Theo, whom Sebastian had known since first grade.
So far, the men had only barely sipped at their expensive whiskeys and the most exciting conversation revolved around who took which expressway to work every morning. Boring.
Sebastian had to think of something to put this party back on track and fast. He was determined to make this bachelor party the very best party of a lifetime. If his best friend was saying goodbye to singlehood, something Sebastian himself thought was darn near close to social suicide, then he was determined to send him off with a bang. First, he needed to get these guys to drink.
Sebastian raised his glass high for a toast. “To you, Marco. Tonight is almost your last night—technically—as a single man. You crazy fool!” The others laughed a bit, but he continued. “I know that Lola is going to make you a very happy man. And no one deserves it more than you.”
Sebastian meant every word. He’d known Marco since law school, where the two happened to sit next to each other in Constitutional Law. But their friendship had deepened when Marco had helped him bury his mother after she lost her battle with liver cancer. That was a sorrowful memory, but Sebastian would always be grateful to Marco for being there.
“Hear, hear,” James echoed.
“Let’s get this party started,” cried Theo.
They all clinked glasses and took a swig. “By the way, when is it going to be your turn, Sebastian? Isn’t this the fifth wedding this year you’ve gone to?” Marco asked.
“The answer is never,” Theo interrupted. “This guy? He’s not the settling-down type.”
“That’s not true,” scoffed Sebastian. And lately he’d been thinking more and more about settling down. Sure, marriage sounded like pure insanity to him: one woman for the rest of his life? What was he, dead inside? Or he would be if he ever put on a ring. But, lately, he was thinking more about a woman who might be able to keep his interest for more than a week or month at a time. Lately, his parade of partners on the dating hookup app Spark was all about the quick physical connection. He couldn’t actually remember the last time he’d had a decent conversation with one of them. Then again, that’s not why they came over to his house at midnight, either.
“You like to play the field, huh?” Bill leaned forward and grinned, his wedding band catching the meager light. “Tell me about it.”
Bill was the last person Sebastian wanted to confide in.
“He was the first guy with a dating app account in law school,” Marco agreed. “He cleaned up.”
“He’s got game.” Theo grinned and elbowed Sebastian hard. Sebastian mustered up a weak smile. Sure, he had to admit, it was fun hooking up with random women who weren’t looking for commitment, but these days, he wanted to take a girl out for once, maybe even learn a single detail about her other than what position she liked best. Maybe he was getting old, or maybe he was just tired of the revolving door of his own bedroom. He wanted something more. Marco had showed him exactly what he wanted, actually—real companionship. Someone to talk to. Someone to care for him when he was sick. Somebody who’d just care about him period after the fury of the one-night stand wore off.
“Yeah, but I’m not into that now.” Sebastian shrugged and stared at his glass of whiskey.
“You want to get married?” Theo asked, shocked.
“Hey, I don’t know. Maybe.” What was he saying? Was he really ready to shelve his riding spurs for life? Strap himself to one woman for all time? He didn’t know. All he did know was that for the very first time in his life, he’d actually consider the possibility.
“Oh, please.” Marco didn’t believe him. Of course, Sebastian didn’t blame him. Why would a player suddenly have a change of heart? Because the player was almost thirty, that’s why, and realized that he’d built a life and had no one to share it with. In fact, most of the men here were married or engaged. James and Sebastian were the only fully single partygoers. “You once dated three girls in one weekend.”
“Well, be careful,” Bill said. “You know how many STDs are out there? Some of them aren’t pretty.”
Who talked about STDs at a bachelor party? Geez.
“Sounds like you know a bit too much about that, Bill,” Sebastian joked. But when the man turned bright red, Sebastian realized that Bill might actually have had a few experiences at the local health clinic.
“You get in trouble, Bill?” Theo echoed.
“I’m married now,” Bill said, as if that answered anything. It didn’t.
The men all stared at Bill. Now they were all thinking about Bill’s issues. How had this party got so far off track? Next they’d be asking about where his rash might be.
What this party needed was a drinking game. Sebastian knew he sure needed another drink.
“How about we play a game of Never Have I Ever?” Sebastian offered.
“Yes, let’s,” Theo said, leaning forward.
“Remember first year of law school?” Marco slapped the table, causing his whiskey to slosh in his glass. Beneath their feet, the boat swayed slightly, the only indication they were out to sea. “You killed with this drinking game.”
“You binge drank in law school?” Bill shook his head in disapproval.
Sebastian glanced at the man’s pressed khakis, super-starched, pin-striped, short-sleeved, collared shirt and wingtips. Who wore wingtips on a cruise ship? Hell, who wore them to a bachelor party? Sebastian had opted for a tasteful Aloha shirt and flip-flops. They were headed to Cozumel and then to Key West. Nowhere in that itinerary did wingtips factor in.
“Hell, I binge drink now,” Sebastian joked. Or I will soon if this party doesn’t get going. “Come on, one round?”
“Let’s do it,” James said, his dark eyes lighting up a bit.
“How do we play?” Bill asked. Of course Bill wouldn’t know how. He’d probably drunk wine spritzers in college. Sebastian glanced at the wingtips again. Hell, he probably drank wine spritzers now. It would explain why he’d barely touched his whiskey on the rocks.
“Everyone takes turns declaring ‘never have I ever’ something. If it’s true for you, you drink. If not, you don’t drink. Those aren’t the regular rules, but it’s more fun this way.”
“Sounds a little silly,” said Bill.
“Let’s just try it.” Sebastian raised his glass. “I’ll go first.”
“But never is such a strong word. I mean, does this include all future acts, as well?” Bill asked, clearly overly concerned about the legalities of a drinking game. “Also, what if a participant lies? How will we know?”
Sebastian stared at the man wearing Argyle socks in the tropics. God, if there was a vampire of fun, Bill would be it. Did the guy have to be so literal? Theo frowned and shook his head, as well. At least Theo got it. The two men exchanged a what’s-with-this-dude look. He guessed it just went to prove you didn’t choose
