It stung a little, but I excused myself inside. Briefly, I felt like an outsider in my own house. Inside again, the party continued to pick up steam. Couples and small groups were breaking off, either to bedrooms or a couch or any other available surface. The sight was overwhelming -- exactly as we had planned.

Alix and Gloria had begun a girl-on-girl show, like a couple strippers entertaining a bachelor party. Jess had disappeared, and I noticed Marco and Jonathan Summers were gone, too. I noted that Kat and Rita had won the attention of Johnny Burris, forcing Shelly to focus on his teammate, Bryce. She had to compete...