Mateo looked away, blinking. “I’m not sure many people would agree that I’m a good person.”

“Hey.” Archer placed a hand on Mateo’s forearm. “I know you are.”

Mateo swallowed hard, then his gaze swung back to Archer’s. “So now what do we do?”

“Uh—” Archer stammered, pulse thrumming, eyes on Mateo’s lips. Kiss?

“I feel like I need to say something after the disaster last night, rally the troops or something,” Mateo continued, sighing. “I don’t know … Despite what Eileen thinks, I’m not sure I’m the leader they need.”

“Listen,” Archer replied after a pause, relieved he hadn’t answered Mateo’s question out loud. “You know that feeling you had when you were dancing alone on the stage that time? Before I interrupted?”

“Yeah?”

“That’s it. That feeling. You love dancing. Your soul is dancing. You need to share that with the others. They need to feel that love.”

Their eyes met again. Mateo seemed to be searching for something in Archer’s gaze. Then he nodded. “Thank you, Archer.”

“For what?”

“For being you.”

Archer floundered, unable to make any words leave his tongue, as Mateo whirled and spoke to the room. “Everyone grab a seat. Let’s talk.”

They were all there, even Ben and Beau, who sat on opposite sides of the room, both of them far from Caleb.

“I just wanted to say,” Mateo started, once everyone was settled, “how proud I am of all of you. Last night went to shit, let’s be honest. And yet, here you all are, ready to go back out there.”

The other dancers shifted in their chairs, sitting a little taller. Archer’s heart swelled as Mateo continued.

“We have some things we need to sort out, for sure. Ben, Beau, it must be hard for you, but we appreciate that you’re here. There’s been a lot going on for all of us, so let’s take a minute right now. I want you all to close your eyes and think of a time when you were dancing and you were happy. Really happy.”

The room stilled as everyone—even Caleb—closed their eyes. Archer shut his too and thought about dancing their pas de deux in the moonlit clearing.

“Really feel it—when there was nothing but you and music and joy,” Mateo continued. “That’s the feeling I want you to remember. That feeling is why we’re all here. You are all amazing dancers, every single one of you, and I know we can put on a good show tonight. Right?”

“Right,” most of them replied in murmured agreement.

“So…” He looked over at Archer and smiled. “Let’s fucking dance.”

“Good job,” Archer whispered to him after the other dancers scattered. “Look at you, leading.”

Mateo shrugged, the corner of his mouth lifting. “I asked myself what you would say.”