Page 68 of Flirty Dancing

“I care,” Archer said. “We all care. But mistakes happen.”

“You should know all about that, Mateo,” Caleb sneered.

“Caleb,” Archer snapped. “Now is not the time.”

Caleb turned to the mirror, examining his vest, feigning indifference.

Archer looked back and forth between Caleb and Mateo, who was red-faced and seething. “Can we dance for now, and talk about this after?”

“Fine,” Mateo growled. “Let’s go fucking jive.”

Archer rubbed his forehead. “Sounds like a plan.”

It was not the most lighthearted jive Archer had ever danced. The performers’ smiles were strained at best. Beau barely bothered to attempt one, Mateo’s looked a little manic, and Caleb flat-out sulked throughout.

Bollywood, the final number, wasn’t any better. What was meant to be a joyful dance filled with love and acceptance was more a simmering mess of bitterness and resentment. It was no surprise that the argument picked up right where it left off when the show ended.

“I cannot believe you think Ichoseto be late!” Ben began the instant they were backstage.

“Youchoseto spend the day alone in the forest with Caleb and—oops—totally lost track of time!”

“We looked like a bunch of fucking amateurs out there,” Mateo seethed, wrenching off his translucent shoulder wrap. Archer normally would have let his eyes linger on Mateo’s deltoids, but not now.

“Look,” Betty said, placing her hands on Mateo’s and Beau’s arms. “Tempers are obviously high right now. Whydoesn’t everyone go take a breather, grab some food, and come back feeling a little better? By eight on the nose!” she added, seeing the words forming on Mateo’s lips.

“Fine,” Mateo sniffed.

“Fine,” Caleb huffed.

“Fine. Fine. Fine,” everyone else agreed.

After they had changed, Caleb took Archer’s hand and pulled him out the door, but not before he got a glimpse of Mateo huddling in the corner with Stewart.

“Fuck,” Caleb sighed once they got outside. “We really didn’t mean to be late.”

“I know,” Archer said.

“We were fuckingrunningthe last hour trying to make it. My legs are done.”

“You must have gone really far.”

“I guess.” Caleb shrugged. “It was such a nice day. We just walked and talked.”

“Well, hopefully you had a good time.”

“We did.”

The feeling that something was going unsaid nagged at Archer, but he had no idea what it might be. “Wonder what Mateo and Stewart are talking about?” he asked instead.

“Undoubtedly, what horrible slackers we all are,” Caleb said, rolling his eyes.

“Don’t you think Mateo has a point, though?”

Caleb made a noise of derision. “This is your first summer, Archer. Mateo’s too. Trust me when I say, things are going fine. The audience is a bunch of drunk people on vacation. They’re happy no matter what.”

“Why do you come back here every year?” Archer wondered, the question falling out unplanned. Archer knew Caleb was on his fourth season at Shady Queens, taught dance in the Bronx the rest of the year, and had been inthe chorus of a few unsuccessful Off Broadway shows. But Caleb gave vague answers to most other questions about his life and didn’t share an abundance of inner thoughts. In many ways, Archer felt like he barely knew him.

Caleb shrugged. “It’s fun. Hot guys.” He grinned at Archer. “Decent money for all the partying we do. Why, aren’t you having fun?”

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