“Maybe he did it to shut her up. I’d drive to Brazil if it kept her trap shut,” Steven said. He was positive Alexander had put some of the blame on him, too, as if he wasn’t trustworthy enough to get his sister home in a few inches of snow. He knew Anna would never confirm his suspicions. “How did you leave things with him?”

Anna shrugged. “I don’t know. He came in and said good-bye to Bea, but I refused to look at him. I didn’t say good-bye to either of them.” Anna pushed the ice cream away, suddenly sick of the sweetness. “He had the nerve to warn me about leading on Vronsky. He said he didn’t like to be the subject of gossip and it was obvious people were talking about us.” Anna watched her brother as she said this, studying his reaction.

Steven blew the hair out of his eyes and shook his head. “That guy,” he said, “is such a toolbag, the granddaddy of tools.”

Anna couldn’t help but laugh. She knew her brother didn’t like her boyfriend, but Steven had never once spoken ill of him in front of her. “I don’t know if he’s the granddaddy of tools, but he really can be difficult,” she agreed. “Were people talking about us, Steven? I mean, before Alexander showed up and got everyone talking about us?” She watched her brother nod his head.

“People talk shit about everybody, Anna,” he said. “What you and Vronsky are doing is nobody’s business except your own.”

“That’s nice of you to say.” Anna shook her head sadly. “But we both know it’s not true. Sure, my life is my own, but I am also Alexander’s girlfriend. So the company I keep is a little bit his business, too. Like how Lolly had every right to be upset over Marcella.”

“That was different,” Steven said, choosing to defend his sister’s honor instead of his own. “I was guilty of being a scumbag. You and Vronsky were just dancing.”

Anna grabbed her brother’s hand. “I adore you for defending me, but it was more than dancing. I mean, not more like that. But, more like … well, you know.”