At this time, we’re gonna ask everyone to find their seats for the first course.
“For the record,” Olga chimed in, “it was Bush two, not one, okay?”
“Right, right. Bush two. Anyway, you must be doing something right that she decided to show you the full circus.”
A waiter passed and took their drink orders just as Tía Lola and Tía Ana made their way to the table.
“Before anyone gets any ideas, that centerpiece is mine!” Lola proclaimed.
Tía Ana collapsed onto a banquet chair.
“？Ay! I can’t keep up with your Tío Richie, kids! He still can dance like he’s thirty years old!” She grabbed the waiter, ordered a cocktail, and went mindlessly to place her napkin on her lap when she stopped suddenly to appraise the piece of fabric. “？Qué elegante, Olga!” she said as she raised her eyebrows. “You always know the right touch.”
As Olga’s smile broadened to a cat’s grin, her aunt’s face fell. Olga followed her gaze to the dance floor, which had been cleared of all bodies save two: Tío Richie and Tía ChaCha, who were engaged in a salsa to an old La India song. This was nothing new at family affairs. The former spouses argued at the drop of a dime, but on the dance floor, they couldn’t stay away from each other, much to Tía Ana’s horror. Olga could see her aunt moving to fetch her husband, which she knew would devolve into a scene.
“Titi, no. The song’s almost over, you know they don’t mean anything by it.”
“Do I, Olga?” Ana replied, her voice tight. “I’m tired of this shit. If he likes the way she dances so much, he can go back to her!” She started to rise.
“？Ana, siéntate!” Lola said quietly as she grabbed her sister-in-law’s forearm.
Matteo, who had been quietly looking on, whispered excuse me and got up from the table. Everyone’s eyes followed him as he casually walked onto the dance floor and asked to cut in. Richie demurred, leaving his ex-wife to dance with Matteo while he found his seat next to his current wife. He kissed her cheek as he sat down and, from the smile on Ana’s face, everyone exhaled knowing the storm clouds had passed, at least for now.
“That was smooth,” Prieto declared.
“And,” Titi Lola chimed in. “？Mira! He’s a good dancer.”
She was right. On the dance floor, Matteo effortlessly guided ChaCha into a cross body lead with a double inside turn, followed by a copa.
“You know what they say about good dancers.…” Lola giggled mischievously. “I told you it would be fine, nena.”
“So, what’s wrong with him, hermana?” Prieto asked.
Olga sighed. “So, so many things. Which, I think, is why he might be perfect.”
For the rest of the night—a blur of golden-era hip-hop, freestyle, salsa classics, Motown, and disco—Olga barely had a chance to dance with her date, such was the demand for his skills among the tías and primas. Not just in her family, but Julio’s, too.
This one’s for the lovers out there! Can I get all my lovers up here right now?
Olga was at the bar chattering with one of the other bridesmaids and could see Matteo looking for her from the dance floor, where he tried to pry himself away from Mabel’s sister, Isabel. They made eye contact just as Luther began to sing “Here and Now” and Olga walked over to join him.
“Damn, girl, I’ve been waiting for my chance to slow dance with you all night!”
“Well, you can’t help it if you’re a hot property!” Olga laughed.
“Everyone’s really cool. Making me feel very glad I came.”
“So,” she asked with a bit of trepidation, “we’re good, then? Beef squashed?”
“You didn’t hear me say I was your bae back there?” he asked.
Olga laughed. “Yes. And it made me happy. And relieved I didn’t run you off.”
“The flowers were a nice touch. Besides, how could I run from all this?” He gestured towards her, which made them both laugh since not even Matteo could not pretend that this bridesmaid’s dress was a good look for her.
“Well, I mean, I know what’s under that dress, right?”
She giggled and as the song faded into “Off the Wall,” Prieto approached them.
“Hey sis, can I talk to you for a minute?” Prieto asked. Olga had been wondering when this would happen. Mabel had already made her way to the dance floor—this was one of her favorite songs—and was all too eager for her chance to dance with Matteo, practically pulling him from Olga anyway.