You lean in slightly, your voice barely a whisper to match the quiet of the room. "You know, I was watching from the door for a second before I came in. The footwork in that bridge section... Ni-ki, it looked incredible. You make it look so easy, even when I know it’s not."

A faint, bashful smile tugs at the corner of his mouth—the kind he tries to hide when he's feeling shy. Even though he’s one of the best dancers in the industry, hearing it from you hits differently than hearing it from a choreographer. "You saw that?" he asks, his voice muffled against your shoulder. You can feel the slight heat rising to his cheeks as he huffs a small, tired laugh, squeezing your hand one more time. "I messed up the transition twice right before you walked in. But... if it looked good to you, I guess the extra two hours were worth it."

He pulls back just an inch, looking at you with sleepy, sincere eyes. "Does that mean you're going to stay for the whole 'Final Showcase' tomorrow? I think I'll dance better if I know you're in the wings."