Page 18 of Flirty Dancing

GORGEOUS,he texted back.Omg, she’s going to love it. Good job, you.

Any brilliant proposal ideas?she replied.

Archer sagged. No, in fact. He hadn’t even thought about it since they talked the day before. What a terrible friend.Well,he typed, brain whirring.You guys met in the library, right? What if you went back there and hid the ring behind a book on marriage law or something?

YES!she replied.Love it! It’s quiet, not super public, cause she would hate a spectacle, cozy and romantic… Okay. I think I’m gonna do it.

When??Archer asked, with some relief that he thought of something at the last second that didn’t suck.

We’re planning on a date Saturday. Maybe then?

So excited for you, babe. You’ve got this xx

Caleb sat next to Archer at dinner and peppered him with questions about his background. It would have felt a little interrogatory, if not for the fact that their thighs kept brushing together.

“So mostly ballet?” Caleb asked, dabbing a piece of lettuce into the side dressing.

“Yup.” Archer had second thoughts about the fry in his hand, but he ate it anyway. “My parents took me to seeThe Nutcrackerwhen I was four, and I’ve done ballet ever since, then jazz, contemporary, and acro as I got older.”

“Cool, cool.” Caleb nodded and set down his fork, half his salad uneaten. “Same for me, but I did tap, too, and some ballroom. My parents have a studio so I kind of did it all.”

“What was your favorite?” Archer asked, sneaking one more fry.

“Um.” Caleb blinked at him for a second. “My mom said I was best at tap.”

“Yeah, but…” Archer studied Caleb for a moment, once again appreciating his beauty. “That’s not what I asked.”

“Oh. I, uh… I love ballet. I like that it’s so rigid and controlled, so many rules, but then from that, something fluid and beautiful emerges—something close to perfection.” He shrugged, then snuck a fry off Archer’s plate and winked. Their thighs touched again.

“You heading to the cabin tonight?” Archer asked.

“Yup.” An easy grin stretched across Caleb’s face. “You?”

The party was extra that night. Extra loud, extra drunk, extra naked. The music blared, swimmers hurled themselves into the water bathing suit–free, and someone had brought a keg. Perhaps it was that they only had three nights left before the guests arrived, or perhaps it was that they were all getting to know each other better, but whatever it was, the cabin vibrated with a near-manic hum of lust and urgency.

Caleb hadn’t left his side since dinner, and Archer was still enjoying the attention. And the guy, while maybe a little too self-assured, was funny and extremely charming and displayed occasional glimpses of unexpected layers. They were lounging on the couch, swapping audition horror stories, slightly buzzed and nearly yelling over the music and ruckus from the group playing beer pong.

“Can you sing?” Caleb asked, leaning so close his breath brushed Archer’s cheek.

“Yeah.” Archer shrugged. “I did some musical theater stuff in Dayton.”

“I went to an audition once that didn’t say anything about it in the ad, then I got there and they wanted me tosing!” Caleb laughed. “I can’t fucking sing! But I was too embarrassed to bail at that point, standing up there in a line, so I panicked, and I’m like, what musical do I know all the words to? And I go withThe Book of Mormon.”

Archer was delighted. “Which song did you pick?”

“‘I Believe.’”

“No!” Archer cackled.

Caleb cracked up. “I know, worst choice ever! And then I ended up forgetting all the fucking words anyway.”

Archer tipped his head back and laughed, feeling wonderfully loose and warm up against Caleb’s side.

Caleb nodded at his empty bottle once their laughter had faded. “You want another?”

“Sure, thanks.” Archer watched Caleb’s tight ass make its way over to the fridge. He caught Betty’s eye across the room where she was chatting with a bunch of the other dancers. She gave him an eyebrow waggle with a pointed glance at Caleb.

Archer grimaced and shook his head.

---