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Her face forms an expression I best interpret as Why are you even asking me this?

“Of course I am. I know you’ll be busy and stuff, but I can entertain myself at all the markets during the day, and when you’re done with class, you can show me where to get the best lo mein. I figure you’ll have it all worked out by then.”

She hugs me, and my insides fill with a warm, gooey feeling that multiplies as she ushers me around the room, stopping at various groups to introduce me as “my girl, Lise,” or “This is my friend I was telling you about.”

“I started seeing someone,” she whispers in my ear as we weave through the bodies. “It’s still pretty new, but I haven’t felt like this before.”

We stop, and Koko lets go of my hand to snake it around the waist of a red-haired woman. I prepare to introduce myself, but when the woman turns around, her face is so familiar that I stop.

“Hi, I’m…” My hand freezes halfway between us.

She eyes it and me, then reaches out her hand, shaking mine up and down.

“Large Americano girl with an unpredictable pastry habit,” she deadpans.

“Yes.” I nod, still a little dumbfounded. “I also go by Annalise.”

She glances at Koko and laughs; her smile transforms her face. “I’m Janette,” she says. “Koko has told me so much about you.”

The three of us talk for the better part of an hour, until the cops show up at the front door and Koko has to go work her persuasive magic. Her absence leaves a weird lull in our conversation, making it obvious Koko was the one carrying it and that Janette’s social skills are the same level of awkward as mine.

“So…” I attempt to break the now too-long silence. “How long have you and Koko been together?”

“Just a couple weeks,” she answers. “I mean, we started talking back in October, but then she went back home, and I had just got out of a long-distance thing with my ex, and I was not super keen on doing that again, but then Koko came back, and everything worked out from there.”

Janette smiles but doesn’t elaborate any further, and we are once again at high risk of slipping back into the awkward silence.

“So you and your ex were long distance?” It’s a weirdly personal question, but on a topic I have been—given the circumstances—thinking about a lot today. Janette doesn’t seem to mind it, either. She nods her head and drains the last of the liquid in her glass.

“Yeah. She was in the city when we met but moved back to her hometown to be closer to her family. It made what was once easy and fun a total pain in the ass. We probably could have drawn it out a few more months, but sometimes, it’s best to pull the plug before things get messy, right?”

I nod my head again, thinking I know exactly what she means, but the truth is I don’t—at least not yet.

The room is starting to feel too hot, and I keep getting bumped every time someone tries to get to the bathroom, so when Janette says, “I’m going to go grab another drink. Do you want anything?” I shake my head and instead sneak down the back hall to the rear exit, telling myself that I’m only stepping out for a few moments of air. However, I am not the only person who seems to have had this idea. Two guys are standing in the back alley, both vaping and in the middle of an intense conversation I get the distinct feeling I’m interrupting.

I consider changing my plans completely and heading home, hoping I’ve put in enough of an appearance to avoid disappointed Koko texts. But as I step away from the vapers and take a full breath of air, an idea forms, and I stop.

It’s beautiful out. A little cold, yes, but the sky is clear. It’s one of those rare Toronto nights when you can see the stars.

I make a quick direction change and instead head for the fire escape, climbing up the wrought iron steps until I reach the little landing outside the window. From there, I grab the ladder, gripping each rung carefully as I climb until I reach the roof.

There’s a thin layer of snow covering everything but the two red chimneys. I brush off a small space at the base of one, sitting down and pressing my back against the brick. Immediately, the cold seeps through the denim of my jeans. I ignore it and stare up at the sky, which is as beautiful as I hoped it would be. My eyes trace the path of what is either the Big Dipper or a random square of stars until the groaning of the metal fire escape tells me someone has followed me up here.

I feel a small rush of panic at being alone on the roof in the dark until a familiar dark blond head pops up over the ledge.

“Hey,” I call to Mackenzie as he climbs the last few steps onto the roof. “How’d you know I was up here?”

He walks over and sits down beside me, pressing a kiss to my temple. “I happened to glance down the alley as I was walking home. I thought you were a large raccoon at first.” He reaches an arm around my back and tucks me to his chest. “How was the last day?”

I consider how best to put the events of the last twelve hours. “Not what I expected and a story you might need a beer for. We can head back down to the party if you want. I just needed some air.” I try to stand, but Mackenzie pulls me back down beside him, pressing a kiss to the top of my head. “Actually, I need to talk to you about something.”

I close my eyes and take a steadying breath as he clears his throat.

“I think I found someone to sublet your place while we’re gone,” he says. “His name is Andy. He’s a friend of Clive’s. He’s a great guy. You can meet him tomorrow if you have time; otherwise I can introduce you guys over email.”

I wait for the rest—the part where he says, “By the way, I’m moving to Nashville,” but it doesn’t come.

“That’s it?” I surprise myself with the edge to my voice.