Page 8 of Flirty Dancing

8

No One Wants to Be the Stormtrooper

Archer woke up Tuesday and found his phone lit up with seventeen messages. He had lost it in the couch cushions at some point the night before, then was too drunk to bother with it once he found it again.

“Shit,” he mumbled when he saw they were all from Lynn. That many messages had to mean the bar-in-the-alley proposal either went really well, or really, really bad. He began scrolling.

It’s raining. Fuck.

Never mind, it stopped raining. Okay, I’m doing this.

We’re here, and there is a huge line.

Fuck, I heard someone say “y’all.” The tourists have found it.

Do we bail?

Okay, the line is going fast. We’ll be in soon. I should at least see what it looks like, right?

Sasha just asked me who I keep texting. I said you were having a cute boy crisis.

Is it bad that I’m lying to Sasha on the night I want to propose to her?

We’re in. Okay, the lights are gorgeous but it smells like vanilla-scented piss and garbage, Archer.

I think they tried to use vanilla air-fresheners.

I don’t think I can do it.

Sasha looks so hot, though.

The bartender wants $50 to use the ring as garnish???

Aaaand it’s raining again.

Welp, they’re closing because of the rain. They turned all the lights off. So now we’re just in a wet alley that smells like vanilla piss and garbage. Guess there’s no proposal tonight! It was a good try.

Hope the first show was amazing! Tell me all about it!

Also tell me how Caleb was.

“Ah, fuck.” Archer sat up and scrubbed his face before sending her a reply. Wow, I really blew that one.

Her answer popped up right away.

So Caleb was good?

Archer laughed. Lol, you know what I meant, you saucy minx. But seriously, sorry the bar was a bust! No one wants their engagement to smell like vanilla piss and garbage.

It’s not your fault! I loved the idea. Sasha would have looked so pretty with all those lights around her.

Aw. You would have too! Let’s keep thinking. I’m sure we’ll come up with something better.

Thanks, Arch! I appreciate all your help. I couldn’t do this without you.

Happy to help! Gotta run now, though. Rehearsal. xo

They would be working on the contemporary choreography today. Archer had learned their pas de deux at least, but the group hadn’t even touched that show since he had arrived. After warm-up, they did a slow run-through, teaching the routines to the new members. The show highlighted the dancers with ballet training, no doubt, including jumps and pirouettes, but everyone had a chance to shine with graceful, fluid movements and long, elegant lines.

When they reached the pas de deux, Mateo put out his hand to lead Archer to the center. They would be performing this piece in only white tights, so for this rehearsal they both had taken their shirts off.

It was a beautiful piece, and dancing it now on the stage instead of a grassy clearing allowed them crisper movements and higher leaps. When they finished, the whole company burst into applause, even Stewart. Betty whooped.

“Exquisite!” Stewart chirped. “Mateo, Archer…” He threw a chef’s kiss at them. “How fortunate we are to have found you two.”

Archer looked at Mateo, expecting him to be smiling back, but he was not. He was looking at Stewart, face blank. Archer’s chest ached, now that he was starting to understand a little of what might be going on behind Mateo’s stormy facade. Still… it hurt the way Mateo gave him tiny glimpses of his inner workings, then slammed the door shut moments later.

“Wow,” Caleb said when Archer approached. “When did you two work on that?”

“Oh, Mateo asked if I wanted some extra rehearsal time earlier,” Archer said vaguely.

“Yeah? Some alone time with Mateo, hey? Should I be jealous?”

Archer snorted. “Not at all. He clearly hates me.”

Caleb pecked him on the nose. “Don’t worry, I’m kidding. He hates everyone.”

Mateo didn’t dance like he hated him, though. Their tango was as smoldering as ever when they debuted the Latin show that night. Every touch of Mateo’s hands said I’ve got you —firm on Archer’s back or thigh as he guided and lifted, reassuring and warm. When their eyes met, Mateo’s said I want you , always fully committing himself to the fire the audience needed to see between them. Their hips slotted together in perfect sync— I feel you —not a foot out of place, the two of them melting a path across the stage with every chassé and pivot and lunge.

But when it was over, when they faced the audience together, chests heaving in equal measure, hands clasped as they took a small bow… there was nothing. Mateo turned it off.

“Gorgeous,” Caleb said to him with a kiss when Archer came off the stage. “You two are so hot together. Makes me kinda… hot.” He squeezed Archer’s hips and gave him a meaningful look.

The swirl in Archer’s stomach was more apprehension than excitement. “Thanks,” he said. “But you’d better get out there.”

