“Disco Inferno” started blasting as the curtain rose. Archer let the smile stretch across his face, and he was on stage, following the chain of shimmying dancers. With the lights bright on him, he couldn’t see the audience in the darkened theater but he could hear the cheering over the music. He took Betty’s hand, and she whirled in front of him, her dress sparkling.

They discoed, they hustled, they spun and boogied and dolphined their way through the numbers, sequins flashing and smiles shining.

The audience roared when they struck their final pose. The dancers bowed and bowed again. It was the most fun he’d had performing since he was a kid, and Archer couldn’t believe he got to do this twelve times per week for three more months.

The lights went up, and they waited for photo opportunities with the audience. The resort guests tended toward retirement age, but there were also families and other younger, child-free couples. Eileen Lamb was there, snapping pictures and waving at Mateo.

Once they made their way backstage and the theater emptied, they had time to grab a snack and stretch before the second show.

After the second performance, Stewart was waiting, eyes moist. He sniffled. “You have made this old director so proud. But…” He clapped his hands. “We have work to do! I’ll see you all back here tomorrow morning at eight—”

A chorus of groans cut him off.

“Alright, alright … nine. But not one second later!”

Stewart hugged every one of them before departing, and then they milled around, hugging each other, celebrating their first night, not ready to change out of their costumes quite yet. Archer knew this was just a fun summer job for most of them, but that didn’t lessen the sense of pride and accomplishment threatening to burst his heart in that sweaty crowd. He was a professional dancer. He was doing it.

“Hey.” Caleb took Archer’s hand, grinning at him. Beads of sweat glistened on Caleb’s forehead. He leaned in and gently brushed his lips over Archer’s. Archer’s heart was pounding from the adrenaline still, and his body responded accordingly. He kissed Caleb back and shivered when Caleb’s fingers trailed over the nape of his neck. “You did so great,” Caleb whispered, now stroking Archer’s cheek with his thumb. “How did that feel?”

“Amazing,” Archer said, goose bumps stippling his skin.

Caleb kissed him again. “Let’s go party.”

They peeled their costumes off and hung them up on their racks, then went back to the dorm to shower and change. When Archer got to his room after his shower, he was dripping and wrapped in a towel. He froze in the hallway at his door. There was a sock on the doorknob.