Vronsky stepped in quickly, pulling Anna away from Johnson’s grip in one swift motion. “Sir, you need to calm down right now! If it weren’t for her, you’d never see your dog again. I, personally, wonder if Balboa wouldn’t be better off where he is.”

Johnson apologized immediately, assuring them over and over that he was able to take care of the dog. “I miss him so much. Please, he’s all I have. I love him and he loves me. We should be together.”

Anna promised Johnson they would return, and she and Vronsky left together. They took the subway to the dog walker’s apartment, then shared an Uber back to Grand Central with Balboa sitting in between them, and then watched the reunion between Johnson and Balboa that even Vronsky had to admit was touching. Afterward they passed the time conversing on safe subjects: the classes they were taking, the friends they had in common, and the TV shows they both watched. Neither mentioned the holiday again, though there were signs of Valentine’s Day everywhere. As the sky darkened into night, they saw dressed-up couples heading into restaurants holding hands. There were women on the street proudly carrying the flowers they had received at work from their lovers. They even watched a man crossing the street in front of them holding a giant bouquet of heart-shaped balloons flapping around in the breezy twilight.

Anna and Vronsky had spent half the day together, hours of walking close, their hands inches apart, itching to reach for the other. In the cab back to Madison Square Garden, they were quiet at first, both lost in thought contemplating their weird and wonderful day. A few blocks away from the Garden, Anna turned to Vronsky. “If you think I didn’t notice you giving Johnson money for Balboa, you’d be dead wrong.”

Unable to deny it, Alexia looked Anna in the eyes. “And if you think I gave him the money just for Balboa’s sake, then you’d be wrong. Anna, I wanted you to see it, but it wasn’t a ploy. I don’t want to play games with you.” He knew this was the moment to kiss her, but he didn’t want to overwhelm her with his intensity, even though he was already overwhelmed himself. “Anna, have dinner with me tonight, right now.”

Anna shook her head. “You know I can’t.” She met his eyes. “Alexia, I’m not saying no because I don’t want to go. I’m saying no because it isn’t right.”

The cab ride was silent after that, and when they pulled up to Madison Square Garden, Vronsky got out and held the door open for Anna, who got out, but not before asking the cab driver if he could wait. “I’m coming in with you,” Vronsky said.