“Okay, but I’ll be thinking about you…” Caleb winked before taking Ben’s hand and cha-cha-ing onto the stage. Archer turned to go find his water and saw Mateo watching him.

“So… you and Caleb?” Mateo asked, casting a sidelong glance around to make sure no one else was listening.

Archer blinked. “Me and Caleb what?”

Mateo rolled his eyes. “You know what I mean. You and Caleb are together?”

“Um…” Archer blinked some more. “Maybe? We haven’t really talked about it.”

Mateo nodded with pursed lips. “Be careful. You’re here to work, not fuck around.”

Irritation flared in Archer’s chest. “I guess I can do whatever I want while I’m here, can’t I, as long as I do my job?” Mateo didn’t get to treat him like he didn’t exist, then tell him how to live his life a minute later.

“You think it’s smart to get involved with someone you have to perform with every night for three months?”

“Your concern is not needed,” Archer said crisply. “I’m a grown-up, and I can make my own decisions, thank you.”

Mateo shrugged, giving cool indifference back. “Fine. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Fuming, Archer ignored the voice that told him he didn’t need to get the last word. “You’re an expert in workplace relationships, are you?”

Hurt flashed over Mateo’s face, and Archer instantly regretted it.

He stepped over to Archer and grabbed his hand.

“What are you—?” Archer started, but Mateo was pulling him onto the stage. Oh, right. Time to cha-cha.

After the show, Archer kissed Caleb hard, making sure Mateo saw. He was perfectly capable of making his own choices, thank you. And when Caleb smiled and slid his hands around Archer’s waist and kissed him back, it was easy to feel like it was the right one.

The rest of the debut performances went as smoothly— Urban Beat Wednesday, Around the World Thursday, Broadway Boulevard Friday, and rounding out the week, the contemporary From the Heart on Saturday. The partying toned down after the first show, especially since they were still rehearsing every morning, making sure everything was locked up before Stewart left.

“Oh, my darlings,” Stewart purred after the last show of the week, grabbing each dancer and kissing them on both cheeks. “You have made this old man happy. Look at you. Yes, even you, Dominik,” he said, shaking his head affectionately. “You have already moved beyond the need for my guidance. I am irrelevant!”

“Noooo,” they sang in chorus.

“We do this every year,” Caleb whispered to Archer. “Stewart leaves ‘early,’ but we beg him to stay longer. He’ll be out of here first thing tomorrow.”

Archer was a little nervous about their director leaving already, but he had to assume they really were ready to keep it going on their own.

“Um, Stewart?” Archer asked as the others began to head out into the night. “Do you have a second?”

“I have many seconds for you, Archer,” Stewart replied, gesturing to the front-row seat next to him. “Please sit.”

“Before you go,” Archer said as he settled, “I wanted to thank you for… for this opportunity.”

Stewart waved his hand. “The pleasure is all mine, Archer. You are quite the dancer.”

Archer flushed. “Thank you so much, but… that’s just it. I—Well, I’ve been auditioning for shows in the city for months, and I haven’t gotten anything yet…”

“Terrible business,” Stewart agreed. “Talent has little to do with it, doesn’t it? Not naming names, but there’s a certain rising star known for pounding more than the boards, if you know what I mean.” Stewart leaned forward and winked. “Not that there’s anything wrong with putting a little Jesus Christ in one’s Superstar, but one doesn’t want to, er, go full Daniel Radcliffe, does one?”

“I…” Archer paused, wondering if he was still following Stewart’s metaphor.

“Anyway…” Stewart whistled for Judy. “If Cooper Knox did it, I’ve no doubt you can, too, Archer. If everything stays as tight as it is now, and you all put on a flawless show, it will no doubt catch the eye of the right person.”

What if it doesn’t , Archer wanted to say, but Stewart had bent down to pick up Judy and was leaving little kisses on her tiny head. “Thanks,” Archer said instead, getting to his feet. “I hope so.”

After Archer’s shower, Caleb pounced on him back in their room. “It’s time to go!” he announced.

“Go where?” Archer asked, toweling his hair.

Caleb eyed Archer’s bare chest under his unbuttoned shirt. “To the cabin. Saturday is Game Night,” he said, as if it was obvious.

“Game Night? What kind of games?”

Caleb slid a finger into the waistband of Archer’s shorts and pulled him closer for a kiss. “You know, games! Monopoly, Scattergories, charades… anything, really. The winner gets to pick next week’s game. There’s like a hundred of them in the cupboard in the cabin, plus Dominik brought a suitcase full.”

