"Why do you just assume I'm going to fuck this up? I am serious about her. I wouldn't have asked her to be my girlfriend if I didn't want to be with her. She's different. You know she's different. She's nothing like Harper."
Harper. That must have been his ex's name. It sounded so pretentious.
"Well thank God," Connor said.
They were all silent for a moment.
"Look, Connor," Rory said. "I'm sorry if I..."
"Keira's a catch," Connor cut in. "You would have been crazy not to take the next step. I think she's perfect for you. Congrats, Rory. You win."
"Thanks, man. See, Jackson. That's why I tell Connor stuff first."
"Yeah, whatever. You and Keira make a cute couple. Yadda, yadda. Happy now? Feed me please."
"I still might spit in your crêpe."
"As long as it has extra Nutella I don't even care. And I am happy for you. I just knew that Connor had a crush on Keira too. I don't want this to tear us apart."
"Is that why you're acting so weird this morning?" Connor laughed. "Look, like I said, Rory won. I've officially bowed out of this thing. Keira and I are just friends. That's it. You're being a little dramatic, Jackson."
"I just don't want this to break us up," Jackson said.
Geez, Jackson was so sensitive. I didn't want to hear anything else about how I was ruining their friendship. I wouldn't ever let that happen. They had all become my friends too. I opened up the door and stepped out. All three of them turned to me.
"So what does Sunday Brunch Day usually entail?" I asked.
"Usually we're too hung over to do anything fun," Jackson said. "But since we didn't have a late night last night, maybe we can play a game or something."
"Yeah? I have a whole bunch of games in the closet in my bedroom. What do you guys want to play?" I asked.
"I'm thinking we should just play Never Have I Ever." Jackson smiled at me.
"We're definitely not playing that," Rory said. "What do you want in your crêpe, Keira?"
"Whatever you recommend." I slid into the stool next to Connor.
"That just means you have a lot to hide, Rory," Jackson said. "Actually, I think it would be good for your budding romance with Keira if you both aired out your dirty laundry."
"Jackson, cut it out," Connor said.
"If Jackson wants to play Never Have I Ever, I'll play. It could be fun," I said.
"See, Keira wants to play." Jackson opened up the freezer and pulled out a bottle of vodka.
"It is a little early for shots though, don't you think?" I asked.
"It's never too early on Sunday Brunch Day."
"You're definitely just making stuff up now."
I watched as Jackson poured four shots and handed them out.
"I'm sitting this round out," Rory said. He expertly flipped a crêpe in his pan.
"Nope," Jackson said and placed one of the shot glasses next to the stove. "Okay, I'll go first. Never have I ever had a threesome."
"Sorry, how does this work again?" I asked. "Do we drink if we have done it?"
"Yeah, so I have never had a threesome, that's why I said it. So if you've ever had a threesome before, it's shot time!" Jackson looked at me.
"Why are you looking at me like that? I've never had a threesome."
"I was just curious." Jackson shrugged.
Connor and I didn't touch our glasses. I hesitantly looked over at Rory. I was afraid I already knew the answer. I wasn't at all surprised when Rory picked up his glass and downed his shot. He didn't look back at us. He just placed his glass quietly back on the counter and continued cooking. I wasn't sure if he was hoping I wouldn't notice, or if he was just trying to focus on cooking. This game was not going to be very fun for me.
"Your turn, Keira," Jackson said.
"Umm..." I looked back over at Rory. "Never have I ever cheated on someone." I wanted him to know that. I wanted him to know that I'd be faithful to him. I was relieved to see that no one touched their glasses. They were all good guys.
"Okay," Connor said. "Never have I ever slept with a man."
Oh my God, Jackson. I looked over at him. He was looking at me. We stared awkwardly at each other for a few seconds.
"Why are you looking at me? You have to drink, Keira," Jackson said. "We all know you're fucking Rory."
Rory started laughing.
"Oh, right, sorry." I downed my shot and tried not to choke. I hated the feeling of the burn down my throat. I couldn't help but be surprised that Jackson didn't drink. For some reason, I really thought he was gay. I guess Rory was right, though. He was just metrosexual.
"You're up Rory," Jackson said.
Rory folded up one of the crêpes and walked over to me. "Your crêpe, mademoiselle."
"Why thank you, monsieur."
"You two are so cute. But you're up, Rory," Jackson repeated.
"Never have I ever punched one of my friends in the face. Yet." He slapped the back of Jackson's head and walked back over to the stove."
"Ow, man. Keira wanted to play. Okay, my turn then. Never have I ever slept with someone in a public restroom."
Connor picked up his shot glass and downed it.
"Seriously?" I asked.
"Getting divorced is rough."
I heard the clink of a cup against the counter. I looked over and saw that Rory's glass was empty again. What hasn't he done? I knew it was my turn, but I was starting to feel uncomfortable. Maybe it would be better if Rory and I just talked about these things in private. Or if I just never knew about them. Jackson and Connor were both staring at me. "Umm...never have I ever slept with someone within half an hour of meeting them."
All three of them drank their shots.
"You guys are the worst."
Connor cleared his throat. "Never have I ever slept with another member of the wolf pack. By the way, I love our new name."
Why is Connor trying to get me drunk? I downed my second shot. Maybe he was just saying that so that Rory knew nothing happened between us. Things had gone too far between Connor and me after strip poker that night, but Connor and I hadn't gone past second base.
"Never have I ever felt up and made out with two members of the wolf pack," Jackson said.
Oh my God. Connor must have told Jackson about what had happened. I cringed and downed another shot. I really needed to talk to Rory alone.
Rory turned toward us. He looked down at my empty shot glass and slammed down a plate in front of Jackson. "It wasn't even your turn, asshole."
Jackson looked down at his crêpe and then back up at Rory. "Did you actually spit in this?"
"I don't remember."
"It's not like I'm the other guy she made out with in this room."
Rory glared at him. "Never have I ever cried during sex."
"I told you that in confidence," Jackson mumbled and downed his shot.
"Do you guys maybe want to play charades or something instead? I don't mind going first." I was starting to feel a little dizzy. Vodka was so much stronger than wine and beer.