After dinner Bev still insisted on getting drunk. The group moved outside and sat on the mix of lawn chairs and cushions provided. Richie was now by Bev and Bill, and Eddie was on the opposite side of the small circle.
"Let's play I've never." Bev said, leaning against Ben. He looked happier than he had in a long time too. Hawaii fixed a lot of problems.
"How do you play?" Mike asked.
"Simple! You say something you've never done, if you have done it you drink. And you don't have to explain yourself unless you want to." Everyone nodded in agreement. "I'll start, I've never...slept with a married person!"
Richie drank alone. Eddie looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "I don't have to answer, it's one of the only rules."
"Ben, you next." Bev said.
"Um, ok, I've never...gotten a hand job in a movie theatre." Bill blushed and drank, so did Stan and Richie. Bev leaned over to Bill and whispered something that sounded like 'we can fix that.'
Stan was next, "I've never… been in love." Everyone else drank, except Ben. After college Stan had fallen into deep depression and started using drugs. It had taken the losers a long time to realize how bad it was, all of them still felt terrible. It was one of the reasons they were in such constant contact now. They eventually convinced Stan to go to rehab, all offering to pay for it. It took him two tries and several years but he was clean and had recently gotten off his antidepressants. He was now a successful architect but he was about four years behind everyone else. All that didn't leave much time for dating.
"It's okay, you will be" Mike gave Stan a small hug.
Stan smiled at Mike and nodded.
Richie looked over at Eddie, wondering if he was thinking about the same thing he was. When they were 17 and in love, crazy, all consuming 17 year old love. Until Richie fucked it up. Eddie looked at Richie and gave him a little smile.
Mike was next, "I've never had a one night stand." Everyone but Audra and Eddie drank.
"Bill! You?" Richie was surprised, he and Audra started dating in college, he didn't think Bill was with a lot of other people.
"Don't have to tell," he said, smirking.
Eddie was next, "I've never…had anal sex." His eyes went to Richie as Richie drank, as did Bev and Stan.
Audra said, "I've never been in love with one of my friends." Everyone laughed a little, most of the losers loved one another at one point. Everyone drank except Mike.
"I've never told anyone I loved them and didn't mean it," Bill said. Bev and Eddie drank. Richie tried to catch Eddie's eyes but he wouldn't look up.
Richie paused, wondering who Eddie was thinking of. Hopefully not me. "Having trouble thinking of something you've never done Richie?" Bev teased, poking him with her foot.
"No! Trying to think of something vanilla so all of you can drink and catch up!" Bev laughed. "I've never lived with someone whom I loved." Ha, there, now everyone can drink. Everyone did except Stan and...Eddie? Richie watched him, waiting for him to drink and he didn't. Interesting Was he trying to drink less? Or was he being honest?
The game continued for a while, getting more ridiculous as everyone tried to guess stuff neither Richie or Bev had some (I've never had an orgy with midgets! I've never had a golden shower!) until everyone was happily drunk, or at least buzzed.
"I'm off to bed." Bev announced, standing shakily. Ben stood up too, helping Bev to the door.
"I wonder if we'll have a free bed tonight," Stan remarked, watching them.
As long as Eddie doesn't think he can take it, Richie thought.
"She just left her husband yesterday!" Audra said, "I'm sure he's just helping her." Everyone laughed at Audra's confidence in that statement. None of them really cared though, it had taken years for those two to get together, they could move as fast as they wanted now.
Bill and Audra went to bed next, walking off hand in hand.
"Fuck they're still cute." Richie said, watching them. Stan and Mike nodded. Eddie nodded and shivered. "Are you cold, Eds? Come sit here" Richie pointed to the spot between his legs. He was sitting on a cushion on the ground. Eddie hesitated then came over, leaning against Richie's back. Richie put his chin on Eddie's head and wrapped his arms around Eddie. Nothing beat this.
"You're so warm!" Eddie said, snuggling in a bit.
"It's the LA heat, I carry it with me." Richie joked, putting his chin on Eddie's head.
"So Eddie, Myra didn't want to come spend more time with us?" Stan asked.
Richie felt Eddie stiffen. "Um, no, too much wedding planning to do."
Liar Richie thought. He wondered what the truth was. They stayed up talking for a bit, until Richie realized that Eddie was sleeping, curled into him.
"I'm gonna put this guy to bed," He said, gesturing down.
"Don't take advantage of a sleeping Eddie," Mike warned.
Richie looked at him, hurt, "I would never! He will be wide awake when I make my move." Mie and Stan smiled at him. Richie crouched and scooped Eddie up in his arms, bridal style. He carried Eddie into the room, thinking ironically that maybe he could do this for real one day. Carry him across the threshold. Richie shook his head, man he had it bad for this guy.
Richie place Eddie on the far side of the bed and took off Eddie's shoes, socks and shorts. He left his shirt, not sure if he'd want it removed. He stripped down to his boxers and crawled in next to Eddie, not touching the other man.