“So…” Archer traced Mateo’s strong jaw with his finger. “We’re doing this? We’re telling people?”

“I can’t wait any longer,” Mateo murmured, eyelids fluttering. He kissed the fingertip that drifted over his lips. “What’s the worst that could happen?”

“Oh, God. Don’t say that. I don’t want to find out.”

Mateo chuckled. “Fair point. It’s been quite the summer.”

Archer kissed Mateo’s pec. “When did you first know … you wanted this?”

“This?” Mateo took Archer’s hand and laced their fingers together and kissed the back of it. “From the first moment I saw you.”

Butterflies danced around Archer’s stomach. “Really? All summer?”

“Remember when we were blocking out our pas de deux in the clearing?”

“Yeah?”

“And I did the full-on fucking pirouette-into-tour like an asshole?”

“What?” Archer laughed. “That was fucking hot.”

“Such a show-off.”

“Trust me, it was appreciated. You’re hot when you show off. But why didn’t you say anything, ever? I thought you hated me!”

Mateo barked a short laugh. “You ended up with Caleb so fast. But I took my shot, Archer. Remember your birthday? I got like two hours of sleep that night so I could get up at four in the morning and ice your fucking cake.”

“You did?”

Mateo groaned and covered his face with his other hand. “Was it not completely obvious? I thought you were rejecting me. For Caleb!”

“No! I … Fuck! I thought it was just a cake.”

Mateo arched an eyebrow. “Do I seem like the type to stay up half the night baking cakes for my coworkers?”

Archer groaned too. “When you put it that way, I’m an idiot.”

“Yeah.” Mateo pushed a piece of hair back off Archer’s forehead. “A sweet idiot, though. A beautiful idiot.”

Archer propped himself up on an elbow, sliding his fingers around Mateo’s neck. “An idiot who would like to kiss you now.”

“Please.”

A while later, they flopped back onto the mattress, panting. Archer rolled onto his side and studied Mateo’s perfect profile as he got his breath back. His eyelids drooped and the idea of time briefly flitted through his head. “We should probably get some sleep,” he murmured. “Big day tomorrow. Er, today.”

“But you’ll sleep here with me?” Mateo snaked his arms around Archer’s waist and pulled him closer. “You’ll stay?”

Archer smiled in the darkness. “I’ll stay.”

26 The Finale

Archer woke up with Mateo’s chest pressed to his back, arm around his waist, nose on the nape of his neck, tickling him with each breath. He smiled, chest rising and falling in a deep, contented sigh.

“Can we stay here forever?” Mateo whispered in the silence.

Archer wiggled around, smile growing, sliding his arms around Mateo’s neck. “Yes.” He kissed Mateo’s cheek, then his lips, morning breath be damned.