She dawdled in the bathroom for a while, waiting for the others to leave. The last thing she wanted was to face Kimmie again, seeing her anguish and betrayal. Steven, Lolly, and Kimmie were gone by the time she exited, and the party was winding down. She found Vronsky talking to Jaylen, the birthday girl, sitting with her father and his celeb friends. She studied him for a moment marveling at how at ease he was, so confidently himself, no matter who he was with. He spotted her and waved her to come close, holding out his hand. She took it and slid beside him onto the couch.

The DJ announced they were playing the last few songs. Vronsky looked at Anna, and she nodded. She had never closed a bar down let alone an entire nightclub, so she was more than willing. Besides, she didn’t feel tired at all.

The dance floor was alive again as revelers crowded the floor. They were all showing off for one another, dancing as a group. Vronsky whispered to Anna that seeing these basketball legends dance to “Rump Shaker” was something he would remember forever. When the last song came on, everyone screamed and threw their hands in the air. It was Heavy D & The Boyz’ “Now That We Found Love,” and Vronsky pulled Anna back into his arms, holding her close. He knew all the words, which made her laugh, and when the chorus started up she really took in the words, Now that we found love what are we gonna do … with it? There was no more perfect song for them than this one.

After the song ended, they walked toward the coat check hand in hand. Anna, still unable to forget Kimmie’s face, grew somber, and Vronsky asked her what was wrong. “I’m sad the night is ending,” she told him.

He nodded and said, “It doesn’t have to end now. We could go get pancakes.”

Anna shook her head and said in a quiet voice, “We can’t. I don’t even think we should leave together.”

Vronsky frowned and said no way was he letting her go home alone at this hour. That was when she told him she wasn’t going back to her New York apartment, but was heading back to Greenwich on the first train. Vronsky looked confused, but he didn’t question her about it. Instead he told her he needed to hit the restroom and asked her to wait for him. She said okay and watched him walk off, all the while knowing that by the time he came back, she would be gone.