I didn’t feel so good though. I’d just made a promise I wasn’t sure I could keep.

~~Axel~~

I didn’t go back to my room after I left the bar. I couldn’t sleep, so I crossed the street and ducked into the bar where I’d last seen the Puck Bros. They were still there, quite a bit drunker and louder, minus Easton, who was probably sexting with Caro right about now. Ever since he’d become one half of a couple, he was a drag to be around. I guess the guys might say that about me, but I’d been forced to be on good behavior by my bad choices, not by a woman.

“Hey!” I shouted above the din of the DJ’s music, clattering glasses, and raised voices.

The guys raised their glasses to me and shouted drunken welcomes. Chairs were scooted over to make way for me. Across the table, Ziggy nodded to me and went back to making out with the blonde who sat on his lap facing him. Her legs were wrapped around his hips, and her short skirt had ridden up to reveal her G-string. I looked away, not needing to see any more. Ziggy was the least modest of all of us, and he had some good competition in that arena. In fact, I would’ve been doing the same thing right now if it wasn’t for my other worries holding me back.

Kaden sloppily poured a glass full of beer and pushed it across the table to me. I lifted the glass to my lips and guzzled it, after which I poured another.

Jasper “Caveman” Flint staggered off the dance floor, a scantily clad woman on each arm. I wasn’t sure who was supporting whom. Cave had this way with women I would never understand. He was a slob, didn’t dress well, his hair was always wild, but the women were attracted to him like flies to a carcass. He never lacked female companionship.

“I’m heading to the room,” he slurred.

“Me too.” Ziggy stood abruptly, catching the woman before she fell off his lap onto the floor. “Later.”

The group stumbled out the door, hanging on to each other.

“They stiffed us with the bill.” Steele frowned. He was always the one who kept track of finances and made sure the checks were split evenly.

“Now there’s the start of a good orgy if there ever was one,” Kaden said almost wistfully, ignoring Steele’s concern about the bill.

“Usually, you’re the instigator of something like that.”

“Until he fell in love.” Steele winked at me.

“I’m not in love. Just seeing someone exclusively.”

“You are? Why is this the first I’ve heard of this?” I was out of the loop for four months, and everything changed, well, except for Ziggy and Cave. They’d never change. They were perpetual horny teenagers. Easton was my longtime best friend. He hadn’t kept me filled in on our fellow Puck Bros. I couldn’t shake the FOMO flooding through me. I was feeling sorry for myself, I guess.