Page 24 of Worth the Risk

I’m not sure when we began singing to an eighties playlist on her phone, but it happened. I also don’t remember switching from wine to liquor. All I know is Arianna Santo made me feel completely comfortable, and it was such a relief to feel like I finally had my first friend in Colorado. Well, besides Luca, if I could call him a friend.

It probably helped that Arianna continued to hand me shots. Since I was never allowed to have more than one glass of wine under the watchful eyes of my parents, or Jefferson, I had no idea drinking could be so fun. I’ve never giggled this much in my life.

And that is how I got completely drunk with Luca’s little sister.

Ring.

Ring.

Ring, ring.

Jesus, what is that?

Ring. Riiiiiiiing.

“Dammit, shut that up!” Arianna mutters, her face plastered into the back of the couch cushions.

“What is it? I don’t know what it is!” I moan. It’s pitch black in the apartment. I don’t know what time it is.

Ring.

Thump, thump, thump.

“PIXIE!”

I jump up, then immediately grab my head as the room spins. Arianna and I polished off the bottle of wine and then tackled an entire bottle of rum. I don’t think I’ve ever had this much alcohol.

“Is that my brother? He calls you Pixie. Oh my God, that’s so fucking adorable. You are like a little pixie,” Arianna muses as she rolls over and stretches.

I start to laugh, finding the entire situation suddenly hysterical. I continue giggling as I weave my way over to the door, throwing it open to find a very angry Luca standing on the other side.

“What the fuck, Hannah? I’ve been calling, texting, and knocking for the last twenty minutes!”

“Jesus, calm your tits, Luca,” Arianna calls from the couch. Luca’s eyes widen and I giggle.

“Is that my sister? What the fuck?” he says as he pushes past me and strides into the apartment.

“Hellloooooooo big brother!” Arianna yells and waves maniacally at him. He looks at her, a bemused smile stretching across his face.

“Are you ladies drunk?” he asks.

“Little bit,” Arianna answers. He turns to me with his eyebrow cocked.

“She made me be her friend,” I blurt out, then laugh at the absurdity of it all.

“That’s right! I made her be my friend. We’re best friends now,” Arianna screams. I clutch my head and moan.

“Not so loud, woman,” I mutter. “What time is it?”

“Around ten,” Luca answers.

“In the morning???” I whisper, horrified. He chuckles.

“No, bella. At night,” he responds.

“God you guys are disgusting. Pixie … bella … bet he calls you baby, too. I need a fucking man,” Arianna mutters. Visions of the evening come back to me.

“Did we … did we put on Journey and karaoke to it?” I ask her, and she nods emphatically.