It was a while until they dragged themselves back down the mountain, holding hands and being careful not to lose their footing in the dark each time they got distracted. Where the path split at the bottom, they paused.

“One last kiss at Shady Queens?” Archer asked. “And then we’re not together.” Overhead, the maple leaves whispered their secret in air thick with the smell of late summer flowers.

“Right,” Mateo agreed. “No one can know.”

“Good night,” Archer murmured, lips ghosting over Mateo’s.

“Good night,” Mateo replied. “Sweet dreams.”

Archer’s dreams, indeed, had never been sweeter.

Mateo was the first thought Archer had the next morning. His eyes flew open at the memory, a smile stretching across his face. Holy fuck. HOLY FUCK. I kissed Mateo Dixon. Like, a lot.

He reached for his phone to send Mateo a text and saw that Mateo had already had the same thought. Good morning. How did you sleep?

Archer wanted to squeal like a teenager. Good. So, so good. You?

Also very good.

Good.

Did you want to meet for breakfast?

“What are you smiling at?” Beau asked from the doorway.

Archer jumped, stammering. “Uh, nothing. Just, er—a funny meme.”

Yes, that would be great. I can meet you
there in 15?

“Can I see it?” Beau asked.

“Can’t, gotta shower,” Archer called, already halfway out the door, running for the bathroom.

Mateo was waiting for him outside the dining hall. Archer’s heart sang as soon as he saw Mateo’s tall frame against the pink of the primrose bush.

“Hi.” Archer smiled at him, hands in his pockets.

“Hi.” Mateo smiled back.

They smiled some more.

Archer studied Mateo’s lips before casting a glance around them. He nodded at Gage as he went by.

Mateo read his mind. “We can do this,” he muttered.

Archer nodded. “Right. Breakfast.”

They joined a few of the other dancers and sat across from each other, legs threaded together under the table. Archer tried to occasionally look at places that were not Mateo’s gorgeous face or statuesque shoulders or strong, capable hands. He failed miserably.

“Oh my God,” Betty hissed when Mateo got up to return his and Archer’s trays. “Did you two—?”

“No!” Archer squeaked, his face burning.

Betty inhaled a deep breath like she was about to start shrieking, but Archer frantically shook his head. “No! Nope. No.”

Betty blew the breath back out. “Okay,” she said quietly, squeezing Archer’s knee. “Got it.”

Betty’s eyes were still on them when he stood and joined Mateo strolling back out into the sunshine.