Page 30 of Flirty Dancing

Stewart nodded solemnly. “Places, please.”

Archer took his spot in the wings next to Betty and rolled his neck, pulse racing. The audience hummed behind the curtain, a mass of excited voices. This was it.

Then Francisco’s announcement boomed. “Welcome to Shady Queens Cabaret! We are so pleased to welcome you to this season’s inaugural performance. Please sit back, relax, and let us entertain you as we travel back in time to the era of leisure suits and disco balls, Cher and Studio 54. We give you…Club Retro!”

“Disco Inferno” started blasting as the curtain rose. Archer let the smile stretch across his face, and he was on stage, following the chain of shimmying dancers. With the lights bright on him, he couldn’t see the audience in the darkened theater but he could hear the cheering over the music. He took Betty’s hand, and she whirled in front of him, her dress sparkling.

They discoed, they hustled, they spun and boogied and dolphined their way through the numbers, sequins flashing and smiles shining.

The audience roared when they struck their final pose. The dancers bowed and bowed again. It was the most fun he’d had performing since he was a kid, and Archercouldn’t believe he got to do this twelve times per week for three more months.

The lights went up, and they waited for photo opportunities with the audience. The resort guests tended toward retirement age, but there were also families and other younger, child-free couples. Eileen Lamb was there, snapping pictures and waving at Mateo.

Once they made their way backstage and the theater emptied, they had time to grab a snack and stretch before the second show.

After the second performance, Stewart was waiting, eyes moist. He sniffled. “You have made this old director so proud. But…” He clapped his hands. “We have work to do! I’ll see you all back here tomorrow morning at eight—”

A chorus of groans cut him off.

“Alright, alright… nine. But not one second later!”

Stewart hugged every one of them before departing, and then they milled around, hugging each other, celebrating their first night, not ready to change out of their costumes quite yet. Archer knew this was just a fun summer job for most of them, but that didn’t lessen the sense of pride and accomplishment threatening to burst his heart in that sweaty crowd. He was a professional dancer. He was doing it.

“Hey.” Caleb took Archer’s hand, grinning at him. Beads of sweat glistened on Caleb’s forehead. He leaned in and gently brushed his lips over Archer’s. Archer’s heart was pounding from the adrenaline still, and his body responded accordingly. He kissed Caleb back and shivered when Caleb’s fingers trailed over the nape of his neck. “You did so great,” Caleb whispered, now stroking Archer’s cheek with his thumb. “How did that feel?”

“Amazing,” Archer said, goose bumps stippling his skin.

Caleb kissed him again. “Let’s go party.”

They peeled their costumes off and hung them up on their racks, then went back to the dorm to shower and change. When Archer got to his room after his shower, he was dripping and wrapped in a towel. He froze in the hallway at his door. There was a sock on the doorknob.

“What the…?” he muttered. It had to be the B-Boys in there… unless Caleb wanted some alone time? Archer looked up and down the hall.Well, now what?He hadn’t brought a change of clothes to the shower, and all he had with him was his sweaty rehearsal gear. He looked up and down the hallway again before dropping his toiletry bag and tank top. He eyed his dance belt. He really didn’t want to put it back on again. But his only other option was to go commando under his tights. He stood there, holding his dance belt and tights and chewing his lip, when Caleb appeared. He was fresh from the shower and looked like a million bucks in slim-fitting white shorts and an unbuttoned blue striped shirt.

He cocked an eyebrow when he saw Archer standing there, then cackled at the doorknob. “Guess the Bs were horny after the show.” He studied Archer. “But your clothes are in there, aren’t they?”

Archer sighed. “Yes, except for these.” He held up his belt and tights.

Caleb laughed again. “Come on, let’s find you some other clothes.”

They went down the hall to Dominik, Gage, River, and Harley’s room, but there was no answer when they knocked. The dorm was otherwise quiet, most of the staff probably already at the cabin, working, or in bed for their early start.

Caleb clapped Archer on the shoulder. “We’ll find you something at the cabin.”

Archer groaned. He decided to wear the dance belt and slid it back on under his towel, followed by his tights and tank top. He left his toiletry bag and towel hanging in the bathroom.

Caleb smirked at him when he appeared back in the hallway. “Don’t worry, you look hot.”

Archer sighed and scratched at his tights.

They made the trek down to the cabin. The rest of the dancers were already there—even Mateo, but minus Beau and Ben, of course—celebrating their successful opening night. Betty and Seta were on the coffee table doing a rather dirty version of their “Ladies’ Night” routine. Dominik and Harley were dancing around the coffee table.

“Perfect, there’s Mateo,” Caleb murmured in his ear. “Go ask him.”

“I’m not gonna—” but Caleb had already pushed him toward Mateo.

“Um, hi,” Archer said when Mateo looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

“Did someone steal your clothes again?” Mateo asked.

---