I don’t know how many of these cocktails I’ve had, but I have a warm feeling floating all over my body. I like it. It makes me feel carefree. The most carefree I’ve been in such a long time.
“Your turn.” Lucca throws his arms around my shoulders and takes my glass from me. “Come on, Harl. Don’t let the team down. You can’t come here and not sing.”
“No. No. Nope. I can’t sing. Gio, help me!” I protest, but my trusted friend just holds his hands up and lets his brother man handle me up onto the stage.
It’s a stark contrast to the way I felt shaking Lucca’s hand just a short couple of hours ago. Now, I’m up singing with him, enjoying his company, not flinching when he touches my bare skin.
“I got you, Harls. We can make a fool of ourselves together. This is Bulgaria. Everyone is too happy to care about the Scottish person singing terribly on karaoke. They probably don’t even understand you. Everyone is an amazing singer here.”
As the melody ofI Got You Babefloats through the air, I feel myself swaying to the tune.
No one will remember me tomorrow. I’ll be going home in a few weeks where no one will ever see me again. I can make a fool of myself if I want to.
***
Who would have thought cobbled streets would be a fucker to walk on when you’re intoxicated? I feel like a toddler learning to walk again.
I’m sandwiched in between Lucca and Gio. I don’t know who’s worse, me or Lucca. I’m glad I’m not alone, and Gio is taking our crazy drunkenness in his stride. He hasn’t once treated us like we’re embarrassing him or acting ridiculous.
“Back to Gio’s for a nightcap,” yells Lucca.
“Oh, no. I can’t do that. I’ve put you both out enough tonight,” I protest.
“Nonsense. Tell her, Gio. We’ll make sure she gets back to the hotel safely.”
“As much as it kills me to agree with Lucca, he’s right. My house is just down the road from here. Five minutes from the hotel. I’ll get you back to your room in one piece.”
“You have coffee?” I ask boldly.
“Only the best coffee in Bulgaria,” Gio states proudly.
“Okay. You have a deal.”
The intoxicated me has no filter or ability to tell the devil on my shoulder to behave. I’m quite happy to rebel against my usual shy self. It has taken me long enough to stick the middle finger up to life.
We stop outside large iron gates. Gio types in a code on the panel and they open to let us through. The top of the house is on stilts and it’s stunning. I don’t know what I expected, but this wasn’t it. It’s like something you see in a magazine.
“You have a beautiful house.”
“Thanks. Come on. The lady wants coffee.”
And that’s what we do. Entering Giovani’s house was peaceful and quiet. Even the surrounding areas are tranquil for a holiday hotspot. We walk upstairs to get into his main living area. It’s bright and spacious, fit for a king.
“Can I tempt you with something stronger than coffee, m’lady?” asks Lucca.
I sit down on the couch and wave my hands offendedly. “Absolutely not. I’ve drunk more alcohol today than I have in…” I pause and think about the last time I had a drink. “Well, such a long time.”
I won’t be transported to the time when tea and coffee was the only thing I could drink.
“You’re on holiday, enjoy it.” Lucca sits down opposite me with a bottle of beer in his hands. “I might be a little delicate tomorrow, too.” He raises his bottle in the air a little too hard and some sloshes out of the top over his hand.
“Ye think?” I laugh and slip off my shoes. It surprises me how at home I feel. “I’ll be dying tomorrow. I’ll probably lose a day of my holiday, but I’ve had fun tonight.”
“You only live once, dolly. What’s one day when you’ve had a great night?”
And there hasn’t been a truer word spoken. I’m done just existing. I don’t want to be one of those people who live a full life and have nothing to show for it. I don’t want to live until old age, and no one knows who I am. I want to make my mark on the world. I want to show people what I’m capable of.
“So, plans tomorrow, troops?” asks Gio as he approaches me with a large coffee mug in his hand.
