“Yes,” he replied firmly. “Just friends. I’ve learned my lesson. I don’t want to fuck anything up by hooking up with someone else.”

“Yeah, that’s fair. I’m glad you’re friends, though.”

“Me too.” He stretched his legs out and thought about Mateo’s hands on his waist last night during their pas de deux. Friends. “What’s new with you? Did you ever figure out your trip with Sasha?”

“As a matter of fact, yes! That’s one of the reasons I wanted to talk.”

“So? Where are you going?”

“I found the most amazing resort in the Catskills! They had a cancellation, so we were able to get in for a weekend at the end of August.”

“Which resort?”

Lynn laughed. “Shady Queens, dummy!”

Archer gasped. “You’re coming here?”

“Yes!”

“That’s amazing! Oh my God, I can’t wait to see you!”

Lynn giggled. “I’m excited too. I finally get to propose to Sasha!”

“It’s going to be so great. I’m imagining a candlelit dinner with the sunset behind you…”

Lynn squealed. “Right? And I’m dying to meet Mateo and Caleb and everyone.”

“Hmm. You’ll behave yourself, won’t you?”

“Of course, Archer, darling. How dare you suggest otherwise?”

Acro rehearsals went better than expected. Every dancer could do a back walkover, and several were also able to pull off aerials or back handsprings. They had lots to work with, and a flashy routine started coming together. Dominik lobbied hard for a Taylor Swift song, and they went with “Shake It Off.”

Archer laughed at Dominik twerking in celebration, cheered when Gage lifted Grace up with a toe pitch so she was standing on his hands for the first time, and took a moment to admire the way Mateo’s biceps bulged while he balanced River above him in a handstand.

Archer was smiling as he and Mateo stepped into the early August sunshine on their way to grab dinner before the Around the World show that night.

“Archer, Mateo!” Eileen waited for them at the stage door. She was cooling herself with a paper fan, painted with delicate cherry blossoms.

“Eileen!” Archer hugged her. “How are you? We haven’t seen you for a while.”

“Yes, indeed.” She smiled and fluttered her fan. “I met a lovely woman from Texas who was staying with her sister’s family here for a couple weeks. We spent quite a lot of time together.”

“That’s great,” Archer said, exchanging a knowing glance with Mateo. “I’m happy for you.”

“How has it been for you two? I heard something about someone passing out on stage last week?”

“Oh…” Archer looked at Mateo and chuckled. “We had a few bumps, but it’s all okay now, isn’t it?”

Mateo’s smile was like the sun. “It is,” he agreed.

Archer savored the bass in Mateo’s voice and the sparkle in his eye.