Never Have I Ever

Never Have I Ever

June 16, 2025

I asked both Alyssa and Helen to my apartment. It would be the last time we would be together for the next five years. Helen joined the Air Force as a rotary wing mechanic. Alyssa’s husband was to begin his new job in California, thus the reason for her future absence.

When we were in college, we met, every Sunday night, ostensibly as a study group for exams and papers. However, it always devolved into a gossip session or our favorite game, “Never Have I Ever.”

For the past four years, I thought I learned all there was to know about these two. Alyssa revealed her seduction plan for her future husband. Helen told stories of wilderness adventure and survival against the elements. I told what I could and made up the rest.

Somehow, I felt tonight, as our last night together, would be a reckoning for all the lies I told and the truths each of us had yet to reveal. No matter how vivid the tale or personal the fact, we all promised to remain friends despite the obvious levels of trepidation and anxiety in their faces and in my eyes.

Merlot was our favorite. I placed three glasses, each half full on the table. We always kept the bottle (or bottles) in the center.

Alyssa went first, holding nothing back. “Never have I ever been kissed by a woman.” Helen reached for her glass, but hesitated. I reached for my glass and took the first drink of the night. Reluctantly, Helen did also.

“You skanks! How did this happen and why didn’t I know about it?” Helen began blushing, as did I. It was all Alyssa needed. “Don’t tell me you two? Did you? You did!” I giggled and gave Helen the opportunity to explain.

“It was a year ago. We were playing and you got a little too drunk and fell asleep. I asked the question and someone didn’t take a drink. I had to make sure that never happened again.”

The explanation satisfied Alyssa, but the result did not. She asked for another me to take my turn. By the look in her eyes, I knew what I had to say.

“Never have I ever been kissed by a woman who had never kissed another woman.”

Helen refilled all of our glasses. It was going to be a long night.