I shrug, wondering if I should tell them the truth. What the hell.
“My family railroaded me into being here. They thought I needed a break away from reality. My brother is a pilot and has travelled all over the world. He booked this holiday for me. So, here I am. I had no idea where I was going until this morning.” I smile as we walk slowly down the cobbled street.
“You sound like you have an annoying brother just like me,” Lucca jokes and nudges Giovani in the ribs.
“First drinks are on you for being cheeky. Annoying brothers wouldn’t let you live with them for, how long has it been?” Giovani holds his hand over his ear, pretending he can’t hear what Lucca is about to say.
“Yeah, yeah. Keep your knickers on. Come on, we can’t not show your guest what Betty Lou has to offer. Her cocktails are divine, and she has happy hour. Buy one, get one free, all day every day.”
“Oh, wow. I love cocktails, but they tend to not like me.” I laugh.
And that’s how our night started. We hit the cocktails, laughed, enjoyed each other’s company, and got a bit tipsy.
***
Lucca got up to sing a song on the karaoke. By this point in the night, I fear I’ve had one too many cocktails and I would get up to sing on the karaoke and probably dance on the tables, and that is bad. I’m tone deaf. I can’t string a tune together if my life depends on it. I like music, my voice just isn’t on board. A cat’s choir springs to mind.
“Are you having a good night?” Giovani sits back down beside me after his bathroom visit. He doesn’t look any different than he did a few hours ago. Either he can hold his alcohol better than me and Lucca, or he’s not drinking half as much as us.
“I am. I’m glad I came out with you guys now. Your brother is a hoot.” I giggle at him singingAchy Breaky Heart. He sounds good to my ears, but I’m not sure if he actually is good, or if it’s all down to the alcohol.
“That’s one word for him.” Giovani shakes his head and laughs. “I could think of many other words to describe him, they’re just not as kind as yours.”
Tonight has been a good night. It’s been good to enjoy someone else’s presence. I’ve got so used to my own company lately. I was too scared of my own shadow to even see friends outside of work, not that I had many left. Maybe I should just take the proverbial bull by the horns and enjoy my second chance at life. Wait until I tell my brother this holiday has done just that; I’ll never hear the end of it. I can hear theI told you soalready.
“I’m going to have a terrible head in the morning, mixing all of these drinks.”
I can’t remember the last alcoholic drink I had. Someone my age should be able to say I can’t remember the last time I didn’t have a drink.
“Good at the time though, right?”
“Right. A great start to my holiday. How long have you lived out here?”
I change the topic to something I’ve wanted to ask all night, but the lack of liquid courage kept my lips sealed. Now, the alcohol is fuelling my loose lips and I’m not scared to ask questions.
“I’ve been coming out to Bulgaria for about five years. I’ve only been living and running The Ranch since 2017. I can’t imagine my life anywhere else now. I love it out here in the peak season. We’re far enough away from the hustle and bustle of Sunny Beach, but close enough if we want the nightlife and shops.”
I nod. It must be good to have your life all wrapped up with a pretty little bow. I’ve been existing and have no idea what life has in store for me. “What do you do when the season finishes? Do you stay here?”
“I stay here until about late October, early November. But then I do a bit of travelling for myself. I go home and visit my family in Italy, and then in late February, early March, I come back to the Bulgarian mountains and do some skiing, before I return here in April.”
I nod in awe of this man having his life in order. “Sounds amazing. I wondered about your names since you have Scottish accents.”
Giovani turns more on his side to face me. “My parents are from Italy. I was born in Scotland. My parents had their own chain of restaurants called Mama Bella. They retired about eight years ago and returned to Italy not long after. It’s hard to lose the Scottish accent, not that I’d want to. Scotland is more my home than Italy ever was.”
“Scotland is a beautiful place,” I agree.
“What about yourself? You spend all your time in Scotland?”
I nod. I suddenly feel dull compared to Giovani. “I get the school holidays off since I’m a teacher, so I do get the opportunity to travel and visit different places. I just haven’t had that luxury lately.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Don’t be. My life is starting all over again this summer, and who knows what will happen next? I might get that travelling bug again.”
I feel proud of myself for looking to the future instead of just living day by day, stuck in the past.
“Well, here’s to the future.” Giovani holds up his bottle of beer and I knock my Daiquiri glass against his and giggle.
