Chapter 27

"Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light. " – Helen Keller

MELODY POV

Italian slurs, one concerned, and others gruff and low. An edgy American response glided into the mix, and the cacophony crept into my brain invasively. I blinked twice as my mind waddled back to reality, finally registering the heavy weight of an untouched drink in my hand. I could feel heated gazes coming from all directions of me, and I hated how I was front and center of everyone's attention like I had sprouted horns and a tail with scales. Bitterness crawled to my throat, and I buried it off with a big swig of whiskey, and fought the urge to slam the half-empty flute on the head of a guy who was standing a good foot from me, and for some reason, couldn't afford to keep his eyes off me.

Instead, I thrust the flute into his hand and started to walk away.

"Signora..." his edgy gruff stopped me in my tracks. I turned to glare at him with a bored expression. A stutter settled on h