“As you know, normally Sunday is your day of rest, but tomorrow we will use it for a dress rehearsal for Retro, and a run-through of Latin and Urban. Be here by eight o’clock sharp. We must be out by two o’clock to allow setup for the drag show.”

Archer let out a low groan. He had been really looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow.

“So excited to see Eva Stiff again!” Dominik piped up.

“Who’s Eva Stiff?” Archer murmured to Caleb while Stewart launched into a story about the early days of drag in New York.

“She’s a drag queen from Manhattan. There’s a group of them who usually rotate through and come out to do the Sunday shows. Eva is getting pretty big but she started out here so she always comes back for the opening and closing shows.”

“Can we watch if we want?”

“We never miss it.”

So? Archer texted Lynn, flopping onto his bed with wet hair and rubbery muscles after dinner and a shower. Are you engaged??? Are you having celebration sex this very minute??

It took a minute but her reply popped up: the grimace emoji.

Oh no, what happened?

The library is undergoing renovations! The section where we met was closed and I got flustered. Plus Sasha had a bad day at work and she was kind of in vent mode and it didn’t feel very proposal-y.

Aw, that’s okay! You can try for another
time when the mood is right.

Yeah, I will. Let me know if you have another idea! In other news … A picture of their living room came through showing three buckets now instead of one. Leak Perry brought his friends, Jason Trickley and Tori Spilling.

Archer groaned and cackled at the same time. At least you got to come up with more names.

Lol. A small consolation.

You going full lawyer on Fletcher’s ass?

I’m trying. He’s rather impervious. Unlike our ceiling.

If anyone can tear him a new one, it’s you.

On it. Gotta go, we’re grabbing dinner. Kisses!

Backatcha.

Archer put his phone down and folded his arms under his head. He really missed Lynn. Even though they’d only been living together for five months, it seemed like they’d been friends for years, and it felt shitty not to be there for her when she was ready to make such a big leap.

“Archer!” Caleb burst in, eyes lit up, teeth gleaming white in a broad smile. “Last night! Let’s go!”

Archer moaned. “I’m so tired, Caleb.”

“Oh, no, no, no.” Caleb took his arm and tried to heave him off his bed. “It’s the last night before the guests arrive. We all go skinny-dipping and drink our faces off.”