It took three whole hours for Paul to insist that they play Truth or Dare, one of his all-time favorite party games. For years, it had mostly provided him an excuse to make out with Guy, but in the heady atmosphere of a bachelor trip, it was starting to feel like an excuse for everyone to cut loose. There was a little protesting up front that they were too old, that the game was silly, but Paul’s infectious insistence quickly won them over. Before they knew it, they were arranged in a haphazard circle, going back and forth with each other as the crew mostly stayed out of view.

“Truth or dare?” Bee asked Sophie, more than a little tipsy for the first time since they’d arrived.

“Truth,” Sophie answered, wanting to play it extra safe in front of her new quasi-boyfriend.

“When…” She smiled, tamping down a hiccup. “When was the last time you had anal sex?”

“Jesus.” Dev laughed, snorting into his beer. “We’re no holds barred in here, I guess.”

“She said truth!” Bee insisted, slapping him lightly on the shoulder. “She chose her fate!”

Gabriel looked at Sophie, a smile creeping across his face as he sipped his club soda. Alex wondered how all of this must seem to someone who was completely sober.

“I’d like to know, too,” he said, followed by something muttered in French.

“Well,” Sophie started, downing her champagne for courage. “If you must know, it was two weeks ago.”

“Chic!” Paul yelled, raising his hand to give Gabriel a somewhat uncomfortable high five. “Okay, Sophie, your turn.”

“You take my turn,” she said, standing up. “I have to run to the bathroom.”

“Again? What did I tell you about those pelvic floor exercises?” Bee pointed in her general direction, looking a little woozy. Dev quietly placed a glass of ice water in front of her.

“Are we going to discuss every part of my anatomy tonight? Do you want to see my medical history, too?” Sophie rolled her eyes, heading to the bathroom.

“I’ll take a look!” Paul called out behind her, before impishly turning his attention to Danial. “Truth or dare, babe?”

“Dare,” he answered. “But I’m not doing anything that involves the crew.”

“No problem.” Paul hesitated, looking unusually calculating as he glanced around their circle. “I dare you to take a shot of Gabriel’s mezcal.”

“Uh, sure.” Danial laughed. “I love mezcal.”

“It’s a good one,” Gabriel added, rather sweetly.

“And you have to take it off of Alex.”

“Excuse me?” Alex jumped, turning to face him across the circle. “What?”

“He has to take a shot off of you. Salt goes on your neck, lime goes in your mouth, liquor on your stomach. I know you’ve done this before. I was there.”

“Paul.” She set her drink down. “I am thirty-two years old.”