Archer worked on his buttons, remembering Lynn’s advice and leaving three open. “So what are we playing tonight?”

“Oh, we start every season with Monopoly, but we only play it the one time. After that, we get too annoyed with each other, and we can’t even finish the game.”

“Of course.” Archer had somehow never played Monopoly. An only child, no cousins around his age… He never had the chance, although he felt like he had a pretty good idea how it went and doubted this bunch would make it through the whole game, even tonight.

When they got to the cabin, Archer was surprised to see all of the dancers there, including Mateo. The Monopoly board was set up on the battered coffee table with the mismatched furniture pulled around it and cushions scattered on the floor so there was enough seating for all sixteen of them. Ben and Beau were cuddled up in an armchair with Gage and River next to them on the ground. The couch on one side was full, as was the love seat. Betty sat at one end of the second sagging couch and Mateo at the other. The only seating left for Caleb and Archer was to squish in between them.

Archer sat next to Mateo, who was wearing loose-fitting black shorts and a soft berry blue T-shirt that turned his eyes to an inky midnight black.

“Didn’t think I’d see you here,” Archer said, trying to settle with an inch of space between them.

Mateo raised an eyebrow at him. “Why not?”

Archer wanted to snort. “You don’t seem like the type to play board games.”

“Oh, you’re not allowed to miss Game Night,” Mateo said seriously, but the corner of his mouth twitched.

Dominik stood. He had freshly shaved his head that morning and his mohawk was extra pointy. “Welcome to the first Game Night of the season! Listen up: You drink every time you buy a property. If you go to jail, you finish your drink. Free parking is a thing, and if you win it, everyone else drinks. Every time you build a hotel, you get to make someone else drink. Otherwise, you know what to do.”

Now that Archer knew it was Drinking Monopoly, Game Night made more sense. Then he examined the game board more closely. “We’re playing… Star Wars Monopoly?”

Dominik grinned. “Fuck yeah, we are. This is my board. Okay, so there’s only eight pieces—I lost the Threepio—and since there’s sixteen of us, we have to play with partners. Can we go in pairs like how we’re sitting?” He pointed around the table, pairing them off… and Archer was with Mateo.

Caleb rumbled in annoyance. Archer sighed inwardly, wondering what on earth possessed him to sit next to Mateo. Then again, Caleb and Mateo would probably have been a worse team.

“I’m Boba Fett,” Dominik announced, lunging for that game piece.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Seta piped up. “Why do you get first pick of the pieces?”

“It’s my board.”

Rather than argue, a flurry of hands scrambled for the other pieces, but Mateo managed to snatch one right away.

“Leia, huh?” Archer wanted to smile.

“Yup.” Mateo fiddled with the pewter princess in his hand.

“I figured you for more of a Han guy.”

Mateo shrugged and placed Leia on Go but said no more about it.

“Alright, keep your secrets,” Archer murmured. “Leia it is.”

There was some tussling over the remaining pieces—no one wanted to be the stormtrooper—and Dominik started handing out the money. They rolled to see who would go first and the game began.

Harley and Grace—Mateo’s curvy, redheaded Retro partner—were up. Harley moved their Darth Vader token the appointed seven spaces, making a weird, vacuum-type noise.

“What’s that sound?” Seta asked, probably trying to be polite but not quite making it there.

Harley gave her a look of disdain. “A lightsaber, obviously.”

“That’s not a lightsaber sound!” Seta protested.

“Well, feel free to show me on your next turn—Oh, that’s right you can’t, because you can’t use the Force.”

The lightsaber bickering continued as Mateo leaned over to whisper in Archer’s ear. “What are your tried-and-true Monopoly strategies?”

Mateo’s breath tickled, and their thighs were now pressed together. It was… distracting. Of course, he knew Mateo’s thigh well. It was between his during the tango. It supported him in their pas de deux. He knew each ridge, each rise, very well. But for some reason, seeing it flush against his on the couch… He was very aware it was touching him.

“I’ve actually never played before,” he managed to reply.

“Really?”

“Really.”

“Well, then”—Mateo leaned back, all sexy confidence—“don’t worry. I’ve got this.”

Mateo went after the red and orange properties, winning an auction for the Cloud City Reactor Control Room against Seta and Yuki, and snapping up the spaceships (which, Archer was informed, were normally railroads). He bought up cheaper property that others passed up, and didn’t seem worried when Dominik crowed about buying the most expensive property (the Coruscant Imperial Palace). The game rolled on as all the properties got snatched up, and it didn’t take long for more bickering to break out.

