第19部分(第5/7 頁)

ht　of　the　streetlamps。

Serena　stepped　out　of　the　cab　and　waved　to　Roland；　the　old　night

doorman；　who　was　dozing　just　inside　the　lobby。　The　door　to　the

apartment　building　opened；　but　it　wasn’t　Roland　who　opened　it。　It

was　Nate。

“Nate！”　Serena　squealed；　genuinely　surprised。　“Hey；　could　you　loan

me　five　bucks？　I　haven’t　got　enough　cash。　Usually　the　doorman

helps　me　out；　but　I　guess　he’s　asleep。”

Nate　pulled　a　wad　of　bills　out　of　his　pocket　and　gave　some　to　the

taxi　driver。　He　put　his　finger　to　his　lips　and　crept　up　to　the　front　door

of　the　building。　Then　he　knocked　loudly　on　the　glass　door。　“Hello？”

he　shouted。

“Oh；　Nate；”　Serena　laughed。　“You　are　so　mean！”

Roland　snapped　his　eyes　open　and　nearly　fell　off　his　chair。　Then　he

opened　the　door　for　them；　and　Serena　and　Nate　ran　inside　and　rode

the　elevator　up　to　Serena’s　apartment。

Serena　led　the　way　to　her　room　and　sat　down　heavily　on　the　bed。

“Did　you　get　my　message？”　she　yawned　at　Nate；　pulling　off　her

boots。　“I　thought　you’d　e　out　tonight。”

“I　couldn’t；”　Nate　said。　He　picked　up　the　little　glass　ballerina

perched　on　top　of　Serena’s　mahogany　jewelry　chest。　She　had　the

tiniest　toes；　like　little　pinpoints。　He’d　forgotten　about　her。

“Well；　it　wasn’t　worth　it　anyway；”　Serena　sighed。　She　lay　down　on

the　bed。　“I　am　so　tired；”　she　said。　She　patted　the　bed　next　to　her

and　slid　over　to　give　Nate　room。　“e　lie　down　and　tell　me　a

bedtime　story？”

Nate　put　the　ballerina　down　and　swallowed。　Breathing　in　the　scent

of　Serena’s　room　with　Serena　in　it　made　his　heart　hurt。　He　lay　down

next　to　her；　their　bodies　touching。　Nate　put　his　arm　around　Serena