Page 102 of Flirty Dancing

“Maybe you’ll sing it with me tonight?” Archer wanted to kick himself as soon as he said it. What the fuck was he thinking, asking to duet with Mateo Dixon?

Mateo studied him for a moment. “Maybe.”

“I mean… you don’t have to,” Archer backtracked. “I’m not that good.”

“I don’t care how good you are,” Mateo said. “And you’re right, it will be different with friends.”

“Okay,” Archer said. “If you want to.” He took a deep breath and tried to relax. Their legs touched the rest of the trip.

Mrs. C dropped them off in the square by the general store, and they went in there first to get a card, snacks, and decorations. Their next stop was the vintage boutique to pick out a gift. Archer found a kimono cardigan he knew Betty would love—black with pink flowers—and Mateo bought her a straw hat with a pink band that matched the cardigan.

Finally, the Hallfield bakery. Archer hadn’t been inside the last time, but he remembered the mouthwatering smell from when he walked by. The place was packed with sweaty tourists, giving them plenty of time to browse the cases while they waited for their turn. As per Hallfield’s claim to fame, there was a whole display case of pies. Archer hovered, trying not to drool.

“Does Betty like blueberry pie?” Mateo asked with a playful nudge. “Or is this for you?”

Archer chuckled. “I’m tempted! But you’re right, let’slook at the cupcakes.” Archer took Mateo’s arm and pulled him over to the next display case, which proved an effective distraction from the pies.

There were at least ten different types of cupcakes of all colors of the rainbow. Archer hemmed and hawed, trying to make up his mind. “Chocolate fudge, vanilla cream, strawberry cheesecake… Oh, man, how do we choose?” he moaned.

“Easy,” Mateo said, nodding at the worker waiting to take their order. “We get some of each.”

They left with two dozen cupcakes, although Archer already knew his favorite would be the chocolate fudge with rainbow frosting. Out on the sidewalk, he carefully balanced the boxes to check the time. “We still have half an hour until the next shuttle. Was there anywhere else you wanted to go?”

Mateo looked toward the park on one side of the square. Children squealed as they played in the spray from the fountain, and a stand by the entrance advertised ice-cold, freshly squeezed lemonade. “Do you want to go check out the park?”

“Yes. Love that idea.”

They strolled toward the green space, Archer holding the cupcake boxes like they were made of glass.

“You got those okay?” Mateo asked.

Archer nodded, biting his lip. “Yeah, but I’m a little freaked out that I’m going to drop them.”

“Here, give me your other bags,” Mateo said, reaching for the handles.

“Thanks,” Archer said, tingling when their fingertips touched. He knew it was ridiculous, because they were wrapped around each other on stage all the time, but this felt different, out shopping, just another couple in ahappy, summer crowd. So much like a date.Not a date,he reminded himself again.

Mateo stopped when they got to the lemonade stand. “Can I get you one?”

Not a date.“Oh, yes, please.”

After he paid, Mateo carried their drinks over to a shaded bench.

Archer set the yellow boxes tied with white string between them and frowned thoughtfully. “Would it be bad if we ate two of these before the party? Twenty-two is enough, right?”

“Well…” Mateo bent down and pulled a small box out of one of his shopping bags. “I thought you might say that.” He opened the box to reveal two of the rainbow chocolate fudge cupcakes.

Archer’s jaw dropped. “You… are my new favorite person. I didn’t even notice you buying those!”

Mateo looked pleased with himself. “I saw the way you were looking at them. I snuck another order in when they were packing up the first one. Here.” He handed Archer one of the cupcakes, then pulled the other out.

Archer peeled off the crinkly gold wrapper and licked his lips. “It’s so beautiful I almost don’t want to ruin it.” He was also aware that there was no way to eat this without getting icing all over his face.

“Cupcakes are meant to be eaten,” Mateo said, then opened wide and took a big bite. The rainbow icing left a smear over his lips. Mateo laughed and licked it off.

Archer took a bite of his too, taste buds humming at the rich fudge flavor and burst of vanilla sweetness from the frosting. “Oh my God,” he mumbled through a mouthful. “This is incredible.”

“Mm-hmm,” Mateo agreed, licking icing off his finger.“So good.” He took another bite, then jammed the rest of it in his mouth. He laughed, wiping at his chin. “I’ve got icing everywhere, don’t I?”

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