘Well… ah…’
In the very short time that she had known Jennifer, she hadn’t come across as a person who was ever lost for words. There was clearly a lot more going on here than Gabriela could ever hope to guess.
‘She Sean’s girlfriend,’ Oksana supplied, her tone almost apologetic.
Gabriela felt like someone had punched her in her stomach, and she got a sudden headache.
‘Ex!’ Jennifer quickly found her tongue again and added.
But it was already too late. Gabriela had stopped listening to everything after Oksana said the word ‘girlfriend’.
She got to her feet shakily, mechanically drained the rest of her caipirinha and grabbed her handbag and jacket.
‘I’ll be back. I need to use the ladies’ room.’ Gabriela knew that she was lying, but at that moment she really didn’t care. All she knew was that she needed to get out of there before she made a complete idiot of herself. She didn’t even notice the regretful looks on Jennifer and Oksana’s faces before she left the table.
She blindly kept walking. The front door was in the other direction to the bar. She walked as fast as her heels would take her and didn’t even feel it when to cool spring air of London hit her face as she stepped onto the street.
◆◆◆
The absolute last person Sean wanted to run into tonight was Bruna. But he supposed it made sense to run into a Brasileira in a Brazilian club. Hell, it’s the same place he had met her in the first place a year and a half ago.
He extricated himself from her as quickly as he could, without being rude and headed back to the table, two drinks in hand, a scotch for himself and another caipirinha for Gabriela. When he got closer to the table and saw that she wasn’t there, he wondered if she was still dancing with that douche, not that he’d ever met the guy she was dancing with. He just didn’t enjoy watching other men touch her. So he’d got up and gone to the bar. He wanted to do anything but watch that guy holding her. And that’s where he’d bumped into his ex, Bruna Nazário de Lima.
He put the drinks down and took his seat. A scan of the dance floor told him she was no longer there. And another of their table showed that her little handbag was missing.
She must be in the bathroom, I guess.
Then his eyes fell on Jen and Oksana. There was something akin to guilt written over both of their faces. His brow knitted.
‘What happened?’ His tone was suspicious.
He’d known these two ladies for a while, Jen for two years and Oksana for nearly a decade. They had joined Jogo Arrepiado Capoeira at different times, but they had become fast friends. Even though Oksana had joined with her old university friend Luna, she had made a strong connection with Jennifer too. They were two peas in a pod, and they had a penchant for getting into trouble and doing and saying things they shouldn’t. They were like his younger sisters in some ways.
He looked around again. There was still no sign of Gabriela. He looked back at Jen and Oksana and somehow, they managed to look even guiltier.
‘Where’s Gabriela?’ Now he knew for sure something was wrong.
Oksana spoke first. ‘Well… she saw you over at the bar with Bruna… and we… mentioned her name… and—’
Jen interrupted, ‘Gabriela asked who Bruna was, and this big mouth over here told her she was your girlfriend.’
‘You did what?!’ Sean shouted.
Jen went on, ‘I tried to explain that it was your ex girlfriend, but I don’t know if she heard that part. She just grabbed her bag and jacket and said she was going to the bathroom.’
Sean jumped into action almost instantaneously. He grabbed his own jacket and headed in the direction of the ladies room. He already had a sinking feeling that he would not find her there.
When he got there, he stopped a woman who was about to go in and asked her to check if there was a Gabriela inside. She came back out within a few seconds and confirmed what, in his gut, he already knew, which was that Gabriela had walked out when she was told that Bruna was his girlfriend.
He had to find her. He went outside and pulled his phone out of his pocket and called her. It rang out and then went to voicemail, her beautiful voice asking him to leave a message. He cut the line and called again. Same thing. So he texted her.
