“Alexia, we have to finish our dance,” she said in a quiet voice. “Our last one got interrupted.”

He sat up immediately and rubbed his eyes to make sure he was indeed awake. Anna held out her hand to him, and he took it quickly. They walked back to the dance floor, hand in hand, oblivious to everyone watching them. When they started dancing, the floor only had a few people on it. Rallying around Anna and Vronsky in a show of support, every member from the party still able to stand joined them on the dance floor.

Like a dormant volcano erupting without warning, the party came alive again in a matter of seconds. A mighty second wind blew through the tent whether they were ready for it or not. The dance party went on for many songs, but at 3 A.M. the DJ packed up and went home happy with his five large, plus the eight ball Beatrice slipped into his jeans pocket for a tip, and soon there was only one couple left on the dance floor, holding each other close.

In Vronsky’s arms, Anna felt like she could stay up forever. She was so focused on him—his breath, his hands, his smell—that when she finally looked around she was surprised to find they were alone dancing to the songs from a playlist he had secretly compiled in her honor. She honestly didn’t even remember the DJ leaving or when Vronsky had placed his iPhone into a large glass, which served as an amplifier so they could continue dancing.

Only when a big gust of wind blew in at 4 A.M. did Anna shiver a little, which made Vronsky stop dancing, though what they had been doing was more like two people clutching each other desperately as they swayed back and forth.

When they opened the tent flap door, they saw the ground was covered in two inches of snow. Anna had cast aside her heels hours ago and was barefoot, so Vronsky picked her up and carried her across the yard, one pair of footprints in the snow displaying their newfound union.

He carried her all the way through the dark house without running into a single person though the vast place was littered with others also wide awake behind closed doors. Lolly had woken up, thrown up, and brushed her teeth, and, upon opening her door to go find Steven, she found him on his way in holding a bottle of vintage Cristal he’d pilfered from the wine fridge. They were now having the romantic night she had wanted to have with Steven since Valentine’s Day.