Daisy, already holding the bottle, raises it proudly.
"We're celebrating our genius over here!" She slaps Rava's chest and nearly spills half the liquor. "He got a full scholarship. He's gonna be a hot teacher." The guy lights up. "Yo, that's actually dope." He high-fives Rava, who's redder than the damn sunset.
I swear, it never gets old watching him shy like that. Lorenzo tosses plastic shot cups around like confetti. "Ravioli. When's your birthday?"
"January seventh, 2003," Rava says, still grinning. Lorenzo pauses.
Thinks.
"TO THE ONLY 22-YEAR-OLD I WOULD TRUST WITH MY CHILDREN!"
Everyone: "CHEERS TO THAT!" The cups go flying, the tree guy and his friends join the toast, Daisy is already pouring more. And Rava is standing in the middle of it all, glowing like a star that finally figured out how much it's worth.
I'm just trying to keep my damn heart from falling out of my chest. We barely finish the shots when Lorenzo starts stripping. "Let's hit the water, assholes! The lovely tree guy's got our backs!"
Before anyone can answer, Lorenzo slaps hands with our new bestie, then spins dramatically toward the sea. "Alright! Let's GO, YOU NASTY BITCHES!"
He takes off sprinting and launches himself into a front-flip. Rava runs in right behind him, arms spread like a martyr, flops on his back. He screams immediately. "FUCK, THAT IS COLD!"
I dive in like an idiot, headfirst into shallow water. Pretty sure I just kissed sand with my forehead. We're all wiping seawater out of our eyes. Lorenzo's shaking his hair.
Rava's shivering dramatically. Daisy is still dry, standing at the edge. Lorenzo waves at her.
"Come on, hot girlfriend, you're ruining the aesthetic. Don't make me drag you." Daisy points a threatening finger. "Touch me and you die in your sleep."
Rava swims up slowly. I can already tell he's scheming.
"Rava—" she warns. Too late.
He slaps the surface of the water hard, a beautiful, explosive splash hits her dead in the face.
"YOU PIECE OF SHIT!" she screams, chasing after Rava while he cackles and swims away, yelling. We are all bobbing in the water, half-drunk and freezing. "Bro, Italy is heaven, I swear to God, I'm gonna fucking die from how beautiful this is!"
Lorenzo shouts and then launches a wave of water directly at Daisy's face. She blinks, unimpressed. "Then die quieter."
I am laughing when I turn and catch Rava floating near me. I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him hard against me. He gasps. "You're gonna drown me, Gio! HELP—"
But I just laugh and hug him tighter. I have waited so long to do that. To grab him like that without checking who is looking, without fear, without shame.
Years.
And now I have him in my arms, soaking wet and yelling for help. I let him go and touch his chest, lean in until my mouth is near his ear.
"Did you call them?" I ask, "to confirm you're going?"
He leans into my neck and shouts. "Yeah, Gio. I called. You don't need to keep reminding me that I'm leaving."
And just like that, my smile cracks a little. Before I can say anything, Lorenzo swims up between us. "You two whispering again? Is it a sex joke? Are we plotting something? Is there a plan I'm not in on?"
Rava rolls his eyes. "Bro, you're the biggest gossip I've ever met. I swear to God." Lorenzo grins. "Yes, but I'm charming. I made you spill your whole tragic little love story at that carnival when you were blackout drunk, didn't I?"
I turn sharply. "Can someone please tell me what he said that night?"
"NO," Rava says.
"Don't worry, you probably have already done the things he was telling me." Lorenzo replies. Daisy cuts in, raising a brow. "Can I know?"
Lorenzo immediately turns to her. "So your not-so-innocent brother said—"