“We would like to build four houses, one each on our Tatooine—” Dominik began.

“It’s not your turn,” Caleb interrupted.

“Doesn’t matter, you can build whenever you want,” Dominik informed him.

“What? No, you can’t.”

Dominik rolled his eyes. “Pretty sure we had this argument last year—”

“Actually, you can build whenever you want,” Mateo interjected.

“What?” Caleb turned to glare at Mateo over Archer’s lap. “Bullshit!”

Mateo leaned forward and snatched the rules sheet from the box under the table. “Let’s check, shall we?”

Archer swallowed a smile at the expression on Caleb’s face. A rule follower himself, he was secretly delighted.

“Ahem.” Mateo read. “‘You may buy and erect at any time —’”

“Erect.” Dominik snickered.

Mateo ignored him and continued. “‘—as many houses as your judgment and financial standing will allow.’”

“Well, that’s stupid. You should build when it’s your turn,” Caleb grumbled.

“That may be the case, however…” Mateo put the rules back in the box and smiled sweetly.

Archer had to bite his lip to keep from laughing.

Caleb sulked and took another sip of his beer.

Later on, with their Leia piece in jail and their beverages freshly drained, Mateo was quietly explaining to Archer how sometimes it was okay to be stuck in jail for a bit because then you didn’t land on anyone else’s property and have to pay them rent, when Caleb’s voice grabbed Archer’s attention.

“Archer? Hello?”

“Sorry?” Archer’s cheeks flared, aware he was staring at Mateo’s thigh again. He tore his gaze away and looked over at Caleb.

“I said, can I get you another drink?”

“Oh, that’s fine, I’ll get them.” Archer hopped up, feeling the need for fresh air. He wandered over to the fridge, pausing for a moment to admire the view of the lake out the window. It was late now, the only people in sight a couple strolling along the curve of the shore. Then he dug three drinks out of the fridge—a beer each for him and Caleb, and one of Mateo’s nonalcoholic beers. When he climbed over Mateo’s legs and plopped back onto the couch, Caleb leaned over and planted a kiss on his cheek as he took his bottle.

“Thanks, babe,” he said. “You’re the best.”

“No problem,” Archer mumbled, cheeks heating at the attention. He handed Mateo’s drink to him.

“Thanks, babe,” Mateo said with crinkled eyes. “You’re the best.”

Caleb rolled his eyes as Archer’s cheeks flushed even hotter. “You’re welcome,” Archer muttered.

“We’re out of jail,” Mateo nodded at the board. “But I had to pay rent to the Bs.”

“I’ll allow it,” Archer said with a mock frown. “But try not to let it happen again.”

Mateo’s eyes crinkled further as he popped the top of his drink. “I’ll do my best.”

Archer turned his attention back to the game. His thigh was still against Mateo’s.

“We want to build a house on—” Seta announced.

Dominik interrupted. “Sorry, the bank is out of houses.”

“What?”

“Yeah, Mateo and Archer have them all.”

“Do we?” Mateo was utterly nonplussed, taking another sip.

Archer had noticed that Mateo built all the houses they could, and almost all of their properties had four houses on them. They hadn’t built a single hotel yet.

“Build some fucking hotels, man!” Caleb chirped. “Other people need houses, too.”

“Hmm.” Mateo studied the board with fake concentration. “No, I don’t think I will.”

“Well, Archer can decide to. You want to build some hotels, don’t you, Archer?” Caleb turned to him. “You get to make everyone else drink.”

“Um.” Archer looked between Caleb’s furrowed eyebrows and Mateo’s barely contained smirk. “Sorry, I’m going to let Mateo be in charge. He knows what he’s doing and I’m a rookie.”

That was the beginning of the end. Caleb got sulkier and sulkier as he and Betty lost all their money, and the stack of bills in front of Mateo and Archer grew and grew. Most of the others were too drunk or busy making illegal trades to notice or care about Caleb’s sulking. But when he had to mortgage his last property, he quit.

“Whatever,” he fumed. “This is such a stupid game, anyway. Everyone always breaks the rules. I’m going to bed.”

He was met with a chorus of boos and tossed cushions, but he flounced away anyway.

Archer sighed and saw Mateo watching him. “I guess I’d better go after him,” Archer said.

There was a shift to Mateo’s features that Archer couldn’t quite read. “Guess so.”

Archer followed Caleb out into the night, wishing he was still in the cozy circle around the coffee table.