They were meeting early for a dress rehearsal before the night’s finale, and they had officially agreed: no more hiding. A handful of maintenance people had seen Archer coming downstairs with Mateo this morning anyway, all disheveled, and who knows who had seen them sprinting to Mateo’s room the night before. Better to get it all out in the open now so there were no surprises later.

Archer nodded. “Ready.”

They walked into the greenroom, fingers laced.

Betty’s face lit up when she saw them. “Hiii!” she squealed and ran over, hugging them both. “Oh my God, yes! So happy for you two.”

Dominik stood and shouted, “You owe me ten bucks!,” although it wasn’t clear who it was directed at.

“’Bout time,” Caleb said, shaking his head.

“Well, we didn’t want to cause any drama or anything, you know,” Archer said, rubbing the back of his neck.

“It is possible to date without causing drama, you know,” Betty said dryly.

“I don’t really blame them,” Caleb said. “Every other couple ended in disaster.”

“Uh, no they didn’t!” a voice piped up.

It was River. Every head swiveled over to them.

“Gage and I are still together,” they said, alarmed at having so many people staring at them. “No drama.”

An awkward silence ensued.

“Er, right. Well, clearly you two are an example of how to do it,” Archer said. “Well done.”

Once Eva arrived, they did a full rehearsal, and it all went perfectly. When it was over, the dancers gathered in a tight huddle in the middle of the stage.

Mateo spoke, his head slowly turning to meet each person’s eye. “This is it, team. We made it. I’m incredibly proud of each and every one of you. It wasn’t without its bumps”—Caleb studied his feet—“but I truly believe we have put together an incredible show, one that will absolutely blow away Breckon Galloway.”

“Hell yeah, it will!” Dominik cried, backed by cheers and enthusiastic agreement.

“Go get some food and be back here at six. Last one, team.”

They put their hands in and cheered.

Mateo exhaled as the group dispersed.

Archer slid his arms around Mateo and hugged him tight. “Speaking of being proud,” Archer said. “You should be incredibly proud of this show.”

Mateo hummed and tried to deflect the compliment. “Stewart—”

“Nope.” Archer cut off his deflection with a kiss. “This is as much your show as it is Stewart’s, the entire thing. You led us the whole way through. And I’m really proud of you.”

Mateo blinked rapidly. “Thank you, Archer.”

Archer took his hand. “Now let’s go eat.”