she hadn't even had to get a babysitter. jake had gone to a sleepover at a friend's house, so jo's options had been dateline on the couch with bagel or going out on the town. the more time that passed, the more she was regretting her choice not to just stay home with the dog. she didn't know many people at this party and she'd never been the biggest partier in the first place, but that was just what you did on new year's eve. so she'd dressed up, put on real pants, and headed over to the loft...only to get almost immediately overstimulated. she'd hung around for about an hour, floating from conversation to conversation and repeating the same thing every time (no, by myself, i teach at columbia, a son, he's twelve) before feeling comfortable enough to sneak outside. she'd tried. and she'd probably go back in for the ball drop.
but right now? she needed the cooler air. and she really needed a cigarette. when she reached into her jacket pocket, though, she found nothing but her lighter. her kid must've hidden the pack again. "you have got to be kidding me." she glanced down the sidewalk towards the closest person and, with a sigh, angled her body towards them. "don't suppose i could bum one off of you...?" she was desperate.