#Chapter 73: Drinking Songs

Ava I could feel the weight of every single pair of eyes in the tavern settling squarely on me, pinning me in place with their eager anticipation. A hush had fallen over the once-raucous crowd, the only sounds the faint strumming of the musician’s guitar and the crackle of the fireplace. Swallowing hard past the lump that had formed in my throat, I opened my mouth to protest, to wave off the request. “I... I really can’t sing,” I said. “Nonsense!” Chris’s voice cut across mine, that roguish grin of his stretching across his features as he shot me a pointed look. “Ava, you’ve always had such a beautiful voice.” I felt my cheeks flushing hotly, a mixture of embarrassment and annoyance at Chris for putting me so firmly on the spot. Leveling him with my most withering glare, I struggled to find the words to respond. But the musician beat me to it, his soft brown eyes going wide and imploring as he strummed a few hopeful chords. “Please, Luna?” he asked. “Just one ver