“I set the school on fire.”
Shawn spits his drink out in surprise. “You what?”
“It was an accident,” I continue. “I didn’t know the Bunson burner was still hot.”
“Oh, I like you,” Maeve says, clinking her glass to mine. “We’re already friends.”
“Because I set the school on fire?”
“That’s one of the reasons,” she says with a laugh. “I’ve never set anything on fire. That I’m aware of.”
“Let’s play Never Have I Ever,” Maggie says, clapping her hands.
“Yes!” Anastasia agrees. “Does everyone know how to play?”
Keegan’s eyes narrow. “You’re all going to call a rideshare to get home tonight.”
“Of course,” Stasia says, waving him off before turning to me. “Do you know how to play?”
“Uh, yeah, I went to college.”
Granted, college was a long time ago, but I’m pretty sure I remember how this goes. With my drink in hand, I wait for the first question.
“I’ll go first,” Maggie says. “Never have I ever set the school on fire.”
I laugh and take a drink, while everyone else looks on.
“I’m going to have such a hangover tomorrow.”
“No, lass,” Keegan says, “You’re drinking top-shelf whiskey tonight.”
“Okay, my turn,” Maeve says. “Never have I ever been to Africa.”
I look on while Shawn is the only one to drink. “You were in Africa?”
“In college,” he confirms.
“Never have I ever stolen a car,” Kane says, staring at Keegan while Keegan takes a shot of whiskey, making us all laugh.
“You stole a car?” I ask.
“It was our parents’ car, but technically, yes, I stole it.” Keegan refills our glasses. My lips are already tingling, and before long, I know I won’t be able to feel my legs. Keegan asks the next question. “Never have I ever married a jackass.”
Both Maggie and Stasia drink, making everyone laugh.
“I do believe I’ll be spankin’ your arse this evening,” Kane says to his wife, who simply laughs and kisses his cheek.
“I couldn’t help myself. It was too easy.”
“Oh, he can be a jackarse, that’s the truth,” Maeve says. “Okay, never have I ever been in a threesome.”
Without thinking, I take a drink, just as Keegan does. I look around to find the rest of them staring at me in shock.
“Are you telling me that only Keegan and I have not been in a threesome?” I demand. “Jesus, I’m too sheltered. I guess I need to get out more.”
Maeve bites her lip, and Kane throws his head back and laughs. Shawn shakes his head. “Honey, you drink when you have done it. Remember?”
I squint at him. “Why are there two of you? And…oh, yeah. Oops. Do I have to throw it back up or something?”
“Please don’t,” Maggie says, laughing so hard I’d bet her stomach hurts.
Suddenly, it occurs to me that Keegan also drank. “Wait. You drank.”
He winks at me and gives me that same charming grin that Shawn has down pat. “That I did, lass.”
I blink at him. “You know I’m a writer, right? I need details.”
“Give me a few more shots of the Irish, and I’ll tell you everything you want to know.”
“Right on. Is it my turn now?”
“Go for it,” Kane says.
“Okay. Let me think.” I bite my lip, trying to come up with a really good one. “Okay. Never have I ever had sex in a cemetery.”
Maggie is the only one to drink. The room goes quiet as we all stare at her.
“You don’t want to know,” she says at last, breaking out in laughter again. “You really don’t.”
“I mean, I kind of do,” I admit.
“I don’t,” Keegan says, holding up his hand. I notice Shawn and Kane are also shaking their heads.
“Nope, I’m good,” Shawn says.
“Don’t say another bloody word,” Kane agrees.
“I’m going out on a limb here to say that no one at this bar is a virgin,” I say. “Better yet, never have I ever had sex.”
We all drink.
“See?”
“Doesn’t mean we want to hear stories about our baby sister in the biblical sense,” Keegan says.
I roll my eyes and feel myself getting a little wobbly, but Shawn catches me and sets me straight.
“You doing okay, Lex?” he asks.
“I’m great, thank you for asking.” I boop his nose with my finger. I’ve wanted to do that for a long time. “You’re adorable, by the way, Shawn O’Callaghan.”
“Adorable?”
“Like, super adorable. Okay, maybe you lean more toward hot.” I give him a good once-over. “How do you feel about orgasms?”
He chokes on his spit but then nods and looks as if he’s going to give me an honest answer.
Which is good, because that’s exactly what I’m looking for. Always. Every day. I’m all for honesty.
“I guess I’m fond of them.”
I grin. “Right? So fun. Okay, who’s next?”
“I feel like you belong here,” Maeve says to me, and I clutch my chest in joy.
“You do? That might be the nicest thing anyone’s ever said to me. For real.”
“You’re the best,” Maggie agrees. “You served all of those meals tonight, on one of the busiest nights we’ve seen in a long time, and you didn’t so much as flinch. Your feet have to be killing you.”