By nine o'clock, I'm relieved to entertain the crowd, having endured enough of Alice and Angelo's flamboyant affections for one another. Though neither of them engaged in a kiss, Angelo kept his arm securely around Alice, while she would caress his chest with each giggle. Mario remained relaxed with his arm along the back of the sofa, closing the gap between us as he engaged in joyful banter with the other two. As the hour drew on, I found hiding my emotions behind my mask exhausting and often contemplated excusing myself from the group to hide in the office with Frankie. However, my sudden leave of absence would only raise unanswerable questions, causing me to remain seated and suffer in silence. Though I detest the taste of alcohol, the urge
