Page 104 of Flirty Dancing

“Thanks, Archie. Now your turn!”

He threw his best puppy dog eyes at Mateo. “Are you in? Time for ‘Paradise’?”

Mateo’s gaze flitted around the room, then settled back on Archer. “Sure.”

“Yes!” Archer yelped, a few drinks in himself. “Let’s go.” He gave instructions to Harley, then took Mateo’s hand and pulled him up to the mics.

“I guess you usually do Meat Loaf’s part,” Mateo said. He ran a hand through his hair.

“It’s okay, I’ll be the woman.” Archer grinned. “You always lead, after all. I’ve got this.”

Mateo blew out a breath. “Okay.”

He’s nervous,Archer realized. “Hey… if you don’t want—”

“No, I do.” Mateo smiled. “It’s fine.”

“Okay.” Archer nodded at Harley.

Archer bopped along to the opening guitar riff, gripping his mic. He’d been so concerned about Mateo he forgot to be nervous himself. Too late now.

Mateo started to sing. His voice was hesitant for the first few notes until Archer smiled at him, nodding. Mateo started tapping the beat on his thigh, and his voice got stronger.

Man, he was a good singer. Archer knew that, of course, but hearing it happen, right here in front of him… He was so enamored he almost missed his first line, but managed to hit it in time.

Mateo’s eyebrows went up and his smile grew as Archer sang. He nodded, impressed, then jumped in with his part again. A change came over Mateo as Archer watched—suddenly, Mateo was the horny teenage boy in the song, desperate to get laid.

Archer relaxed and started to dance. It really was a glorious song, and he decided to throw himself into his love-me-or-else role. It was not a subtle one, after all.

Mateo played off Archer’s energy, channeling Meat Loaf’s wide eyes and hair tossing until they were wailing at each other, music crescendoing around them. They were laughing when they finished, sweaty and out of breath.

The audience cheered for them, hooting and clapping as Archer and Mateo took their seats again.

“That was fun.” Mateo smiled, wiping his brow. “Thanks for getting me up there.”

“That was so good, guys!” Betty whooped. “Archer, you were very convincing as a psycho girlfriend.”

He poked her, grinning. “Thanks, you.”

The room got louder as others took their turn. Betty sang again—“Barracuda” this time—then even Eileen took a turn with “Cecilia.”

Most of them were excellent singers, but no one cared about the ones who weren’t, and everyone joined in for a loud, drunken “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life.”

Betty bounced over as midnight ticked by and dropped onto Archer’s lap. “Will you guyspleasesing another duet?” she pleaded. “Please.”

“What did you have in mind?” Archer asked.

She drew an imaginary marquee with her hand. “A big fat Broadway number! Like, we’re talking Andrew Lloyd Webber–big.”

Archer looked at Mateo. “I’m game if you are.”

“What song?” Mateo asked.

“Hmm, lemme see.” Betty stood and reached for the iPad, then scrolled with great concentration. “Ooh! Ooh! Yes! I’ve got it!”

“Which one?” Archer craned his neck.

She hugged the screen to her chest. “No peeking! You’ll find out in a sec.” She shooed them up to the mic. “Sing your little hearts out, boys.”

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