The party calmed down slowly. Conversations dimmed and the laughter slowly faded into background noise.

Anna stepped outside to leave, phone pressed to her ear as she navigated the walkway toward the parking lot.

She didn’t see the uneven stone. Her foot twisted sharply in her heels.

Anna gasped, stumbling forward, pain shooting up her leg. Her phone slipped from her hand as she grabbed onto the nearest pillar.

“Damn it…. Can tonight get any worse than this!”

“Anna?”

Simon’s voice came from behind her.

She froze.

He jogged over, already crouching. “What happened?”

“I’m fine,” she said immediately, though her ankle throbbed. “Just, misstep.”

He gently tested her weight...