第19部分(第5/7 頁)

rt　either。

Wearing　a　pair　of　white　Ralph　Lauren　sailing　pants　and　a　navy　blue　cashmere　sweater；　Chips

looked　sophisticated　and　stately　manning　the　wheel　of　the　pristine　yacht。

？This　is　the　life；？　he　boomed；　his　wizened　hands　resting　lightly　on　the　wheel。　？The　open　sea；　the

sun；　and　the　wind。？　He　took　a　deep　breath　and　tilted　his　head　toward　the　sky；　breathing　the　clear；

warm　air　deep　into　his　lungs。

？I　guess。？　Nate　scuffed　the　toe　of　his　sneakers　against　the　planks　of　the　deck。　He　was　waiting　for

a　big　lecture　on　thinking　with　his　balls；　Chips？s　favorite　topic。

The　old　man？s　stubby　white　beard　sparkled　in　the　late　afternoon　sunshine。　？So；　what？s　crawled

up　your　arse；　then？？　he　asked；　his　Scottish　accent　rolling　around　in　his　mouth　like　marbles。

？Oh。　I？m？I？m　fine；？　Nate　answered　quickly。　？Sort　of。？　Chips　looked　at　him　knowingly；　waiting

for　Nate　to　continue。　Nate　took　a　deep　breath；　inhaling　the　briny　air　into　his　lungs；　and；　for　the　first

time　in　days；　felt　his　head　start　to　clear。　When　he　was　out　on　the　ocean；　everything　just　felt　so

much　simpler。　The　whole　world　was　reduced　to　its　essentials：　sun；　sky；　and　water。

？I　have　to　repeat　my　senior　year　of　high　school；？　he　heard　himself　say。　？I？m　not　going　to　Yale。

I？m　sure　my　dad　told　you；　right？？　Chips　nodded。　？Apparently　you　stole　Viagra　from　your　coach

because　you　thought　it　would　make　you　more　of　a　man？？　He　raised　an　eyebrow。

？Uh；　yeah；？　Nate　mumbled；　turning　a　little　red。　？But　that？s　not　the　only　problem。　There　are　these

two　girls。　。　。　。？　his　voice　trailed　off　into　the　breeze。　？I　think　I　have　to　choose　between　them；　and　I

don？t　know　who　to　pick。？　The　boat　hit　a　rough　patch　of　water　and　Nat