Page 52 of The Devil's Fire

“Someone had quite a bit to drink yesterday.” Arianna commented as she sipped her coffee.

“How are you all fine? I feel like shit.” I said, placing my head on the cold surface of the island and sighing in bliss. The chilliness actually helped my headache.

“No shit. I’m surprised you’re even alive. You kept taking shot after shot. You are one tiny human, but you sure can drink.” Raffaele laughed.

“Ugh… why did I do that to myself?” I groaned.

“You don’t remember what happened yesterday?” She gave me an amused look as he handed me a cup of coffee.

“Not really. As long as I didn’t do anything too embarrassing, then I think I’m fine not remembering. You know what, even if I did, it’s better that I don’t remember anything at all.”

“Mm-hmm, well, you did become best friends with Tank Man. Or at least tried to.”

I had my mug midway, about to drink from it, when I looked at Raffaele.

“Wha- ho–how do you know? What?” I rapidly blinked, trying to figure out if I had heard him right.

“You were yelling at him, calling him Tank Man, and saying something about him being macho-macho.” I looked at Arianna, mortified. Suddenly, the entire night came rushing back to me and my eyes widened.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” I put my head in my hands, trying to hide from the embarrassment. “I really made a fool out of myself last night, didn’t I?”

“We had fun watching you. Actually, I think that was the best party I’ve ever been to in my life.” Raffaele laughed.

“What a sad life you have had in your… mind sharing your age?” I asked.

“I’m thirty-five.” He winked, and I gaped at him.

“I would have never guessed!”

“Ah, what can I say? I like to take care of myself.” He wiggled his brows and flexed his biceps. I gave him a little shake of my head and turned to face Arianna.

“And you?”

“I’m twenty-six like Cara.” She smiled.

“Does that make you the oldest of us all?” I looked back at Raffaele.

“Nah, Lorenzo and I are about the same age. Damiano is thirty-eight, though.”

I spit out my coffee and coughed violently.

I let an old man touch me!

Arianna kept patting my back while I couldn't stop coughing. I finally calmed down and grabbed a bottle of water that I immediately downed.

“Jesus, calm down, woman. I was only kidding. He’s actually forty-two.” Raffaele continued with a smug grin.

“Raffaele, shut up. Are you trying to kill her? She just had a coughing fit.” She smacked him on the head. He gave a pout and rubbed the back of it.

“Don’t listen to him, he plays around too much. He’s twenty-eight and so is Lorenzo. Damiano is thirty, not forty-two.” She explained.

“Thank God.” I let out a breath. I wasn’t sure how to feel about it if Damiano was a whole eighteen years older than me.

Arianna let out a chuckle when she saw my relief.

“Is Cara not up yet? She’s usually the first one up and loves to drag me out of bed.” I asked when I noticed she still hadn’t made an appearance.

“We’re the only ones who came down for breakfast.” Arianna shrugged.

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