Confetti explodes all around us as people raise their champagne flutes high in the air.

“Happy New Year, Gemma baby,” says Celeste.

She kisses my forehead, and fireworks explode inside my chest.

We’re getting into our Uber when I realize that I left my keys on the kitchen counter of my friends’ apartment. I’d been so distracted and nervous about the night ahead that I left for the party without them. Luckily, the front door locks automatically, so I don’t have to worry about a New Year’s home invasion. But unfortunately, that also means I’m very much locked out, and my friends aren’t coming back until this afternoon.

“Shit,” I say, leaning my head back against the car seat. My mouth is parched, and my head’s pounding already. I forgot to drink water the entire night. I’m trying to figure out what to do, when Celeste says, “Let’s go back to my place. It’s closer, anyway.”

She changes our destination on her phone before I can protest.

Fortunately—or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it—I’m sobered up by the time we reach Celeste’s apartment. Unlike the last time I ended up here, I’m not blissfully asleep, so when the front door clicks closed behind us, leaving Celeste and me alone in the darkness of her apartment, I awkwardly stare at her, unsure what to do.

After we take off our shoes, Celeste stares back at me for a moment before flicking on the lights and making herself busy by bringing me a towel, toiletries, and everything else I’d need for the night. She even gets me a pair of silky soft pink pajamas.

“So you don’t have to sleep in a scratchy Christmas sweater,” she says with a slight smile.

“Thanks,” I reply, genuinely grateful for her hospitality. It’s not the kind of treatment I’d ever expect from an ex. “Sorry, can I also have a glass of water?” I ask. “I’m so dehydrated right now. I accidentally forgot to drink some all night.”

Celeste groans. “Suddenly, we’re back in college again,” she says as she pours me a glass. “Remember how I had to always remind you to drink water whenever we went out? Sorry I didn’t do that this time around. I was too focused on everything that was going on tonight.”

I wince. “It’s not your fault. Or your responsibility. I led you into a lion’s den.”

“It was fun, though,” she says. “Really. Quite a memorable way to start the New Year.”

Our fingers touch as she hands me the glass. It’s the briefest moment of physical contact, but it still makes me shudder with pleasure. Hoping the water will cool me down in more ways than one, I gulp down the entire glass. But when I finish, I catch sight of Celeste staring down at my now wet lips.