Page 47 of Flirty Dancing

“Yes, you did,” Archer assured him. “And the one before. But we should probably get going if we’re going to do our shopping and get the shuttle back for Mrs. C.”

Mateo moaned. “I don’t know if I can get up. Thank God we don’t have to dance tonight.”

“No kidding.” Archer stood and held out a hand to Mateo. “Come on, I’ll help you.”

Mateo took his hand and Archer hauled him to his feet and… neither of them let go. They held hands down the stairs and through the crowded pavilion until they reached the main thoroughfare and it felt like too much space around them to keep holding on.

Mateo paused outside the entrance, jamming his hands in his pockets and nodding at the nearby pharmacy. “I’m going to head in here.”

“Okay.” Archer realized he was mirroring Mateo’s posture and took his hands out of his pockets. “I’d better go find Caleb.”

“Right.” Mateo turned to go.

“Right… Hey, Mateo?”

He paused again. “Yeah?”

“Thanks. That was fun.”

“Yeah.” Mateo nodded, eyes on a tuft of grass poking through the sidewalk crack. “It was.”

Archer found Caleb in the pub with Betty and a few of the others, a pile of shopping bags at his feet.

“There you are!” he cried when he spotted Archer. “How was the pie?”

“Urgh,” Archer moaned, slumping into the chair between Caleb and Betty. “Delicious, unfortunately, and plentiful. How are you feeling?”

“Amazing! The cutest boutique opened since last summer. It’s all reclaimed, remade vintage stuff. Look at this hat I got…” Caleb turned to rummage through a bag.

Archer shook his head. Nothing ever threw off Caleb for long. He ordered a beer from the server and sipped it as he dutifully admired Caleb’s purchases. Then, with Caleb safely a few drinks in and exceedingly cheerful, Archer made a quick solo trip to the general store. He cast a wistful look at the used bookstore on his way but didn’t have time to check it out before they had to meet at the shuttle and head back.

Archer climbed into the van and settled into the back row with Caleb this time. He closed his eyes as Caleb chattered, smiling, the taste of blueberries still on his tongue.

11Happy Birthday

The weight of Caleb’s warm body climbing into bed with him wrenched Archer from his sleep early Tuesday morning. “Happy birthday, Archer!” Caleb whispered. “Are you awake?”

“Hmm?” Archer mumbled, rubbing his eyes. “I am now. And how the hell did you know it was my birthday?”

Caleb slid an arm around him and burrowed up against his side, the fresh scent of his shower gel settling over them. “Betty saw your ID on Sunday when you ordered your beer. She might have told everyone.” He pecked Archer on the cheek. “Hope that’s okay?”

Archer considered. He loved birthdays when he was younger, using them to wheedle more ice cream or musical soundtracks out of his parents. But birthdays became less fun as his twenties crept by. And if twenty-seven was maybe too old, twenty-eightdefinitelywas. “It’s okay,” he decided. Better to let his friends distract him for the day.

“Great!” Caleb sat up and patted Archer’s thigh. “Then get up! There’s a surprise for you in ten minutes.”

“Is it a surprise if you tell me it’s a surprise?” Archer wondered out loud as he searched for a wearable shirt from his collection on the floor.

“Hmm, good point. Make sure you act surprised, okay?”

Caleb allowed him a minute to brush his teeth, then dragged him to the dining hall. He was nearly vibrating as Archer loaded his plate with eggs and bacon, then skipped ahead of him into the dining area.

An enthusiastic chorus of “surprise!” greeted Archer when he stepped through the doorway. He did his best to look surprised through the grin stretching over his face. The dancers were crowded around a table decorated with a white and sky-blue polka-dot tablecloth, matching napkins and paper plates, and a cake. The rest of the dining hall paused to clap and cheer for him, too.

“Happy birthday!” Betty squealed, darting out from behind the table and throwing her arms around him.

Archer laughed before giving her a stern look. “I hear you’re the one that gave it away?”

“Don’t be mad! I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to see your birthday, it just happened. And it was impossible to ignore since it was only two days away!”

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