“Woke up drunk and cracked a can. You guys want a drink? It’s not really a swim-up bar with stools and shit like on the islands that cruises go to, but they bring it right to you, if you’re a VIP,” Connor said.
Ryder shook his head. “Nah, I’m good.”
But I said, “Yeah, it’s about that time. We gotta pay for the booze anyway, right? Isn’t that how VIP works?”
Something Ryder had said stuck with me. Why were we down there spending all that money? We should at least enjoy ourselves. And after our stint babysitting, the shot had warmed my belly. I could stand a beer.
I was talking to Ryder, but Connor said, “You’re the number one male, shouldn’t you know?”
Ryder’s brow lifted, and his lips creased in a small smirk. “It’s different here. Five hundred dollars for six hours of well drinks and beer. Shots and cocktails are extra.” He searched my face. “You know what? I’ll have one too.”
We waded over to where a server in a bikini was giving out drinks and taking orders. Ryder and I got beers, and Connor got a rum and Coke. Just hearing it made my stomach gurgle. Another bikini-clad server handed us pool noodles while we waited. Our drinks came in bottles with a straw, on these little foam floaty things. They were fun and prevented my beer from tasting like pool water for a good fifteen minutes.
“So,” Connor said, once we had drifted away from the bar to a part of the pool with fewer people, “You guys get any?”
We used the noodles as makeshift seats, floating around each other in a small circle. The water was up to my nipples, but I still almost choked on my beer and drowned.
Ryder was smoother. “What about you? Making Jason’s life miserable?”
“Nothing yet, so the old man’s safe—”
“He and I are the same age.” Ryder’s brow was a straight line.
“Oh, shit, that’s right!” Connor laughed in that good-natured, drunk way. “You’re an old man too!”
Ryder rolled his eyes and laughed. “I’m four years older than you assholes.”
Connor continued, “But, no, not yet. I have a good feeling about this place. So many ladies keep giving me looks. Guys too. Last night, best night, am I right, boys?” He smiled like an idiot, his eyes bobbing more than we were. “But for real, you two holding out on me?” I couldn’t tell if he was nodding and smirking or just floating in the water. “Bet you got up to all kinds of filthy shit in the three-oh-five.”
My head tilted. “The three-oh-five?”
“Miami’s area code,” Ryder said. Then to Connor, “No, man. The places we’ve gone don’t have the kind of people I’m into.”
Connor’s face contorted. “What’re your kind of people?”
“I’m gay, dude.” Ryder’s eyes tensed, then he smiled. “You, like, one hundred percent knew that.”
Connor looked even more confused until his face broke. He laughed and splashed Ryder. “I thought you meant Latinos!”
“No fucker, I meant guys.” Ryder laughed too and splashed him back.
Connor lifted both his arms in a dramatic flourish, splashing me. “So what? This is Miami! Everything’s hotterdown here. I’m sure there’s dudes who are down everywhere you go. For sure.”
Ryder looked uncomfortable. I wanted to sink under the water and never come back up.
“Maybe,” Ryder said, “But that’s not my style. Besides, I doubt hooking up with a random guy would’ve been the best look at my little brother’s bachelor party.”
“Who the fuck cares, man? Miles wouldn’t. He’s always been a… whatever you call it when a straight guy is cool with the LGBTQ’s. I am too, just saying.”
“Ally,” I said.
“Yeah, ally. Why would he give a shit?”
Ryder looked at me, then away. “Guess you’re right.”
“That’s it! Let’sgooo!” Connor draped an arm over Ryder’s shoulder and mock-whispered, “You know what? I’ve had more than my fair share of devil’s three ways, and lemme tell you, I don’t hate it.”
“What’s a devil’s three way?” I asked.
