Page 65 of Flirty Dancing

“Speaking of…” Dominik looked around. “… where are they?”

“I don’t know. It’s five forty-five, though. And they haven’t answered any texts.”

Dominik cringed. “Has Mateo noticed yet?”

They swiveled to look at him just as he strode over to Harley.

“Harley,” Mateo said, mildly annoyed.

“What?” Harley replied without looking up from his phone.

“It’s Thursday.”

Harley blinked up at him. “Yeah?”

Mateo rubbed his forehead. “Thursday isAround the World.”

“Oh.” Harley looked down at hisBroadwaycostume. “Right.”

Mateo muttered something, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Look,” he said, teeth clenched. “I need you to get it the fuck together.”

“Yeah, yeah, I’m on it,” Harley muttered. “Geez.”

“I don’t think he’s noticed yet,” Archer whispered to Dominik.

Right then, Mateo’s head snapped over, staring right at Archer.

Archer widened his gaze, trying to look innocent.

Mateo’s eyes narrowed, and then he began looking around the room.

“Shit, he’s onto it,” Dominik muttered. “He’s gonna fucking lose it on Caleb.”

Then the door to the greenroom banged open. Archer breathed a sigh of relief and turned to grab Caleb’s costume for him.

But when Archer looked over, Caleb was not standing in the doorway.

The man who was in the doorway was wearing a turquoise suit, brandishing a cane, and carrying a small dog.

“Stewart!” Betty cried.

He threw his arms out. “I’m back, darlings!”

Betty and a few others rushed over for hugs.

“You didn’t tell us you were coming back tonight,” Mateo said, his stare slightly wild.

“I wanted it to be a surprise!” Stewart proclaimed, smoothing Judy’s fur. She yipped.

“Oh, it’s a surprise, alright,” Archer murmured.Fuck. Where was Caleb?

There was no more avoiding it. They would need somesort of plan if Caleb and Ben were going to miss the show. Archer sidled up to Mateo.

But Stewart saw him. “Archer, my boy!” he cried. “How lovely to see you.” He grabbed Archer and kissed both of his cheeks.

“Stewart!” Archer was, of course, genuinely happy to see Stewart, but there were more pressing matters at hand. “So great to see you too, of course, but I actually need to talk to—”

“How is your tango, young Archer? As sizzling as ever?”

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