It had been seven years since I stood in this spot. Parties weren't my thing. Frat parties really weren't my thing. To this day I was grateful that I went to that particular party though, because that's where I met Stacy.
As I walked through the doors, the smell of beer and sweat assaulted my nostrils.
"Don't be mad that she ditched you for a frat party, even though she knows you hate them. Don't get pissed that she's now wasted. Her sister's missing. Just be nice," I chanted to myself, as I forced my way through the crowd of underage drinkers. "Fuck this place is loud," I said, venting my frustration into the night.
I really thought I got through to her. That I calmed her down. Obviously that wasn't the case, or we wouldn't be here. What if Frankie doesn't find Jenny? What if Stacy ends up calling Don Angelo again? When push comes to shove, I can't exactly tell her to choose me over her sister's life. Jeff wouldn't touch this with a ten foot pole, even after Jenny becomes officially missing. He's made it clear that this is mafia business, which meant I needed to stay out of it. If only it was that simple for me. For Stacy.
"Scottie," I heard voices scream into the crowd.
Hoping against hope I wasn't about to run into an ex, which was unlikely since most of them have graduated by now, I steeled my nerves and turned towards the voices. Tessa and Toni came at me, clearly drunk off their asses, each giving me a side hug.
"There you are. We were just about to call again," Tessa said, slurring her words.
This was rich. Stacy's drunk friends had called to let me know that she was drunk. The irony was not lost on me.
"Why are you hugging me? You don't like me, remember?" I said, trying to not let the irritation of the night's events spill over into my voice.
"Oh we totally like you now. I mean not before, because you killed all of Stacy's relationships, but definitely now, because awww you guys are so cute together," said Toni, taking a sip of her beer.
"Selfie," said Tessa, the two women pressing up against me even more as she held up her phone to take the photo.
"What do you mean I killed all of her relationships?" I asked, skillfully extracting myself from between them.
"Oh my God, he doesn't know," said Tessa, her and Toni gaping at each other.
"That is adorable. There's Kyle. You'll see what we mean," said Toni, the women each taking one of my hands and dragging me to where Kyle was hanging out with a few friends that looked eerily familiar.
Oh fuck. The last thing I wanted tonight was to see Kyle Felps. He was Stacy's last boyfriend before me.
"You know what? I'm really just here to pick up Stacy," I said, but my words got lost in the crowd.
Despite my protests and attempts to get away, I was soon standing before Kyle, who looked like a puppy that had been kicked repeatedly. When I looked again, Tessa and Toni had disappeared.
"Hi Kyle," I said, resigning myself to my fate.
Seldom had I been more relieved than when Stacy ended things with Kyle. Stacy had brought some good guys to meet Kenny and I, but truth be told, Kyle was the best of them all. Peonies aside, he did everything right.
Showered her with attention. Made an effort to get to know us. He was good looking. He even came from money and was becoming a lawyer. Only now did I realize why I didn't want to be around Kyle. I fucking hated Kyle. Every time he touched her in my presence, I wanted to knee him in the balls.
Now here he was, acting like a pathetic fool. I didn't get men like Kyle. For me, once it was over, that was it. I didn't dwell. Then again, the girl had never been Stacy Kendrick. Was this my future?
Kyle and his friends all tensed up at the same time, each of them coming to stand next to him in a protective stance.
"So you finally got her," he said, his voice breaking towards the end of the sentence.
"It's okay, man. Feel your feelings," said one of his friends, patting him on the shoulder.
"I just hope he brings her her favorite flowers every day like I used to," said Kyle, and I swear I saw tears in his eyes.
"You brought her peonies. Every day. Her favorite flowers are Water Lilies. In fact, she's allergic to peonies now. Also you broke up eight months ago, Kyle," I said, trying to keep my cool. "She's free to see whoever she wants."
"I know. I just feel so stupid for not knowing it would be you," said Kyle and his friends nodded in agreement, glaring at me.
"What does that mean?" I asked, confused.
Because how could he know something I didn't even know until six months ago? We barely hung out. We barely knew each other.
"Grief has no time limit, Scott," said one of his friends. "Mine lasted a year. Only then could I let sweet Stacy go."
What the fuck was happening? Was this guy welling up too? Wait a minute.
"You're all Stacy's exes," I said, finally realizing why they seemed so familiar. "And you hang out together. This is fucking weird."
Before we could exchange any more words, I felt someone grab my hand and pull me through the crowd. This time I made no objections. I knew her hand better than my own.
"Nice of you to let me know where you were going," I said, more out of relief than anything. "Thanks for that fun time with all of your exes. What the fuck was that?"
"It's nothing. Let's just go home," she said, tripping over her own feet as we left the frat house.
I caught her from behind, then looked her in the face. Flushed cheeks. Dilated pupils. Definitely drunk. I turned around once I had steadied her and squatted before her.
"Hop on," I said, offering her my back.
She wasted no time and did as she was told, snuggling up to my back.